Primary Care News and Research

Latest Primary Care News and Research

Pfizer announces results from Lyrica clinical studies on fibromyalgia

Pfizer Inc. announced the results of studies on Lyrica (pregabalin) capsules CV presented at the American Pain Society Annual Meeting in Honolulu.

19 May 2012

Conference to showcase patient and family-centered strategies

This is a critical time to be involved in improving health care in the United States as well as in other nations around the world. These challenging times require inspired leadership, innovative solutions, and enduring partnerships to improve health care in community-based health care organizations, hospitals, and health systems.

19 May 2012

Research roundup: Electronic health records don't seem to improve diabetes care; Beefing up adult vaccination rates

Federal officials and health policy experts believe that electronic health records (EHRs) will improve patient care. Researchers measured adherence to diabetes care guidelines as well as patient outcomes over three years at 16 practices using EHRs and 26 practices using paper records. Practices with EHRs did not show signs of better care and providers using them "have not made the necessary changes to both work processes and ways of thinking about care that would lead to improvements in chronic illness management."

19 May 2012

Viewpoints: VA failing to provide timely care; Roll up your sleeves to help fight AIDS; Primary care doctors' uncertain future

Those who have served know the military rules: Be on time, do it now. Once they file disability claims with the Department of Veteran Affairs, however, veterans wait, and wait longer…. Delay is not without consequences for the individual or the community…. We sent these young men and women off to battle. We owe them timely care.

19 May 2012

APS honors recipients of Clinical Centers of Excellence in Pain Management Awards

The American Pain Society (APS), honored the recipients of its sixth annual Clinical Centers of Excellence in Pain Management Awards recognizing the nation's outstanding pain care centers.

19 May 2012

Health professional training essential to reduce tobacco reliance

Health care professionals do a better job helping people quit smoking when they are trained in smoking cessation techniques, a new Cochrane Library review finds.

19 May 2012

Migraine is a neurological, not vascular, disorder

The latest genetic and biological research shows that migraine is a neurological, not vascular, disorder and both acute and preventive treatments being developed target peripheral and central nervous systems, according to a prominent migraine expert addressing the American Pain Society (APS)today.

18 May 2012

ACO model may improve populations-based outcomes for pain management

How will pain care be influenced by the anticipated reforms in the U.S. healthcare system? Current models of healthcare delivery offer both obstacles and opportunities for achieving quality and effectiveness in pain-related care, according to Daniel Carr, MD, Tufts University in his keynote address at the American Pain Society Annual Scientific Meeting.

18 May 2012

Health law's health coverage expansions pose logistical challenges

Politico reports on how immigration status will play into this effort, and McClatchy notes the strain that will be felt by the physician workforce as a result of the across-the-board push to increase access to care.

17 May 2012

La. panel kills health exchange plan; Kansas enacts another abortion hurdle; Utah official resigns after medical records breach

With a decisive 8-1 vote late Tuesday evening, the Louisiana Senate Finance Committee buried a bill that would have set up a body of elected and appointed officials to craft the exchanges that are an anchor of President Barack Obama's health insurance overhaul. With the death of Senate Bill 744, Louisiana remains one of a handful of states that have refused to set up their own exchanges, with Gov. Bobby Jindal punting the job back to federal government that he accuses of taking over the American health care system

17 May 2012

VA releases task force draft plan to address women Veterans' issues

The Department of Veterans Affairs is releasing for public comment a draft of its strategic report to address key issues facing women Veterans. The plan outlines steps for improvements to care and services for women Veterans that are sustainable, accountable and a part of the department's culture and operations.

16 May 2012

EvergreenHealth announces recipients of 2012 Nursing Excellence awards

In celebration of National Nurses Week, EvergreenHealth recently recognized the exceptional care its nursing teams across the organization provide to enrich the health and well-being of each life they touch with the organization's annual Nursing Excellence awards. The organization awarded a group of exemplary caregivers during its nursing awards ceremony on May 8, 2012.

16 May 2012

Health care system should provide proactive interventions to prevent depression

Major depressive episodes can be prevented, and to help ensure that they are, the health care system should provide routine access to depression-prevention interventions, just as patients receive standard vaccines, according to a new article co-authored by UCSF researcher Ricardo F. Mu-oz, PhD.

15 May 2012

Steps toward a permanent Medicare 'doc fix'?

Rep. Allyson Schwartz, D-Pa., and Rep. Joe Heck, R-Nev., introduced the latest bill Wednesday aimed at reforming how Medicare pays healthcare providers and to prevent a scheduled, Jan. 1, 2013 cut to physician reimbursement rates. The bipartisan measure would replace Medicare's current pay formula.

11 May 2012

HHS announces big pay boost for some Medicaid docs

HHS says the increase, required by the health law, would raise primary care doctors' payments for treating Medicare patients, on average, 34 percent.

11 May 2012

Education the most important factor in reducing maternal deaths

A scientific analysis of 50 years of maternal mortality data from Chile has found that the most important factor in reducing maternal mortality is the educational level of women. "

11 May 2012

Children with private, public and no insurance may receive differing levels of treatment in ED

In 2009, children with public insurance were three times more likely and children with no insurance were eleven time more likely not to have a primary care physician, compared with children with private insurance. Without a primary care physician, the Emergency Department (ED) often becomes the primary point of contact for treatments and diagnoses. A new study scheduled for publication in The Journal of Pediatrics reports that children with private, public, and no insurance may receive differing levels of treatment in EDs.

11 May 2012

ACS editorial calls for systematic approach to increase cancer screening participation

An editorial by Marcus Plescia, MD, MPH, director of the Division of Cancer Prevention and Control at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), calls for a more organized and comprehensive approach to increase cancer screening participation among those who are insured or are likely to become insured through the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

10 May 2012

Viewpoints: Taking aim at 'superbugs'; Friending organ donations; Ariz. and Kansas abortion efforts hurt women

In the battle between humans and infectious bacteria, humans have had the advantage, at least since antibiotics were introduced into our arsenal 70 or so years ago. Now, however, our weapons appear to be turning against us as germs have found ways to outfox antibiotics…. A second challenge is to keep a steady stream of new antibiotics in the pipeline, and this is where the big pharmaceutical companies based in Europe and the U.S. come in….

9 May 2012

Women & Infants Hospital to receive Health Care Innovation award

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced that Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island is among the first batch of organizations selected for Health Care Innovation awards. Made possible by the health care law - the Affordable Care Act - the awards will support 26 innovative projects nationwide that will save money, deliver high quality medical care, and enhance the health care workforce. The preliminary awardees announced today expect to reduce health spending by $254 million over the next three years.

9 May 2012