All News
Diabetes Drugs Fell in the Doughnut Hole
February 18th 2010The gap in Medicare prescription drug coverage, or the doughnut hole, may be why many seniors with diabetes are not adhering to medications. Researchers from Kaiser Permanente and the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, focused their study on what happens during the gap, or when patients are paying for their medications out of pocket.1
Health care spending Continues to Slow
February 18th 2010Health care spending in the United States slowed to a growth rate of 4.4% in 2008-the slowest in 48 years-as national health spending reached $2.3 trillion ($7681 per person). These results were published in an annual report from the National Health Expenditure Accounts Team.1
Rising Rates of Disability Among Older Adults
February 18th 2010A recent study has shown that rates of disability may be rising among noninstitutionalized adults 65 years and older in the United States.1 “People are living longer, but many are also living sicker,” said Amani Nuru-Jeter, PhD, MPH, assistant professor of community health and human development at the University of California Berkeley School of Public Health, and coauthor of the study.
Electronic Medical Records: Functionality Misses the Mark in Coordination of Care
February 18th 2010Although policymakers continue to push for greater adoption of electronic medical records (EMRs), physicians already using these systems report difficulty in exchanging data because of program interoperability, according to a new report.1 “We found that many aspects of the EMRs are helpful for coordination of care delivered within the physician’s office,” said Ann S. O’Malley, MD, MPH, lead study author and senior researcher at the Center for Studying Health System Change, in an interview with Drug Benefit Trends. “But there are areas for both office care processes and EMR design to evolve in order for EMRs to better support coordination tasks.”
Cephalosporins: How to Minimize the Risk of Neurotoxicity
February 16th 2010Cephalosporins are usually considered relatively safe antibiotics; however, serious neurological adverse effects can occur following administration.1-5 Manifestations of cephalosporin-induced neurotoxicity may include confusion, disorientation, twitching, somnolence, myoclonus, and seizures, particularly in patients with reduced renal function.6,7 Here we discuss the mechanism, risk factors, and management of cephalosporin-induced neurotoxicity.
Too Much for the Computer: Complete Heart Block in an Elderly Woman
February 16th 2010A 92-year-old woman presented with signs and symptoms of heart failure, including marked bilateral lower extremity edema, jugular vein distention, and difficulty in breathing at rest. Her medical history was significant for hyperthyroidism, chronic asthmatic bronchitis, and senile dementia. Medications included oral methimazole, 10 mg/d, and oral theophylline, 200 mg/d.
Syringe Swap Speeds Steroid Injections
February 10th 2010To save time and minimize pain and tissue trauma when injecting a joint or soft tissue with a corticosteroid, use a single needle and 2 screw-on syringes. Fill the first syringe with lidocaine and the second with the corticosteroid, then lightly but securely attach the first syringe to the needle. After inserting the needle and achieving local analgesia in the desired location, simply leave the needle in place and, while holding it firmly, switch the syringes; then inject the corticosteroid.
