MedPage Today

Articles, page 6

Why the media will slow the healing of Sandy Hook

December 22, 2012Dec 22, 2012

When Newtown children returned to area elementary schools less than a week after the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary, the cameras were watching, a reality that may slow healing in the Connecticut community. Although there's no literature that's specific to…

Although there’s no literature that’s specific to the effects of a media frenzy after a school shooting on children’s psychological recovery, there’s plenty of other applicable evidence, according …

Is Susan G. Komen wrong about mammograms?

MedPage Today

August 3, 2012Aug 3, 201214

The world's largest breast cancer charity used misleading statistics and deceptive statements about mammography to promote breast cancer awareness and screening, authors of an opinion piece asserted. In promotional material for the 2011 Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Susan G. Komen…

The world’s largest breast cancer charity used misleading statistics and deceptive statements about mammography to promote breast cancer awareness and screening, authors of an opinion piece asserted.

In promotional material for the 2011 Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Susan G. Komen for the Cure suggested large differences in breast cancer survival among women who undergo screening mammography and those who do not. …

Involuntary commitment for James Holmes: Is his psychiatrist to blame?

MedPage Today

August 2, 2012Aug 2, 20125

The majority of killers involved in recent mass shootings had encounters with the mental healthcare system before they committed their acts of violence, with some even being legally compelled to seek help. Few seemed surprised when it came out over…

Few seemed surprised when it came out over the weekend that James Holmes, 24, who allegedly killed 12 and wounded 58 others at a movie theater shooting in Aurora, …

A Supreme Court split decision will cause health confusion

MedPage Today

June 27, 2012Jun 27, 20123

Utter confusion could result if the Supreme Court invalidates the Affordable Care Act's (ACA) individual mandate while upholding other parts of the law, a physician expert predicted ahead of Thursday's expected decision. And a split decision is, indeed, likely, said…

Utter confusion could result if the Supreme Court invalidates the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) individual mandate while upholding other parts of the law, a physician expert predicted ahead of Thursday’s expected decision.

And a split decision is, indeed, likely, said Randy Wexler MD, MPH, of Ohio State University in Columbus.

That will create chaos, he said, which is something other …

Patient voices

How the quality of the scientific literature impacts the evidence

MedPage Today

May 18, 2011May 18, 20112

by Tom Lang and George Lundberg, MD A not-so-obvious truth is that evidence-based medicine is literature-based medicine. That is, the quality of the scientific literature directly affects the quality of the evidence. Quality, in turn, depends in large measure on…

by Tom Lang and George Lundberg, MD

A not-so-obvious truth is that evidence-based medicine is literature-based medicine.

That is, the quality of the scientific literature directly affects the quality of the evidence.

Quality, in turn, depends in large measure on reporting research completely and accurately.

In response to ample evidence that such quality is often missing from the literature, dozens of reporting guidelines, such as the CONSORT Statement for reporting randomized trials, are …

Physician voices

How your medical practice can manage vendor relationships

MedPage Today

November 29, 2010Nov 29, 2010

by Rosemarie Nelson, MS Everyone is trying to "do more with less" and concerns about the economy add fuel to that fire! But, when done with purpose and thoughtfulness, you can manage vendor relationships so that you'll deliver successful negotiations…

by Rosemarie Nelson, MS

Everyone is trying to “do more with less” and concerns about the economy add fuel to that fire! But, when done with purpose and thoughtfulness, you can manage vendor relationships so that you’ll deliver successful negotiations that will get the most bang for the buck for any medical practice, small or large, multispecialty or single specialty.

Preparation and setting objectives well before contract …

Drugs and prescribing

Penicillin and the Cocoanut Grove fire in Boston

MedPage Today

November 24, 2010Nov 24, 20102

by Nancy Walsh The recent report of the deliberate infection of Guatemalans with syphilis in the 1940s to see if penicillin could cure and prevent transmission of the disease was a reminder of just how short the time has been…

by Nancy Walsh

The recent report of the deliberate infection of Guatemalans with syphilis in the 1940s to see if penicillin could cure and prevent transmission of the disease was a reminder of just how short the time has been since most infectious diseases were untreatable. Penicillin — discovered by Scottish biologist Alexander Fleming in 1928 but not available for clinical use until the 1940s — …

Physician voices

Pertussis can be prevented by giving the Tdap vaccine to adults

MedPage Today

November 11, 2010Nov 11, 20105

by Joyce Frieden A recent report from the CDC found that not enough adults were getting their tetanus booster -- specifically, their tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (Tdap) booster shot. Overall, the report found that more than a third of…

by Joyce Frieden

A recent report from the CDC found that not enough adults were getting their tetanus booster — specifically, their tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (Tdap) booster shot. Overall, the report found that more than a third of adult patients (36.5%) were overdue on these booster shots.

Although the report focused on the tetanus part of the vaccine, the editors of the Morbidity and …

Health technology

Challenges facing patients adopting personal health records

MedPage Today

October 14, 2010Oct 14, 20104

by Kristina Fiore They're still there. Rows upon rows of number- and color-tagged manila charts, packed in so closely together that Fiore sometimes sticks to Fiori, or hides behind it. None of my physicians has yet converted to electronic health…

by Kristina Fiore

They’re still there. Rows upon rows of number- and color-tagged manila charts, packed in so closely together that Fiore sometimes sticks to Fiori, or hides behind it.

None of my physicians has yet converted to electronic health records. I dream of the day when my PCP can pull up my chart on her iPad, accessing all of the important information (allergies, family history) before …