February 2016
Internists interacting with retail clinics
Primary care physicians are seeing more patients after they've already been to a retail health clinic. Experts say that a more patient-centered model needs to evolve to combat the ease of seeking care outside the doctor's office.
Changes, challenges in treating heart failure
Readmissions among heart failure patients can be prevented with diligent, evidence-based primary care. But with their time at a premium, physicians can be increasingly concerned about meeting the needs of this population.
HPV vaccine efficacy increases, but use lags
Human papillomavirus immunization rates continue, for several reasons, to lag behind those of other vaccines. Experts are formulating new approaches for physicians and patients to ensure that HPV protection is as robust as possible.
Weighing the risks of valproate for epilepsy in women
Valproate may sometimes be the only treatment option for epilepsy in women of childbearing age. An expert explains how to handle the issue.
Multitasking at the heart of ACP's many roles
ACP is an organization that can balance multiple goals of administrative acumen and strength, robust public policy development, and a proven track record of improving the lives of the patients served by its members.
Merger mania, merger blues
ACP will continue to press federal and state regulators to block recently proposed insurance mergers, which may decrease choice and increase costs for patients and employers, reduce access due to changing and narrowing networks of physicians and hospitals, or prevent physicians from negotiation over provision of health services.
Retail clinics increasingly popular option
This issue covers topics such as retail clinics, management of heart failure, and optimizing human papillomavirus vaccination.
Positioning your practice for alternate payment models
Now is the time to begin getting ready for the new Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 payment system, which will shift payment to a value-based model to reflect both the quality and efficiency (cost) of the care provided to a patient population.
Warning on diabetes drugs, approval of adjuvant flu vaccine
This update covers a warning on sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and approval of a trivalent vaccine for the prevention of seasonal influenza in people age 65 years and older.
MKSAP Quiz: Discussing results of imaging
A 42-year-old man comes to the office to discuss results of imaging studies, which were ordered because of a change in his pattern of chronic migraine. Headache episodes have now improved. Following a physical exam and noncontrast CT scan, what is the most appropriate next step in management?.