Personalizing the "deceased note" in medical records; saving hospice care from profiteers; paid sick leave for all workers; and more

Opinion and perspective essays curated by First Opinion editor Patrick Skerrett ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ 

First Opinion authors this week explored why it's important to personalize the "deceased note" in medical records, made a plea for saving hospice care from profit-oriented malfeasance, explained how paid sick leave for all workers is good for public health, and more. You can read all of the week's essays here. The art of the 'deceased note': A physician grapples with documenting patients' final moments By Trisha S. Pasricha Courtesy Trisha Pasricha The deceased note in medical charts usually includes stark clinical details. They need to include some personal details. Read More Hospice care needs saving By Ira Byock Adobe A media investigation documented outright fraud, predatory practices, and more in the hospice industry. This essential care must be saved. Read More Paid sick leave is good for workers — and U.S. public health By Devan Hawkins Adobe The United States is unique among high-income countries in not mandating that employers provide their workers with access to paid sick leave. Read More Sponsored Insight by STAT+ Searching for the perfect gift? Get 3 months of STAT+ for $30. A STAT+ subscription gives you unlimited access to in-depth investigative journalism, groundbreaking analysis, subscriber-only newsletters, and industry event discounts. With a premium membership, you’ll get your life sciences news direct from the source. For a limited time only, get three months of STAT+ for just $30. Subscribe now. Primary care physicians try to give their all — until they can't. It's time to flip the archetype to teamwork By Audrey Provenzano Adobe The vast asymmetry between the expectations of primary care and the support for it imperils the future of this essential profession. Read More Responsibly expanding access to methadone for people with opioid use disorder will save lives By Greg Rudolf David Goldman/AP Unscientific regulations that limit access to methadone prevent many people with opioid use disorder from receiving this lifesaving medicine. Read More STAT+: Fixing price instability can improve access to affordable prescription drugs By Matthew Gibbs ADOBE Using the national average drug acquisition cost as a benchmark could save the United States $937 million a year. Read More Lessons from Ecuador on responding to the mental health crisis in the U.S. and around the world By John Q. Young Adobe A pilot program in Ecuador to increase access to mental health care could offer lessons to rich and poor countries around the world. Read More To protect the medical supply chain, 'made in America' will be key By Tony Paquin and David Sanders Adobe Reinvigorating the domestic supply chain is an important step toward protecting Americans' health and the country's national security. Read More Sunday, December 18, 2022       1 Exchange Pl, Suite 201, Boston, MA 02109 ©2022, All Rights Reserved. I no longer wish to receive STAT emails Update Email Preferences | Contact Us | View In Browser