Recent research into burnout in primary care providers has found many providers experience professional dissonance and cite increasing paperwork and undervaluation as contributors to burnout. The study also outlined solutions that may improve professional fulfillment…
Declining Numbers of Americans Have a Primary Care Provider
(Reuters Health)—In a little over a decade, the number of patients in the U.S. with primary care providers dropped by 2%, a new study finds. Between 2002 and 2015, fewer and fewer Americans of all ages, except for those in their 80s, had a primary care provider, researchers report in JAMA Internal Medicine.1 Although 2%…
Patients Have Different Hospital Outcomes When Regular Doctors See Them
(Reuters Health)—Many outcomes for hospital patients—including how long they stay and their survival odds after they go home—may depend on whether or not they’re cared for by their primary care physician, a U.S. study suggests. Researchers examined data on 560,651 admissions nationwide for patients covered by Medicare, the U.S. health program for the elderly and…
From the Front Lines: Managing RA Comorbidities in Primary Care
How are comorbidities for RA patients managed outside of rheumatology? A recent Canadian study developed and assessed quality measures related to preventive care and screenings for RA patients in a primary care setting, comparing RA and non-RA patients. The results: Primary care physicians often provide similar levels of care to patients with and without RA. But RA patients were less likely to receive some cancer screenings and all necessary tests to assess their cardiovascular risk…
Rheumatology and the Patient-Centered Home
Is it the end of the tunnel or an oncoming train?
Coding Corner Question: April 2008
April’s Coding Challenge
Coding Corner Answer: March 2008
April’s Coding Answer
Physician, Rate Thyself
Ranking the quality of medical care is much more complex than picking the best Italian restaurant in town
Office Visit
A Day in the Life of Cynthia Aranow, MD