DR KENT: First Interview on Informed Public Healthcare Policy Political Thoughts for the U.S.A.

By Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA

[Editor-in-Chief]

We have a healthcare crisis . . . and the crisis is now. Costs are soaring out of control, threatening the physical and financial health of individuals and our nation. Quality of care is deteriorating, in spite of “world class care” signs seemingly on every corner. And physicians are checking out and burning out. I believe it’s one of the greatest societal issues of our dayKent Mercado

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ME-P readers, you may be wondering: How in the heck did we get ourselves into such a healthcare mess? The USA is the greatest country in the world. We spend the most money on healthcare and regularly boast about how great it is. Yet, our average citizen longevity span is only 49th in the world in 2023? Only 77 years old for males.

What happened?  Middle-income countries made enough gains in life expectancy to catch up and then surpass the U.S. during times when the country’s acceleration slowed. By 2019, the U.S. ranked 40th among populous countries – lower than the countries of Lebanon and Albania.

Fortunately, I recently had the opportunity to sit down and speak with DR Kent Mercado JD, a friend and colleague from Illinois’s 11th District for several decades. His thoughts on healthcare policy in the USA, from the medical trenches to courtroom proceedings, is both insightful, pragmatic and politically centrist. It is the first of what I hope are several more interviews on other political hot topics in the future.

So, here is my brief interview synopsis and summation

PS: Feel free to subscribe to this ME-P for periodic updates on Dr. Kent Mercado JD as the election cycle progresses. It’s fast, free and secure! – DEM

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DR Kent Mercado JD on Public Healthcare Policy in the U.S.A.

JUNE 2023: FIRST ME-P PUBLIC INTERVIEW

A both a doctor and attorney, DR. KENT MERCADO JD believes that every American deserves access to quality and affordable healthcare. But, he knows that our nation’s current system is in need of repair. 

Considering the fact that the PP-ACA now has tendrils into all business sectors and communities, it cannot be repealed, so it must be repaired. For sure, there are positive aspects of the ACA, such as eliminating pre-existing medical conditions and allowing children to remain on their family’s health insurance plan until the age of 26. But, there are many problems inherent in the ACA as well.

For example, having a medical insurance card does not ensure access to quality healthcare, since so few medical and healthcare providers accept this form of skinny [narrow] network insurance. Promoting insurance policies that work, and revising the ones that do not, is the first step to achieving better access to healthcare for all. And DR KENT understands these skinny insurance networks, well. He explained:

DEFINITION: Narrow [skinny] health insurance network plans are similar to health maintenance organizations (HMOs). Like standard HMOs, these plans limit coverage to a select group of physicians, specialists and hospitals. However, narrow network plans can be even more restrictive than HMOs in the number of providers they include. Their providers also typically agree to lower reimbursements from insurers, which can mean financial difficulty for private practitioners staying in business. You’re more likely to see narrow networks — which include narrow pharmacy and restrictive drug formulary networks — if you shop for your own health insurance on HealthCare.gov or your state’s insurance exchange. Obviously, they’re less common in the plan options provided by private employers.  

CONS: As a medical practitioner DR KENT again emphasized that the biggest disadvantage to narrow and skinny network plans is less choice. Insurers keep these plans more affordable by negotiating lower reimbursements with health care providers. In return, those providers could see patient rosters grow, because smaller networks also mean less competition for those within the network. Smaller networks also can mean:

  • A need to change physicians. Your current primary care physician and specialists might not be included in the plan. This can mean starting over with new doctors who aren’t familiar with your particular health concerns.
  • Longer drives. With fewer choices, you may be forced into a longer commute to see an in-network physician. This could become a hardship for those in rural locations.
  • Lack of specialty options. A smaller network might not include the broad range of specialists large networks typically include.

And, mandating universal healthcare for the USA is also not the answer either, according to Kent Mercado. Obviously, socialized medicine is not free, just prepaid (the average tax bracket is over 40% in many Illinois counties that sponsor socialized medicine). And any “Medicare for All” or single-payer program gets an “A” for passion, but an “F” in compassion. In fact, as a attorney, DR KENT knows the 2019 non-partisan Congressional Budget Office cautioned that any “Medicare for All” bill would create “a shortage of providers, longer wait times, and changes in the quality of care.” 

Now, as the Editor-in-Chief of this ME-P, a doctor and professor of health economics myself, I know that wait time Queuing is a commonly-used way to solve the rationing problem caused by “Medicare for All” designs. A queue is a long waiting line that solves the rationing problem on a “first-come, first-served” basis through longer and longer medical, X-ray and laboratory test waiting and physician appointment times. Although such price ceilings do limit the monetary cost that patient-buyers must pay so that equilibrium cannot be restored by higher prices; they Do Not limit the non-monetary cost of such queuing and very long waiting. Thus, M-4-A and related analogs are not the health insurance problem fix that advocates might suggest ……

Moving On ……

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) is a federal law that required the creation of national standards to protect sensitive patient health information [PHI] from being disclosed without the patient’s consent or knowledge [covered entity]. The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued the HIPAA Privacy Rule to implement the requirements of HIPAA. The HIPAA Security Rule protects a subset of information covered by the Privacy Rule. Attorney DR. KENT believes that patients and covered entities should rely less on professional ethics and best judgment when considering requests for permissive uses and accidental disclosures.

