Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Emergency Medicine for August 2018. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal articles, as well as the FDA approvals and regulatory changes that are the most likely to affect clinical practice.
Helmets May Not Protect Skiers From Traumatic Brain Injury
FRIDAY, Aug. 31, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The use of helmets may not protect alpine sports participants from traumatic brain injury, according to a study recently published in Wilderness & Environmental Medicine.
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Ground Chuck Products Recalled by Publix Super Markets
FRIDAY, Aug. 31, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Possible Escherichia coli contamination has triggered the recall of ground beef products made from chuck that were sold at Publix Super Markets in Florida.
FDA Warns of Dangers of Liquid Nitrogen in Food, Drinks
FRIDAY, Aug. 31, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Consuming or handling food and drink products where liquid nitrogen is added just before consumption can lead to serious injury, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
14.6 Percent of U.S. Adults Used Marijuana in Past Year
FRIDAY, Aug. 31, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Overall, 14.6 percent of U.S. adults report marijuana use in the past year, according to a research letter published online Aug. 28 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Pediatric Revisits, Admissions for UTI Similar With Oral or IV Meds
FRIDAY, Aug. 31, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Very young children with urinary tract infections (UTIs) who receive parenteral antibiotics before emergency department discharge do not have lower rates of revisits leading to admission than children receiving oral antibiotics, according to a study published online Aug. 21 in Pediatrics.
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Medical Bills in Collections Decrease With Patient Age
FRIDAY, Aug. 31, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Medical collections decrease substantially with age, possibly because of increased health insurance coverage and incomes, according to a study published in the August issue of Health Affairs.
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FDA: Common Diabetes Meds Tied to Serious Genital Infection
THURSDAY, Aug. 30, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A rare but serious genital infection known as necrotizing fasciitis of the perineum, also called Fournier’s gangrene, has been reported in some patients taking a certain class of type 2 diabetes medicine, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. As a result, the FDA has ordered a new warning about this risk to be added to the prescribing information and patient medication guide of all sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors.
No Meaningful Increase in Physician Compensation Last Year
THURSDAY, Aug. 30, 2018 (HealthDay News) — There was no meaningful increase in physician compensation in 2017, and a decline in productivity was noted, according to the results of a survey conducted by AMGA Consulting.
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Many ED Visits for Antibiotic Adverse Drug Events in Children
THURSDAY, Aug. 30, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Emergency department (ED) visits for antibiotic adverse drug events (ADEs) in children account for 46.2 percent of emergency department visits for ADEs resulting from systemic medication, according to a study published online Aug. 23 in the Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society.
Label Mix-Up Spurs Recall of Accord Blood Pressure Meds
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 29, 2018 (HealthDay News) — One lot of high blood pressure medication is being recalled after a labeling mix-up, Accord Healthcare Inc. has announced.
light orange to peach colored, round, biconvex tablets debossed with H on one side and 1 on another side
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CDC: Salmonella Outbreak in 4 States Linked to Kosher Chicken
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 29, 2018 (HealthDay News) — One person has died and 16 others sickened in a four-state Salmonella outbreak linked to kosher chicken, U.S. health officials say.
Marketplace Premiums Increase More With Monopolist Insurers
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 29, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Affordable Care Act Marketplace premiums increase more in areas with monopolist insurers, according to a study published in the August issue of Health Affairs.
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Laryngeal Tube Insertion Beats Endotracheal Intubation in OHCA
TUESDAY, Aug. 28, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), 72-hour survival is better with initial laryngeal tube (LT) insertion compared to endotracheal intubation (ETI), while a supraglottic airway device (SGA) is no better than tracheal intubation (TI) for functional outcome at 30 days, according to two studies published in the Aug. 28 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Medical Practices Should Address Negative Online Reviews
TUESDAY, Aug. 28, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Medical practice staff can effectively handle negative online reviews by staying calm and positive, looking for solutions, apologizing, and thanking the reviewers, according to an article published in Physicians Practice.
Artificial Intelligence Holds Promise in Medicine
TUESDAY, Aug. 28, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Artificial intelligence (AI) in health care offers opportunities for early detection and triage, diagnostics and personalized medicine, and medical decision-making, according to an article published in Managed Healthcare Executive.
