There's little data available on in-home caregiving, which makes reporting on the issue challenging. Unlike nursing homes, in-home care suffers from little oversight. But that's why it's such an important topic to cover. Here are some essential resources and tips to get started.
Physicians and therapists traditionally haven't collaborated much when treating the same patient, but the federal healthcare law is spurring a change.
Starting next year, clinics in rural and urban areas will begin seeing millions of newly insured patients, and face higher expectations to keep costs down. Clinics are trying to improve the odds of keeping these patients healthy, but many are too ill or resistant to altering behavior.
Calvin Woodard and his white van are a lifeline for those who are unable or unwilling to keep important medical appointments. 'He has a rapport sometimes that we can't have,' says a nurse practitioner.
Lesson: Community Health Centers
With all the media coverage of health reform, there has been surprisingly little reporting about community health centers. Their story is an important one -- and can be told from anywhere in the U.S. I started with many ideas, but quickly set them aside and let the reporting dictate the stories.
Doctors say it will be virtually impossible to keep low-income patients with significant problems healthy and out of hospitals -- part of new government mandates under health reform and a linchpin for reducing medical spending -- without timely access to a specialist.
Project: Diabetes is a stubborn adversary
Patients come each month to the To Help Everyone (T.H.E.) Clinic, hoping to finally gain the upper hand on their diabetes, a disease wreaking havoc on their bodies — and their community.
Doctors, nurse practitioners and physician assistants at community clinics work long hours treating multitudes of patients, who often have more than one chronic illness.
At a South Los Angeles community clinic, the grand expectations of Washington policymakers meet the sobering realities of treating patients who often have poor health habits, limited resources and complex illnesses.