For example, in May 2023, the records of nearly 9 million dental patients were released online following a LockBit ransomware attack on Managed Care of North America Inc. The company, also known as MCNA Dental, is a leading provider of dental plans in the U.S., serving private employers, individuals and families through a range of Medicare, long-term and commercial plans. MCNA is also the largest dental insurer for government-sponsored Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program [CHIPs] programs. The breach was first disclosed on May 26th with the Office of the Maine Attorney General. The breach occurred between February 26th and March 7th, with the breach discovered on May 3rd. The breach notice ticks the typical case in that MCNA hired a third-party out-sourced forensics team [ZeroFox Inc.-owned IDX]. It discovered that “a criminal was able to see and take copies of some information in rheir computer system.” The HHS Office for Civil Rights enforces HIPAA rules, and DR KENT, believes all complaints should be reported to that office. HIPAA violations may result in civil monetary or criminal penalties.

DR KENT also suggested that beyond the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act [HIPAA], Stark Laws and other related privacy rules for health care be re-evaluated as there has never been a bigger breach of confidential patient medical records since inter-operative electronic medical records [eMRs] and electronic health records [eHRs] became mandated. Old fashioned non-interoperable paper medical records were transferable by the patient-owner, and virtually never breached or accidentally disclosed. The recent COVID-19 pandemic illustrated this point thru a plethora of medical tele-conference breaches, too.

Of course, as we leave the month of May, also known as National Mental Health Month, DR KENT reminded me about some rules and regulations from federal, state, and county governments that have an impact the day-to-day operations, procedures and processes of a county mental health centers. Traditionally, there are three main types of regulations.

  1. Federal Regulations — The United States healthcare system is guided by programs such as those established under the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (in the case of county mental health programs, Medicaid is especially important), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and others.
  2. State Regulations — These include general legislative guidelines, state management of benefits and reimbursement of the Medicaid program, and state allocations of budgets, which impact the centers’ operations.
  3. County Regulations — Each county defines its own County Mental Health Program and decides which services will be provided or excluded.

County facilities generally include outpatient clinics, county mental health programs, short-term psychiatric facilities, day-care centers, de-toxification centers, residential rehabilitation centers for substance abuse, long-term care psychiatric facilities, and Veterans Affairs (VA) psychiatric centers. The county centers may be co-located with other county services such as social services, occupational rehabilitation services, information technology services, human resources, maintenance services, and others or may be independently located. These must all be stabilized, enhance and promoted as Democratic Senator Chris Murphy and Republican Senator Bill Cassidy first teamed up six years ago to help update VA Hospital and related mental health legislation.

More specifically, rates of depression, mental health needs and anxiety among Asian Americans increased during the Covid-19 pandemic—a time that coincided with rising anti-Asian hate crimes. Stigma surrounding mental health is the “number one deterrent” keeping more Asian Americans from seeking care. Many Asian Americans just feel that they have to be self-sufficient and are not used to asking for help, DR KENT noted. This must change.

Now, as we begin the month of June, DR KENT reminded met that it is Alzheimer’s Disease and Brain Awareness Month. There are more than 5.5 million people in the world who are over 65 and have Alzheimer’s disease. Every 3 seconds someone else in the world develops some form of dementia. There are now more than 50 million people worldwide living with dementia. This number is expected to double every 20 years. Diet, exercise and social interactions are helpful; nursing homes are not.

Switching topics, and unfortunately in the wake of massive data breaches across the U.S. and the Department of Veterans Affairs, DR KENT reminded me that the VA has been largely silent on the measures it’s taking to protect veterans’ sensitive health information and eMRs, etc.

And, by way of contemporary breaking news, America’s youth are currently experiencing a mental health Social Media crisis. For example:

  • The number of teens and young adults with clinical depression doubled between 2011 and 2021, according to a San Diego State University study.
  • In 2021, the CDC found that nearly 25% of teenage girls made a suicide plan.

Far too many experts have pointed to some social media outlets as a potential cause since the deterioration of kids’ mental Health.

Unfortunately, another huge health care policy political issues is illicit drug abuse. Currently, Fentanyl abuse statistics indicate it is the world’s deadliest opioid, causing almost half of all overdose deaths nationwide. And, statistics indicate the overdose epidemic among opioid users is spreading geographically as well as across demographics in the USA. In fact, 52.7% of all overdose deaths (OD) involve fentanyl in 2022. This was up from March 2018 to February 2019, when 47% of drug overdoses involved fentanyl. This must end.

Even more, DR KENT believes the medical malpractice situation in the USA must also be addressed. For example, many countries that have the pre-paid universal health insurance that many American advocates love, do not realize the legal malpractice restrictions make is almost impossible to successfully sue physicians. Just look to the difficulty of suing a Veteran’s Administration physician! It all depends on whether the doctor is an employee or independent contractor for the VA. Some doctors who practice in the VA system are independent contractors. If the doctor is an independent contractor, you may be able to pursue him/her individually. But, if the doctor is an employee of the VA, then you must sue the VA or rather, the United States of America.

So, DR KENT rhetorically asked: Would it be this way in a national healthcare system for the USA? Voters must decide!

On top of all that, DR. KENT reminded me that June is Alzheimer’s Disease and Brain Awareness Month. More than 6 million people in the US received an Alzheimer’s diagnosis, a number that’s expected to rise to 13 million by 2050. And the disease is not cheap—it’s expected to cost the US $345 billion this year and $1 trillion by 2050.

