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American College of Physicians

The American College of Physicians is the largest medical specialty organization in the United States.

155 articles on KevinMD

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Articles, page 8

Conditions and diseases

ACP: Make flu vaccination a team effort

2

A guest column by the American College of Physicians, exclusive to KevinMD.com. Fall is the time of year when the CDC, CMS, insurance companies, and professional societies bombard physicians with reminders to vaccinate their patients against influenza. I will do…

A guest column by the American College of Physicians, exclusive to KevinMD.com.

Fall is the time of year when the CDC, CMS, insurance companies, and professional societies bombard physicians with reminders to vaccinate their patients against influenza. I will do these groups one better and not only remind you, but also share a couple of ideas for improving your immunization rates. These are strategies that I use in …

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ACP: Make flu vaccination a team effort

Health technology

ACP: My EHR report card

3

A guest column by the American College of Physicians, exclusive to KevinMD.com. Even though September is “back to school month” and students won’t get their report cards for a while, I have a report card to share with you now.…

A guest column by the American College of Physicians, exclusive to KevinMD.com.

Even though September is “back to school month” and students won’t get their report cards for a while, I have a report card to share with you now. In September 2006, my practice went “live” with an EHR, so I thought that the sixth anniversary of this event would be a good time for an assessment. For …

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ACP: My EHR report card

Health policy

ACP: A Senate intern turned internist seeks solutions to better patient care

A guest column by the American College of Physicians, exclusive to KevinMD.com. In early June I participated in ACP Services 2012 Leadership Day on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. I sincerely believe that we have an obligation to share our…

A guest column by the American College of Physicians, exclusive to KevinMD.com.

In early June I participated in ACP Services 2012 Leadership Day on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.  I sincerely believe that we have an obligation to share our experiences with elected representatives. Internists through ACP have been doing this for years and have raised awareness of the high fiscal and personal costs of our uninsured. We have stressed …

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ACP: A Senate intern turned internist seeks solutions to better patient care

Health policy

ACP: Reducing expenses at the ground level of health care

A guest column by the American College of Physicians, exclusive to KevinMD.com. I will never forget asking my teenage son what appeared to be a simple question. His answer, after a long pause, was “It’s complicated.” If you ask many…

A guest column by the American College of Physicians, exclusive to KevinMD.com.

I will never forget asking my teenage son what appeared to be a simple question. His answer, after a long pause, was “It’s complicated.” If you ask many of us about health care in the U.S., there is often an answer that points quickly to a particular villain or a simple fix that would change everything. Unfortunately things …

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ACP: Reducing expenses at the ground level of health care

Health policy

ACP: If I were health care king

4

A guest column by the American College of Physicians, exclusive to KevinMD.com. In preparation for a panel discussion at Internal Medicine 2012, the annual scientific meeting of the American College of Physicians, I was asked some questions about changes I…

A guest column by the American College of Physicians, exclusive to KevinMD.com.

In preparation for a panel discussion at Internal Medicine 2012, the annual scientific meeting of the American College of Physicians, I was asked some questions about changes I would make in health care if I were king. That stimulated some serious thinking. For those of us in practice it is more usual to think about what new regulation …

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ACP: If I were health care king

Conditions and diseases

ACP reminds physicians to assess risk, screen for colorectal cancer

A guest column by the American College of Physicians, exclusive to KevinMD.com. Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths for men and women in the United States. Although the effectiveness of colorectal cancer screening in reducing deaths…

A guest column by the American College of Physicians, exclusive to KevinMD.com.

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths for men and women in the United States. Although the effectiveness of colorectal cancer screening in reducing deaths is supported by the available evidence, only about 60 percent of American adults aged 50 and older get screened.

A new colorectal cancer screening guidance statement from the American College …

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ACP reminds physicians to assess risk, screen for colorectal cancer

Physician voices

ACP: Medical ethics should be a daily aspect of care

A guest column by the American College of Physicians, exclusive to KevinMD.com. Is medical ethics an important aspect of real world medical practice today? Or a quaint notion for the history books based on mom and apple pie generalisms? For…

A guest column by the American College of Physicians, exclusive to KevinMD.com.

Is medical ethics an important aspect of real world medical practice today? Or a quaint notion for the history books based on mom and apple pie generalisms?

