The 2024 KFF Women’s Health Survey reveals that nearly 25% of women aged 18 to 64 have experienced unfair or disrespectful treatment from healthcare providers in the past two years, with weight stigma being the most cited reason. The findings indicate higher rates of negative interactions among Black and Hispanic women, with 26% and 25% respectively reporting such experiences linked to their race or accent. Additionally, women of reproductive age, those with lower incomes, LGBT+ women, and women with disabilities also faced increased instances of discrimination, highlighting the complex layers of prejudice within healthcare settings. Approximately one-third of women who sought care reported encountering at least one adverse interaction.

Disrespect and Discrimination: Women Face Alarming Healthcare Disparities KFF

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is making gradual updates to its EHR system, which has faced a pause in its 2023 rollout amid user concerns. During this hiatus, the VA has implemented over 1,500 configuration changes but still has around 1,800 unresolved requests. While the agency has made some enhancements in patient safety and system performance, it has not yet revised cost estimates or the rollout schedule, which are critical for project oversight. A 2022 analysis estimated that the total costs for EHR modernization could approach $50 billion, highlighting the need for the VA to reassess its budgeting and to set a baseline for measuring progress, particularly in relation to the configuration change requests. User feedback remains largely negative, despite some improvements being reported in 2024.

VA Struggles with EHR Modernization Amid User Concerns and Cost Uncertainties GAO

Skilled nursing facility (SNF)-at-home programs are emerging as viable alternatives to traditional nursing homes, aiming to ease bed shortages in rehabilitation facilities by facilitating recovery at home with the help of healthcare professionals and technology. Early trials, such as those at UMass Chan Medical School, have shown that patients prefer home recoveries, especially in rural areas where nursing homes are scarce. Successful implementations, like the one at Marshfield Clinic Health System, highlight better patient outcomes compared to conventional nursing facilities. However, challenges persist, including a lack of federal standards, unclear service offerings, and inadequate reimbursement from insurance plans, which complicate the broader adoption of these programs.

Revolutionizing Recovery: SNF-at-Home Programs Transform Patient Care Skilled Nursing News

Meta is launching its Community Notes feature in the U.S. on March 18, a new approach to fact-checking for platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Threads. This crowdsourced initiative draws inspiration from a similar program by Twitter, as Meta seeks to improve upon its previous reliance on third-party fact-checkers, which faced criticism for biases and misapplications. The Community Notes system allows users to contribute and rate fact-checks, promoting a balanced evaluation of information by ensuring consensus among contributors before a note is displayed. Meta intends to refine this feature domestically before considering international rollout, particularly amid scrutiny from the European Commission.

Meta Launches Community Notes to Revolutionize Fact-Checking in the U.S. TechCrunch