Latest Articles
- Six strategies to identify and assist patients burdened by out-of-pocket prescription costs
As many as one in five people report that they did not fill a prescription in the previous year because of the cost. Physicians can help by asking about the problem and applying simple strategies to limit the patient’s costs.
- Shared medical appointments: Increasing patient access without increasing physician hours
Physicians meet with a group of patients simultaneously during a 90-minute visit. Patients get improved access and education, and physicians improve productivity.
- Rheumatoid arthritis: More aggressive approach improves outlook
Gone is the “pyramid” approach. Now, as soon as the diagnosis is established, we start a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug, usually methotrexate.
Video capsule endoscopy: A voyage beyond the end of the scopeA tiny ingestible video camera can image the entire length of the small intestine, formerly the black box of the gastrointestinal system.
- Strengthening the standards for preventing heart disease and stroke: The recent AHA guidelines
New guidelines call for managing risk factors more aggressively than ever before, especially in people at high risk.
- Hypoglycemia in diabetes: Common, often unrecognized
Intensive diabetes control is beneficial but increases the risk of hypoglycemia. Over time, patients may lose the ability to sense hypoglycemia, increasing their risk.
- Avian influenza: A wake-up call from birds to humans
We can hope that a pandemic does not occur—or we can take proactive steps to prevent one. In particular, we must improve vaccination rates among patients and health care workers.
- Perioperative nutrition support: Who and how
Although nutrition support can decrease postoperative morbidity and mortality, some patients do worse with total parenteral nutrition than with standard care.
- Head injury: Which patients need imaging? Which test is best?
There is often uncertainty about which patients with a head injury need an imaging test, especially if the injury appears to be minor.
- Minimally invasive surgery for morbid obesity
The new technique appears to be as effective as conventional open surgery in taking weight off and keeping it off.