Family Practice News articles from July 2003

Family Practice News archives from July 2003

FPs help gang members start over. (Volunteer Program).(family practitioners)(tattoo removal in exchange for community service)
July 1, 2003... The 28-year-old man was tired of keeping his secret from his three young daughters. Three-inch-high letters tattooed on his back spelled out "Brown Pride." Because he did not want his children exposed to his gang past, he had never taken his...

New focus on core services could revitalize AMA: a year's worth of soul-searching looks for ways to boost sagging membership. (Organizational Structure Unchanged).(American Medical Association)
July 1, 2003... CHICAGO -- With a reorganization plan on the cutting room floor, the American Medical Association may need to refocus on its priorities in order to boost ailing membership rolls. A special committee charged with reviewing the AMA's...

Trial shows efficacy of lifestyle changes for BP: more intensive than typical office visit. (Dash Diet had Limited Effect).(blood pressure regulation through diet and weight loss)
July 1, 2003... MIAMI BEACH -- Adults with elevated blood pressure significantly reduced their risk factors for hypertension and cardiovascular disease after adopting lifestyle changes as part of a randomized clinical trial. After 6 months, participants in...

Medicare improves coverage of ICD devices. (Implantable Defribrillators).(implantable cardioverter defibrillators)
July 1, 2003... Expanded Medicare coverage for implantable cardioverter defibrillators is welcome, but the number of additional patients who will qualify for coverage is much smaller than anticipated. "The news is mixed in the sense that there will be...

Top federal officials make special appearance at AMA House of Delegates. (Disaster Preparedness).(American Medical Association)(executives of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention discuss plans for improved medical communication)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... CHICAGO -- The American health care system is learning disaster preparedness the hard way, and the first lesson has been that front-line clinicians play a key role in identifying and controling epidemics, Dr. Julie L. Gerberding, director of...

Clarity on Cloning. (AMA Briefs).(reproduction of stem cells for research purposes)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... The AMA came out in favor of using somatic cell nuclear transfer to develop stem cells for research purposes. The vote was widely reported in the media as in support of cloning, which caused many delegates at the meeting to receive calls of...

Physician Reimbursement. (AMA Briefs).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... The delegates voted for a resolution calling for the AMA to "aggressively pursue legislation and regulation to protect physician payment and thereby ensure patient access to physicians." Dr. David A. Ingis of Willingboro, N.J., brushed aside...

Medicare Deductibles And Copayments. (AMA Briefs).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... The AMA will seek federal legislation to require secondary insurers to pay Medicare deductibles and copayments, regardless of how much Medicare pays for the service. Short of that, the delegates voted to urge insurance companies to make such...

Clinical Skills Exam. (AMA Briefs).(high cost of exam for medical students)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... The House emphasized its opposition to the Clinical Skills Assessment Exam. More than 4 dozen delegates spoke against the exam's cost to medical students, cited lacking evidence of its efficacy, and advocated letting medical schools retain...

Confronting Obesity. (AMA Briefs).(health promotion)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Urged on by U.S. Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Julie L. Gerberding, the delegates voted to take steps to raise public awareness of the health risks of obesity and promote...

Graphic Tobacco Warnings. (AMA Briefs).(changing warning label size and colors)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... The House of Delegates voted to support legislation to change warnings on tobacco products. The changes would include increasing the size of warnings to as large as half of the front of the package, including color photographs of such images as...

Boutique Medicine. (AMA Briefs).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... The House expressed concern about retainer fees to physicians. "The standard of care cannot depend on the patient's ability to pay," said Dr. Robert Sade, a member of the AMA's Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs that presented concern in a...

Abstinence-Only Education. (AMA Briefs).(family life education endorsed by American Medical Association)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... The House of Delegates came down against abstinence-only education in schools, though it watered down original language that it "actively oppose" federal funding for such programs. Instead, the policy endorses "comprehensive family life...

Resident Duty Hours. (AMA Briefs).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... The House voted to encourage the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education to vigorously enforce its standards on resident work hours. Several residents and residency directors spoke in favor of the reduced work hours, saying that...

Monkeypox heralds threat of emerging infections. (Smallpox Vaccine 85% Protective).
July 1, 2003... Like severe acute respiratory syndrome and West Nile virus before it, the monkeypox virus outbreak in the upper Midwest offered more evidence that emerging infectious diseases no longer respect national, or even continental, boundaries. ...

