Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Hematology & Oncology for January 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.
Deal Could Trade Tort Reform for Additional Health Reform
FRIDAY, Jan. 31, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Physicians may be willing to make a trade in accepting some additional health reform efforts in exchange for tort reform, according to an article published in the January issue of Health Affairs.
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Antioxidants Increase Lung Cancer Growth in Mice
FRIDAY, Jan. 31, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- In mice prone to developing lung cancer, supplementation with antioxidants increases tumor growth, according to a study published in the Jan. 29 issue of Science Translational Medicine.
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Melanoma Risk Up in IBD Independent of Biologic Therapy
FRIDAY, Jan. 31, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is associated with an increased risk of melanoma, independent of the use of biologic therapy, according to research published in the February issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
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Similar Risks for Atypical Ductal, Lobular Hyperplasia
FRIDAY, Jan. 31, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH) and atypical lobular hyperplasia (ALH) exhibit similar behavior in terms of later breast cancer end points, according to a study published online Jan. 30 in Cancer Prevention Research.
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Nonmelanotic Invasive Skin Cancer Tied to Agent Orange
THURSDAY, Jan. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Agent Orange (2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzodioxin) exposure is associated with increased incidence of nonmelanotic invasive skin cancer, according to research published in the February issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
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Improving Infection Control Could Mean No More White Coats
THURSDAY, Jan. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Health care personnel should consider their clinical attire, such as white lab coats, carefully with regards to risk of transmitting infection, according to guidelines published in the February issue of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology.
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Androgen Deprivation Therapy Can Take Emotional Toll
THURSDAY, Jan. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Changes in mental and emotional well-being occur in prostate cancer patients on androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), according to research published in an upcoming issue of The Journal of Urology.
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Report Reveals Payment Methods for Physicians
THURSDAY, Jan. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Many physicians in non-solo practice settings are paid using different methods, with just over half receiving all or most of their compensation from salary, according to a report from the American Medical Association.
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Docs Prefer Tablets Over Smartphones for Reading Articles
THURSDAY, Jan. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Although physicians generally use smartphones rather than tablets for professional purposes, they are more likely to read articles from medical publications and access medically oriented webcasts/podcasts on tablets, according to the results of a survey conducted by Kantar Media.
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Practices Must Engage Vendors for ICD-10 Updates Now
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Practice owners need to communicate with system vendors to coordinate International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10) updates, according to an article published Dec. 25 in Medical Economics.
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Businesses Urge Change to ACA's Insurance Mandate
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Beginning in 2015, U.S. businesses with 50 or more workers must provide health insurance to "full-time" employees, meaning workers who log at least 30 hours a week, on average.
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Telephone Delivery OK for BRCA1/2 Genetic Counseling
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The psychosocial outcomes of telephone genetic counseling are noninferior to standard in-person genetic counseling for BRCA1/2 gene testing, according to research published online Jan. 21 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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Insurance Eligibility Headaches Expected With ACA
TUESDAY, Jan. 28, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- With the influx of newly insured patients under the Affordable Care Act, physician practices should be prepared to spend even more time verifying coverage, according to an article published Jan. 2 in Medical Economics.
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Framework Established to Promote Safety of Care
TUESDAY, Jan. 28, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A framework has been established to advance clinical learning environments that promote change in the quality and safety of care, according to a perspective piece published online Jan. 27 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Yoga Provides Health Benefits for Breast Cancer Survivors
TUESDAY, Jan. 28, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For breast cancer survivors, a 12-week yoga intervention improves fatigue and vitality and is associated with reduced levels of proinflammatory cytokines, according to a study published online Jan. 27 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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Role of Vitamin D in Disease Prevention Is Uncertain
TUESDAY, Jan. 28, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Supplementation with vitamin D to prevent disease does not appear to improve health outcomes, according to research published online Jan. 24 in The Lancet: Diabetes & Endocrinology.
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Therapeutic Music Video Beneficial for HSCT Recipients
TUESDAY, Jan. 28, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For adolescents/young adults (AYAs), a therapeutic music video (TMV) intervention delivered during the acute phase of hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) is associated with positive resilience outcomes, according to a study published online Jan. 27 in Cancer.
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Exercise After Cancer Improves Survival in Men
MONDAY, Jan. 27, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Men who are physically active after a cancer diagnosis have significantly improved survival, according to a study published in the January issue of the Journal of Physical Activity & Health.
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Top Ten Physician Challenges of 2014 Discussed
MONDAY, Jan. 27, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The top ten challenges for physicians in 2014 relate to payment for medical services and government mandates, as well as adapting to a changing patient population and the need to improve work-life balance, according to an article published Dec. 25 in Medical Economics.
