Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Gastroenterology for February 2014. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal articles, as well as the FDA approvals and regulatory changes that are the most likely to affect clinical practice.
Going Live With EHR Leads to Frustrations, Productivity Hit
FRIDAY, Feb. 28, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Implementing an electronic health record (EHR) system takes excessive physician and staff time and disrupts practice, according to survey results published Feb. 24 in Medical Economics.
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Hospital Size, Market Share Affect Inpatient Care Prices
FRIDAY, Feb. 28, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Size and market share are the greatest differentiators between hospitals receiving low prices and high prices for inpatient care, according to a study published in the February issue of Health Affairs.
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Stethoscopes Contaminated After Single Physical Exam
FRIDAY, Feb. 28, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Stethoscopes get contaminated after a single physical exam, with the contamination greater than that seen on most of the physician's dominant hand, barring the fingertips, according to a study published online Feb. 27 in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings.
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Doctors Pleased With Congress' Medicare Payment Agreement
TUESDAY, Feb. 25, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Physician groups are expressing optimism over the Congressional agreement to revamp the Medicare physician payment system, according to an article published Feb. 26 in Medical Economics.
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More Than Seven Million Patient Record Breaches in 2013
TUESDAY, Feb. 25, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The number of patient records breached increased more than 137 percent and affected over seven million records in 2013, according to an annual report published by Redspin.
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Quality Measures Data Added to Physician Compare Website
MONDAY, Feb. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Data for quality measures have been added to Physician Compare, the website that helps consumers search for information about physicians, according to a report published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
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Obese Patients Affected by Perceived Judgment of Doctor
MONDAY, Feb. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Patients who discuss weight loss with their physicians but do not feel judged may be more likely to attempt and succeed in losing weight, according to research published online Feb. 9 in Preventive Medicine.
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FDA to Step Up Oversight of Indian Drug Makers
MONDAY, Feb. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is to increase monitoring of drugs from pharmaceutical companies in India, FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg, M.D., said during a Friday afternoon news conference.
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Unfilled Hospital Openings for Doctors Growing, Survey Finds
THURSDAY, Feb. 20, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The need for hospital physicians is growing, according to an article published Jan. 3 in Medical Economics.
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Before Implementation, Full EHR Cost Needs Consideration
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 19, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- From the outset of electronic health record implementation, hospitals and governments need to understand the major cost categories involved and identify the factors that may impact these costs, according to research published online Feb. 12 in the Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association.
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'Talking' Medical Devices, Apps Continue to Evolve
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 19, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- "Talking" medical devices and apps, among other techy health-focused inventions, can help people manage everyday wellness routines, such as taking pills and checking blood sugar levels, as well as dire medical circumstances, say experts.
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Online Ratings Do Affect Patient Choice of Physician
TUESDAY, Feb. 18, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- About two-thirds of the general U.S. population is aware of online physician rating sites, according to a research letter published in the Feb. 19 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Physicians More Likely to Be Burned Out Than Non-Doc Peers
TUESDAY, Feb. 18, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Trainees and early-career physicians are more likely to be burned out than control population samples, according to research published online Jan. 20 in Academic Medicine.
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Direct-to-Consumer Genomic Testing Concerns Explored
TUESDAY, Feb. 18, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Various concerns relate to direct-to-consumer genomic testing, according to an ideas and opinions piece published online Feb. 10 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Non-Traditional Office Hours Can Reap Big Financial Benefits
MONDAY, Feb. 17, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Physicians can reap significant financial benefits by extending their office hours to include non-traditional hours, according to an article published Jan. 8 in Medical Economics.
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AAFP: Telemedicine Can Help With Increased Demand for Docs
MONDAY, Feb. 17, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Telemedicine offers a potential solution to the increased demand for physician-patient interaction, according to a report from a recent forum. The forum was hosted by the Robert Graham Center for Policy Studies in Family Medicine and Primary Care, and the results of the discussion were published by the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP).
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ICD-10 Implementation Likely to Be Financial Disaster
THURSDAY, Feb. 13, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The American Medical Association (AMA) is continuing its efforts to stop implementation of the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10), citing the huge financial burden for physicians.
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Congress Agrees on Legislation to Replace SGR Formula
THURSDAY, Feb. 13, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Congress has agreed on legislation to repeal the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula, which will guarantee Medicare providers annual 0.5 percent reimbursement increases as new payment models are introduced, according to an article published Feb. 11 in Medical Economics.
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CMS Extends 2013 Meaningful Use Attestation Deadline
THURSDAY, Feb. 13, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) have extended another deadline for the Medicare electronic health record (EHR) Incentive Program, according to an article published Feb. 11 in Medical Economics.
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Affordable Care Act Enrollment Nears 3.3 Million
THURSDAY, Feb. 13, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- 3.3 million Americans have signed up for health insurance through the state and federal marketplaces created by the Affordable Care Act, the Obama administration announced Wednesday.