Monkeypox easy to distinguish from varicella or smallpox. (Scattered Lesions).
July 1, 2003... The first case of monkeypox virus infection to be identified in the United States did not fool Dr. John W. Melski into first mistaking it for chickenpox, or cause him undue alarm that it was smallpox. The presentation of the 4-year-old...

Electron beam CT predicts better than Framingham. (Future Cardiovascular Events).(computed tomography)
July 1, 2003... CHICAGO -- Electron beam CT-derived coronary calcium scores predict future cardiovascular events in asymptomatic 50-to 70-year-olds independent of, and more accurately than, conventional risk factors, Dr. Alan D. Guerci reported at the annual...

African Americans might benefit from DASH approach. (Increase Fruits and Vegetables).(Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension)
July 1, 2003... MIAMI BEACH -- African Americans with a high intake of foods recommended in the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension diet tend to have lower blood pressures than other African Americans, according to an epidemiologic study. Aware of...

Health care dispute help.(Consumer Guide to Handling Disputes with Your Employer or Private Health Plan)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... "The Consumer Guide to Handling Disputes with Your Employer or Private Health Plan, 2003 Update" can help consumers who are seeking to resolve a dispute with their health plan or better understand their coverage. The guide includes...

Combo HRT tied to dementia in older women. (Women's Health Initiative).(hormone replacement therapy)
July 1, 2003... The new finding that estrogen plus progestin therapy is associated with an increased risk for probable dementia in older postmenopausal women reinforces the need to limit hormone replacement therapy use to short-term relief of menopausal...

Valacyclovir backed to cut spread of genital herpes. (FDA Panel).
July 1, 2003... GAITHERSBURG, MD. -- A federal advisory panel has recommended that suppressive therapy with valacyclovir be approved for reducing the risk of genital herpes transmission from infected to Uninfected sexual partners. The Food and Drug...

Letters.(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2003... Choosing Family Medicine The trend toward fewer family physicians is going to continue until reimbursement improves ("Another Dreary Match Day for FP," p. 1). In my busy rural practice, we see 40-50 patients per day; if the patient...

Unprepared for SARS quarantine. (Guest Editorial).(severe acute respiratory syndrome)(public health and emergency preparedness)(Editorial)
July 1, 2003... The Centers or Disease Control and Prevention has performed admirably to stem a severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic in the United States. Despite the strong federal response, the United States is ill prepared to cope with emerging...

Should rapid HIV testing be available over the counter? (Pro & Con).
July 1, 2003... YES If the goal of medicine Y E S is patient empowerment, why not allow patients the opportunity to go to a pharmacy, buy a rapid HIV test, and test themselves in the privacy of their own homes? The link to medical care in our current...

Oral antiglycemic agents compared in two trials. (Expert Questions Design of Studies).(Repaglinide and nateglinide for type 2 diabetes)
July 1, 2003... SAN DIEGO -- Repaglinide is more effective than nateglinide for patients with type 2 diabetes, whether used as monotherapy or in combination with metformin, according to results from two open-label multicenter studies presented at the annual...

Islet cell transplant replicated in U.S., Europe. (Edmonton Protocol).(islet cell transplantation to treat type 1 diabetes)
July 1, 2003... WASHINGTON -- Islet cell transplantation to treat type 1 diabetes has now been replicated outside of Canada, Dr. James Shapiro reported at the American Transplant Congress. "This is the first international multicenter trial in which we...

Diabetes guidelines for older adults stress individualized care. (American Geriatrics Society).
July 1, 2003... BALTIMORE -- New guidelines on the care of diabetes in adults older than 65 years recommend less frequent monitoring of hemoglobin [A.sub.1c] levels and less stringent [HbA.sub.1c] targets for some patients, according to an expert panel...

Diabetic bypass patients benefit from tight glycemic control. (Standard Insulin Therapy Insufficient).
July 1, 2003... BOSTON -- Tight glycemic control in diabetic patients undergoing coronary revascularization has short- and long-term advantages over standard insulin therapy a prospective randomized study has shown. Administration of a modified...

