Posts by Rachel DiGiacomo

Reinventing the Medical Hub: Navigating the Primary Care Crisis in 2026


{“main-title”:{“component”:”hc_title”,”id”:”main-title”,”title”:””,”subtitle”:””,”title_content”:{“component”:”hc_title_image”,”id”:”title-image”,”image”:””,”full_screen”:false,”full_screen_height”:””,”parallax”:false,”bleed”:””,”ken_burn”:””,”breadcrumbs”:false,”light”:false,”alignment”:””}},”section_5ZtkF”:{“component”:”hc_section”,”id”:”section_5ZtkF”,”section_width”:””,”animation”:””,”animation_time”:””,”timeline_animation”:””,”timeline_delay”:””,”timeline_order”:””,”vertical_row”:””,”css_classes”:””,”custom_css_classes”:””,”custom_css_styles”:””,”section_content”:[{“component”:”hc_column”,”id”:”column_vtfQF”,”column_width”:”col-md-12″,”animation”:””,”animation_time”:””,”timeline_animation”:””,”timeline_delay”:””,”timeline_order”:””,”css_classes”:””,”custom_css_classes”:””,”custom_css_styles”:””,”main_content”:[{“component”:”hc_wp_editor”,”id”:”Xhugf”,”css_classes”:””,”custom_css_classes”:””,”custom_css_styles”:””,”editor_content”:”The American healthcare landscape is currently defined by a stark contradiction. While health systems identify primary care as the essential cornerstone for cost management and value-based care, actual financial investment is shrinking. Data from the Health Care Cost Institute (HCCI) reveals that primary care spending accounts for just 4.39% of total U.S. health expenditures—a figure […]


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Medical Schools Pledge 40 Hours of Nutrition Training Amid Workforce Concerns


{“main-title”:{“component”:”hc_title”,”id”:”main-title”,”title”:””,”subtitle”:””,”title_content”:{“component”:”hc_title_image”,”id”:”title-image”,”image”:””,”full_screen”:false,”full_screen_height”:””,”parallax”:false,”bleed”:””,”ken_burn”:””,”breadcrumbs”:false,”light”:false,”alignment”:””}},”section_5ZtkF”:{“component”:”hc_section”,”id”:”section_5ZtkF”,”section_width”:””,”animation”:””,”animation_time”:””,”timeline_animation”:””,”timeline_delay”:””,”timeline_order”:””,”vertical_row”:””,”css_classes”:””,”custom_css_classes”:””,”custom_css_styles”:””,”section_content”:[{“component”:”hc_column”,”id”:”column_vtfQF”,”column_width”:”col-md-12″,”animation”:””,”animation_time”:””,”timeline_animation”:””,”timeline_delay”:””,”timeline_order”:””,”css_classes”:””,”custom_css_classes”:””,”custom_css_styles”:””,”main_content”:[{“component”:”hc_wp_editor”,”id”:”Xhugf”,”css_classes”:””,”custom_css_classes”:””,”custom_css_styles”:””,”editor_content”:”As the United States faces a preventable disease crisis, a significant shift in medical education is underway. Approximately one-quarter of U.S. medical schools have committed to a new initiative to expand their nutrition curricula starting in autumn 2026. Under a voluntary agreement with federal health and education officials, 53 institutions will now require 40 hours […]


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The Financial Reality of 2026 Staffing


