Food insecurity is a serious issue that affects many Americans and is also linked to poor health outcomes. A new McKinsey report, published Nov. 24, details why and how payers and health systems should turn their attention to combating the issue.

Even before the omicron variant rattled markets and health officials, Americans were still citing COVID-19 as the most urgent health issue facing the country, a new Gallup poll published Nov. 30 shows.

The healthcare sector has met artificial intelligence with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. In a world where clinicians are overwhelmed by data, many view predictive AI solutions as necessary tools that can be paired with human expertise and judgment. When done ‘right’, these tools can dramatically improve health outcomes, reduce costs, and increase productivity to alleviate critical labor challenges such as staffing shortages.

A new survey conducted by the Stark County (Ohio) Health Department has found many women face significant barriers to healthcare access, including lack of appropriate appointment times and discrimination, reported The Repository Nov. 22.

Despite the tragic death toll the coronavirus caused in the U.S, vaccinations have been polarized politically, and many people are still hesitant about whether to get inoculated. Here are three strategies to promote COVID-19 vaccination, according to a report in The Lancet published Nov. 15. 

At the United Nations climate conference in Glasgow, 13 countries pledged to aim for net-zero emissions in their health systems by 2050. Doing so will be a challenge, but there are clear strategies systems can incorporate to reach the goal, The Lancet reported Nov. 17. 

ECG’s radio show and podcast, Healthcare Upside Down, offers unfiltered perspectives on what’s working in US healthcare and what’s not.

Ivermectin for COVID-19, microchips in the vaccines and the pandemic as a hoax. These are just a few of the conspiracy theories that have been proven to be false, yet nonetheless have circulated throughout the pandemic, bolstered by social media and polarized news. Some of the misinformation is spread by medical professionals themselves, giving medical boards, health systems and professional organizations a difficult task in regulating it. 

Many hospitals are reporting decreasing patient volumes but predict higher volumes in 2022, according to a McKinsey & Co. report published Nov. 15.

After July 2022, Americans will be able to dial 988 and reach a suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline. However, 80 percent of people do not know about it, according to a new poll done by Ipsos on behalf of the National Association of Mental Illness Nov. 15.

The American Hospital Association has launched a national radio spot calling recent healthcare workforce challenges and confusing insurance issues a "national emergency."

More than 60 healthcare organizations have signed a joint statement supporting the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's vaccine mandate and testing requirements, reported The Washington Post Nov. 18.

Today’s consumers are accustomed to having easy transactions at their fingertips, from making a restaurant reservation online to checking in to a flight from their couch at home.

A new startup has scraped public and private data to compile a directory of 10 million physicians worldwide, Forbes reported Nov. 16. 

As violence against healthcare workers continues to rise, more hospitals are addressing ways to ensure their staff feel safe in the workplace. 

Some companies are turning to the four-day workweek to combat burnout in employees and entice prospective employees to join, CNBC reported Nov. 15. The tactic may not be well-suited to the healthcare industry, though.

Pregnant women are using marijuana more often and are turning to their dispensaries for medical advice instead of healthcare professionals. A new study looked at healthcare workers and legal cannabis dealers' perceptions of the risks and benefits of cannabis use during pregnancy, published Nov. 15. 

Companies are struggling to balance in-person and remote work, with some claiming a combination of both is harder than either, The New York Times reported Nov. 16. 

It will become increasingly important for health systems to prepare for the effects of climate change and assess their own contributions to the issues. A Nov. 8 World Health Organization report reveals that nations are beginning to look into these problems. 

Boston Medical Center has launched a new plan to eliminate health equity gaps in healthcare, the organization announced Nov. 16.