Can Pharmacists Improve the Accuracy of Medication Histories?
Pharmacist- Versus Physician-Obtained Medication HistoriesReeder TA, Mutnick AAm J Health Syst Pharm. 2008;65:857-860 Study SummaryAbout 60% of hospitalized patients have at least 1 error in their medication history that is taken upon admission.[1] The investigators in this study compared medication histories that were obtained by hospital pharmacists with those obtained by physicians. The study was […]
Association Between Critical Care Physician Management and Patient Mortality
Association Between Critical Care Physician Management and Patient Mortality in the Intensive Care UnitLevy MM, Rapoport J, Lemeshow S, et alAnn Intern Med. 2008;148:801-809 Critically ill patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) are thought to benefit from more intensive healthcare delivery from nurses, physicians, and other providers (eg, critical care pharmacists).[1-15] The authors examined […]
Have you been selected to participate in the Physician Practice Information survey?
The AMA and more than 70 other organizations are conducting a comprehensive multi-specialty survey of America’s physician practices. The results will be used to positively influence national decision makers to ensure accurate and fair representation for all physicians and patients, and to articulate the challenges of running a practice that provides expert patient care, while […]
What Every Physician Should Know About the RUC
Introduction To paraphrase Winston Churchill, never have so many physicians and other health care professionals owed so much to so few. The "few" in this case are the 29 members of the American Medical Association/Specialty Society Relative Value Scale Update Committee, or RUC (rhymes with "truck") for short. The RUC's recommendations to the Centers for […]
Congress passes “skinny” Medicare payment bill and averts SGR cut through June 2008
Unable to reach consensus on a meaningful Medicare reform package, Congressional leaders and the Bush Administration have cobbled together a last–minute, barebones package to temporarily avert the 10% across-the-board Medicare physician payment cut scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2008. President Bush is expected to sign the bill into law soon.
First-Aid for Poisoning
April 12, 2007Dr. Ramaz Mitaishvili For parentsSometimes accidental poisonings can be treated in the home following the direction of a poison control center or your child's physician. At other times, emergency medical care is necessary.
How much will acupuncture cost?
A practitioner should inform you about the estimated number of treatments needed and how much each will cost. If this information is not provided, ask for it. Treatment may take place over a few days or for several weeks or more. Physician acupuncturists may charge more than nonphysician practitioners.