{“main-title”:{“component”:”hc_title”,”id”:”main-title”,”title”:””,”subtitle”:””,”title_content”:{“component”:”hc_title_image”,”id”:”title-image”,”image”:””,”full_screen”:false,”full_screen_height”:””,”parallax”:false,”bleed”:””,”ken_burn”:””,”breadcrumbs”:false,”light”:false,”alignment”:””}},”section_5ZtkF”:{“component”:”hc_section”,”id”:”section_5ZtkF”,”section_width”:””,”animation”:””,”animation_time”:””,”timeline_animation”:””,”timeline_delay”:””,”timeline_order”:””,”vertical_row”:””,”css_classes”:””,”custom_css_classes”:””,”custom_css_styles”:””,”section_content”:[{“component”:”hc_column”,”id”:”column_vtfQF”,”column_width”:”col-md-12″,”animation”:””,”animation_time”:””,”timeline_animation”:””,”timeline_delay”:””,”timeline_order”:””,”css_classes”:””,”custom_css_classes”:””,”custom_css_styles”:””,”main_content”:[{“component”:”hc_wp_editor”,”id”:”Xhugf”,”css_classes”:””,”custom_css_classes”:””,”custom_css_styles”:””,”editor_content”:”The traditional playbook for medical staffing is currently broken. While raising the minimum wage is a win for workers, it has become a significant shock to physician practices running on razor-thin margins. In some states, minimum wage hikes are reaching 25% to 30% over just a year or two. According to Dr. Rihan Javid, only […]


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Beyond the Waiting Room: 14 Strategic Ways to Streamline Patient Flow


{“main-title”:{“component”:”hc_title”,”id”:”main-title”,”title”:””,”subtitle”:””,”title_content”:{“component”:”hc_title_image”,”id”:”title-image”,”image”:””,”full_screen”:false,”full_screen_height”:””,”parallax”:false,”bleed”:””,”ken_burn”:””,”breadcrumbs”:false,”light”:false,”alignment”:””}},”section_5ZtkF”:{“component”:”hc_section”,”id”:”section_5ZtkF”,”section_width”:””,”animation”:””,”animation_time”:””,”timeline_animation”:””,”timeline_delay”:””,”timeline_order”:””,”vertical_row”:””,”css_classes”:””,”custom_css_classes”:””,”custom_css_styles”:””,”section_content”:[{“component”:”hc_column”,”id”:”column_vtfQF”,”column_width”:”col-md-12″,”animation”:””,”animation_time”:””,”timeline_animation”:””,”timeline_delay”:””,”timeline_order”:””,”css_classes”:””,”custom_css_classes”:””,”custom_css_styles”:””,”main_content”:[{“component”:”hc_wp_editor”,”id”:”Xhugf”,”css_classes”:””,”custom_css_classes”:””,”custom_css_styles”:””,”editor_content”:”The challenge of long patient wait times is a universal pain point in healthcare, impacting everything from patient satisfaction to provider burnout. While some delays are caused by unavoidable emergencies, many are the result of outdated administrative habits. By shifting toward digital-first interactions, practices can eliminate the ‘lobby logjam’ before it even begins. Implementing a […]


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Administrative Overload: Paperwork, Not Patients, Fuels Record U.S. Primary Care Physician Burnout


{“main-title”:{“component”:”hc_title”,”id”:”main-title”,”title”:””,”subtitle”:””,”title_content”:{“component”:”hc_title_image”,”id”:”title-image”,”image”:””,”full_screen”:false,”full_screen_height”:””,”parallax”:false,”bleed”:””,”ken_burn”:””,”breadcrumbs”:false,”light”:false,”alignment”:””}},”section_5ZtkF”:{“component”:”hc_section”,”id”:”section_5ZtkF”,”section_width”:””,”animation”:””,”animation_time”:””,”timeline_animation”:””,”timeline_delay”:””,”timeline_order”:””,”vertical_row”:””,”css_classes”:””,”custom_css_classes”:””,”custom_css_styles”:””,”section_content”:[{“component”:”hc_column”,”id”:”column_vtfQF”,”column_width”:”col-md-12″,”animation”:””,”animation_time”:””,”timeline_animation”:””,”timeline_delay”:””,”timeline_order”:””,”css_classes”:””,”custom_css_classes”:””,”custom_css_styles”:””,”main_content”:[{“component”:”hc_wp_editor”,”id”:”Xhugf”,”css_classes”:””,”custom_css_classes”:””,”custom_css_styles”:””,”editor_content”:”The ‘International Health Policy Survey of Primary Care Physicians,’ which polled 10,895 PCPs across 10 countries this year, found the U.S. has the highest rate of doctors reporting feelings of burnout: 43% of U.S. PCPs are burned out. In comparison, New Zealand and Canada tied for second place at 38%, while the Netherlands reported the […]


