Reviewed and Edited By: Joe Chow, MD, Adult Medical Director, AccessNurse In today’s healthcare environment, data privacy and security are not optional—they are essential. For nearly three decades, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) has set the standard for protecting sensitive patient information, from electronic health records (EHRs) to [...]
A National Push for Smarter, More Connected Healthcare In July 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) launched a major initiative aimed at transforming the digital health ecosystem across the United States. This national effort called on healthcare providers and technology leaders to expand the use of AI-powered [...]
At AccessNurse, our commitment to delivering high-quality nurse triage care begins with clinical leadership. We’re proud to welcome Dr. Nicole Patterson as our new Pediatric Medical Director, bringing with her a wealth of clinical expertise, educational leadership, and a deep passion for pediatric emergency medicine. Dr. Patterson is board-certified in [...]
Nurse triage is no longer just about fielding phone calls — it’s a vital part of modern care delivery that directly influences patient safety, clinical outcomes, and operational efficiency. As more patients turn to remote care for quick, reliable guidance, triage nurses must navigate complex clinical scenarios in real time, [...]
Emergency department (ED) utilization rates are more than just numbers—they’re indicators of healthcare access, community needs, and system pressures. Recent data from Becker’s Hospital Review breaks down ED visits per 1,000 residents by state, highlighting significant variations across the country. At AccessNurse, we recognize that understanding these patterns is essential [...]
The healthcare industry is facing a critical staffing challenge. According to a new report from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), as highlighted by Becker’s Hospital Review, nearly 40% of nurses are considering leaving the profession by 2029. This alarming statistic underscores a future where access to [...]
Written by: Joe Chow, MD, Adult Medical Director, AccessNurse Measles? Pull out your medical textbooks. Medical textbooks- that’s how long it’s been since we’ve seen a significant outbreak of measles dating back to the late 1980s. After the recommendation of a second dose of MMR, measles was declared “eliminated” from the [...]
Written by: Joe Chow, MD, Adult Medical Director, AccessNurse As if last season’s “tripledemic” of the flu, Covid and RSV wasn’t enough, this winter season has added a familiar virus, Norovirus, aka the “stomach flu”, to the mix. We’ve now become all too familiar with the three respiratory viruses and their coalescing [...]
It’s that time of year again. As the 2025 flu season unfolds, hospitals and healthcare systems across the country are grappling with unprecedented challenges. Emergency departments (EDs) are overwhelmed with patients presenting flu-related complications, leading to longer wait times, resource shortages, and increased strain on already overburdened healthcare professionals. A [...]
Written by: Joe Chow, MD, Adult Medical Director, AccessNurse The Early Years Ask hospital CEOs or healthcare practice leaders what are some of the top issues that keep them up at night, and no doubt financial pressures, in one iteration or another, is likely to be their answer. Whether it is [...]