Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Gastroenterology for July 2013. 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.
Lung-Protective Ventilation Ups Outcomes Post-Abdominal Op
WEDNESDAY, July 31 (HealthDay News) -- For patients at intermediate to high risk of pulmonary complications after major abdominal surgery, lung-protective ventilation with the use of low tidal volumes and positive end-expiratory pressure is associated with improved clinical outcomes, according to a study published in the Aug. 1 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Health 'Mutual Accountability' Pilot Program Launching
WEDNESDAY, July 31 (HealthDay News) -- The State of Oklahoma Office of Management and Enterprise Services has chosen MedEncentive to conduct a three-year heath improvement program pilot among HealthChoice beneficiaries.
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Reversal of Medical Practices Common Over Past Decade
TUESDAY, July 30 (HealthDay News) -- Over 100 contemporary medical practices have subsequently been reversed over the last 10 years, according to a review published online July 22 in Mayo Clinical Proceedings.
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High H. pylori Cure Rate for Nonbismuth Quadruple Tx
MONDAY, July 29 (HealthDay News) -- Optimized nonbismuth quadruple regimens, either hybrid or concomitant, have a cure rate of more than 90 percent for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infections, according to a study published in the July issue of Gastroenterology.
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Duodenum May Be Used for Biliary Reconstruction
FRIDAY, July 26 (HealthDay News) -- Duodenal anastomosis is a safe and effective method for biliary reconstruction, according to research published online July 24 in JAMA Surgery.
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CDC: U.S. Patients Suffering Tropical Infection
THURSDAY, July 25 (HealthDay News) -- The intestinal infection cyclosporiasis is generally seen in people living or traveling in tropical or subtropical areas, but two cases brought to the attention of the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention in June occurred in individuals who had not been traveling internationally at the time infection would have occurred.
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IOM Confirms Geographic Variation in Health Spending
THURSDAY, July 25 (HealthDay News) -- Considerable geographic variation exists in health care spending and utilization, but a geographically-based value index is unlikely to promote value improvement, according to a report published July 24 by the Institute of Medicine.
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Docs Need to Follow Patients' Lead, Embrace Social Media
WEDNESDAY, July 24 (HealthDay News) -- As more patients discuss and manage their health care online, doctors need to keep up and use social media, according to a report published by the American Medical Association (AMA).
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U.S. Physicians Not Supportive of Changes in Payment Models
TUESDAY, July 23 (HealthDay News) -- U.S. physicians accept some responsibility for reducing health care costs in their practice, but most do not want to change payment models, according to research published in the July 24/31 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Pros and Cons of Electronic Cigarette Regulation Discussed
TUESDAY, July 23 (HealthDay News) -- The pros and cons of electronic cigarette (EC) regulation are discussed in to two editorials published online July 23 in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine.
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Dietary Fiber Intake Linked to Reduced Gastric Cancer Risk
MONDAY, July 22 (HealthDay News) -- Dietary fiber intake is inversely associated with gastric cancer risk and is likely independent of conventional risk factors, according to a meta-analysis published in the July issue of Gastroenterology.
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Tablets Help Physicians Keep Up With Medical Research
MONDAY, July 22 (HealthDay News) -- Most physicians find keeping up with the latest research to be challenging, but the use of tablets and smartphones may help, according to a report published by Wolters Kluwer Health.
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Premiums Expected to Be About 20 Percent Lower in 2014
MONDAY, July 22 (HealthDay News) -- Premiums in the Health Insurance Marketplace are likely to be about 20 percent lower than anticipated in 2014, according to a report published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
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Self-Referrals for Anatomic Pathology Services Very Costly
FRIDAY, July 19 (HealthDay News) -- Health care providers who self-refer for anatomic pathology services cost Medicare about $69 million in 2010, according to a report published by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO).
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Newer Anticoagulants Linked to Gastrointestinal Bleeding
FRIDAY, July 19 (HealthDay News) -- Patients taking the new generation of oral anticoagulants appear to have a higher risk of gastrointestinal bleeding compared with standard care, particularly when treated for venous thrombosis or acute coronary syndrome, according to a review published in the July issue of Gastroenterology.
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Top Challenges for Docs Include Financial Management
FRIDAY, July 19 (HealthDay News) -- The top issues and challenges facing physicians include managing changing reimbursement models with payors and financial management, according to a report published by Wolters Kluwer Health.
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Missed Diagnoses, Med Errors Most Common Malpractice Claims
FRIDAY, July 19 (HealthDay News) -- The most common medical misadventures resulting in malpractice claims in primary care are missed or delayed diagnoses and medication errors, according to a review published online July 18 in BMJ Open.
