Primary Care News and Research

Latest Primary Care News and Research

BMI or measure of obesity does not play significant role in weight loss operation, says study

A new study investigating why obese patients choose one type of weight loss operation over another reveals that the main factors influencing decision making are whether patients have type 2 diabetes, how much weight they want to lose, and their tolerance for surgical risk to achieve their ideal weight.

25 Nov 2013

Research roundup: Meeting the needs of assisted living residents; Medicaid expansion and community health centers; money follows the person

Assisted living facilities provide housing and care to persons unable to live independently, and who often have increasing medical needs. Disease outbreaks illustrate challenges of maintaining adequate resident protections in these facilities. ... Of the 50 states, 84% specify health-based admissions criteria to assisted living facilities; 60% require licensed health care professionals to oversee medical care; ... There is wide variation in how assisted living facilities are regulated in the United States.

25 Nov 2013

Research report focuses on the impact of real-time cost information within a primary care

Health care costs continue to go up, and physicians control more than 80 percent of those costs. Could providing physicians with real-time information about the cost of what they order help to restrain excessive testing? This is the question addressed in an article- in the Journal of General Internal Medicine-, published by Springer. The research project was led by Daniel Horn of the Massachusetts General Hospital's Division of General Medicine in the US, and is among the first to focus on the impact that the passive display of real-time laboratory costs can have within a primary care, non-academic setting.

22 Nov 2013

Electronic health records may be used to measure patient-centeredness of primary care practices

Although electronic health records (EHR) are primarily used to store patient clinical data, the non-clinical data they collect may be used to measure patient-centeredness of primary care practices, finds a new study in Health Services Research. In addition, two of the process of care measures collected via EHRs, volume of between clinician e-messages and frequency of in-person patient visits, were associated with better patient health outcomes.

22 Nov 2013

Bangladesh outperforms Asian neighbours despite low spending on health care

Exceptional improvements in the survival of infants and children under 5 years of age, life expectancy, immunisation coverage, and tuberculosis control in Bangladesh are part of a remarkable success story for health in the South Asian country, according to a major new Series published in The Lancet. This is despite low spending on health care, a weak health system, and widespread poverty.

21 Nov 2013

State highlights: Mo. doctors propose Medicaid payment reform project; N.C. Medicaid billing problems persist; Calif. nursing home pays $48M to settle fraud case

Some doctors want to make Missouri's Medicaid program a little more like a health club. A proposal outlined by a pair of doctors Tuesday would create a pilot project in which primary care physicians would be paid a flat monthly amount for each Medicaid patient they accept (Lieb, 11/19).

21 Nov 2013

Doctor-patient communication critical for success of patient-centered medical homes

A new trend in American health care is the patient-centered medical home. The approach revolves around a team of medical and health professionals who, working together, treat an individual, led by a primary-care physician who orchestrates the whole effort. The goal is the team knows everything about the patient, no matter how disparate the symptoms—from the earache last night to the long history of high cholesterol—and works together to treat the individual in a holistic way.

20 Nov 2013

Simple blood test may predict people at highest risk for developing heart problems

For years, doctors have been divided on how effective annual testing and screenings are for apparently healthy individuals. New research, however, shows that a simple blood test may predict who is at highest risk to develop heart problems - and how long these people may have to live.

20 Nov 2013

Many primary care pediatricians feel uncomfortable in providing care to patients with genetic disorders

Many primary care pediatricians say they feel uncomfortable providing health care to patients with genetic disorders. Also, many do not consistently discuss all risks and benefits of genetic tests with patients, according to research published today in the American Journal of Medical Genetics.

20 Nov 2013

Non-specialist health workers provide treatment for people with MNS problems in developing countries

Non-specialist health workers are beneficial in providing treatment for people with mental, neurological and substance-abuse (MNS) problems in developing countries - where there is often a lack of mental health professionals - according to a new Cochrane review.

20 Nov 2013

New report examines impact of federal and state policy decisions on community health centers

A new report by the Geiger Gibson/RCHN Community Health Foundation Research Collaborative at the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services examines the impact of federal and state policy decisions on community health centers and their ability to continue providing primary care to the nation's poorest residents.

19 Nov 2013

6MWT does not reflect activity in primary care COPD patients

Researchers have found that functional exercise capacity does not reflect physical activity among chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients treated in primary care.