CABG rates plummet as PCI rates rise in Washington state. (Reflect Procedures' Future).(percutaneous coronary interventions)(Coronary artery bypass grafts)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... CHICAGO -- Coronary artery bypass surgery is dying in the United States and is being replaced by percutaneous coronary interventions, according to data collected in Washington state. "Many people sensed that this was happening, but these...

PCI rates go up as CABG rates go down in the South. (CABG Mostly for Multivessel Disease).(percutaneous coronary interventions)(Coronary artery bypass graft )
July 1, 2003... SAN DIEGO -- The volume of percutaneous coronary interventions continues to increase relative to coronary artery bypass grafting, according to results from a large study. Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) was used almost solely for...

Three-drug combo lowers BP of diabetic patients. (First Use Angiotensin-Active Drug).(blood pressure)
July 1, 2003... SAN ANTONIO -- combined treatment with an angiotensin-active drug, a diuretic, and a calcium channel blocker is a good blood pressure-lowering regimen for most patients with diabetes, Dr. Norman M. Kaplan said at the annual meeting of the...

Daily rofecoxib may cause spike in blood pressure. (Patients with Diabetes and Hypertension).(side effects of osteoporosis treatment)
July 1, 2003... CHICAGO -- Daily treatment with rofecoxib increased blood pressure in patients who had the combination of diabetes, hypertension, and osteoarthritis in a controlled study with more than 400 patients. In contrast, treatment with two other...

Promising new biomarker for heart disease risk. (For Population Most in Need).(lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2)
July 1, 2003... CHICAGO -- Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 is an important new marker of coronary disease risk in the population most in need of novel risk markers: individuals with low or average LDL cholesterol, Dr. Christie M. Ballantyne said at the...

Statins may cut atrial fib, depression risk. (Observational Studies).(atrial fibrillation)
July 1, 2003... CHICAGO -- Does the list of unexpected side benefits of statin therapy have no end? The latest potential additions to the list are improvement in psychological state and reduced risk of new-onset atrial fibrillation, according to two...

Pravastatin and aspirin have additive effect in CV prevention. (New Metaanalysis).(cardiovascular disease)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... CHICAGO -- Pravastatin and aspirin are additive in their benefits for secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease, according to a new metaanalysis presented by Dr. Charles H. Hennekens at the annual meeting of the American College of...

Tea for heart disease and cancer prevention. (Alternative Medicine).
July 1, 2003... * Observational data show clear benefits of tea in the prevention of heart disease. * Experimental data suggest that tea may help prevent cancer, but the evidence thus far is less certain. History of Use Beverages brewed from the...

Several agents under study for hepatitis C virus. (Oral Protease Inhibitor, Vaccine).
July 1, 2003... CHICAGO -- The discovery of an orally bioavailable protease inhibitor and a promising therapeutic vaccine were among the highlights of new research on treating hepatitis C virus infection presented at a meeting sponsored by the American...

Hepatitis B vaccination response affected by age. (Metaanalysis).(decrease in vaccination response rates in older subjects)(Author Abstract)
July 1, 2003... Older patients are significantly less likely than younger patients to respond to hepatitis B vaccination, a metaanalysis of 24 published studies suggests. The findings could have important implications for those at risk for infection with...

Video capsule useful in diagnosis of abdominal pain, GI bleeding source. (Small Intestine Endoscopy).
July 1, 2003... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Video capsule endoscopy can aid clinicians in the often vexing diagnosis of unexplained abdominal pain, but the technology is more likely-to yield clinical findings in patients with obscure GI bleeding, according to a study...

Researchers able to direct movement of video capsule endoscope for first time in humans. (Moved by Electrical Stimulation).
July 1, 2003... ORLANDO, FLA. -- For the first time, a video capsule endoscope was "driven" through the small intestine in a human volunteer. Researchers stopped the capsule, backed it up, and moved it forward, demonstrating that they are no longer at the...

Video capsule puts bowel lesions on view. (Ages 10-18 Years).
July 1, 2003... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Wireless video capsule endoscopy had very high diagnostic accuracy for obscure lesions of the small bowel in children aged 10-18 years in a recent prospective study The procedure led to an accurate diagnosis or definitive...

Aggressive photodynamic therapy fights sun damage. (Aminolevulinic Acid).
July 1, 2003... SAN FRANCISCO -- Broad application of 20% aminolevulinic acid in conjunction with photodynamic therapy can be followed by "mop-up" spot cryotherapy in a novel combination approach to widespread actinic keratoses. Dr. Don A. Anderson and...

