Integration & Physician Issues

For the first time in decades of robots helping perform surgeries, researchers have trained the technology to learn from videos and self-correct, according to a Dec. 30 report from The Washington Post. 

Amid shrinking reimbursement rates and growing frustrations with administrative burdens, more physicians are turning to cash-only or direct primary care models. 

Tacoma, Wash.-based MultiCare Health System has opened a two-story, 22,000-square-foot facility to house two clinics and three graduate medical education programs, according to a Dec. 19 news release. 

Eight percent, or about 72,000, of physicians are unionized, and the number of official union drives among private-sector physicians has leaped in the past two years, Medscape reported Dec. 19.

A new study from the University of California San Diego School of Medicine found that applying Lean methodology to surgical residency programs reduces work hours and improves program efficiency. 

The demand for changes to medical school curriculum has been growing in recent years, and although schools are starting to make changes, many medical professionals want to see more.

While innovative technologies in healthcare today aim to drive efficiency, reduce administrative burden and empower patients to take charge in their care, this hasn't always been the case.

Eighteen percent of female physicians said their employer prioritizes their career growth, according to a recent Medscape report.

Female physicians said that work-life balance and autonomy over patient care were their top priorities, according to a Medscape report.

Ten universities are working on a national effort to create an obesity curriculum for medical schools.