Primary Care News and Research

Latest Primary Care News and Research

Methodist Health System celebrates latest expansion in North Texas

Today Methodist Health System celebrated its latest expansion in North Texas during a groundbreaking ceremony for the Methodist Richardson Medical Center – Bush/Renner hospital.

28 Sep 2012

Report details Ga. mental health improvements; Colo. attempts to integrate physical, mental care

A new report shows improvement in Georgia's mental health system, but problems persist. In the meantime in Colorado, new experiments try to combine mental and physical well-being to better care for patients.

27 Sep 2012

Romney scolded for emergency room remark

During his Sunday interview on CBS's 60 Minutes, GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney said that uninsured Americans can get care in emergency rooms -- a comment that drew a critical response from the American College of Emergency Physicians.

26 Sep 2012

First Edition: September 25, 2012

Today's headlines headlines include reports about a study that details accelerating health care spending.

25 Sep 2012

Viewpoints: How media missed Ryan AARP story; Romney and women voters; The price of medical mistakes

The headlines this weekend were all about the boos Paul Ryan elicited on Friday when he addressed the AARP, the self-styled seniors' lobby. The herd of independent media minds missed the real story, which is that the Republican Vice Presidential nominee went into the heart of the entitlement culture, told some hard truths, and even won applause for doing so.

25 Sep 2012

Confusion reigns on best handover of patients from secondary to primary care

Several planned interventions have reportedly improved the quality and safety of patient handovers between hospital and primary care, yet robust evidence of their benefits is still lacking, conclude researchers who conducted a systematic review of studies to date.

24 Sep 2012

First Edition: September 24, 2012

Kaiser Health News staff writer Phil Galewitz reports: "GOP vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan was booed and heckled on Friday when he told an AARP convention in New Orleans that he would repeal President Barack Obama's health law. In contrast, Obama's remarks about Medicare --delivered by live satellite an hour earlier -- were warmly received."

24 Sep 2012

Simple survey can effectively identify women with ovarian cancer symptoms

A simple three-question paper-and-pencil survey, given to women in the doctor's office in less than two minutes, can effectively identify those who are experiencing symptoms that may indicate ovarian cancer, according to a study by researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.

24 Sep 2012

Research roundup: 'Early' cost-control lessons from Mass.; Colonoscopy coverage; Impact of PSA recommendations

On Aug. 8, Massachusetts' third health care cost control bill became law. It "sets annual state spending targets, encourages the formation of accountable care organizations, and establishes an independent commission to oversee health care system performance."

21 Sep 2012

Bipolar patients show poor HRQoL regardless of treatment setting

Patients with bipolar disorder who present for treatment in primary care settings and those who present at community mental health clinics have equally poor health-related quality of life, US research shows.

21 Sep 2012

Longer looks: A 'renegade' Bill Frist?; The pharmacist's expanding role

Meet former Sen. Bill Frist, a renegade "Obamacare"-loving Republican who is in the mood for some real bipartisanship. Yes, the same Frist who as Senate majority leader led an army into the culture wars over Terri Schiavo and whose efforts in 2004 to unseat his then-rival, Minority Leader Tom Daschle, led to a nasty - and personal - Washington battle royal. Now, Frist is pushing for a national conversation on end-of-life care and dismissing "caricatured" talk of death panels.

21 Sep 2012

Report: Medical home model should have physician at the helm

A report issued Tuesday by the American Academy of Family Physicians urges the concept of medical homes as a solution to the looming primary care shortage, but argues that such practices should still be led by doctors.

20 Sep 2012

Joint Commission offers ranking of hospitals on quality, patient safety

The hospital accreditation board recognized 620 hospitals as top performers based on 45 measures. The rankings reflect performance in 2011.

20 Sep 2012

Many women undertreat pelvic floor disorders and suffer in silence

New research issued by the PFD Alliance finds that 90 percent of Americans underestimate or are unsure about the prevalence of pelvic floor disorders (PFDs) which will impact one in three women at some point during their lives. This means many women undertreat PFDs and suffer in silence.

19 Sep 2012

First Edition: September 19, 2012

Today's headlines include a series of reports detailing who makes up Romney's so-called "47 percent" who get tax breaks and what federal assistance they receive -- whether it is Medicare, Medicaid or another entitlement program.

19 Sep 2012

Medicaid primary care pay raise 'coming soon,' according to CMS official

Details on increasing Medicaid payments to primary care providers starting next year will soon be announced by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the agency said Thursday. Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Medicaid rates for pediatricians, general internists, family physicians, and those who work under their supervision are to be set at Medicare's December 2009 levels beginning in Jan. 2013 and going through 2014.

18 Sep 2012

Roundup: Mont. settlement money to pay for uninsured's prescription drugs; Physician assistants' role in Mass.; Atlanta to cut worker premiums

The Montana attorney general's office says nearly $1 million collected in drug company settlements will be used to help pay for prescription medicine for people who are uninsured and underinsured. Attorney General Steve Bullock said in a statement Thursday the money came from settlements dating back to 2010 with four drug companies accused of inflating the wholesale prices of drugs paid by Medicare and Medicaid.

18 Sep 2012

FDA clears Meridian Bioscience’s new illumigene Group A Strep test

Meridian Bioscience, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio today announced that it has received FDA clearance for a new molecular diagnostic test for Group A Streptococcus on the illumigene platform.

18 Sep 2012

HSS recognizes Kaiser Permanente Colorado as a 2012 Hypertension Control Champion

Today, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius recognized Kaiser Permanente Colorado as a 2012 Million Hearts Hypertension Control Champion. Million Hearts is a national public-private initiative of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

18 Sep 2012

Parents of sickle cell babies undercounseled

Parents of newborns with the sickle cell anemia trait are significantly less likely to receive genetic counseling than those of babies who are cystic fibrosis carriers, say researchers.

17 Sep 2012