Carac useful in several AK treatment regimens. (Sequential Therapy).(actinic keratoses)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... MAUI, HAWAII -- Sequential cryotherapy followed by 5-fluorouracil cream 0.5% is a highly attractive combination for patients with actinic keratoses, Dr. James E. Turner said at the annual Hawaii dermatology seminar sponsored by the Skin Disease...

Derm diagnosis.(diagnosing basal cell carcinoma)
July 1, 2003... An 83-year-old white female presented with multiple, unilateral, asymptomatic skin colored, dome-shaped papules around the right side of her mouth. The papules had first appeared 11 years before and they had been unchanged for more than 10...

Is indoor mold making your patients sick? (No Clear-Cut Relationships).
July 1, 2003... LOS ANGELES -- We're a long way from understanding the effects of indoor molds on patients' health, Sandra McNeel, D.V.M., reported at the annual meeting of the California Academy of Family Physicians. While many epidemiologic studies have...

Mold contamination in schools poses health risk. (Routine Testing Recommended).
July 1, 2003... Indoor mold exposure in schools poses a significant health risk for students and teachers, particularly those who are atopic, said Dr. John Santilli and Dr. William Rockwell of Bridgeport, Conn. Likewise, schools--especially those with...

Antibacterial products don't go for the kill in typical household. (Snapshot Study).(evaluation of antibacterial cleaning agents)
July 1, 2003... WASHINGTON -- The amount of bacteria recovered from homes where antibacterial cleaning and personal care products were used was not significantly different from the amount recovered from homes where antibacterial products were not used, Barbara...

Athletes and concussion: subtle but persistent effects. (Results of Two Studies).
July 1, 2003... SAN DIEGO -- Concussions sustained on the playing field may have subtle and prolonged effects, according to research presented at the annual meeting of the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine. Two studies employed a tool called...

Elite athletes not alone in abuse of anabolic steroids. (Missed by Drug Testing).(teenage drug abuse)
July 1, 2003... SAN DIEGO -- Abuse of anabolic steroids and other performance and physique-enhancing drugs is on the rise in America, driven by a prolific offshore internet network supplying androgens in veterinary medicines; over-the-counter testosterone...

OSHA drops TB plan. (Clinical Capsules).(Occupational Safety and Health Administration)(tuberculosis prevention program discontinued)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... The Occupational Safety and Health Administration recently abandoned a 1997 proposal designed to protect high-risk workers against tuberculosis, saying the measure is no longer necessary. The initiative to establish a standard for TB...

Hemorrhoidectomy results. (Clinical Capsules).(patient outcomes of hemorrhoid surgery)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Open and stapled hemorrhoidectomy have similar levels of patient satisfaction and continuing symptoms at an average of 37 months after the procedures, reported Dr. Edward F. Smyth and his colleagues at the University of Hull, Cottingham,...

Aspirin resistance is ominous. (Clinical Capsules).(aspirin resistance a strong predictor of adverse cardiovascular events)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Resistance to the cardioprotective effects of aspirin portends a poor outcome for patients with stable cardiovascular disease, reported Dr. Patricia A. Gum and her associates at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. Of 326 patients on aspirin...

Sexual supplement recalled. (Clinical Capsules).(Vinarol tablets)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Consumers should not purchase or use Vinarol tablets, according to a warning from the Food and Drug Administration's Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program. Vinarol-distributed by Ultra Health Laboratories Inc. and Bionate...

Fibroid management often governed by myths. (Damage to Other Organs is Rare).
July 1, 2003... SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. -- Too often the reasons physicians give for surgically removing uterine fibroids aren't based on fact, Dr. William H. Parker said at an international congress on uterine fibroids sponsored by the American Association of...

Menstrual migraines thwarted by frovatriptan. (Study of 545 Women).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... HONOLULU -- Frovatriptan prevented menstrually associated migraine headaches in 50% of those who took a twice-daily dose during the perimenstrual period, in a study of 545 women. "This is the first time we've seen a trip-tan actually...

Perimenstrual migraines decrease with rofecoxib. (Open-Label Trial).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... HONOLULU -- Rofecoxib, a selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor, significantly cut the frequency of perimenstrual migraine headaches in a small, open-label trial. Dr. Lisa K. Mannix, a paid consultant for Merck & Co., which markets rofecoxib...