Alcohol Is Leading Risk Factor for Global Disease Burden
TUESDAY, Aug. 28, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Globally, alcohol use is a leading risk factor for disease burden, according to research published online Aug. 23 in The Lancet.
Experts Address Loss of the National Guideline Clearinghouse
TUESDAY, Aug. 28, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The demise of the National Guideline Clearinghouse (NGC) in July 2018 is likely to impact evidence-based health care around the world, according to an Ideas and Opinions piece published online Aug. 28 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Most Research Participants Not Concerned About Data Sharing
MONDAY, Aug. 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Few participants in clinical trials have strong concerns about the risks of data sharing, according to a special article recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Emergency Department Visits After Abortion Extremely Rare
MONDAY, Aug. 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Abortion-related visits to the emergency department comprise a very small proportion of reproductive-aged women’s visits, according to a study published June 14 in BMC Medicine.
AMA Adopts Policy Promoting Health Equity As a Goal
FRIDAY, Aug. 24, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates has adopted a policy that sets health equity as a goal for the U.S. health care system, according to a report published in the organization’s AMA Wire.
Medicaid Expansion Linked to Increase in Diabetes Rx Fills
FRIDAY, Aug. 24, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Expansions in Medicaid eligibility are associated with an increase in Medicaid diabetes prescriptions filled, according to a study published in the August issue of Health Affairs.
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FDA: Illnesses Linked to McDonald’s Salads Reach 507
FRIDAY, Aug. 24, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The number of confirmed cases of Cyclospora infection linked to salads from McDonald’s restaurants was 507 in 15 states and New York City as of Aug. 23, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
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Education RE: Herd Immunity Can Up Readiness to Be Vaccinated
FRIDAY, Aug. 24, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Educating adults about herd immunity can increase the proportion willing to be vaccinated for influenza, according to a study recently published in Vaccine.
Lower Post-Op Mortality With Hip Fx Surgery on Day of Admission
FRIDAY, Aug. 24, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Postoperative mortality is lower for medically stable older patients who undergo surgery for hip fracture on the day of admission or the following day, according to a study published in the Aug. 7 issue of CMAJ, the journal of the Canadian Medical Association.
Information Lacking on Effect of Prenatal Use of Marijuana
THURSDAY, Aug. 23, 2018 (HealthDay News) — More information is needed on marijuana use in pregnancy, according to an Ideas and Opinions piece published online Aug. 21 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Small Practices Also at Risk for Data Breaches
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 22, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Data breaches can happen to small medical practices, but staff can take steps to prevent them, according to an article published in Medical Economics.
Strategy Outlined for Shooter Incident in Health Care Facility
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 22, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Adhering to a “secure, preserve, fight” strategy is recommended for health care professionals working with a vulnerable patient population, according to a Medicine and Society piece published in the Aug. 9 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Teen Smoke Exposure Tied to Increase in Related Symptoms
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 22, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Non-smoking adolescents with tobacco smoke exposure (TSE) have increased risk of TSE-related symptoms, according to a study published online Aug. 6 in Pediatrics.
Lower Long-Term Survival for In-Hospital Cardiac Arrests in Blacks
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 22, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Older black survivors of in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) have worse long-term survival than whites, according to a study published online Aug. 17 in Circulation.
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Paramedic-Led Intervention Cuts Ambulance Calls
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 22, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For low-income older adults who live in subsidized housing, the Community Paramedicine at Clinic (CP@clinic), a paramedic-led, community-based health promotion program to prevent diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and falls for residents 55 years of age and older, lowers the number of ambulance calls and improves quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), according to a study recently published in CMAJ, the journal of the Canadian Medical Association.
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National Provider Identifiers Are Vulnerable to Theft
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 22, 2018 (HealthDay News) — National Provider Identifiers (NPIs) are vulnerable to identity theft, according to an article published in Physicians Practice.
Advantages for HDHP Enrollees in Large Versus Small Firms
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 22, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Workers in small firms are more likely to have higher deductible levels and lack employer contributions to help pay for out-of-pocket expenses compared to workers in larger firms, according to a study published in the August issue of Health Affairs.
