Julia M. Johnson

1 month ago | smartbrief.com | Julia Johnson |Julia M. Johnson

4 min read HealthcareInsurersPharmaceuticalsProviders SmartBrief readers in April turned their attention to stories on how US government-imposed tariffs could affect health care organizations and communities at home in the coming years, potentially leading to rising costs and compromising access to care.

2 months ago | smartbrief.com | Julia Johnson |Julia M. Johnson

News on health sector belt tightening popped up often on SmartBrief readers’ screens in March, with major agencies and programs feeling the pinch of government action in critical areas like staffing and research funding. Some of the top topics people clicked on were extensive personnel cuts at the FDA, NIH budget reductions affecting biomedical research, survey results suggesting an exodus of health executive talent, and limits on compounded weight loss medications that could boost patient costs.

Mar 27, 2025 | smartbrief.com | Julia Johnson |Julia M. Johnson

5 min read HealthcareProviders Think about all the plastic items you use each day – detergent jugs, prescription vials, water bottles, food containers, grocery bags.

Mar 13, 2025 | smartbrief.com | Julia Johnson |Julia M. Johnson

In February, SmartBrief readers turned their attention to stories showing how intricately health care and finances intersect – and are interdependent. There was news of the fiscal strain that states are feeling over the coverage of costly weight loss drugs, Americans’ concerns about pricing and access to health services, and how insurance executives’ pay can be tied to customer satisfaction.

Feb 27, 2025 | smartbrief.com | Julia Johnson |Julia M. Johnson

You’re a busy hospital nurse, getting pulled in different directions, taking care of patients and helping other team members at every turn. In the middle of your shift, a key piece of electronic equipment stops working or a device isn’t responding the way it should. Suddenly, you can’t provide what your patient needs. What do you do? Become a technology troubleshooter on top of the many other roles you already fill?