Social media has quickly become a part of everyday life—most people can’t go 10 minutes without checking Twitter or Facebook—but the increased connectivity can be a positive for healthcare providers.

The Commonwealth Fund has released two new issue briefs on high-need patients, aiming to better understand the characteristics of these patients instead focusing on costs alone.

Some doctors are on board with the new guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) allowing for pediatrician dismissal from their practices of families who refuse vaccination—and some are not, according to Forbes. 

Early detection is key in giving the most effective treatments in a wide array of diseases and diabetic retinopathy is no exception. For those struggling with this disease it can be problematic to visit the eye doctor, and that’s where telemedicine comes into play. Taking the idea from a nationwide telemedicine diabetic screening program in the United Kingdom, researchers are hoping to bring telemedicine for eyes care to the United States.

The U.S. Patent and Trademark office awards more than 6,000 patents this week. The Next Web (TNW), an online site focused on developing technology, covered a number of high-profile entries. One entry from Google just might save your life if you're in need of care. Patent no. US 20160244163 covers unmanned aerial vehicles (or drones) intended to be a part of an illustrative medical-support system, according to the related paperwork. 

iPads have integrated themselves into almost every household in America. The unlimited apps that can be downloaded provide endless possibilities for learning and entertainment, they can also now be used to distract children before they head into surgery. Using these iPads before heading into the operating have been proven to be as effective at reducing anxiety as sedatives.

Only three U.S. states have policy referring to the use of telemedicine in pregnancy, delivery and postpartum care, according to a new study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. That less-than-ideal access to healthcare could be costing the lives of mothers and their babies.

Growing up surrounded by technology, the so-called millennial generation has already developed new innovations for the slow-to-evolve healthcare system. Out of all the advances the generation has brought, what are the ones that have had the biggest impact on improving the healthcare space?