Finally, as a doctor and private practitioner for more than two decades, DR KENT believes that any sort of physician payment reform, public option, single payer policy and/or Medicare reform must include slowing or reduced fee increases for medical specialists – and increased compensation for those doctors on the grass root front lines of public healthcare [primary care, obstetrics, gynecology, family medicine and general practitioners] for us all. For example,

◼ Family medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, ophthalmology and psychiatry had the lowest commercial health insurance markups relative to Medicare prices, averaging about 110 percent of Medicare rates or less.
◼ Nine specialties received commercial payments between 120 and 150 percent of Medicare rates, on average. These included gastroenterology, cardiology, general surgery, and orthopedics.
◼ Radiology and neurosurgery received commercial payment rates of 180 and 220 percent of Medicare rates, whereas emergency department and critical care specialties received commercial payment rates of 250 percent of Medicare rates. Anesthesia received the highest markup at 330 percent of Medicare rates.

In brief, primary care doctors and public health providers should receive additional compensation, while medical specialists a bit less.

Now, macro-economically, healthcare spending in the United States totaled 18.3 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2021, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) most recent data update. That’s down from 19.7 percent of GDP in 2020, primarily due to an increase in economic growth as well as a decline in Federal COVID funds, However, healthcare costs in the United States remain above their pre-pandemic levels, and they remain a primary driver of our unsustainable national debt.

In his own words, DR KENT concluded our interview and opined: “Medicare Payment Reform must better align physician incentives for better patient care”.

NOTE: DR. KENT MERCADO JD is committed to ensuring digital accessibility for people with disabilities. He is continually improving the user experience for everyone, and applying the relevant accessibility standards.

THANK YOU DR. MERCADO AND BEST OF LUCK TO YOU.

The End

EDITORS NOTE:

Throughout my entire interview I felt assured that DR KENT’S main interest and passion was in pragmatic health policy and centrist legislation, particularly for the under-served (rural and urban) and historically disadvantaged communities. He certainly has much to offer through his thought leadership, regulatory, medical, legal and business acumen.

Fee free to comment on this Medical Executive-Post interview and/or to submit a question or concern to DR KENT. His job is to work for you!

Therefore, I am confident that DR KENT MERCADO JD can leverage his decades of medical and legal expertise to effectively promote major legislative health insurance initiatives that will benefit all his local constituents, most all US states, and perhaps even the entire country writ large?

FINIS

DR. KENT MERCADO JD

http://www.ElectDrKent.com

DONATE: https://tinyurl.com/yckrppn8

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DR KENT: May is Mental Health Month

DR. KENT MERCADO JD

U.S. CONGRESS 11th DISTRICT – ILLINOIS

IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE / Policy Statement: Medical Executive-Post

Date Line: May 26, 2023

Contact: http://www.ElectDrKent.com

May is Mental Health Month and we have to be acutely aware of the seen and unseen symptoms of related disorders. We need access to mental health care providers to foster appropriate treatment.  Whether it is post traumatic stress disorder from a non consensual encounter, clinical depression from isolation, or the stress of everyday living, urgent and long term care is needed. Also, normalizing it in terms of the prevalence of mental health issues and ranges in the way mental health needs surface is vital. Trying to help people to not feel alone, or engage in self critical thinking for their own mental health needs is paramount. There is still much stigma around mental health issues. Getting more information is one part of the solution equation – education can help with this change by decreasing one’s internal barriers around seeking care. 

Access to resources and services is another issue with different meanings to those addressed and their situation. There are too many barriers to accessing mental health care services. And, the idea that mental health is an important part of physical health in general, as well as the quality of life, must be accentuated.

TO WHIT:

  • Federal Regulations — The United States healthcare system is guided by programs such as those established under the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (in the case of county mental health programs, Medicaid is especially important), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and others.
  • State Regulations — These include general legislative guidelines, state management of benefits and reimbursement of the Medicaid program, and state allocations of budgets, which impact the centers’ operations.
  • County Regulations — Each county defines its own County Mental Health Program and decides which services will be provided or excluded.

We need to do our part and recognize the importance of mental health care.

Finally, by way of contemporary breaking news and all accounts, America’s youth are currently experiencing a mental health Social Media crisis. For example:

  • The number of teens and young adults with clinical depression doubled between 2011 and 2021, according to San Diego State University psychology professor Dr. Jean Twenge.
  • In 2021, the CDC found that nearly 25% of teenage girls had made a suicide plan.

So, we must remain vigilant on these, and related mental health emerging issues.

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NOTE: The Illinois’s 11th Congressional District is in the State of Illinois. It includes parts of Cook, DuPage, Kendall, Kane, and Will counties, and covers the southwestern suburbs of Chicago, as well as some rural areas. Regardless of your congressional district, affiliation and/or U.S. state, DR. KENT MERCADO JD is a political centrist and surely a rising new national star.

DR. KENT MERCADO JD

http://www.ElectDrKent.com

DONATE: https://tinyurl.com/yckrppn8

Pediatric Mental Health Month is Also in May

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Even though timely follow-up care for self-harm or mental illness has been shown to prevent hospitalizations, reduce the chances of a repeat visit, and improve overall outcomes, less than a third of children receive follow-up care within seven days of their ED visit, and just over half (56%) receive care within a month, according to a recent study from Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago.

More than a quarter of the children in the study returned to the ED within six months.

