healthcare — Blog — Sage Perspectives Blog

The Invisible Minority

The number of people self-identifying as LGBTQ is increasing in the United States, reaching a new high of 7.1% in 2022 according to a Gallup poll. The same poll found that 1 in 5 (20%) of adult members of Gen Z identify as LGBTQ – also known as sexual and gender diverse (SGD). This may have serious implications for our health systems and providers, as SGD people suffer disproportionately from many health problems, and are at greater risk for anxiety, suicidal ideation, certain cancers, and cardiovascular disease due to difficulty accessing health services and avoidance of primary care.

ResearchRachel WolfeMarch 21, 2024LGBTQ, healthcare, LGBTQ health, Sexual and gender diverse, mental health

Abortion Decisions as Humanizing Acts

Since Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022, understanding how people who have abortions are perceived is more important than ever before. Abortion rhetoric appears to be shifting away from overt hostility and toward more covert animosity. On the surface, this rhetoric may seem caring, but it dehumanizes pregnant people by justifying laws, policies, and other barriers that undermine pregnant people’s ability to exercise their full humanity.

ResearchRachel WolfeJanuary 24, 2024abortion rights, healthcare, pregnant people, Roe v. Wade, post-Roe

Bridging the Gap: Harnessing Community Health Workers to Boost Men's Health

Men have shorter life spans and higher rates of preventable illnesses and diseases than women. Despite these concerns, men are less likely to seek preventive healthcare and engage in health promotion efforts – things that have led them to be called a “hard to reach” group. However, research among men has shown that men really do care about their health. This represents a significant contradiction. This contradiction highlights the need to improve health promotion efforts among men.

Quality Improvement in Healthcare – Reflections from the Authors

Quality improvement (QI) has been the core of much of Dr. Maria Kordowicz and Niroshan Siriwardena’s work both as practitioners and researchers. They wanted to write an accessible guide for students and practitioners which would not only convey the theoretical underpinnings of QI, but also consider the applied elements of what it takes to be an ‘improver’.

Research, Editor's PicksRachel WolfeSeptember 12, 2023healthcare, quality improvement, books, improver

Time for Global Action on Youth Mental Health

There is growing recognition that the mental health of young people has reached a crisis point. Many countries are experiencing a rising demand for mental health care by young people that cannot be met by services, leading to excessive wait times. The potential consequences of this crisis are staggering on an individual and societal level. Young people deserve a promising future that is not eroded by the burden of mental illness.

ResearchRachel WolfeAugust 4, 2023youth, mental health, healthcare, global action

Refugee and Immigrant Core Stressors Toolkit to Care for Newly Arrived Children in a School Nursing Setting

Recent data estimate that nearly 88 million immigrants and their U.S.-born children account for approximately 27% of the total U.S. population. Identifying the key factors that impact the health and wellbeing of newly arrived children is a complex challenge, even for the most seasoned school professional.

ResearchMaria Pia TissotApril 17, 2023stress, refugees, immigrants, healthcare

Wicked Bodies: LGBTQ+ People and Eating Disorders

The causes of eating disorders are complex and the recovery journey for people living with eating disorders can often be difficult and challenging. For LGBTQ+ people recovery can be even harder. Resources that bring attention to this and that support LGBTQ+ people in their recovery are much needed.

ResearchMaria Pia TissotFebruary 28, 2023eating disorders, LGBTQ+, healthcare

Providing optimal Psoriasis care in Primary care settings: Bridging care gaps by responding to healthcare professionals’ educational needs

Keeping up to date with treatment options and other resources is key for healthcare professionals (HCPs) but challenging given the overwhelming heaps of data that need to be reviewed.

Research, Editor's PicksMaria Pia TissotOctober 29, 2022Psoriasis, dermatology, healthcare, rheumatology

Meeting the developmental needs of infants and toddlers with cancer

Infants and toddlers with cancer require specialized treatment that includes care from a multidisciplinary team and Occupational Therapy plays an essential role in meeting their developmental needs.

ResearchMaria Pia TissotSeptember 7, 2022cancer, childhood cancer, Occupational Therapy, healthcare

Are nurse practitioners and telemental health compatible?

As a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) working in a community setting and as a professor at the University of Southern Maine (USM) School of Nursing, it has become crystal clear to me that we are on the verge of a revolution in how we see and treat patients. Not only are we beginning to understand how to treat the virus, we are also figuring out how to best engage with patients who we can no longer see face to face.

Research, Editor's PicksGuest UserNovember 24, 2020nursing, COVID-19, telemental health, healthcare

Televideo Health Provides Painless Opportunities for Patients in Pain

Televideo offers an enhanced option for patient visits, particularly with chronic illness where travel to a clinic can make things worse – in particular, chronic pain syndromes and situations where exposure to others elevates infectious risk for office staff and patients. In the wake of COVID-19, there has been an exodus from clinic visits to televideo, in an effort to reduce the contagion and possible ubiquitous transmission of this deadly disease to patients and clinicians.

Research, Editor's PicksGuest UserSeptember 16, 2020televideo, COVID-19, healthcare, telemedicine

COVID-19: A Renewed Call to Improve the Nation’s Health Literacy

Although digital strategists from government, academia, and industry are collaborating to improve access to accurate COVID-19 information on social media, citizens in a democratic society need guidance today on sorting out fact from fiction.

Industry News, Editor's PicksKimberley SimpsonJune 11, 2020COVID-19, healthcare, health literacy

How on earth can you help healthcare workers cope during the Covid pandemic?

We asked this question ourselves many times, as we worked as front line medics, psychological support staff and leaders in the heart of the outbreak in London. We shared what we learned in our recent article “Mental health care for medical staff and affiliated healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic”

Research, Industry NewsKimberley SimpsonMay 20, 2020healthcare, COVID-19, pandemic