How can healthcare make people feel “bad”? Some patients feel like they have too many needs, and as such such they feel like a drag on healthcare professionals. Doctors, nurses, and others sometimes give off vibes as if they’re tired of the patients or they don’t care about them. In her essay “Close”, Alexandra DeFelice describes her time with a patient she worked with. The patient reported that the time Alexandra spent with her made a huge impact on her recovery, which is really what healthcare should be about: treating them as humans. Read full article here
Societal Issues
To curb drug deaths, communities turn to Reddit, texts and wastewater
With drug overdose deaths on the rise, authorities are attempting to curb the epidemic by tracking and sharing information in real time. In one unique effort, a nonprofit in New York City is using drug-testing equipment and stamping or marking habits of dealers to identify drug batches that may endanger users. Other approaches are also being used, such as monitoring drug-related chatter on Reddit and analyzing local wastewater for opioid and other drug levels. With the combination of these efforts, researchers hope to put a dent in the opioid crisis and reduce overdose deaths. Read full article here
Merv
June 1, 2023