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Gastric Surgery in Diabetes Changes Stimulus Response
WEDNESDAY, July 17 (HealthDay News) -- In obese patients with type 2 diabetes, gastric bypass surgery changes the postprandial response, improving glucose tolerance, β-cell function, and insulin sensitivity while worsening endogenous glucose production in response to a stimulus, according to a study published online July 8 in Diabetes.
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Financial Incentives Can Drive Health IT Adoption
WEDNESDAY, July 17 (HealthDay News) -- Financial incentives can drive providers' adoption of health information technology, including e-prescribing, according to a study published in the July issue of Health Affairs.
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Low-Dose Aspirin May Reduce Women's Colorectal Cancer Risk
WEDNESDAY, July 17 (HealthDay News) -- In healthy women, long-term use of alternate-day, low-dose aspirin may reduce the risk for colorectal cancer, according to a study published in the July 16 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Telephone Intervention Ups Colorectal Cancer Screening
TUESDAY, July 16 (HealthDay News) -- A telephone outreach intervention delivered by Medicaid managed care organization (MMCO) staff can increase rates of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening among women overdue for screening, according to a study published in the July/August issue of the Annals of Family Medicine.
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Improvements Made to CMS Online Directory of Physicians
TUESDAY, July 16 (HealthDay News) -- The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has reworked and redesigned their online directory of physicians (Physicians Compare) after errors were discovered throughout the site.
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Acid Reflux Medications May Constrict Blood Vessels
TUESDAY, July 16 (HealthDay News) -- The mechanism by which proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) increase the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events may now be better understood, according to a study published online July 3 in Circulation.
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Redesign of Medical Education Needed for Chronic Disease Era
TUESDAY, July 16 (HealthDay News) -- Medical education programs should be redesigned to address the current complex chronic disease era, with emphasis on appropriate basic sciences and clinical skills, according to a special communication published online July 15 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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CMS Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Could Benefit Docs
TUESDAY, July 16 (HealthDay News) -- The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has released the 2014 proposed Medicare physician fee schedule, which could help create a more equitable payment system by adjusting misvalued codes and proposing new complex management codes, according to a report published by American Academy of Family Physicians.
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More Job Opportunities Available for Physicians
MONDAY, July 15 (HealthDay News) -- More than half of physicians are receiving up to three employment solicitations per week, according to a report published by American Medical Association (AMA).
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Liver Failure Via Acetaminophen OD Tied to Worse Outcomes
MONDAY, July 15 (HealthDay News) -- Long-term survivors of acute liver failure report lower quality of life compared with the general population, while survivors of acetaminophen overdose report the lowest quality of life, possibly due to psychiatric and substance abuse disorders, according to a study published online June 18 in Liver Transplantation.
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EHRs May Slow Growth in Ambulatory Health Care Costs
MONDAY, July 15 (HealthDay News) -- Adoption of electronic health records (EHRs) modestly slows growth in ambulatory health care costs, according to research published in the July 16 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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CMS Proposes New Rule for Outpatient Payment Policies
MONDAY, July 15 (HealthDay News) -- A new rule proposes updating Medicare payment policies and rates for the hospital outpatient prospective payment system (OPPS) and ambulatory surgical center (ASC) services, according to a report issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
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Index CRC Tumor Site Impacts Increased CA Risk for Survivors
MONDAY, July 15 (HealthDay News) -- The location of index colorectal cancer (CRC) affects the incidence of second cancer after CRC, according to a study published online July 15 in Cancer.
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Physicians Frustrated by Third-Party Interference
FRIDAY, July 12 (HealthDay News) -- Third-party interference is the most commonly cited key frustration for physicians, according to the results of a survey published in Physicians Practice.
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AMA Offers Guidance for Improving EHR Effectiveness
FRIDAY, July 12 (HealthDay News) -- The American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates has voted for policies to help physicians navigate patient interaction while using electronic devices and to improve the interoperability of electronic health records (EHRs).
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Grants of $150 Million for Community Health Centers
THURSDAY, July 11 (HealthDay News) -- Grants totaling $150 million are to be shared by 1,100 community health centers to help enroll patients in insurance programs, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
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Health Searches May Be Leaked to Third Parties
THURSDAY, July 11 (HealthDay News) -- Free health-related websites often have third-party tracking elements and leak search terms to third-party tracking entities, unlike U.S. government or physician-oriented websites, according to a research letter published online July 8 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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U.S. Adults Value Health Care Provider Skill Evaluation
THURSDAY, July 11 (HealthDay News) -- Most adults feel that health care providers who treat them should adhere to a recertification program, including passing examinations, attending educational programs, and undergoing certification, regardless of time in practice, according to a report published by the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA) and the Citizen Advocacy Center.
