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How primary care can fail new mothers

Mothers are at risk not only during their birth, but in the weeks after. About 700 women a year die because of their pregnancy. To combat this, primary care providers should see women during their pregnancy and inthe weeks following. In addition, ‘clinicians must be aware of possible complications and ask probing questions if they don't have a patient's medical records at hand.’

Drug shortages at an all-time high

In the United States, drug shortages are at a 10-year high. Some of the most affected are chemotherapy drugs. Several of those have no alternative. Reasons for the shortage include increased demand and low profit margins for generics. "The shortage of certain cancer drugs has become a serious and life-threatening issue for cancer patients across the country," Karen E. Knudsen, MBA, PhD, chief executive officer of the American Cancer Society (ACS) and its advocacy affiliate, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) said in a statement.

Masks still recommended in healthcare settings

A recent study reports that masks are still needed in healthcare settings. In fact, 97% of epidemiologists disagreed with the United States decision to stop enforcing masking. Still, physicians must work. As a result ‘up to two-thirds of healthcare professionals admitted working with respiratory symptoms,’ due to understaffed conditions.