April 2011
An easy screen for an overlooked disease
Despite poor awareness and a lack of training on handling peripheral artery disease, internists can and should be able to recognize the symptoms and manage 95% of cases. Experts advise how to diagnose and treat the condition.
Integrate mental health into medical practice
Partnerships between internists and mental health professionals are rare but proving their worth. Advantages include recognizing symptoms in a primary care setting and easing co-management for providers and patients alike.
Adult immunization rates fall far short of goals
The CDC's Healthy People 2010 campaign aimed to have 60% of high-risk patients under 65 vaccinated against pneumonia and influenza. Actual immunization rates may be half of that. The president of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases describes the barriers and the solutions.
Learning to learn: Ophthalmoscopic skills taught by simulation
Creating an ophthalmoscopic examination simulation model is easy, inexpensive and goes a long way toward improving this basic clinical skill set. Acquaint yourself with abnormalities seen in the office, as well as the motor skills involved with proper use of the instruments.
Indications added for Gardasil, breast implants questioned
Recalls, warnings, and approvals.
Blueprint reveals clinical slant to upcoming genomics research
The 10th anniversary of the publication of the entire sequenced human genome is celebrated with another publication, this time of clinical applications for the research. Not only can diseases be treated, but better drugs and streamlined clinical trials may result.
Overlooking PAD in primary care
Peripheral artery disease is a common, and significant, problem estimated to affect up to 12% of people in the United States.
Off-service note from ACP's outgoing president
ACP has made tremendous strides in the past 100 years, and must make many more in the next 100 in order to achieve its goals of caring for patients in an effective health care environment.
Budget brinkmanship may yet impact health care reform
An election is held. The political party that promised to change the direction of American politics wins a lopsided victory.
Internists need to know coding for CPAP, observation services
There's more to internal medicine than evaluation and management services. Two of the more common of the uncommon services to code for include CPAP for sleep disorders, and guidance on billing for observation and same-day discharges.
Home health and hospice eligibility now requires face-to-face encounter
Enforcement begins on a new Medicare rule that mandates a personal encounter for the initial certification of home health and hospice services.
ACP Annual Business Meeting to be held
The ACP Annual Business Meeting will occur at Internal Medicine 2011 in the San Diego Convention Center on Saturday, April 9.
Chapter Awardees
In recognition of their outstanding service, exceptional individuals received chapter awards in the fall and winter 2010-2011.
MKSAP Quiz: Heart murmur and reduced exercise capacity
A 32-year-old woman presents for evaluation of a murmur recently heard on physical examination. She has noted mild reduction in exercise capacity over the past 6 to 12 months. She has no known history of cardiovascular disease, although a murmur was reported early in life. Following a physical exam and chest radiograph, what is the most likely diagnosis in this patient?.