Practice Management
Rural patients were more likely to present at the emergency department (ED) for migraine than those who live in non-rural areas, an epidemiologic study of 810,388 visits showed. Rural patients were more likely to receive opioid analgesics in the ED as well. Med Page Today reported on the study results from the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists midyear meeting. In rural areas in 2019, the rate of ED utilization for migraine was 41.8 per 10,000 …
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The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that on December 31, 2023, it would end its 5-year pilot of the Emergency Triage, Treat And Transport program known as “ET3.” ET3 enabled ambulance service providers to transport a patient to an alternative destination and/or provide treatment on the scene by paramedics or via telemedicine. CMS is ending the program because of disappointing participation and intervention numbers. According to CMS data, there were 151 total …
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Your follow-up recommendation for a patient seen with a telehealth visit is often a diagnostic test or specialty referral. Completion of those follow-up recommendations—“diagnostic loop closure”—seems to be lacking, according to a study in JAMA Network Open. The study involved 4,133 diagnostic tests and referrals (colonoscopies, cardiac stress tests, and dermatology referrals) from March 2020 through December 2021 at 2 primary care sites. Results showed that 58% of in-person visit orders were completed within the …
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When physicians prescribe hormone therapy (HT) for perimenopausal women, many warn their patients of the increased risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE). However, knowing that a large number of patients also take statin medications to prevent cardiovascular issues, it would make sense to study the effect statins may have on the risk of VTE for women using HT. A new study in JAMA Network Open did that very thing and found the risk of VTE was …
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In Arkansas, a new rule will begin January 1, 2024, allowing ambulance services to triage, treat, and transport patients to alternative destinations, including urgent care centers, physician offices, and behavioral health facilities. However, the ambulance service will be on-task to first coordinate the patient’s care with a physician or a behavioral health specialist via telemedicine. Insurers will also be required to cover 911-initiated ambulance dispatch resulting in telemedicine triage, transportation to the alternative destination, and/or treatment …
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A new poll from Gallup found that Americans have a more favorable perception of the care and attention they receive at urgent care compared to many other provider types. Among the list of 9 healthcare players in the 2023 Health and Healthcare survey, urgent care ranks just above the middle at number 4. Here’s how respondents rated urgent care: “Excellent/Good”: 56%; “Only Fair”: 32%; “Poor”: 10%. Nurses receive the best rating from consumers with 82% …
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In January 2023, pharmacy chain CVS made an investment of $100 million in Carbon Health—a primary care and urgent care operation—presumably to augment the limited scope of CVS’ existing MinuteClinic business. Now, CVS retail stores in the Northeast are starting to show signs of Carbon Health’s entrance. According to Salem News (Massachusetts), locations in the cities of Beverly and Swampscott are planning to open new in-store clinics that will replace and significantly expand on the …
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Patients taking the GLP-1 weight loss drug semaglutide were 3 times more likely to maintain adherence to their medication regimens a year later when compared to other drug options, according to a Cleveland Clinic study. As described in Obesity, researchers examined health records of 1,911 adults in two states and found 40% of semaglutide patients were still filling their prescriptions 12 months after the initiation of treatment. Patients using other anti-obesity drugs, such as orlistat, liraglutide, …
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The Home Test to Treat program, a virtual community-health initiative created by the federal government, has scaled up to offer free nationwide testing and treatment services for COVID-19 and influenza. Offering at-home rapid tests, telehealth sessions, and home-delivered medication, the program is a collaboration among three federal agencies. Uninsured adults or those enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid, Veterans Affairs, or the Indian Health Services can now enroll to receive free tests. Positive test results allow patients …
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One afternoon, a 47-year-old man presents in the urgent care with left hip pain that he says just started in the past day or so. He says he hasn’t had any injuries or falls. View the image taken and consider what your diagnosis and next steps would be. Resolution of the case can be found by clicking “Solve this Case” below.
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