RELATED: The second-largest psychiatric facility in Washington State is looking to hire more employees after threats that it could lose its accreditation.

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SOCIAL MEDIA: Dr. Vivek Murthy Warns on Children’s Mental Health

U.S. SURGEON GENERAL ADVISORY REPORT

By Staff Reporters

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May is mental health month in the USA. US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy issued a powerful public advisory yesterday warning of the considerable risks that social media poses to young people’s mental health. “Nearly every teenager in America uses social media, and yet we do not have enough evidence to conclude that it is sufficiently safe for them,” Murthy wrote. He argued that kids have “become unknowing participants in a decades-long experiment.”

The surgeon general’s report focuses on the impacts of social media on teens and kids—both positive and negative—and the attendant health risks. The report outlines two types of dangers associated with social networks: content-related problems, such as negative self-image or bullying, and use-related problems, such as poor sleep and addiction.

What we know about social media and kids’ mental health

By all accounts, America’s youth are currently experiencing a mental health crisis.

  • The number of teens and young adults with clinical depression doubled between 2011 and 2021, according to San Diego State University psychology professor Dr. Jean Twenge.
  • In 2021, the CDC found that nearly 25% of teenage girls had made a suicide plan.

Many experts have pointed to social media as a potential cause since the deterioration of kids’ mental health has coincided with the rise of social media platforms over the last decade.

Still, the effect of likes, retweets, and TikTok comments on kids’ brains remains more or less a mystery. We know that social media use affects adolescents and that teens show alarming rates of anxiety and depression. But studies that have attempted to determine whether social media is a direct cause of worsening mental health have been inconclusive. Plus, not all kids are impacted by social media similarly: Some—adolescent girls, for instance—appear to be more at risk than others.

Finally, and according to Morning Brew, while researchers search for answers, some lawmakers are pushing ahead with restrictions on teens’ use of social media. In March, for example, Utah became the first state to establish a curfew for teens on social media apps and mandate that parents have access to their children’s accounts.

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RIGHTS: Mental Health in America [Georgia]

MENTAL HEATH AMERICA

By Staff Reporters

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MENTAL HEALTH PARITY ACT

Atlanta, GA – Governor Brian P. Kemp, joined by First Lady Marty Kemp and their three daughters, Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan, Speaker David Ralston, members of the House and Senate, and mental health advocates, to sign the Mental Health Parity Act (HB1013) into law.

You may view his remarks from the bill signing ceremony below, and you can watch the full ceremony here.

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Mental Health Rights

People living with mental health conditions are people. They have people they love, activities they enjoy, and dreams for their lives. As people, they deserve to be treated with dignity, and under the law they have rights and protections. 

GA MENTAL HEALTH PARITY LAW: https://gov.georgia.gov/press-releases/2022-04-04/gov-kemp-provides-remarks-and-signs-mental-health-parity-act

Unfortunately, it has long been the case that individuals with mental health conditions are among the most abused and discriminated against in our country. From leaving people to languish in overcrowded state hospitals to lobotomies and forced sterilization, the treatment of those with mental health conditions is a dark stain on our history as a nation.

While we have come a long way, abuse and discrimination continue to be serious problems today. The shackling or restraining of children, keeping people out of work, and denying access to services are just a few examples of the way we continue to fail the 1 in 5 Americans that has a diagnosable mental health disorder.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource/Title/082610254

This is not just a small issue for a small group of people: half of all Americans will experience a diagnosable mental health condition in their lifetime. If it is not us being directly impacted, it is likely that it will be our family members, friends, or loved ones– whether we know it or not. Beyond struggles in education or employment, we see the loss of human dignity and even human life for the people we love and care about when we do not work to address abuses in the system.

For Mental Health America, the fight against abuse and discrimination is essential to our history and continues to guide our work. MHA’s symbol, which sits in our national office, is the Bell of Hope cast from the chains and shackles that were used to restrain individuals in old state hospitals. As an organization, MHA is committed to the principles of human and civil rights inherent to the concept of equal justice under the law.

PROVIDERS: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2022/10/05/a-review-of-mental-healthcare-provider-types/

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ORDER: https://www.amazon.com/Dictionary-Health-Insurance-Managed-Care/dp/0826149944/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1275315485&sr=1-4

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FLORENCE 2.0: A.I. Advice for a A Healthier Lifestyle And Mental Health

WHO

By Staff Reporters

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By 2030, the WHO projects that 15 million healthcare workers will be missing globally. 

Introducing Florence, the “world’s most extensive freely accessible AI health worker” is one way of tackling this issue. 
Florence is knowledgeable in key health topics, including mental health, nutrition and tobacco cessation, and provides information on COVID-19 vaccines. So, have a chat with her.

READ MORE: https://www.who.int/news/item/04-10-2022-who-and-partners-launch-world-s-most-extensive-freely-accessible-ai-health-worker?mc_cid=16b214db2e&mc_eid=40fee31c25

HIT: https://www.amazon.com/Dictionary-Health-Information-Technology-Security/dp/0826149952/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1254413315&sr=1-5

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PODCAST: Behavior Modification and the Science of Change in Healthcare

By Eric Bricker MD

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CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource/Title/0826102549

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ORDER: https://www.routledge.com/Risk-Management-Liability-Insurance-and-Asset-Protection-Strategies-for/Marcinko-Hetico/p/book/9781498725989

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META: “Needs to Get its Mojo Back”

By Staff Reporters

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Quote: “Meta needs to get its mojo back.”