CAM studied for PMDD. (Clinical Capsules).(complementary and alternative medicine)(premenstrual dysphoric disorder)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Fluoxetine and an extract from the fruit of the Vitex agnus castus plant were equally effective in treating premenstrual dysphoric disorder, reported Dr. Murad Atmaca and his associates at Firat University in Elazig, Turkey. After 8 weeks...

Chlamydia & ovarian ca risk. (Clinical Capsules).(ovarian cancer)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Chlamydia trachomatis infection may cause more than pelvic inflammatory disease, Dr. Roberta B. Ness of the University of Pittsburgh and her colleagues reported. In a population-based case-control study of 117 ovarian cancer patients and...

Endometrial ablation. (Clinical Capsules).(patient outcomes of bleeding control surgery)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... In the longest follow-up study of global ablation technologies, 75% of 188 women followed for 4-6 years after a Thermachoice ablation needed no further surgery to control menorrhagia. In all, 86% of patients avoided hysterectomy, and 87%...

In-office ductal lavage. (Clinical Capsules).(breast cancer screening)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Ducral lavage and the nipple aspiration required to determine eligibility for the procedure proved acceptable to patients and useful as an in-office breast cancer screening method for high-risk women in a recent study Fifty-seven (95%) of...

Postpartum depression impairs child development. (Poor Cognition, Impaired Growth).
July 1, 2003... SAN FRANCISCO -- Postpartum depression is the most common illness in the postpartum period yet the least commonly recognized and treated, Dr. Shaila Misri reported at a satellite symposium which was held in conjunction with the annual meeting...

Study finds sertraline effective in preventing postpartum depression. (Double-Blind, Randomized Trial).
July 1, 2003... WASHINGTON -- Sertraline therapy started shortly after delivery was shown to be effective in preventing the recurrence of postpartum depression in women at increased risk, Dr. Katherine Wisner reported at the annual meeting of the American...

Depression may be a barrier to breast, cervical cancer screening. (Reduces Screening Rates).
July 1, 2003... VANCOUVER, B.C. -- A high burden of depressive symptoms is an independent predictor of reduced odds of undergoing appropriate screening for breast and cervical cancer, Dr. Paul A. Pirraglia said at the annual meeting of the Society of General...

Drug-update: treating menopausal vasomotor symptoms without hormones. (Rx).
July 1, 2003... Many menopausal symptoms don't need treatment. Up to 85% of perimenopausal women develop vasomotor symptoms such as hot flashes or sweating; perhaps half of these women find their symptoms disturbing. Systemic hormone replacement therapy...

Insulin resistance syndrome tied to birth weight. (Gestational Diabetes, Maternal Obesity).
July 1, 2003... SEATTLE -- Children who are large for gestational age and exposed to either gestational diabetes or maternal obesity are at increased risk for developing insulin resistance syndrome during their childhood, Dr. Charlotte Boney reported at the...

Metabolic syndrome starts as young as age 2 years. (High Fasting Insulin Plays Central Role).
July 1, 2003... CHICAGO -- Elements of the metabolic syndrome are present in nascent form even in healthy 2-year-olds, Dr. Steven Shea said at the annual scientific sessions of the American Heart Association. Hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance appear...

Teens with type 1 diabetes benefit from metformin. (Adjunct Therapy).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Metformin as adjunctive therapy for adolescents with type 1 diabetes and insulin resistance lowered hemoglobin [A.sub.1c] levels and decreased insulin dosage with no weight gain, reported Dr. Jill Hamilton of the Hospital for Sick Children,...

Popularity of pubic hair shaving brings more cases of folliculitis. (Poor Techniques Contribute).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... PHILADELPHIA -- The female fight against unwanted hair has descended to the pubic region: Many teens are now removing all of their pubic hair, increasing their risk of developing vulvar folliculitis, "Grooming of the pubic hair can now be...

Bleeding disorders are behind approximately half of menorrhagia in adolescent girls. (Platelet Function Test).
July 1, 2003... PHILADELPHIA -- About half of adolescents with menorrhagia have an underlying bleeding disorder, according to a study with 30 patients at one institution. A good way to assess bleeding disorders in these patients is with a platelet...