18 Nov 2013

Researchers take close look at medicine's highest volume activity

Laboratory testing is health care's single highest volume activity, with over 5 billion tests performed each year in the U.S.

18 Nov 2013

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics supports new cardiovascular guidelines

The reality of existing insurance coverage precludes effective implementation of four newly released cardiovascular guidelines from the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The Academy supports the new guidelines and urges public and private insurance carriers to follow the recommendations so that Americans will have access to health care they deserve.

18 Nov 2013

Residents of major cities with high pollution levels have increased risk of dry eye syndrome

Residents of major cities with high levels of air pollution have an increased risk of dry eye syndrome, according to a study presented at the world's largest ophthalmic conference, the 117th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, in New Orleans.

17 Nov 2013

Errors in medication common on admission to mental health services, shows study

A recent study, published in the International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy, involving Aston University (UK), South Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (SEPT) and the University of East Anglia (UK) found medication errors were common on admission to mental health services.

16 Nov 2013

Study highlights major challenge faced by older adults with severe mental illnesses

Although older adults with serious mental illness didn't have more recorded physical illness and had fewer outpatient visits to primary care physicians, they made more medical emergency department visits and had considerably longer medical hospitalizations than older adults without mental illness according to a study conducted by researchers from the Regenstrief Institute and the Indiana University Center for Aging Research.

15 Nov 2013

UHL Inaugural Research Symposium brings together experts involved in healthcare research

The Inaugural Research Symposium organised by University Hospital Limerick recently took place at the Strand Hotel, Limerick. The 1-day conference covered topics from healthcare reform to surgical innovations.

15 Nov 2013

HIVMA's updated HIV care guidelines show doctors should focus on common health conditions

The HIV Medicine Association of the Infectious Diseases Society of America has updated its HIV care guidelines to reflect the fact that people with HIV are now living normal life spans, and their physicians need to focus on preventive care, including screening for high cholesterol, diabetes and osteoporosis.

15 Nov 2013

Kaiser Permanente to open doors to brand new specialty center in Lone Tree, Colorado

After years of planning, construction and preparation, Kaiser Permanente will open the doors to a brand new specialty center in Lone Tree on December 2nd. This is the largest construction project and the most significant addition to the health plan's brick-and-mortar presence in Colorado in nearly a decade.

15 Nov 2013

Primary Care News and Research

Latest Primary Care News and Research

BMI or measure of obesity does not play significant role in weight loss operation, says study

Research roundup: Meeting the needs of assisted living residents; Medicaid expansion and community health centers; money follows the person

Research report focuses on the impact of real-time cost information within a primary care

Electronic health records may be used to measure patient-centeredness of primary care practices

Bangladesh outperforms Asian neighbours despite low spending on health care

State highlights: Mo. doctors propose Medicaid payment reform project; N.C. Medicaid billing problems persist; Calif. nursing home pays $48M to settle fraud case

Doctor-patient communication critical for success of patient-centered medical homes

Simple blood test may predict people at highest risk for developing heart problems

Many primary care pediatricians feel uncomfortable in providing care to patients with genetic disorders

Non-specialist health workers provide treatment for people with MNS problems in developing countries

New report examines impact of federal and state policy decisions on community health centers

6MWT does not reflect activity in primary care COPD patients

Researchers take close look at medicine's highest volume activity

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics supports new cardiovascular guidelines

Residents of major cities with high pollution levels have increased risk of dry eye syndrome

Errors in medication common on admission to mental health services, shows study

Study highlights major challenge faced by older adults with severe mental illnesses

UHL Inaugural Research Symposium brings together experts involved in healthcare research

HIVMA's updated HIV care guidelines show doctors should focus on common health conditions

Kaiser Permanente to open doors to brand new specialty center in Lone Tree, Colorado

Exploring the role of confocal-based high-content imaging in advancing core facilities

Transforming Cardiovascular Care: Insights from Mina Makar at AstraZeneca

Clue's CEO Rhiannon White on the Future of Femtech and PCOS

Primary Care News and Research

Latest Primary Care News and Research

Exploring the role of confocal-based high-content imaging in advancing core facilities

Transforming Cardiovascular Care: Insights from Mina Makar at AstraZeneca

Clue's CEO Rhiannon White on the Future of Femtech and PCOS

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