Practice Management

Latest News

Office Dismissal Policy for Families Refusing Vaccines Common

Half of practices report having an office dismissal policy for families refusing vaccine.

The Psychology of Collecting Debt: How to Get Patients to Pay Their Bills

By

Tammy Worth

By connecting on a personal level, medical practices may have better results in getting patients to settle their accounts.

Prior Care Experiences Determine Antibiotic Prescribing for Future Acute Respiratory Illness

By

Sweta Gupta

One potential driver of high antibiotic prescribing rates for acute respiratory infections is patient’s prior care experiences.

Antibiotics May Reduce Efficacy of Hormonal Contraceptives

The efficacy of hormonal contraceptives may be reduced with use of antibiotics.

Protecting Practices From Ransomware

By

Tammy Worth

Hackers have penetrated healthcare providers’ computer systems to encrypt information and demand money for its release.

COVID-19: Despite Strict Hygiene, Asymptomatic Transmission Rate High at Skilled Nursing Facility

By

Bradley van Paridon

At a skilled nursing facility in Massachusetts, researchers found an 85% prevalence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus among asymptomatic facility residents.

Evolving Epidemiology of Infective Endocarditis Requires Updated Data

By

Zahra Masoud

Trends in infective endocarditis microbiology are of clinical concern and require further study and additional data.

Asymptomatic C diff Associated With Pathogen Reservoir, Affecting Carriers, Patients, Employees in ICU

By

Bradley van Paridon

Genomically-confirmed assessments of the risk for CDI found that asymptomatic carriers serve as viral reservoirs in clinical settings.

Clinical Practice Guideline: Treatment of Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Pulmonary Disease

By

Bradley van Paridon

New clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease were published by leading respiratory medicine and infectious disease societies.

The Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Telehealth

By

Andrea S. Blevins Primeau, PhD, MBA

Regulations on telehealth services were rapidly deregulated early into the COVID-19 pandemic, but questions remain about quality of care and patient disparities.

U.S. Must Spend $75 Billion to Improve COVID-19 Testing, Report Says

The United States faces “an impending disaster” from the coronavirus pandemic and should spend $75 billion to improve its diagnostic testing system for COVID-19.

Electronic Health Records Fail to Detect Many Medication Errors

There is wide variation in the safety performance of electronic health record (EHR) systems used in U.S. hospitals.

Roughly 2 Million Americans Buy Prescriptions From Outside the Country

An estimated 1.5 percent of American adults purchase prescription medication from outside of the United States to save money.

ACP: US Response to COVID-19 Identifies Inequalities in Health Care System

By

Madeline Morr

The American College of Physicians statement outlines how the “status quo” created health inequalities and prevented the spread of the COVID-19 virus, and outlines steps on how to move forward.

New Guidance for Commencing IBD Treatment During the COVID-19 Pandemic

By

Jessica Nye, PhD

Patients with IBD should not alter their treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic; however, starting a new treatment regimen should be avoided.

Merck Collaborating on Novel COVID-19 Vaccine, Oral Antiviral

By

Diana Ernst, RPh

The vaccine candidate is currently in preclinical development with clinical studies expected to begin later this year.

USPSTF: Little Evidence Interventions Prevent Illicit Drug Use in Youth

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) concludes that current evidence is inadequate for assessing the balance of benefits and harms of primary care interventions for preventing illicit drug use among children, adolescents, and young adults.

Effects of COVID-19 on Stroke Management in Italy

By

Amit Akirov, MD

In light of the changes inflicted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the researchers wished to explore the effects of the pandemic on stroke management during the first month of Italy’s lockdown.

Disparities Identified in Risk of COVID-19 Among Race, Household Income

By

Madeline Morr

Researchers sought to identify disparities in risk to prevent, identify, and treat COVID-19-related severe illness and limit diverging outcomes for vulnerable subgroups.

Working Group Publishes Guidance for Myasthenia Gravis/Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome During COVID-19

By

Brandon May

The International Myasthenia Gravis/COVID-19 Working Group has published a short guidance statement on the management of MG and Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome during this novel pandemic.