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Medicare’s Mixed Bag: Payment Win for Doctors Threatened by New Practice Cuts


{“main-title”:{“component”:”hc_title”,”id”:”main-title”,”title”:””,”subtitle”:””,”title_content”:{“component”:”hc_title_image”,”id”:”title-image”,”image”:””,”full_screen”:false,”full_screen_height”:””,”parallax”:false,”bleed”:””,”ken_burn”:””,”breadcrumbs”:false,”light”:false,”alignment”:””}},”section_5ZtkF”:{“component”:”hc_section”,”id”:”section_5ZtkF”,”section_width”:””,”animation”:””,”animation_time”:””,”timeline_animation”:””,”timeline_delay”:””,”timeline_order”:””,”vertical_row”:””,”css_classes”:””,”custom_css_classes”:””,”custom_css_styles”:””,”section_content”:[{“component”:”hc_column”,”id”:”column_vtfQF”,”column_width”:”col-md-12″,”animation”:””,”animation_time”:””,”timeline_animation”:””,”timeline_delay”:””,”timeline_order”:””,”css_classes”:””,”custom_css_classes”:””,”custom_css_styles”:””,”main_content”:[{“component”:”hc_wp_editor”,”id”:”Xhugf”,”css_classes”:””,”custom_css_classes”:””,”custom_css_styles”:””,”editor_content”:”The finalized 2026 Medicare Fee Schedule has been met with both relief and serious concern by the American Medical Association (AMA). While the rule delivers a crucial payment update and expands telehealth, the AMA cautions that new policies targeting efficiency and facility payments could destabilize independent physician practices nationwide, ultimately threatening seniors’ access to care.\n\nA […]


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Healing the Healers: How Peer Support Programs Help Physicians Cope After Adverse Events


{“main-title”:{“component”:”hc_title”,”id”:”main-title”,”title”:””,”subtitle”:””,”title_content”:{“component”:”hc_title_image”,”id”:”title-image”,”image”:””,”full_screen”:false,”full_screen_height”:””,”parallax”:false,”bleed”:””,”ken_burn”:””,”breadcrumbs”:false,”light”:false,”alignment”:””}},”section_5ZtkF”:{“component”:”hc_section”,”id”:”section_5ZtkF”,”section_width”:””,”animation”:””,”animation_time”:””,”timeline_animation”:””,”timeline_delay”:””,”timeline_order”:””,”vertical_row”:””,”css_classes”:””,”custom_css_classes”:””,”custom_css_styles”:””,”section_content”:[{“component”:”hc_column”,”id”:”column_vtfQF”,”column_width”:”col-md-12″,”animation”:””,”animation_time”:””,”timeline_animation”:””,”timeline_delay”:””,”timeline_order”:””,”css_classes”:””,”custom_css_classes”:””,”custom_css_styles”:””,”main_content”:[{“component”:”hc_wp_editor”,”id”:”Xhugf”,”css_classes”:””,”custom_css_classes”:””,”custom_css_styles”:””,”editor_content”:”The emotional fallout from an adverse patient outcome—including distress, career fears, and the stress of investigations—can be devastating for physicians and healthcare staff. Recognizing this profound need, Sutter Health has built tiered peer support programs designed to help clinicians and employees heal, a strategy highlighted at the 2025 American Conference on Physician Health. Peer support […]


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Why America’s Physician Shortage is Dangerously Accelerating