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Patient Education Urged to Prevent Opioid OD After Sobriety
TUESDAY, Aug. 21, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The American Medical Association (AMA) encourages patient education to raise awareness of the risks associated with opioid use after a prolonged period of sobriety, according to a report in the organization’s AMA Wire.
Doctors Often Not Discussing Risk Factors With Patients
TUESDAY, Aug. 21, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Patients report that doctors are routinely not discussing known risk factors for common causes of death, according to a survey conducted by ImagineMD.
FDA Extends EpiPen Expiration Dates to Tackle Shortage
TUESDAY, Aug. 21, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The expiration dates of certain batches of EpiPens have been extended by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in an effort to reduce shortages of the life-saving devices.
Plan to Relax Coal-Fired Power Plant Rules Could Up Mortality
TUESDAY, Aug. 21, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The Trump administration’s plan to relax pollution rules for coal-fired power plants will increase carbon emissions and cause up to 1,400 premature deaths a year, according to details released Tuesday.
The New York Times Article
EPA News Release
Pennsylvania Case Could Affect Evidence for Malpractice Defense
TUESDAY, Aug. 21, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case that could affect what evidence physicians may present in defense during medical malpractice suits, according to an article published in the American Medical Association’s AMA Wire.
Large Number of Presumed Sudden Cardiac Deaths Are Not
TUESDAY, Aug. 21, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A large percentage of deaths attributed to cardiac arrest are neither sudden nor unexpected, according to a study published recently in Circulation.
Experts Offer Tips for Provider Appeal of Denied Medical Claims
MONDAY, Aug.20, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Knowing payer policies and regulatory requirements is critical to appealing denials, according to an article published in Medical Economics.
NYU Becomes First Medical School to Cover All Tuition
MONDAY, Aug. 20, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The NYU School of Medicine has announced that it is offering full-tuition scholarships to all current and future students in its M.D. degree program, regardless of need or merit.
Declines in Life Expectancy in Many High-Income Countries
MONDAY, Aug. 20, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Life expectancy has declined in recent years in some high-income countries, and in the United States, midlife mortality has increased due to several causes, according to two studies published online Aug. 15 in The BMJ.
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Little Global Development Assistance for Adolescent Health
MONDAY, Aug. 20, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Development assistance for adolescent health (DAAH) makes up a small proportion of total development assistance for health, according to a study published online Aug. 10 in JAMA Network Open.
Novel hs-cTnT Protocol Better Rules Out Myocardial Infarction
MONDAY, Aug. 20, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A novel high-sensitivity (hs) cardiac troponin T (cTnT) protocol for ruling out myocardial infarction (MI) rules out more patients than the existing protocol, according to a research letter published online Aug. 6 in Circulation.
U.S. Measles Outbreak Hits 107 Cases in 21 States, D.C.
FRIDAY, Aug. 17, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A measles outbreak that’s so far affected 21 states and the District of Columbia is being investigated by U.S. health officials.
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Juneau Empire Article
Honey May Protect Children Who Swallow Button Batteries
FRIDAY, Aug. 17, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Ingesting honey after swallowing a button battery may reduce injuries and improve outcomes in children, according to research published recently in Laryngoscope.
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FDA Approves First Generic EpiPen
FRIDAY, Aug. 17, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The first generic version of the EpiPen has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, paving the way for more affordable versions of the lifesaving allergy emergency medication.
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Residents’ Sleep Deteriorates During Training
FRIDAY, Aug. 17, 2018 (HealthDay News) — First-year residents experience worsening sleep duration and quality as well as daytime sleepiness, according to a study published in the June issue of the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
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Practice Names, Logos Should Be Carefully Designed
THURSDAY, Aug. 16, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Practice names and logos should be carefully designed to emphasize what is unique about a practice, according to a blog post published in Physicians Practice.
CDC: Brucellosis in Dogs Remains a Public Health Risk
THURSDAY, Aug. 16, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Brucella canis is an under-recognized infection in dogs that poses a threat to human health, according to a report published in the August issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Emerging Infectious Diseases.