With Meta’s share price down more than 60% this year, investors are losing patience with Mark Zuckerberg’s big bet on the metaverse.

Altimeter Capital CEO Brad Gerstner, whose firm has more than 2 million shares in the company, wrote an open letter yesterday urging Meta to cut headcount expenses by 20% and keep metaverse spending under $5 billion per year to become a “more productive, and more focused company.”

We’ll see how Meta feels about its own mojo when it reports earnings tomorrow.

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ORDER: https://www.routledge.com/Comprehensive-Financial-Planning-Strategies-for-Doctors-and-Advisors-Best/Marcinko-Hetico/p/book/9781482240283

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ORDER: https://www.amazon.com/Dictionary-Health-Information-Technology-Security/dp/0826149952/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1254413315&sr=1-5

What is the VIP [Patient] Syndrome

VERY IMPORTANT PERSONS

By Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA

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VERY IMPORTANT PATIENTS

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DEFINITION: “VIP syndrome” is a term coined in 1964 by the psychiatrist Walter Weintraub to describe an intriguing paradox: Throughout history, the rich and famous, with all their resources and fancy doctors, have often received worse medical treatment, and suffered from worse health outcomes, than the average person. When physicians afford “special privileges” to their powerful patients, from “Mad King” George III to Michael Jackson, they seem to get sicker and even die. While Weintraub, a psychoanalyst, attributed the problem in part to doctors unconsciously resenting their influential patients, it seems doctors simply get starstruck around famous people and high-ranking figures. Despite their medical expertise, these physicians find themselves opting out of basic tests for “privacy” or prescribing dangerous medications for “comfort.”

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource/Title/0826102549

RELATED: https://journal.chestnet.org/article/S0012-3692(16)37268-3/fulltext

MORE: https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/an-easy-treatment-promised-me-a-sharper-jawline%e2%80%94except-for-one-little-catch/ar-AAVpHz9?li=BBnb7Kz\

DKE: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2018/09/14/what-is-the-dunning-kruger-effect/?preview_id=188020&preview_nonce=b5c7f4a5de&preview=true

INVITATION: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/dr-david-marcinkos-bookings/

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BUSINESS MEDICINE: https://www.amazon.com/Business-Medical-Practice-Transformational-Doctors/dp/0826105750/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1448163039&sr=8-9&keywords=david+marcinko

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HIT: https://www.amazon.com/Dictionary-Health-Information-Technology-Security/dp/0826149952/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1254413315&sr=1-5

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A Review of Mental Healthcare Provider Types

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Implications for Staffing Modern Mental Health Facilities

[By Carol Miller RN MBA]

Carol S. MillerCommunity Mental Health Centers are also referred to as County Mental Health Centers and treat patients usually with no or limited insurance in a domiciliary setting versus an inpatient state or community facility.

And, both children and adults are eligible to receive such assistance.

These programs provide a wide range of psychiatric and counseling services to the residents in their community as well
as other types of assistance. But, what type of mental healthcare staff, and providers, are involved with these facilities?

Staffing

Staffing levels at community mental health facilities depend on the size and funding of each clinic, and vary in number, qualifications, and mix. Many personnel hold or are working on Master’s degrees and various professional certifications.

Typical staffing would include:

  • Administrative or Mental Health Director ¾ This individual, working under general policy directives, is responsible for planning, organizing, coordinating, and directing delivery of a community’s comprehensive mental health programs and services. This would include the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies, procedures, budget, standard compliance, and work standards for mental health services. The Director is responsible not only for the services offered under the program, but also for extensive coordination with other county departments, public and private organizations, citizen groups, and the Board of Supervisors.
  • Case management staff ¾ These personnel are responsible for compiling all the services related to the treatment program.
  • Psychiatrists ¾ These individuals may work for a mental health center full or part time, and be Board-eligible or Board-certified in Psychiatry.
  • Psychologists ¾ These individuals will hold Ph.D., Psy.D. or Ed.D. qualifications and be licensed as clinical psychologists in the state.
  • Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW) ¾ These individuals will have expertise in such services as family counseling, child psychology, geriatric dementia, psychological testing, and so on.
  • Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) — These individuals are specialized in various fields and provide an array of counseling services to patients, dependent on the nature of their problem.
  • Clinical Nurse Specialists ¾ These personnel are certified in psychiatric nursing by a national nursing organization such as the American Nurses Association to practice within the scope of these services and are licensed in the state.
  • Support staff ¾ These staff members would include an administrative assistant to the Director, medical billers, transcriptionist, and possibly a receptionist.
  • Substance Abuse Counselor or Licensed Professional Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LPC or LPCC) — An individual who takes a holistic approach where they exam a person’s external environmental and societal influences while also monitoring inner emotion, physical and behavioral health.

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ME-P Careers

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Counselor Qualifications

A licensed mental health counselor has met or exceeded the following professional qualifications:

  • earned a Master’s degree in counseling or a closely related mental health discipline;
  • completed a minimum of two years post-Master’s clinical work under the supervision of a licensed or certified mental health professional; and
  • passed a state-developed or national licensure or certification examination.

