- Center on Health Equity & Access
- Clinical
- Health Care Cost
- Health Care Delivery
- Insurance
- Policy
- Technology
- Value-Based Care
What We're Reading: Opioids Cause More Fatalities Than Overdose Deaths
What we're reading, June 15, 2016: opioids also linked to heart-related deaths and fatalities other than overdoses; judge overrules Federal Trade Commission's efforts to block merger of Advocate Health Care and NorthShore University HealthSystem in Illinois; and using social media to monitor patients outside of the healthcare setting.
Opioids may also be linked to heart-related deaths and other fatalities in addition to overdose deaths. According to the AP, a study found that while 64% of patients taking opioids had a higher risk of dying within 6 months of starting their medication, only 18% of deaths were due to unintentional overdoses. The prescription painkillers are responsible for slowing breathing or worsening the type of disrupted breathing that occurs with sleep apnea, ultimately resulting in heart attacks or death.
In Illinois, a federal judge has overruled efforts by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to block a merger of 2 hospital systems. The FTC was interested in preventing the deal because it felt the system emerging as a result of the merger of Advocate Health Care and NorthShore University HealthSystem would dominate the North Shore area of Chicago, reported The New York Times. The judge’s reasoning has not been explained yet, but his decision will be released after the hospital systems can redact sensitive competitive information.
Doctors could start using social media to follow patients’ health issues. FastCompany reported that people are using social media to discuss health issues they normally don’t tell their doctors, which providers can use to monitor patients outside of a healthcare setting. However, few health systems are currently equipped to eal with remote patient monitoring.
Laundromats as a New Frontier in Community Health, Medicaid Outreach
May 29th 2025Lindsey Leininger, PhD, and Allister Chang, MPA, highlight the potential of laundromats as accessible, community-based settings to support Medicaid outreach, foster trust, and connect families with essential health and social services.
Listen
What Will AI in Health Care Look Like in the Future?
July 10th 2025Artificial intelligence (AI) transforms oncology by enhancing clinical decision-making, improving patient outcomes, and shaping future health care training, as discussed by experts at Tennessee Oncology's “Tech Innovations in Community Oncology."
Read More
Inside the Center's MDD Value Model and Its Use of Dynamic Pricing
May 13th 2025Larragem Raines, MS, of the Center for Innovation & Value Research, discusses the organization's major depressive disorder (MDD) open-source value model, dynamic pricing, and the future role of artificial intelligence in care.
Listen
Using AI for the Medical Note: Game Changer or a Bridge Too Far?
July 9th 2025During the “Tech Innovations in Community Oncology” meeting from Tennessee Oncology, oncologists explore artificial intelligence (AI) tools like DeepScribe to enhance documentation efficiency, reduce burnout, and improve patient engagement in clinical settings.
Read More