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Children Resilient When Dealing With Cancer Experience
MONDAY, Jan. 27, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- When compared with peers without a history of cancer, children with cancer do not appear to have increased posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), according to research published online Jan. 21 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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'War on Cancer' Has Made Progress
FRIDAY, Jan. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- More people are being diagnosed with and dying from cancer, but this is largely the result of declines in mortality from other causes, according to a study published online Jan. 13 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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Breast Density Readings by CT, Mammogram Consistent
FRIDAY, Jan. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Readings of computed tomography (CT) breast density are consistent with mammography readings and have greater interobserver agreement, according to a study published in the January issue of Radiology.
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Writing a Blog Can Up a Doc's Visibility
FRIDAY, Jan. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Blogs can be a valuable tool to promote physician practices, according to an article published Dec. 17 in Medical Economics.
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Sickle Cell Trait Affects Dosing of Anemia Medications in Dialysis
FRIDAY, Jan. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- African-American patients undergoing hemodialysis who carry hemoglobinopathy traits such as sickle cell trait require higher doses of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) than patients without these traits, according to a study published online Jan. 23 in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
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Editorial Discusses Ultrasound in Point-of-Care Diagnostics
FRIDAY, Jan. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Ultrasound devices represent an important point-of-care diagnostic modality, which is increasingly being used in numerous specialties, according to an editorial published in the December issue of Global Heart.
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Medical Staff Performance Goals Should Be Clear, Attainable
THURSDAY, Jan. 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Staff performance in medical practices needs to be appropriately managed and measured with performance goals, according to an article published Dec. 25 in Medical Economics.
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Early Vulvar CA Tx Has Little Impact on Sexuality, Body Image
THURSDAY, Jan. 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Women undergoing treatment for early-stage vulvar cancer generally experience little to no long-term disruption to sexuality or body image, according to a study published online Jan. 17 in the Journal of Advanced Nursing.
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Added Prostate CA Criteria May Help ID Surveillance Candidates
THURSDAY, Jan. 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Additional predictors, such as prostate-specific antigen (PSA) density and extent of cancer on biopsy, help guide selection of prostate cancer patients for active surveillance programs, according to research published in the February issue of The Journal of Urology.
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Few Dermatology Patients Engage in Skin CA Surveillance
THURSDAY, Jan. 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Few dermatology patients engage in skin cancer screening behaviors, and most have poor knowledge about melanoma, with lower understanding among minority patients, according to a study published in the February issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
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Legitimacy of Publishing Pharma-Funded Research Queried
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The question of whether to stop publishing research funded by the drug industry is addressed in a head-to-head piece published online Jan. 15 in BMJ.
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ALA: Much More Must Be Done to Lower Smoking Rates
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- State inaction and tobacco industry tactics are slowing tobacco control efforts in the United States, a new report from the American Lung Association (ALA) finds.
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MicroRNA Panels May Help ID Pancreatic CA From Whole Blood
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Two diagnostic panels based on microRNA expression from whole blood can distinguish, to some degree, patients with pancreatic cancer from healthy controls, according to a study published in the Jan. 22/29 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Some Medical Schools Offering Accelerated Training
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Some medical schools are offering an accelerated three-year program, according to a report from Kaiser Health News.
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More Federal Funding of Health Centers Mitigates Access Issues
TUESDAY, Jan. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Since 2000, increased federal funding for community health centers has helped low-income adults get access to primary care and dental care, according to a study published online Dec. 18 in Health Services Research.
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ACA Impact on Primary Practice May Depend on Location
TUESDAY, Jan. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The impact of Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) on physicians' primary care practices will vary geographically, according to an article published Dec. 25 in Medical Economics.
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Researchers Examine FDA Decision Making Processes
TUESDAY, Jan. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The rationale behind the decision making processes of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is discussed in three articles published in the Jan. 22/29 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Abstract - Sacks
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AAFP: Insufficient Evidence for Low-Dose CT Lung CA Screening
MONDAY, Jan. 20, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- In contrast to a recommendation from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) has concluded that there is currently insufficient evidence to recommend screening for lung cancer with low-dose computed tomography (CT) among high-risk individuals.
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Survey IDs Factors Influencing Physician Job Satisfaction
TUESDAY, Jan. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Believing that they are delivering high-quality patient care is key to physician job satisfaction, according to an article published Dec. 10 in Medical Economics.
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Data Support Sedentary Time, Mortality Link for Older Women
TUESDAY, Jan. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For older women, increased sedentary time is associated with increased mortality risk after multivariate adjustment, according to a study published in the February issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
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Multiple Medications Increase Odds of Hospital Admission
TUESDAY, Jan. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The likelihood of unplanned admission is increased with polypharmacy, but the association is modified by the number of long-term conditions, according to a study published online Jan. 16 in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.