Assessment

Conclusion

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Speaker: If you need a moderator or speaker for an upcoming event, Dr. David E. Marcinko; MBA – Publisher-in-Chief of the Medical Executive-Post – is available for seminar or speaking engagements. Contact: MarcinkoAdvisors@msn.com

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Medicare Customers Say Mental Health Benefits Are Very Important

By Staff Reporters

AN eHEALTH SURVEY

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A eHealth survey of 3,800 Medicare customers aged 65 and older asked “When choosing health coverage, how important are mental health benefits?” The survey found: 
•  38% say mental health benefits are “very important” to them when choosing health insurance.
 •  34% say it’s “somewhat important” to them.
 •  22% say mental health benefits are “not so important” to them.
 •  Only 5% say it’s “not at all important.”
Source: eHealth, “Seniors Speak Out On Mental Health,” March 2022

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MANAGED CARE: https://www.amazon.com/Dictionary-Health-Insurance-Managed-Care/dp/0826149944/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1275315485&sr=1-4

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Text or Call 988: SAMHSA – Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

By Staff Reporters

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988, a New National Suicide Hotline, Launched on July 16th, 2022

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A new national suicide hotline, 988, becomes operational nationwide on July 16th. People experiencing a mental health emergency, such as suicidal thoughts, a substance-use crisis, or any other emotionally distressing event, will be able to call during times of crisis, but operators will also be available via text and online chat (at https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat), according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

The 988 hotline will essentially replace the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-TALK); however, the previous hotline will not be discontinued when 988 is rolled out, and callers will be directed to the same services offered via 988. Mental health experts say the new hotline will provide necessary updates to the services currently provided by the 1-800 number, chief among them a focus on sending trained experts to respond to mental health emergencies rather than law enforcement who are unfamiliar with protocols when approaching suicidal individuals.

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READ: https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/988

MORE: https://www.kevinmd.com/2022/07/new-988-hotline-has-potential-to-transform-mental-health-care-but-challenges-loom.html

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Percent of Population Under 65 With Mental Health Disorders

By Staff Reporters

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EBRI: % of Population Under 65 With Mental Health Disorders

 •  Anxiety disorders: 8.1%
 •  Major depressive disorders: 5.3%
 •  Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: 2.8%
 •  Other behavioral/mental health disorders: 2.2%
 •  Bipolar and manic disorders: 0.7%
 •  Post-traumatic stress disorder: 0.5%
 •  Phobic anxiety disorders: 0.4%
 •  Autistic disorder: 0.3%
 •  Obsessive-compulsive disorder: 0.2%
 •  Eating disorders: 0.2%
 •  Schizophrenic disorders: 0.1%
 •  Dissociative disorders: 0.04%
 •  Delusional disorders: 0.02%

Source: EBRI, “How Do High-Deductible Health Plans Affect Use of Health Care Services and Spending Among Enrollees With Mental Health Disorders?” March 10, 2022

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FINANCE: https://www.amazon.com/Comprehensive-Financial-Planning-Strategies-Advisors/dp/1482240289/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1418580820&sr=8-1&keywords=david+marcinko

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DICTIONARY: https://www.amazon.com/Dictionary-Health-Insurance-Managed-Care/dp/0826149944/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1275315485&sr=1-4

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LECANEMAB: Shows Promise for Alzheimer’s?

By Staff Reporters

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Alzheimer’s new drug shows promise

Lecanemab, an Alzheimer’s drug from Eisai and Biogen, slowed cognitive decline in patients with early Alzheimer’s by 27% over 18 months in a final-phase trial, the companies said recently.

That rate of decline met the study’s targets and offers hope to the 6 million people in the US with Alzheimer’s that their dementia can be slowed down or delayed. The companies hope lecanemab will fare better commercially than their previous Alzheimer’s drug Aduhelm—which was a flop.

ECONOMIC IMPACT: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2014/12/06/the-economic-impact-of-alzheimers-disease/

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INVESTING :https://www.routledge.com/Comprehensive-Financial-Planning-Strategies-for-Doctors-and-Advisors-Best/Marcinko-Hetico/p/book/9781482240283

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Physician Mistreatment by Patients, Visitors and Doctors

By UPI News and Staff Reporters

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Nearly 1 in 4 hospital doctors are mistreated at work by patients, visitors and other doctors, and female doctors are nearly two times more likely than male doctors to face this abuse, a new study reveals.

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“All members of the healthcare team share the responsibility to mitigate mistreatment,” said senior study author Dr. Mickey Trockel, a clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Stanford University School of Medicine and director of Evidence Based Innovation for the Stanford WellMD/WellPhD Center.

LINK: https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/1-in-4-hospital-physicians-face-mistreatment-by-patients-visitors/ar-AAXa6Jp?li=BBnb7Kz

MD Burnout: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2017/12/03/u-s-hospitals-feeling-the-pain-of-physician-burnout/

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https://www.amazon.com/Business-Medical-Practice-Transformational-Doctors/dp/0826105750/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1448163039&sr=8-9&keywords=david+marcinko

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What is Techno SCAM-BAITING?

BY ANONYMOUS

SPONSOR: http://www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.org

CMP logo

Scam-Baiting Behind the Scenes

The most basic form of scambaiting sets out to waste a scammer’s time. At a minimum, scambaiters attempt to make scammers answer countless questions or perform pointless and random tasks. By keeping a scammer busy, scambaiters claim they’re preventing the scammer from defrauding a real victim.