Doctors Remove Contact Lens Embedded in Eyelid for Years
THURSDAY, Aug. 16, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Doctors recently removed a contact lens that was embedded in a woman’s eyelid for nearly three decades after she was hit in the eye while playing badminton. The case was highlighted in the Aug. 10 online edition of BMJ Case Reports.
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Patient Portals Don’t Appear to Have Much Traction
THURSDAY, Aug. 16, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Patient portals have not taken off as expected, according to an article published in Medical Economics.
ACA Coverage Gains Include Workers Without Insurance
THURSDAY, Aug. 16, 2018 (HealthDay News) — After the expanded coverage provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) were implemented in 2014, self-employed individuals and wage earners without employer-sponsored health coverage offers had coverage gains equal to or greater than those of people not employed, according to a report published in the August issue of Health Affairs.
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Integration of Opioid, Infectious Disease Treatment Needed
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 15, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Steps should be taken to integrate treatment at the intersection of opioid use disorder (OUD) and related HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infectious disease epidemics, according to an Ideas and Opinion piece published online July 13 in the Annals of Internal Medicine. The article was published to coincide with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) expert panel’s recommendations for treating opioid abuse and its related infectious epidemics.
Rate of Pediatric Emergencies in Ambulatory Practices Identified
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 15, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The rate of pediatric emergency medical services (EMS) transports from ambulatory practices is 42 per 100,000 children per year, according to a study published in the August issue of Pediatrics.
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6 Factors Related to Inclusion in Health Care Workplace ID’d
TUESDAY, Aug. 14, 2018 (HealthDay News) — There are six broad factors that can affect inclusion within health care organizations, according to a study published online Aug. 3 in JAMA Network Open.
Completing Sepsis Bundle Within an Hour Cuts Pediatric Mortality
TUESDAY, Aug. 14, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Completion of a one-hour sepsis bundle within one hour cuts mortality in pediatric patients, according to a study published in the July 24/31 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Trauma Surgery Association IDs Steps to Curb Firearm Violence
TUESDAY, Aug. 14, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) has set out a manifesto to halt “senseless” firearm violence and injury, according to a statement published online Aug. 8 in Trauma Surgery & Acute Care Open.
Many Sexual Assault Victims Don’t Complete Evidence Kits
TUESDAY, Aug. 14, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Even with access to specialized forensic evidence collection, many sexual assault survivors do not complete a Sexual Assault Evidence Kit (SAEK), and even fewer release the evidence to police for investigation, according to a study published online Aug. 8 in the Emergency Medicine Journal.
AAP Provides Safety Precautions to Prevent Drowning
MONDAY, Aug. 13, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children aged 1 to 4 years, with most drownings happening in home swimming pools, according to a report published by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Four Pros to Integrating EHR, Practice Management Software
MONDAY, Aug. 13, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Consolidating electronic health records and practice management software allows practices to save time and money, make fewer mistakes, and reduce the risk of privacy breaches, according to an article published in Physicians Practice.
CDC: More Than 400 Sickened by McDonald’s Salads
MONDAY, Aug. 13, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The number of confirmed cases of a parasite-caused illness linked to McDonald’s Fresh Express Salad Mix is now 436 in 15 states, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.
Eye Examination Can Help Detect Abuse in Children
MONDAY, Aug. 13, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Eye examination is helpful for detecting abnormalities that could indicate abuse in children, according to a clinical report published in the August issue of Pediatrics.
Sedation Level Doesn’t Impact Delirium Risk After Hip Fx Repair
MONDAY, Aug. 13, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For older patients undergoing hip fracture repair, the level of sedation does not impact delirium risk overall, according to a study published online Aug. 8 in JAMA Surgery.
CDC: EMS Administration of Naloxone Up From 2012 to 2016
MONDAY, Aug. 13, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The rate of naloxone administrations by emergency medical services (EMS) providers increased 75 percent from 2012 to 2016, according to research published in the Aug. 10 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Bundling Doesn’t Cut Medicare Payments for Medical Conditions
FRIDAY, Aug. 10, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Bundling of payments for five common medical conditions is not associated with changes in Medicare payments per episode or health outcomes, according to a study published in the July 19 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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AMA Adopts Policy on Augmented Intelligence
FRIDAY, Aug. 10, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates has adopted a policy on augmented intelligence, according to a report published in the association’s AMA Wire.
