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Here's The Latest in Health Care:

•  New research is asking the question: can treating patients with both medicine and compassion make a measurable difference on the wellbeing of both patients and doctors? A recent study has shown that when health care providers take the time to show compassion and make human connections, patient outcomes improve, medical costs decrease, and physicians suffer less burnout.  Read More

•  The Department of Health and Human Services issued a request from December 2018-February 2019 for the public's input on how the HIPAA Privacy Rule could be changed to further promote health care that is better coordinated at lower cost. HHS requested this information on specific HIPAA regulations that present barriers to patient care and interoperability. The office said it wants to update HIPAA to support care coordination, improved patient outcomes, and easier access for patients to their protected health information. The AMA later posted a letter saying that this wasn't necessary and urging HHS not to make changes.  Read More

•  A recent United Nations report says that the overuse of common antimicrobial drugs is leading to the world’s population becoming unable to fight deadly infections. The problem is predicted to majorly impact underdeveloped countries, which are more prone to the spread of infectious diseases. The report seeks to raise public awareness and urge political leaders to take action.  Read More

•  Cincinnati-based health system Bon Secours Mercy is planning on yet another merger - this time in Ireland. The new partnership will create a system with more than 60,000 employees and improve care for their patients and communities. These new merger talks with Bon Secours Ireland comes only months after Bon Secours and Mercy Health finalized their merger, which resulted in a whopping $293 million in operating income.  Read More

Each Friday, Signor Goat reports the latest from the week in health care. Check back next Friday for your dose of our little medical corner of health care news. Brought to you by pMD, innovators in charge capture, secure messaging, clinical communication, MIPS registry, and care navigation software.

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