Scambaiting may also be conducted with a specific purpose in mind. Sometimes scambaiters attempt to obtain an offender’s bank account information, for instance, which they then report to a financial institution. But there are other, less benevolent motives in the scambaiting community.

Thousands of scambaiters are organised on the 419eater forum, which describes itself as the “largest scambaiting community on earth”, with over 1.7 million forum threads. The forum was first established in 2003 to tackle the growing issue of 419 emails – a scam that promises people huge sums of cash in return for a small upfront fee.

419eater provides a particularly interesting case study because members are incentivised and rewarded for their scambaits through a unique system of icons, regarded as trophies, that they can obtain in their profile’s signature lines.

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Romance Scam : Find Out How We Uncovered This Chinese Scam

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MORE: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/oct/03/who-scams-the-scammers-meet-the-amateur-scambaiters-taking-on-the-crooks?utm_source=pocket-newtab

Healthcare: https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/buying-or-selling/health-medical-products

Medical Insurance: https://www.reddit.com/r/scambait/comments/jsgffx/just_got_a_scam_call_to_sign_me_up_for_bogus/

YOUR COMMENTS ARE APPRECIATED.

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PODCAST: In-Patient Psychiatric Care

By Eric Bricker MD

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RELATED: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2013/02/13/a-review-of-mental-healthcare-provider-types/

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ORDER: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/risk-management-liability-insurance-and-asset-protection-strategies-for-doctors-and-advisors-david-edward-marcinko/1137103900?ean=9781498725989

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Prioritizing Mental Health Care In America

By NIHCM Infographics

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Data Insights

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By the end of 2021, Americans found themselves in one of the worst nationwide mental health crises in years. Nearly 1 in 5 U.S. adults experience a mental illness each year, or more than 50 million people. Unfortunately, less than half of the people in need ever receive the mental health care they require. Due to physician burnout, a workforce shortage, and poor funding, this country has long struggled with handling the growing mental health crisis and providing equitable access to behavioral health care.

The mental health system in America may be largely broken, but conditions are ideal for transforming the system with scientific advances, improved coverage, and political consensus on the importance of mental health. Goals once thought to be long out of reach may soon be possible.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource/Title/082610254

This NIHCM infographic highlights the many challenges contributing to America’s mental health crisis as well as steps to improve and strengthen mental health care and the behavioral health industry and promote individual resiliency.

NIHCM: https://tinyurl.com/3whz69vk

ME-P: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2022/06/02/medical-workplace-violence-prevention-guidelines/

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SURVEY: On Nurse Caregivers and Unions

By MCOL

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Nurses Survey: The 4 Takeaways

 •  87% of patients or their caregivers feel some level of stigma associated with their or the person in their care’s current health condition.
 •  44% reported feeling embarrassed to talk about their current health condition.
 •  43% felt their health condition isn’t something that’s regularly talked about and is rarely represented in the media.
 •  99% patients and their caregivers say that stigma can negatively impact or slow perceived healing of a patient with a current health condition.

Source: Convatec Group Plc via PRNewswire, May 18, 2022

UNIONS: https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/unions-tempt-nurses-to-change-their-principles/ar-AAY2cUg?li=BBnb7Kz

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Clinic ‘Charged Patient $40 for Crying’

By Staff Reporters

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FULL REPRINT: A woman who visited doctors in the US was charged for an ’emotional and behavioral assessment’ simply for shedding a tear.

LINK: https://7news.com.au/news/world/us-patient-charged-extra-for-crying-during-doctors-appointment-c-6867615

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SDOH Challenges = Physician Stress?

SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH

By Staff Reporters

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SDOH Challenges Cause Physicians Stress

A recent Physicians Foundation survey that asked questions relating to whether Social Determinants of Health [SDOH] challenges cause them to experience stress or frustration.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource/Title/082610254

The survey found:

 •  71% Identified limited time during patient visit to discuss SDOH
 •  64% Identified insufficient workforce to navigate patients to community resources to address SDOH
 •  63% Identified existing payer reporting requirements taking time away from being able to address patients’ SDOH
 •  57% Identified lack of reimbursement for screening for or addressing SDOH
 •  57% Identified community resources unavailable, inadequate or difficult to access.

Source: The Physicians Foundation 2022 Physician Survey: Part 1, March 22, 2022

Physician Suicide: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2016/04/23/more-on-physician-suicide-video/

COACHING: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/coach/

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ORDER: https://www.routledge.com/Risk-Management-Liability-Insurance-and-Asset-Protection-Strategies-for/Marcinko-Hetico/p/book/9781498725989

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MENTAL HEALTH Action Day 2022

By Staff Reporters

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As part of its Mental Health initiative, MTV’s second-annual Mental Health Action Day – an open-source movement of brands, organizations, government agencies, and cultural leaders to drive culture of mental health from awareness to action – will bring together more than 1,600 organizations in cities across the country to encourage and empower people to take action for mental health on Thursday, May 19, 2022.

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LINK: https://www.mentalhealthactionday.art/

COACHING: From Chaos to Calm: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/coach/
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CELEBRATE: National Women’s Health Week 2022

MAY 8 – 14th, 2022

By Staff Reporters

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Prioritizing your health – both physical and mental – has never been more important. Over the past few years, many women have put off taking care of their general health and wellness needs. They have adjusted their daily routines, including the way they connect with family and friends. The combination has led to serious health problems for some women.