For the patient and for the physician in practice, medical ethics is — or should be — a daily aspect of care. But that doesn’t make it easy. In fact, it is …

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ACP: Medical ethics should be a daily aspect of care

Physician voices

ACP: Making transitions better for patients

5

A guest column by the American College of Physicians, exclusive to KevinMD.com. Many patients see multiple doctors and receive care in a variety of settings. Some patients receive care in more than one hospital. As an internist who is in…

A guest column by the American College of Physicians, exclusive to KevinMD.com.

Many patients see multiple doctors and receive care in a variety of settings. Some patients receive care in more than one hospital. As an internist who is in the process of transforming into a patient-centered medical home, I have been taking steps to help my patients when they see other physicians.

All physicians can recount instances when they saw …

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ACP: Making transitions better for patients

Health policy

ACP: What’s a small group practice to do?

7

A guest column by the American College of Physicians, exclusive to KevinMD.com. In 1998 I started a period of national service to the American College of Physicians leading to my term as President for 2010-2011. During that time I kept…

A guest column by the American College of Physicians, exclusive to KevinMD.com.

In 1998 I started a period of national service to the American College of Physicians leading to my term as President for 2010-2011. During that time I kept an almost full time private practice in Fayetteville, Tennessee. Moving between the worlds of health policy and “the trenches,” I understand better than many the tremendous challenges we face in …

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ACP: What’s a small group practice to do?

Physician voices

ACP: Relationships enhance patient care

2

A guest column by the American College of Physicians, exclusive to KevinMD.com. Up until 2001 I practiced medicine in the hospital where I was born. I still work in the hospital that was built to replace it. In our mobile…

A guest column by the American College of Physicians, exclusive to KevinMD.com.

Up until 2001 I practiced medicine in the hospital where I was born. I still work in the hospital that was built to replace it. In our mobile society that is clearly the exception rather than the rule.

I love what I am able to offer my patients as a general internist in a community where my family has …

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ACP: Relationships enhance patient care

Health policy

ACP: Current and future payment and practice trends in medicine

5

A guest column by the American College of Physicians, exclusive to KevinMD.com. In April 2011 I finished seven years on the Board of Regents of the American College of Physicians (ACP) including two years as Chair of the ACP Health…

A guest column by the American College of Physicians, exclusive to KevinMD.com.

In April 2011 I finished seven years on the Board of Regents of the American College of Physicians (ACP) including two years as Chair of the ACP Health and Public Policy Committee and serving during the last year as President. During that time I had the opportunity to be involved in some great discussions on health care within …

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ACP: Current and future payment and practice trends in medicine

Conditions and diseases

ACP: New COPD guideline addresses an important health issue

A guest column by the American College of Physicians, exclusive to KevinMD.com. It is easy to continue practice patterns we establish over the years. In my daily life as a general internist I am more likely to look for more…

A guest column by the American College of Physicians, exclusive to KevinMD.com.

It is easy to continue practice patterns we establish over the years. In my daily life as a general internist I am more likely to look for more information on a condition I don’t see regularly than on one that I see all the time. While we want to provide the best care for every condition we treat …

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ACP: New COPD guideline addresses an important health issue

Health policy

ACP: ACOs – On to the final rule

A guest column by the American College of Physicians, exclusive to KevinMD.com. by John Tooker, MD, MBA, MACP Recently, I commented on cost saving, quality, and care coordination requirements in the proposed rule that physician practices will likely need to…

A guest column by the American College of Physicians, exclusive to KevinMD.com.

by John Tooker, MD, MBA, MACP

Recently, I commented on cost saving, quality, and care coordination requirements in the proposed rule that physician practices will likely need to meet to be eligible for additional Medicare payments.

