Like most other ordinary activities these days, a trip to the vet feels a little different because of COVID-19. Rather than ushering their pets into a busy waiting room or narrow exam room, owners perform socially-distanced handoffs and wait in their car for the veterinarian to call or nix the car trip altogether for a [...]
Veterinary care has made incredible strides over the last decade. Modern animal care centers are pet-friendly mirrors of their human-centric counterparts. Veterinarians spend years of study to stand on the cutting edge of veterinary medicine; as of 2020, the American Veterinary Medical Association recognized 41 distinct specialties in the field, including oncology, dermatology, internal medicine, [...]
When it comes to protecting patients from the crushing weight of healthcare expenses, employer sponsored and individual high-deductible insurance plans offer all the protection of a dented tin roof in a hailstorm. They present the appearance of security and can potentially deflect the cost burden of some medical bills -- but in all likelihood, financially-damaging [...]
Pet ownership has been all but synonymous with companionship, happiness, and support for years. Furry companions offer countless opportunities for engagement and emotional reassurance for animal lovers of all ages; however, given our current senior isolation epidemic, the potential benefits of caring for a pet are particularly significant for aging, lonely adults. Coming home [...]
As I write this blog, I find myself frustrated with by the never-ending hand-wringing about the health care affordability crisis and the unsustainability of the cur rent benefit models for both employers and their employees. The time for action is now. It is my fervent belief that the opportunity for a paradigm change does exist [...]
A decade ago, giving instructions to your seemingly empty living room might have earned you a few odd looks from your houseguests. But times have changed; now, the sound of someone asking Alexa to make a phone call, Siri to add an item to a shopping list, or Google to report on the weather has [...]
That old stereotype of Grandma spending her later days watching CNN in her daughter’s back room may well be heading into retirement. Baby Boomers are entering their last decades in droves; according to statistics provided by the Pew Research Group, roughly 10,000 Boomers will turn 65 every day until 2030. The Census Bureau further estimates [...]
Amazon is widely acknowledged for its disruptive capabilities. In the span of only a few decades, it managed to revolutionize the way that many people engage with consumer goods. Its meteoric rise to prominence played a crucial part in toppling once-giant brick-and-mortar department stores -- and for good reason. After all, why would someone bother [...]
When you think of healthcare benefits for women, what pops into your head? For most people, the answer would probably be family leave. It’s a hot-button issue; while federal law requires employers to offer their full-time female employees job-protected, unpaid leave for up to 12 weeks after the birth or adoption of a new child, [...]
Workplace wellness programs get a bad rap. Some skeptics and industry critics deride all such efforts as well-meaning but ineffective, labeling them as deserving recognition for their positive intent, but not for their impact. They cost more money than they save; their tangible benefits appear underwhelming at best. Judging by the critical literature, it would [...]