LINK: https://www.womenshealth.gov/nwhw/about

DAY: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2022/03/08/today-is-international-womens-day/

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PODCAST: Mental Health Interview with Milton L. Mack Jr.

RIP NAOMI JUDD

[Original Rebroadcast]

The Common Bridge by Rick Helppie

Mental Health, Jury Bias, and Judicial Reform, with the Honorable Milton L. Mack Jr.
Rich brings back the Honorable Milton L. Mack, Jr. for a discussion on Mental Health, Jury Bias, and Judicial Reform. Judge Mack has been a leading voice on how mental health issues affect over half of the court cases in the US and how this needs to be addressed in judicial reform. He has also been on the forefront of bringing cutting edge technology into the courtroom.

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PODCAST: https://richardhelppie.com/podcasts/

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BUSINESS MEDICINE: https://www.amazon.com/Business-Medical-Practice-Transformational-Doctors/dp/0826105750/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1448163039&sr=8-9&keywords=david+marcinko

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RISK MANAGEMENT: https://www.routledge.com/Risk-Management-Liability-Insurance-and-Asset-Protection-Strategies-for/Marcinko-Hetico/p/book/9781498725989

Thank You

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Does Money REALLY Buy Happiness?

Maybe IT CAN

Psychological Considerations

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Money Can Buy Happiness After All, According to New Study

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R&D 2010: https://www.pnas.org/content/107/38/16489

R&D 2021: https://www.pnas.org/content/118/4/e2016976118

DEM: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2020/12/11/the-science-of-happiness/

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Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) Study

By Staff Reporters

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DEFINITION: Physical and psychological reliance on opioids, a substance found in certain prescription pain medications and illegal drugs like heroin.

Opioids are prescribed to treat pain. With prolonged use, pain-relieving effects may lessen and pain can become worse. In addition, the body can develop dependence. Opioid dependence causes withdrawal symptoms, which makes it difficult to stop taking them. Addiction occurs when dependence interferes with daily life. Taking more than the prescribed amount or using illegal opioids like heroin may result in death.

Symptoms of addiction include uncontrollable cravings and inability to control opioid use even though it’s having negative effects on personal relationships or finances.

Treatment varies but may include discontinuing the drug. Medications such as methadone can help alleviate the symptoms of withdrawal and cravings. Pairing medication with inpatient or support programs generally has the most success.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource/Title/082610254

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Bicycle Health Study – 4 Findings

A recent survey of nearly 1,000 patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) about recovery, telehealth, and stigma found in regards to recovery:

 •  95% Describe their overall outlook on recovery as positive; just 1% describe as negative.
 •  76% Report having a strong support system to help navigate treatment.
 •  43% Returned to treatment immediately after relapse, 34% took over 3 months to start over.
 •  30% Blame individuals for the opioid crisis (over drug companies, doctors, and the government.)

Source: Bicycle Health, “Cost, Access are Biggest Barriers to OUD Recovery, But Telemedicine Can Help, According to New Report from Bicycle Health,” March 23, 2022

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62% of Nurses Would Consider a Change in Career Paths

By Staff Reporters

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A recent survey by StaffHealth of 250 RNs, LPNS, and CNAs found the following:

 •  86% of respondents say their workload/job responsibility has increased in the last year.
 •  54% of the above respondents say that the increase in workload has negatively impacted their mental health.
 •  83% of those surveyed agree that an increase in compensation/incentives would alleviate nurse burn out and shortages.
 •  62% of nursing professionals would currently consider a change in career paths.
 •  66% of respondents say access to mental health resources at work would be beneficial.

Source: StaffHealth via PRNewswire, February 8, 2022

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PODCAST: Technology Enabled Behavioral Healthcare in 2022?

A Critical Strategy for Population Health Management

By Michael Vergare MD

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Value Based Care Definitions: https://www.r2library.com/Resource/Title/0826102549

High Value Care & Value-Based Care

PODCAST: https://www.healthsharetv.com/content/technology-enabled-behavioral-health-care-critical-strategy-population-health-management

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PODCAST: Mental Health Care Lowers Costs

BY ERIC BRICKER MD

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MENTAL HEALTH: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2021/07/28/mental-health-entrepreneurial-start-up/

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WORLD MENTAL HEALTH WEEK 2022

By Ann Miller RN MHA

Good Morning

This is World Mental Health Week. Since one of the ways you can practice good mental health is to express gratitude, I’d like to express my gratitude to my friend and ME-P founder and executive chairman Dr. David Edward Marcinko for working to destigmatize mental health issues.

A lot of people look up to David. And they should—he started this ME-P from nothing and was relentless in building the company to the digital media ship it is today.

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RELATED: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2021/07/28/mental-health-entrepreneurial-start-up/

DICTIONARY: https://www.amazon.com/Dictionary-Health-Insurance-Managed-Care/dp/0826149944/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1275315485&sr=1-4

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World Mental Health Week (3-8 October) is an international day for global mental health education, awareness and advocacy against social stigma. It was first celebrated in 1992 at the initiative of the World Federation for Mental Health, a global mental health organization with members and contacts in more than 150 countries.

This week, each October, thousands of supporters come to celebrate this annual awareness program to bring attention to mental illness and its major effects on peoples’ lives worldwide.

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PODCAST: The State of Mental Health

IN THE USA

By Eric Bricker MD

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MORE: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2021/07/28/mental-health-entrepreneurial-start-up/

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