ASHHRA eNews Pulse

About 12.5 million U.S. residents reported misusing prescription pain relievers in 2015, according to a report released today by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. More than half of them obtained their most recently misused pain reliever from a friend or relative, notes the report, which summarizes data on substance use, depression, serious mental illness and related treatment from the 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health and National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services. 

Working on advocacy and policy is challenging. Not only is it complex, fluid and increasingly politicized, it is also challenging to measure progress and communicate success. Understanding this, in 2012, the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky launched Promoting Responsive Health Policy — a six-year, multifaceted initiative to address four broad health policy areas.

Using nurse communication to deliver compassionate care is a high priority in the health care industry, especially considering the unique impact nurses have on the patient experience. Nurse empathy and communications have a tremendous effect on patient satisfaction because nurses are on the frontlines of most patient encounters.

At the 2017 Great Place to Work For All’s conference in Chicago, the word millennial was buzzing around like a busy bee. The millennial tech smarts, diverse demographics, large population and inspiring, fresh ideas make them beneficial to the workforce in a way that is crucial to business success and relevance.

The hospital and health system field is moving from its traditional role as a "repair shop for disease" to serving as an agent for building healthier communities, says AHA board member Allen Weiss, M.D. In coming years, he sees the image of the hospital becoming less about a building with four walls and more about partnering with others to provide care where people live and work.