On January 2nd I wrote about an electronic health records (EHRs) suite designed for mental health counselors. I even joked that perhaps a future version would include a mental health counselor chatbot. The following is what I had to say on the matter:
Category: Health Reform
A Few Ideas to Boost Physician Residency Slots
The United States is experiencing a physician shortage that is even more dire in rural areas. The Association of American Medical Colleges estimates that today there is a shortage of from 44,000 doctors to perhaps as high as 67,000 physicians. By 2034 the shortage is expected to range from 37,800 physicians to as much as 124,000 physicians. The supply of physicians is a function of those entering the profession, those in the profession, minus those retiring or slowing down. Keep in mind the youngest physicians entering the field are usually 30 years old or more. Thus, there is only a 30-year window for them to establish a practice before reaching retirement age. A significant proportion of licensed physicians (45%) are over age 55. Many are part of the Baby Boomer generation who will be retiring soon and become patients themselves rather than treating patients.
Remote Mental Health Therapy with Electronic Health Records Goes High Tech
The other day I was surfing the web when I ran across an advertisement for TherapyNotes, a mental health electronic health record (EHR) system. I was a little curious. TherapyNotes lets counselors schedule an appointment and allows their clients to book through a client portal. Counselors can meet with clients in person or remotely with secure telehealth sessions. Then TherapyNotes facilitates documenting the session with easy‑to‑use templates. Finally, TherapyNotes creates and submits insurance claims with just a few clicks.
Congressional Investigation Found FDA Drug Approval ‘Rife with Irregularities’
There is considerable debate about whether plaque causes Alzheimer’s disease or is a byproduct of Alzheimer’s. One of the original studies that supposedly nudged scientists down the path of plaque atrophy theory has now been accused of using doctored photos to bolster their case.