Teen Sudden Cardiac Death Causes Often Not ID’d on Screens
FRIDAY, Aug. 10, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Among adolescent soccer players in the United Kingdom, the incidence of sudden cardiac death is 6.8 per 100,000 athletes, and most of the deaths were due to cardiomyopathies not identified on cardiac screening, according to a study published in the Aug. 9 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Sexual Minorities Have Lower Health-Related Quality of Life
FRIDAY, Aug. 10, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Sexual minority women and men are more likely to be unemployed and uninsured and have worse health-related quality of life (HRQL) than heterosexual individuals, according to a study published recently in BMJ Open.
Military-Civilian Trauma System Partnership Developed
FRIDAY, Aug. 10, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A growing partnership between the Military Health System and permanent civilian trauma institutions is being fostered, according to an article published in the August issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.
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ACS Briefing Discusses Use of Lessons From Combat Care
FRIDAY, Aug. 10, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The American College of Surgeons (ACS) hosted a briefing on Capitol Hill to discuss the successes and challenges of combat casualty care in Iraq and Afghanistan by the U.S. military, and how an integrated military-civilian trauma system can help save the lives of both soldiers and civilians.
AMA Adopts Policy to Advance Gender Equity in Medicine
THURSDAY, Aug. 9, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates has adopted a new policy to study, act for, and advocate to advance gender equity in medicine, according to a report published in the association’s AMA Wire.
Cyber Insurance Recommended for All Physician Practices
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 8, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The growing threat of hacking is increasing the number of physicians buying cyber insurance, according to an article published in Medical Economics.
Measles Case Reported in Minnesota
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 8, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A Somali-American child in Minnesota has been diagnosed with the measles after returning from a trip to Africa, state health officials said Tuesday, adding that the unidentified 5-year-old in Hennepin County was not vaccinated, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported.
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One-Third of Canadian Patients Get Hip Fx Repair Within 24 Hours
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 8, 2018 (HealthDay News)– Only one-third of Canadian patients received hip fracture repair surgery within the desired 24 hours, according to a Canadian study published in the June 11 issue of CMAJ, the journal of the Canadian Medical Association.
Steps Taken to Increase Use of Electronic Tools in Medicine
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 8, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Additional codes have been approved by the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) Editorial Panel for chronic care remote physiologic monitoring and internet consultations, according to a report published by the American Medical Association (AMA).
AMA Proposes Policy Opposing Medicaid ‘Lockout’ Provisions
TUESDAY, Aug. 7, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A new policy opposing lockout provisions that block Medicaid patients from the program for lengthy periods and instead supporting allowing patients to reapply immediately for redetermination was adopted by the American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates during the AMA’s annual meeting in Chicago, according to an article published in the association’s AMA Wire.
HIV, Syphilis Screening Low With ED-Diagnosed PID in Adolescents
TUESDAY, Aug. 7, 2018 (HealthDay News) — HIV and syphilis screening rates are low among adolescents who are diagnosed with pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in the emergency department, according to a study published in the August issue of Pediatrics.
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New Tick Species Spreading in the United States
TUESDAY, Aug. 7, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The first new tick species to appear in the United States in 50 years is spreading rapidly in the east and has been confirmed in seven states and the suburbs of New York City.
Death Records Estimate 1,139 Deaths Due to Hurricane Maria
TUESDAY, Aug. 7, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Based on death records following Hurricane Maria, the hurricane-related mortality burden of excess deaths through December 2017 is estimated to be 1,139, higher than the official death toll of 64, according to a research letter published online Aug. 2 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Many Youths Believe Gun Control Would Decrease Mass Shootings
MONDAY, Aug. 6, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Most youths in a recent survey support the right to own guns, but the majority believe that gun control laws would reduce mass shootings, according to a research letter published online July 30 in JAMA Pediatrics.
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About Half of Child Caregivers Use Cellphones While Driving
MONDAY, Aug. 6, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Inconsistent use of a child restraint system and negligent use of a seat belt are associated with parent/caregiver cellphone use while driving children, according to a study published online July 12 in The Journal of Pediatrics.