{“main-title”:{“component”:”hc_title”,”id”:”main-title”,”title”:””,”subtitle”:””,”title_content”:{“component”:”hc_title_image”,”id”:”title-image”,”image”:””,”full_screen”:false,”full_screen_height”:””,”parallax”:false,”bleed”:””,”ken_burn”:””,”breadcrumbs”:false,”light”:false,”alignment”:””}},”section_5ZtkF”:{“component”:”hc_section”,”id”:”section_5ZtkF”,”section_width”:””,”animation”:””,”animation_time”:””,”timeline_animation”:””,”timeline_delay”:””,”timeline_order”:””,”vertical_row”:””,”css_classes”:””,”custom_css_classes”:””,”custom_css_styles”:””,”section_content”:[{“component”:”hc_column”,”id”:”column_vtfQF”,”column_width”:”col-md-12″,”animation”:””,”animation_time”:””,”timeline_animation”:””,”timeline_delay”:””,”timeline_order”:””,”css_classes”:””,”custom_css_classes”:””,”custom_css_styles”:””,”main_content”:[{“component”:”hc_wp_editor”,”id”:”Xhugf”,”css_classes”:””,”custom_css_classes”:””,”custom_css_styles”:””,”editor_content”:”America’s looming physician shortage is not just approaching—it’s accelerating. A recent decade-long study reveals a troubling rise in doctors leaving clinical practice, a trend that threatens to push the nation’s projected shortage of up to 86,000 doctors by 2036 even higher.\n Attrition Rates Spike Across the Board \nThe national analysis, published in Annals of Internal […]


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Leading Physician Organizations: Turmoil at the CDC Puts Lives at Risk


{“main-title”:{“component”:”hc_title”,”id”:”main-title”,”title”:””,”subtitle”:””,”title_content”:{“component”:”hc_title_image”,”id”:”title-image”,”image”:””,”full_screen”:false,”full_screen_height”:””,”parallax”:false,”bleed”:””,”ken_burn”:””,”breadcrumbs”:false,”light”:false,”alignment”:””}},”section_5ZtkF”:{“component”:”hc_section”,”id”:”section_5ZtkF”,”section_width”:””,”animation”:””,”animation_time”:””,”timeline_animation”:””,”timeline_delay”:””,”timeline_order”:””,”vertical_row”:””,”css_classes”:””,”custom_css_classes”:””,”custom_css_styles”:””,”section_content”:[{“component”:”hc_column”,”id”:”column_vtfQF”,”column_width”:”col-md-12″,”animation”:””,”animation_time”:””,”timeline_animation”:””,”timeline_delay”:””,”timeline_order”:””,”css_classes”:””,”custom_css_classes”:””,”custom_css_styles”:””,”main_content”:[{“component”:”hc_wp_editor”,”id”:”Xhugf”,”css_classes”:””,”custom_css_classes”:””,”custom_css_styles”:””,”editor_content”:”A coalition of leading physician organizations has released a joint statement expressing grave concern over recent turmoil at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The groups, including the American Osteopathic Association, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the American College of Physicians, believe that the recent firing of Director Monarez and the […]


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Overcoming Barriers to Physician Mental Health Care


{“main-title”:{“component”:”hc_title”,”id”:”main-title”,”title”:””,”subtitle”:””,”title_content”:{“component”:”hc_title_image”,”id”:”title-image”,”image”:””,”full_screen”:false,”full_screen_height”:””,”parallax”:false,”bleed”:””,”ken_burn”:””,”breadcrumbs”:false,”light”:false,”alignment”:””}},”section_5ZtkF”:{“component”:”hc_section”,”id”:”section_5ZtkF”,”section_width”:””,”animation”:””,”animation_time”:””,”timeline_animation”:””,”timeline_delay”:””,”timeline_order”:””,”vertical_row”:””,”css_classes”:””,”custom_css_classes”:””,”custom_css_styles”:””,”section_content”:[{“component”:”hc_column”,”id”:”column_vtfQF”,”column_width”:”col-md-12″,”animation”:””,”animation_time”:””,”timeline_animation”:””,”timeline_delay”:””,”timeline_order”:””,”css_classes”:””,”custom_css_classes”:””,”custom_css_styles”:””,”main_content”:[{“component”:”hc_wp_editor”,”id”:”Xhugf”,”css_classes”:””,”custom_css_classes”:””,”custom_css_styles”:””,”editor_content”:”A recent article in JAMA reveals a critical public health issue: a significant number of doctors with mental health conditions are not seeking treatment. This is particularly concerning given that physicians experience higher rates of burnout, depression, anxiety, and suicide risk compared to the general population. This ‘treatment gap’ not only impacts a doctor’s personal […]


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