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Medication Synchronization Program Ups Adherence
TUESDAY, Jan. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A community pharmacy-based medication synchronization program can improve medication adherence, according to a study conducted by the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA).
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Doctor Urges Colleagues to Disclose Conflicts of Interest
MONDAY, Jan. 20, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A campaign to encourage physicians to disclose potential conflicts of interest has sparked ire from doctors despite evidence that openness improves the doctor-patient relationship, according to a personal view piece published online Jan. 15 in BMJ.
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One-Fifth of Hospitalizations in Advanced GI Cancer Avoidable
FRIDAY, Jan. 17, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with advanced gastrointestinal (GI) cancer, about 20 percent of hospitalizations are potentially avoidable, according to a study published online Jan. 13 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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State Insurance Marketplaces Boost Outreach Efforts
THURSDAY, Jan. 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Health insurance exchanges in five states with strong enrollment growth are ramping up efforts to reach even more uninsured Americans before the end of the Affordable Care Act's open enrollment period on March 31. The March 31 deadline is for people who want health coverage for 2014.
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Reliable Emotion Words ID'd to Assess Patient Experience
THURSDAY, Jan. 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A reliable set of emotion words have been identified that can serve as a tool for experience-based design questionnaires in health care, according to a study published in the December issue of Healthcare.
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Survey Results Identify Drivers of Doctor Engagement
THURSDAY, Jan. 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The results of a survey from the Physician Wellness Services and Cejka Search have identified the key aspects of doctor engagement.
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NCPA: Access to Controlled Substances Often Delayed
THURSDAY, Jan. 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Most pharmacists report experiencing multiple delays or issues with their controlled substance orders, according to the results of the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) Controlled Substances Access Survey.
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FDA Warns Against Rx With High Levels of Acetaminophen
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 15, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is recommending that physicians stop prescribing and dispensing prescription combination drug products containing more than 325 mg of acetaminophen per tablet, according to a safety alert issued by the agency.
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Exposure to Some Phthalates Fell in the Last Decade
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 15, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Exposure to some phthalates has fallen over the last decade and may be associated with bans on their use, according to a study published online Jan. 15 in Environmental Health Perspectives.
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Intensive Monitoring Ups Surgical Treatment of CRC Recurrence
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 15, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For patients who have undergone curative surgery for primary colorectal cancer, intensive monitoring is associated with increased surgical treatment of recurrence compared with minimum follow-up, but does not reduce the number of deaths, according to a study published in the Jan. 15 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Wednesday Is Deadline for Feb. 1 Coverage Under ACA
TUESDAY, Jan. 14, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- There's still time to enroll in a health insurance plan through one of the Affordable Care Act's new online marketplaces. Those who sign up by Wednesday will have coverage starting next month.
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More Than Two Million People Have Signed Up for ACA Coverage
TUESDAY, Jan. 14, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Nearly 2.2 million Americans had selected health plans through the federal and state marketplaces as of late December, and nearly one in four was a young adult, the Obama administration disclosed Monday.
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Intensity-Modulated Radiation Ups Head/Neck Cancer Survival
MONDAY, Jan. 13, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with head and neck cancers treated with intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) experience significant improvements in cause-specific survival (CSS) compared with patients treated with non-IMRT techniques, according to a study published online Jan. 13 in Cancer.
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CMS: New Rule Proposed for Contract Year 2015
MONDAY, Jan. 13, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A proposed rule has been issued that will strengthen protections, improve health care quality, and reduce costs for Medicare beneficiaries with private Medicare Advantage and Part D prescription plans, according to a report from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
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Early BPA Exposure May Up Subsequent Prostate Cancer Risk
MONDAY, Jan. 13, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) may increase the risk for prostate cancer later in life, according to an experimental study published online Jan. 1 in Endocrinology.
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CDC: Lung Cancer Incidence in U.S. Down From 2005 to 2009
MONDAY, Jan. 13, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- From 2005 to 2009, the incidence of lung cancer decreased among men and women in the United States, according to a study published in the Jan. 10 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
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FDA Approves Mekinist Plus Tafinlar for Late-Stage Melanoma
FRIDAY, Jan. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Mekinist for use with another drug, Tafinlar, to treat advanced melanoma that is metastatic or unresectable.
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Survey: Fees, Reimbursement Top Physician Worries
FRIDAY, Jan. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The results of a new survey show that physicians are concerned about declining reimbursements and increasing administrative hassles, including negotiating with payers, obtaining prior authorizations, and cutting through government red tape, according to an article published Nov. 25 in Medical Economics.
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Profile of Sentinel Nodes May Predict Melanoma Progression
FRIDAY, Jan. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The gene expression profile of sentinel lymph nodes and how it affects immune response may be a marker for prognosis in melanoma, according to research published in the Jan. 1 issue of Cancer Research.