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Docs Don't Often Talk to Patients About Dietary Supplements
THURSDAY, July 11 (HealthDay News) -- Although primary care physicians are discussing dietary supplements with patients during outpatient visits, these exchanges happen infrequently, according to research published in the June issue of Patient Education and Counseling.
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Low-Income Patients Prefer Hospital to Outpatient Care
THURSDAY, July 11 (HealthDay News) -- Patients in low socioeconomic groups who live in urban settings report that they prefer hospital care to ambulatory care because it is less expensive, more accessible, and superior in quality, according to research published in the July issue of Health Affairs.
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One in Five U.S. Adults Will Have Trouble Paying Medical Bills
THURSDAY, July 11 (HealthDay News) -- About one in five U.S. adults will have problems paying health care bills in 2013, including about 10 million adults with year-round insurance coverage, according to a report published by the American Medical Association (AMA).
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Red Cross Issues Emergency Call for Blood Donors
THURSDAY, July 11 (HealthDay News) -- The American Red Cross has issued an emergency request for blood and platelet donors of all blood types, according to report posted July 9.
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In 2010, Blood Transfusion Most Frequent Hospital Procedure
THURSDAY, July 11 (HealthDay News) -- The most frequent procedure performed during hospitalization in 2010 was blood transfusion, which was common among all age groups except for infants, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).
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Quality Metrics Play Small Role in Physician Compensation
THURSDAY, July 11 (HealthDay News) -- Quality measures play a small but emerging role in physician compensation, according to a report published by the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA).
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Improvement Needed in Drug Post-Marketing Studies
WEDNESDAY, July 10 (HealthDay News) -- Since the requirement in 2007 that drug makers conduct post-marketing studies, the number of studies not yet started has declined while the number of studies fulfilling obligations has nearly doubled, according to a report published in the July 10 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. However, more than 40 percent of studies had not yet been started in 2011, and the number of studies with delays doubled as of 2011.
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Health Insurance Marketplaces Not Required to Verify Claims
WEDNESDAY, July 10 (HealthDay News) -- Health insurance marketplaces will not be required to verify consumers' income and health insurance status and can rely on self-reported information, the Obama administration announced Friday.
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Tablets More Useful Than Smartphones for Docs Using EHRs
WEDNESDAY, July 10 (HealthDay News) -- Although tablets are less often used by physicians than smartphones, they are more frequently used for accessing electronic health records (EHRs), and time spent on tablets is much higher, according to two reports published by AmericanEHR Partners.
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Existing Medicaid Patients May Miss Out on Preventive Care
WEDNESDAY, July 10 (HealthDay News) -- Existing Medicaid enrollees may not receive preventive care measures the Affordable Care Act mandates for those covered under new insurance requirements, according to a study published in the July issue of Health Affairs.
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Digital Divide Plagues Underserved Areas
TUESDAY, July 9 (HealthDay News) -- Electronic health record (EHR) adoption is uneven, with traditionally underserved areas having lower adoption rates across the United States, according to a study published online June 26 in Health Services Research.
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Adoption of Electronic Health Records Is Progressing
TUESDAY, July 9 (HealthDay News) -- In 2012, 44 percent of hospitals reported having at least a basic electronic health record (EHR), according to an annual report published by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
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Black Men Less Likely to Have Advanced Neoplasia at Screening
MONDAY, July 8 (HealthDay News) -- Although blacks are more likely than whites to be diagnosed with and die from colorectal cancer, black men are less likely to have advanced colorectal neoplasia (ACN) at screening, according to a study published in the July 2 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Practices Are Not Ready for Implementation of ICD-10
MONDAY, July 8 (HealthDay News) -- Most practices are not ready for implementation of the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10), according to a report published by the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA).
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Obama Administration: ACA's Employer Mandate Delayed
WEDNESDAY, July 3 (HealthDay News) -- The Obama Administration is postponing a major Affordable Care Act (ACA) provision, the employer mandate, according to an announcement made Tuesday via the U.S. Department of the Treasury website.
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More Than 40 Percent of Docs Report Work Dissatisfaction
WEDNESDAY, July 3 (HealthDay News) -- Many physicians are dissatisfied and are unlikely to recommend the medical profession to young people, according to a report published by Jackson Healthcare.
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Docs Impact Comparative Effectiveness Research Opinion
TUESDAY, July 2 (HealthDay News) -- Doctors' support of comparative effectiveness research (CER) influences public opinion and has a greater impact on public opinion than cues from political players, according to research to be published this fall in the Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law.
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Red Meat Intake Prediagnosis Ups Risk of Death in Colorectal Cancer
TUESDAY, July 2 (HealthDay News) -- Self-reported higher intake of red and processed meat before the diagnosis of colorectal cancer is associated with increased risk of death, according to research published online July 1 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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