The Cure

An engaged workforce leads to improved patient outcomes, lower instances of medical errors, and higher patient satisfaction scores. It acts as a catalyst for continuous improvement, innovation, and excellence in patient care. In this episode, we explore the world of employee enagagement, its paramount importance, and its undeniable correlation with the quality of care and patient safety. We discus...

Improving patient experience in healthcare has wide-ranging benefits for both patients and healthcare providers. A positive patient experience may lead to better adherence to treatment plans, increased follow through with scheduled appointments, and better health outcomes. It also builds trust in healthcare institutions. Patients who trust their healthcare providers are more likely to adopt health...

Just Cullture is a concept that emphasizes creating a fair and accontable environment in organizations, especially those involved in patient safety. The principles of Just Culture are designed to balance the need for learning from mistakes and improving system safety with the need to hold individuals accountable for their actions. It recognizes that errors will happen, and the focus should be on l...

There are several different leadership styles and principles that leaders can adopt. These styles and principles can vary in their approach and effectiveness depending on the context and the individuals involved. Leaders often blend various styles and principles to suit their specific situation and the needs of their team. The most effective leaders are those who can adapt and integrate different...

Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 agonists or GLP-1a, also known as incretin mimetics, are a class of medications used to treat type 2 diabetes and weight loss. They work by mimicking the action of GLP-1, a naturally occuring hormone in the body that regulates blood sugar levels. In this episode Danielle Basta, APRN and Dr. Elizabeth Honigsberg talks about some of the key characteristics of GLP-1 agonist. L...

Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels in the body. There are several different types of insulin, which can be classified based on their onset of action, peak action, and duration of action. The choice of insulin type and regimen depends on an individuals spesific needs, lifestyles, and the recommendations of their healthcare provider. People with diabetes may use a combination of...

Vaccination significantly reduces the risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and death associated with respiratory viruses. Widespread vaccination helps achieve herd immunity, which occurs when a significant portion of the population becomes immune to a disease. This helps protect those who cannot be vaccinated, such as individuals with certain medical conditions and reduces the overall transmis...

Given the complexity of healthcare systems, change management is particularly relevant in this industry to ensure that changes are carefully planned, well-executed, and have the intended positive impact on patient care, staff engagement, and operational efficiency. Change management in this context focuses on minimizing disruptions and ensuring a smooth transition while improving the quality of ca...

Healthcare legislation advocacy plays a crucial role in shaping policies that affect the health and well-being of individuals and communities. It can lead to positive changes in healthcare systems, making healthcare more accessible, affordable, and equitable while promoting public health and patient rights. Advocacy can address barriers to healthcare access, such as insurance coverage, and geograp...

Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are critical in healthcare settings as they help address healthcare disparities, promote cultural competence, improve patient-provider relationships, enhance health outcomes, and build a healthcare workforce that reflects the diverse needs of communities. Embracing these principles can lead to a more equitable, patient-centered, and inclusive healthcare...

The basal-bolus insulin regimen is a commonly used approach for managing diabetes. It involves the use of two different types of insulin: basal insulin and bolus insulin. This regimen aims to mimic the natural insulin secretion pattern of a healthy pancreas. Basal insulin is a long-acting insulin that provides a steady, background level of insulin throughout the day and night, even between meals....

The end of the COVID-19 public health emergency generally means that the situation related to the pandemic has improved significantly, and the emergency measures put in place to control the spread of the virus are no longer necessary. Lifting of restrictions and reduced public health measures are some examples of this new phase. The end of the public health emergency may mark the transition from c...

Pay for performance (P4P) in healthcare is a reimbursement model that links payments to healthcare providers, such as hospitals or physicians, to the quality of care they provide. In other words, providers are rewarded for delivering high-quality care or achieving specific healthcare outcomes, rather than simply being paid based on the volume of services they provide. The goal is to improve the qu...

The primary goal of inpatient diabetes management is to achieve and maintain optimal blood sugar control, minimize the risk of complications, and ensure a safe and speedy recovery. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends a blood sugar target of 140-180 mg/dL for most hospitalized patients. However, individualized targets may be set based on the patient's medical history, comorbiditi...

Microaggressions are subtle and often unintentional forms of discrimination or prejudice that can manifest in everyday interactions. Common examples include; using inappropriate or derogatory language when referring to a person's culture or religion, and making assumptions about an individuals's lifestyle choices or behaviors based on their race or ethnicity. To combat these microaggressions, it i...

Psychological safety refers to the extent to which healthcare providers feel comfortable expressing their opinions, concerns, and ideas without fear of negative consequences such as retaliation, rejection, or criticism. It involves creating an environment where healthcare providers can speak up, ask questions, and make suggestions without the fear of being judged, ridiculed, or punished. In health...

Healthcare professionals across the United States, including at Dartmouth Health, experience incidents of bias regarding personal characteristics including race, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, religion, or national origin. At times these comments may be well-meaning or not recognized as potentially hurtful or demeaning, but at other times they may be outright discriminatory. Addressin...

For the inaugural episode of our new series; Calderwood Considers! Host Jessica Swain, Director of Infection Prevention and Control for Dartmouth Health, talks to Dr. Michael Calderwood, Chief Quality Officer at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, about oocupational burnout.  According to the World Health Organization, occupational burnout is a syndrome resulting from chronic work-related str...

The United States is currently experiencing an early uptick in flu and respiratory syncytial virus infections, straining a health-care system trying to recover from the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, healthcare facilities continue to try an keep up with evolving guidelines from the CDC, CMS, and OSHA. In this episode, we are joined by Mary Pierce and Erin Patnode from Cheshire Medica...

There's ongoing debate as to whether some preventative screenings are helpful in the general population because of risk associated with doing procedures and unnecessary treatment leading to higher healthcare costs. A recent study from Poland, Norway, and Sweden showing a relatively similar risk of death from colorectal cancer between screened and unscreened populations highlights this dilemma.&nbs...

In this episode, host Jessica Swain talks to Margaret Worth, infection preventionist and quality specialists at Mount Ascutney Hospital and Health Center, and Morgan Kuhnly, infection preventionist at Dartmouth Health, to give updated information on Monkeypox. The team is also joined by Dr. Aalok Khole who is an  infectious diseases physician at Cheshire Medical Center and physician lead for...

Looking at health through the lens of political determinants means analysing how different ideological positions, institutions, processes, and interests, affect health within different political systems and cultures and at different levels of governance.  In this episode, we talk to Matthew Houde, System Vice President of Government Relations at Dartmouth Health, and Courtney Tanner, Director...

COVID-19 infection control guidelines continue to evolve as we deal with the increased transmissibility of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant . In this episode, host Jessica Swain talks to Angelica Sindelar, infection preventionist at Dartmouth Health Medical Center, to talk about updates on the infection control guidance from the CDC. These updates helps to enhance protection for healthcare personnel...

Chest pain is a frequent cause for Emergency Department visits in the United States. In this episode, host Dr. Rima Mercado talks to Dr. Bruce Andrus who is the director of clinical cardiology at Dartmouth Health Medical Center about this common symptom. Dr. Andrus walks us through the most recent guidelines from professional societies like tha American College of Cardiology and American Heart Ass...

According to the CDC scientists are curently tracking multiple cases of monkeypox that have been reported in several counties that don't normally report the disease, including the United States. In this episode host Jessica Swain talks to Dr. Elizabeth Talbot, infectious diseases physician at Dartmouth Health and professor of medicine at the Geisel School of Medicine, with hopes to increase awaren...