Reasoning defines human intelligence, yet we all too often make choices that utterly defy logic. We’re impatient or irrational—or both—even when it comes to ensuring our own good health. An earlier post covered the huge risk of overprescribing antibiotics. Overuse exposes patients to potentially dangerous side effects, wastes resources, increases antibiotic resistance and spurs the(...)
Patient Care
Deadly Resistance
Posted by | Health Innovation, Patient Care, Patient Safety, ResearchDr. Sara Cosgrove The Scottish physician Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928. Since then, antibiotics have transformed modern medicine and saved millions of lives by killing or slowing the growth of the bacteria that cause conditions such as bronchitis and pneumonia. However, shortly after winning the Nobel Prize in 1945, Fleming issued this warning in(...)
One for the Record Books
Posted by | Clinical Program Development, Collaboration, Health Innovation, Latin America, Patient Care, Patient SafetyOn May 11, 2016, Pacifica Salud Hospital Punta Pacifica made history by performing the first successful heart transplant in Panama. For the two years leading up to this event, Johns Hopkins Medicine International (JHI) worked with our affiliate Pacifica Salud behind the scenes, providing guidance in clinical programs, staff development, quality and patient safety. As(...)
Localizing Clinical Care
Posted by | Asia Pacific, Clinical Program Development, Collaboration, Health Innovation, Health System Sustainability, Latin America, Medical Education, Medical Technology, Middle East, Patient Care, Patient SafetyHealth care is a competitive business. Hospitals often invest in their clinical programs as a way to distinguish themselves in an increasingly tough marketplace. Hospitals offer clinical programs, such as emergency services, to compete directly for patients. Others use some services as a stepping stone leading to other in-demand care, for example, launching cardiac catheterization(...)
Don’t Believe the Hype
Posted by | Collaboration, Health Innovation, Medical Education, Middle East, Patient CareIn a previous post, we discussed that widely available, objective information can help prevent disease and promote health. But you’ve probably observed that a lot of health advice changes if you wait long enough. It’s hard to lead a healthy lifestyle when the rules keep changing. Remind me, where do we stand now on coffee,(...)
23 and Me (and You, Too)
Posted by | Health Innovation, Patient CareTwenty-three. That’s how many annual medical tests and immunizations Johns Hopkins suggests for a man my age on its prevention guidelines webpage. These recommendations span everything from blood pressure screenings to counseling for depression to seasonal flu vaccination. Hopkins bases these guidelines on information from the Centers for Disease Control, the U.S. Preventive Services Task(...)
Out Ahead
Posted by | Collaboration, Health Innovation, Patient Care, ResearchOver this series of posts, we’ve covered many factors and trends that are shaping the scene in international collaborative health. This is a motivating and exciting time in our field, and one thing is certain: Health care is changing faster than ever before. Can we keep up? Or better yet, can we get ahead and(...)
Possible Side Effects
Posted by | Health Care Leadership Development, Health Innovation, Medical Education, Nurse Development, Patient Care, ResearchWe know that global trends are changing clinical and preventive health care, research and development, workforce development and education. I encourage those of us in international collaborative health to discuss some of the unintended side effects we’ll encounter as our field grows more connected and complex. Here are some thoughts to get the conversation going:(...)
Our Next New Frontier
Posted by | Health Care Leadership Development, Health Innovation, Health System Sustainability, Medical Education, Nurse Development, Patient Care, Precision Medicine, ResearchAnyone who was around in the 1950s remembers how the Cold War tension between the United States and then-Soviet Union seeped into everyday life. There was the growing threat of nuclear war, conflict in Korea, and an ideological clash that played out in politics, the media and popular culture. Space became another dramatic stage for(...)
Download on Telehealth
Posted by | Collaboration, Health Innovation, Patient Care, Patient SafetyAs you’re reading this, there’s a good chance your phone is in your hand or at least within close reach. People everywhere are reliant upon—maybe even addicted—to their smartphones. This trend in our globalized world opens up great opportunities to improve health and health care. The evolution in technology—including online transactions, electronic medical records and(...)