Outpatient treatment safe for adolescents with PID. (Review of 145 Patients).(pelvic inflammatory disease)
July 1, 2003... PHILADELPHIA -- Outpatient treatment of pelvic inflammatory disease is safe for adolescent girls, even though almost a quarter of patients fail outpatient treatment and require hospitalization, based on a review of 145 patients at one hospital....

Proposed CPT code could increase reimbursement for vaccine work. (To Be Considered Next Month).(Common Procedural Terminology)
July 1, 2003... WASHINGTON -- A single code for pediatric vaccine counseling is under development. The American Academy of Pediatrics is working with the American Medical Association's CPT Editorial Panel to develop the code, "which would allow physicians...

Stockpiles of most childhood vaccines are now appropriate; Hib supply is a bit troublesome. (CDC Report).
July 1, 2003... WASHINGTON -- Dean Mason is a happy man. "For the first time in a long time, we can say that the vaccine supply is okay," said Mr. Mason, a branch chief at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Immunization Program. ...

Risk of vaccine anaphylaxis remains low. (Impossible to Predict).
July 1, 2003... SEATTLE -- Vaccine providers should be prepared to manage anaphylactic shock, Kari J. Bohlke, Sc.D., said in a poster presentation at the annual meeting of the Pediatric Academic Societies. The risk of anaphylaxis following vaccination...

Prognosis for scoliosis better than once thought. (Screening Still Needed).
July 1, 2003... Patients with untreated late-onset idiopathic scoliosis are unlikely to have physical impairment beyond back pain and cosmetic concerns, said Dr. Stuart A. Weinstein of the University of Iowa in Iowa City and his colleagues. "By closely...

Aetna settlement. (Policy & Practice).(medical reimbursement class action lawsuit)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Aetna is hailing its settlement on a class-action lawsuit with more than 700,000 physicians as a "new era of cooperation" between the insurer and the medical community. The physicians in the suit alleged that Aetna had cut payments to them and...

Patients in debt. (Policy & Practice).(guidelines on insurance billing and debt collection needed)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Unclear laws and regulations are contributing to the medical debt of the uninsured--and placing extra burdens on providers as well, a report from the Commonwealth Fund says. Routinely waiving fees for Medicare patients, for example, is...

Renal disease demo. (Policy & Practice).(improving patient care)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... There's got to be a better way to deliver care for Medicare beneficiaries with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). To find out, CMS has started a 4-year demonstration project in which it will ask various types of organizations to coordinate care...

No relief from rising costs. (Policy & Practice).(medical care cost shifting)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Changes in the health care market promise little relief from rising costs, a report from the Center for Studying Health System Change says. The retreat of tightly managed care has employers shifting health care costs to physicians, hospitals,...

A boost from Bush. (Policy & Practice).(President George W. Bush )(health care reform)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Medicare Plus Choice payment rates are increasing, but they still leave the program stagnated at payment levels that are likely to result in a continued reduction in participation, CMS Administrator Tom Scully says, in releasing the 2004 rates...

Bias against the elderly. (Policy & Practice).(lower medical care quality)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... The healthcare system is failing the elderly the Alliance for Aging Research says in a new report. The findings indicate that healthcare professionals do not receive enough training in geriatrics to properly care for many older patients....

The young and the uninsured. (Policy & Practice).(young adults not employed or in college don't have health insurance)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Getting insurance coverage for that doctor's appointment may be more difficult if you're a young adult, the Commonwealth Fund reports. Nearly two out of five college graduates will experience an uninsured period in the first year after...

Cuts threaten Medicaid mental health programs. (Empty State Coffers).
July 1, 2003... As state budget officials try to figure out how to best squeeze blood from a stone, advocates worry that Medicaid mental health patients are increasingly falling victim to budget cuts. "I'm very alarmed about this," said Dr. Paul S....

It takes some effort to keep good office staff. (Career Tracks).
July 1, 2003... Working in a medical practice is stressful. The first step in making your office staff feel like they are part of a valued health care team is to acknowledge that stress, says Evelyn Eskin, president of Inc., a Philadelphia-based health care...

E-consults led to treatment change in 90% of cases. (Diagnosis Changed for 5%).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Online consultations between specialists and referring physicians led to a change in treatment in 90% of cases, according to the findings of a retrospective study. In 5% of cases, the online consultation led to a change in the patient's...