Tips & Tools to Choose the Safest Medical Care

We've always loved our Twisted Oak  neighbors, and the pandemic has prompted us to spend even more time together--outside and six feet apart, of course. Out of one of our happy hours, the idea to hold neighborhood TwED Talks was born. We'd each pick a subject we know well and give a 20-minute presentation. We've learned about regulatory compliance, CRISPR gene editing, and behavioral economics and Nudges so far. Last weekend it was my turn, big surprise, I talked about choosing safe medical care. Some neighbors asked me to post my slides with links to the sites we discussed, so here they are. Antonia, filmed the presentation and provided this link. This Friday, we'll be learning about daily fantasy sports.

Tips & Tools to Choose the Safest Medical Care from Janet McNichol

The Path Forward for Mental Health

​Mental Health Care is in the U.S. is in crisis. There are too few providers, too few providers in networks, widespread gaps in collaborative care, and too little evidence-based practice. Access to providers who participate in insurance networks is particularly bad in the state of Maryland, placing a heavy financial burden on patients and their families. The problem affects all of us who live and work in the state. 

We've watched our colleagues at ASHA suffer. The stories we hear from parents trying to get care for their children are genuinely heartbreaking. Adults face similar challenges in finding providers. We've been searching for a way to improve access to high-quality mental healthcare for ASHA staff and jumped at the chance to support an initiative spearheaded by the Mid-Atlantic Business Group on Health. 

The initiative focuses on making improvements in five key areas:

1. Network Access
2. Tele-behavioral Health
3. Mental Health Parity Compliance
4. Collaborative Care
5. Measurement-Based Care

The kickoff meeting on January 15 brought together an impressive group of stakeholders--the MidAtlantic Business Group on Health, the Mental Health Association of Maryland, the Maryland Primary Care Program, and the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions​. The people around the table have the desire, drive, and influence to do something about the problems we face. We're excited to join forces with this group.