The public comment period on the proposed rule for the creation of ACOs has ended. CMS has pledged it will …

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ACP: ACOs – On to the final rule

Health policy

ACP: How accountable care is a team sport

6

A guest column by the American College of Physicians, exclusive to KevinMD.com. by John Tooker, MD, MBA, MACP On March 31, 2011, CMS issued a proposed rule to implement a section of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA)…

A guest column by the American College of Physicians, exclusive to KevinMD.com.

by John Tooker, MD, MBA, MACP

On March 31, 2011, CMS issued a proposed rule to implement a section of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) that requires the HHS Secretary to establish a Medicare Shared Savings Program. Under the proposed rule, eligible providers and hospitals that create or join …

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ACP: How accountable care is a team sport

Physician voices

ACP: National immigration policy and health care

A guest column by the American College of Physicians, exclusive to KevinMD.com. by John Tooker, MD, MBA, MACP There are over 11 million undocumented immigrants in the United States -- about 3.7% of the U.S. population -- according to a…

A guest column by the American College of Physicians, exclusive to KevinMD.com.

by John Tooker, MD, MBA, MACP

There are over 11 million undocumented immigrants in the United States — about 3.7% of the U.S. population — according to a 2011 report from the Pew Hispanic Center.

Although there are many reasons why immigrants elect to come to the U.S., the primary motivations for unauthorized entry are jobs …

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ACP: National immigration policy and health care

Health policy

ACP: Benefits, harms, and quality in high value, cost conscious care

A guest column by the American College of Physicians, exclusive to KevinMD.com. by John Tooker, MD, MBA, MACP Last month, my KevinMD.com column introduced a concept paper published in the Annals of Internal Medicine by Owens and colleagues titled High-Value,…

A guest column by the American College of Physicians, exclusive to KevinMD.com.

by John Tooker, MD, MBA, MACP

Last month, my KevinMD.com column introduced a concept paper published in the Annals of Internal Medicine by Owens and colleagues titled High-Value, Cost-Conscious Health Care: Concepts for Clinicians to Evaluate the Benefits, Harms, and Costs of Medical Interventions. This month, I’ll take a closer look at value, the …

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ACP: Benefits, harms, and quality in high value, cost conscious care

Physician voices

ACP: High value, cost conscious care

A guest column by the American College of Physicians, exclusive to KevinMD.com. by John Tooker, MD, MBA, MACP There were two reports from the recent 2011 International Stroke Conference that got my attention. One report noted the sharp increase in…

A guest column by the American College of Physicians, exclusive to KevinMD.com.

by John Tooker, MD, MBA, MACP

There were two reports from the recent 2011 International Stroke Conference that got my attention.

One report noted the sharp increase in the incidence of strokes in children and young adults.  The second, in the Los Angeles Times (“Mild strokes may be a target for clot-busting drug”), suggested that mild strokes, …

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ACP: High value, cost conscious care

Health technology

ACP: Clinical decision support – is it time?

3

A guest column by the American College of Physicians, exclusive to KevinMD.com. by John Tooker, MD, MBA, MACP The recently enacted American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA, 2009) and Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA, 2010) contain provisions that,…

A guest column by the American College of Physicians, exclusive to KevinMD.com.

by John Tooker, MD, MBA, MACP

The recently enacted American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA, 2009) and Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA, 2010) contain provisions that, if implemented, will fundamentally change the way that medicine will be practiced in the future.

As I indicated in a prior post, the new Center for Medicare …

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ACP: Clinical decision support – is it time?

Health policy

ACP: Health care innovation in the Affordable Care Act

7

A guest column by the American College of Physicians, exclusive to KevinMD.com. by John Tooker, MD, MBA, MACP The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) has important provisions – improved access, safety and quality among them – that have…

A guest column by the American College of Physicians, exclusive to KevinMD.com.

by John Tooker, MD, MBA, MACP

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) has important provisions – improved access, safety and quality among them – that have the real potential to improve health and health care and, lower costs.

Two recent reports remind us of the urgent need to improve safety and quality: A report from …

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ACP: Health care innovation in the Affordable Care Act

Physician voices

ACP: Doctors as leaders – the value of civility

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A guest column by the American College of Physicians, exclusive to KevinMD.com. by John Tooker, MD, MBA, MACP The campaigning for the mid-term elections reminds us once again of the state of civility – or lack of civility - in…

A guest column by the American College of Physicians, exclusive to KevinMD.com.

by John Tooker, MD, MBA, MACP

The campaigning for the mid-term elections reminds us once again of the state of civility – or lack of civility – in American politics. By civility, I mean showing regard for others. We are beset by campaign attack ads that are often factually wrong and designed to …

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ACP: Doctors as leaders – the value of civility

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