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USPSTF Recommends Hepatitis B Screening for High-Risk Adults
TUESDAY, Feb. 11, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends hepatitis B virus (HBV) screening for high-risk adults, according to a draft recommendation statement published online Feb. 10.
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Mid-Sized Companies Get Extra Year to Comply With ACA
TUESDAY, Feb. 11, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Medium-sized companies will have another year before they have to provide employees with health insurance or face tax penalties, the Obama administration announced Monday.
Other Health Highlights: Feb. 10, 2014
Guidelines Issued for Managing Hospital Medicine Groups
TUESDAY, Feb. 11, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A new assessment guide comprising 10 principles has been developed for effective management of hospital medicine groups (HMGs), according to research published in the February issue of the Journal of Hospital Medicine.
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New Rule Allows Patients to Access Laboratory Test Results
MONDAY, Feb. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- In a final rule relating to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), a patient or their personal representative can access their completed test reports directly from the laboratory, according to a report from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS).
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Residents Concerned About Lack of Time With Patients
MONDAY, Feb. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Many U.S. medical residents are concerned about reduced face-time with patients and report that engaging patients in their own care is more challenging than anticipated, according to a report from the American Resident Project, sponsored by ThinkWellPoint.
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Uneven Effects for Minimum Unit Pricing for Alcohol
MONDAY, Feb. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A minimum unit price for alcohol is estimated to have the greatest impact on harmful drinkers, especially those on low incomes, according to a study published online Feb. 10 in The Lancet.
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Obese Men More Likely to Have Colon Polyps
MONDAY, Feb. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Obese men have a more than six-fold higher likelihood of having multiple colon polyps and tubular adenomas than lean men, according to a study published online Jan. 17 in PLOS ONE.
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Gaps Exist in Patient-Centered Quality of CRC Care at VA
FRIDAY, Feb. 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Patient-reported quality assessment measures reveal substantial gaps in patient-centered quality of colorectal cancer care, according to a study published online Feb 3 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy Not Reliable for Resolving GERD
THURSDAY, Feb. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Among patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) does not resolve symptoms for most patients and can even induce symptoms, while gastric bypass (GB) is effective for many patients, according to a study published online Feb. 5 in JAMA Surgery.
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CLER Pathways to Excellence Document Issued
THURSDAY, Feb. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The Clinical Learning Environment Review (CLER) Pathways to Excellence document has been released for graduate medical education as a foundation for preparing the physician workforce in patient safety and quality improvement, according to a report from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).
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Choosing Wisely Tips Should Prompt Doc-Patient Discussion
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 5, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The Choosing Wisely recommendations can form a starting point for discussing cost and appropriate use of testing with patients, according to an article from the American Medical Association (AMA).
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ICD-10 Transition May Impact Practice Cash Flow
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 5, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Physicians and health plans remain unprepared for the disruption that implementation of the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10) will bring to their cash flow, according to an article published Jan. 14 in Medical Economics.
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Dietary Counseling Has Little Effect After Gastric Bypass
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 5, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Dietary and behavioral counseling can help improve nutrient intake in patients who have had gastric bypass surgery, but nutrient intake still remains inadequate in many patients, according to a study published in the December issue of the Journal of Investigative Medicine.
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EHR Use During Patient Visit May Mean Missed Non-Verbal Cues
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 5, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Patterns of eye gaze change with the use of electronic health records (EHRs), and this influences physician-patient interaction, according to research published in the March issue of the International Journal of Medical Informatics.
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CVS Caremark to Stop Selling Tobacco Products
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 5, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The national drug store chain CVS Caremark said Wednesday that it's phasing out the sale of tobacco products at its more than 7,600 stores across the United States.
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Patients Are 'Myth'-Informed About Their Risk of Cancer
TUESDAY, Feb. 4, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Fewer than half of Americans are aware that body weight and physical activity affect cancer risk, according to the results of a survey commissioned by the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR).
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High Overall CRC Diagnostic Accuracy for Home Stool Test
TUESDAY, Feb. 4, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Fecal immunochemical tests (FITs) have moderate sensitivity, high specificity, and high overall diagnostic accuracy for detecting colorectal cancer (CRC), according to research published in the Feb. 4 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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First- and Second-Generation Family Hx Adequate in Oncology
TUESDAY, Feb. 4, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Recommendations relating to the key elements of minimum adequate cancer family history are detailed, although they are often incompletely implemented, according to a recommendation statement and related study published online Feb. 3 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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Online Medical Records Trump Colleagues As Docs' Info Source
TUESDAY, Feb. 4, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Online patient medical records are the top source of information for doctors, based on the mean annual exposure, according to the results of a survey conducted by Kantar Media.
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Health Reform Differs Across States: Report
MONDAY, Feb. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- California is one of 10 states that have done the most to roll out provisions of the Affordable Care Act, according to a new Commonwealth Fund report. These states, including Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, and Vermont, have committed to implementing "the most significant aspects of health reform," the report states.
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