Fewer Cervical Spine Injuries Seen With Motorcycle Helmet Use
MONDAY, Aug. 6, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Cervical spine injuries occur less frequently among motorcycle crash victims who were wearing a helmet versus those not wearing a helmet at the time of injury, according to a study published in the June issue of the Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine.
Some Bacteria Now More Tolerant of Alcohol-Based Sanitizers
FRIDAY, Aug. 3, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Some types of bacteria are developing tolerance of alcohol-based hand sanitizers used in hospitals, according to a study published in the Aug. 1 issue of Science Translational Medicine.
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Variation in Specialty Drug Coverage Across Health Plans
FRIDAY, Aug. 3, 2018 (HealthDay News) — There is considerable variation in specialty drug coverage across commercial health plans, according to a study published in the July issue of Health Affairs.
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Ultra-Early Neurological Deterioration Common in Stroke
FRIDAY, Aug. 3, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Ultra-early neurological deterioration (U-END) occurs in one in eight ambulance-transported patients with acute cerebrovascular disease and is associated with significantly worse outcomes, according to a study published online July 23 in JAMA Neurology.
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Groups Urge CMS to Reconsider Suspending Risk Adjustment
FRIDAY, Aug. 3, 2018 (HealthDay News) — In a letter sent to Administrator Seema Verma of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), medical organizations are urging reconsideration of the decision to suspend payments to insurers as required under the Affordable Care Act’s risk-adjustment program.
Health Affairs Announces Launch of New Three-Year Initiative
THURSDAY, Aug. 2, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A council on health care spending and value has been established by the journal Health Affairs.
Three Financial Metrics Can Improve Practice Performance
THURSDAY, Aug. 2, 2018 (HealthDay News) — By understanding three indices and metrics, physicians can change the financial outcome of their medical practice, according to a report published in Medical Economics.
CDC: Salmonella Outbreaks in 44 States Linked to Backyard Poultry
THURSDAY, Aug. 2, 2018 (HealthDay News) — At least 212 people in 44 states have been sickened in Salmonella outbreaks linked to contact with live poultry in backyard flocks, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
AHA Introduces Heart Failure Certification Program
THURSDAY, Aug. 2, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A hospital certification program offered by the American Heart Association (AHA) and The Joint Commission will be made available to hospitals seeking to implement exceptional efforts to foster better quality of care and outcomes for patients with advanced heart failure, according to a AHA July 19 news release.
New Short-Term Health Plans Have Large Coverage Gaps
THURSDAY, Aug. 2, 2018 (HealthDay News) — There are large coverage gaps in short-term health plans that were approved Wednesday by the Trump administration, and are described by critics as “junk insurance.”
New York City 2013 Measles Outbreak Proved Costly
THURSDAY, Aug. 2, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Vaccine refusals and delays, particularly in young children, fueled a large measles outbreak following importation of a case into the United States, according to a study published online July 30 in JAMA Pediatrics.
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How Doctors Receive Feedback Is Key for Antimicrobial Programs
THURSDAY, Aug. 2, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Anticipation of how providers will receive feedback is important for antimicrobial stewardship programs to consider in informing educational messaging, according to a study published online June 7 in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology.
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National Guideline Clearinghouse Offline Due to Funding Cuts
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 1, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The National Guideline Clearinghouse (NGC) and National Quality Measures Clearinghouse (NQMC) websites were taken down on July 16 when funding for these federal databases ended, according to an announcement by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).
Update on Salmonella Outbreak Tied to Hy-Vee Spring Pasta Salad
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 1, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A Salmonella outbreak linked to Hy-Vee Spring Pasta Salad has now sickened 79 people in nine states. Eighteen people have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.
FDA Recall Notice
CDC Food Safety Alert
Dog’s Saliva Caused Bacterial Infection Leading to Amputations
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 1, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A Wisconsin man had his lower legs and hands amputated after developing a rare blood infection caused by bacteria in dog saliva.
Washington Post Article
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Tamsulosin Does Not Appear to Promote Urinary Stone Passage
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 1, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Tamsulosin does not significantly increase the urinary stone passage rate compared with placebo, according to a study published online June 18 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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