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EHR Use Linked to Doc-Reported Enhanced Patient Care
FRIDAY, Jan. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Use of electronic health records is associated with enhanced patient care overall, according to a study published online Dec. 21 in Health Services Research.
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CMS: Low Growth for National Health Expenditures in 2012
FRIDAY, Jan. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Overall national health expenditures were marked by a fourth consecutive year of low growth, according to a report from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
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Female Conveners Up Number of Women at Scientific Symposia
FRIDAY, Jan. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Having at least one woman on teams that convene scientific symposia increases the proportion of invited female speakers by 72 percent, compared with teams containing all men, according to a study published online Jan. 7 in mBio.
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ACP Introduces Free 'High Value Care' Case Studies
FRIDAY, Jan. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- In an effort to improve health care and eliminate wasteful practices, the American College of Physicians (ACP) has developed a series of High Value Care cases studies, available online for free.
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Guideline Adherence Cuts Cancer Risk in Postmenopausal Women
THURSDAY, Jan. 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- All-cause and cancer-specific mortality is lower in postmenopausal women who follow the American Cancer Society (ACS) Nutrition and Physical Activity Cancer Prevention Guidelines, according to research published in the January issue of Cancer Prevention Research.
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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Best for Cancer Patients With Insomnia
THURSDAY, Jan. 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is the preferred choice over mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) for nonpharmacologic management of insomnia in patients with cancer, according to a study published online Jan. 6 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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Anti-CD20 Antibody + Chemo Benefits CLL With Comorbidity
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and coexisting conditions, combining an anti-CD20 antibody (rituximab or obinutuzumab) with chemotherapy is associated with improved outcomes, according to a study published online Jan. 8 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Internists Uncomfortable Caring for Childhood Cancer Survivors
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Many general internists are unfamiliar with care guidelines for childhood cancer survivors (CCSs) and, on average, are somewhat uncomfortable caring for these patients, according to a study published in the Jan. 7 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Administrative Demands Hurt Patient-Doctor Relationship
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Administrative demands on doctors, particularly primary care physicians, threaten the patient-doctor relationship, according to an article published Dec. 10 in Medical Economics.
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Smoking Rates Still Low for Most Health Care Professionals
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Compared with 2006 to 2007, smoking rates among health care professionals for 2010 to 2011 continue to be lowest in physicians and highest in licensed practical nurses (LPNs), according to a research letter published in the Jan. 8 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, a theme issue on tobacco control.
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Review Suggests Psychological Benefits of Meditation
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Moderate evidence suggests that meditation is associated with improvements in anxiety, depression, and pain, according to a review and meta-analysis published online Jan. 6 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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U.S. Cancer Death Rates Decreasing Steadily
TUESDAY, Jan. 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Cancer death rates have been decreasing steadily for the past two decades, with the magnitude of the decrease varying with age, race, and sex, according to a report published online Jan. 7 in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.
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AMA Urges Med Students to Be Agents of Health Care Change
TUESDAY, Jan. 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Medical students are being encouraged to be agents of change in the health care system, according to a report from the American Medical Association (AMA).
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Non-White Physicians Provide Disproportionate Minority Care
MONDAY, Jan. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Non-white physicians provide a disproportionate share of care to underserved populations, according to a research letter published online Dec. 30 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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Unrestricted Hospital Visiting Hours Up Patient Satisfaction
MONDAY, Jan. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Open visitation improves the patient and family experience and does not cause interference for hospital staff, according to research published in the Journal for Healthcare Quality.
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AMA Details Top Five Federal Issues for 2014
MONDAY, Jan. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Implementation of the Affordable Care Act, the repeal of Medicare's failed sustained growth formula, and the proposed roll-out of the International Classification of Diseases, Version 10, top the list of federal issues expected to impact physicians and patients in 2014, according to a viewpoint piece published online Dec. 30 by the American Medical Association (AMA).
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Over 100 New Accountable Care Organizations Formed
FRIDAY, Jan. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- One hundred twenty-three new Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) have been formed by doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers, which will provide access to high-quality coordinated care for about 1.5 million Medicare beneficiaries, according to a report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
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Surgery First Found to Improve Oral Cancer Outcomes
FRIDAY, Jan. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC), outcomes are improved with surgery first, according to a study published online Dec. 26 in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.
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IBCG Proposes New Definition in Bladder Cancer
FRIDAY, Jan. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The International Bladder Cancer Group (IBCG) has proposed a new definition of progression in nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer that is clinically useful for determining prognosis and comparing treatment options, according to research published in the January issue of The Journal of Urology.
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Review Quantifies Benefits, Harms of Mammography
FRIDAY, Jan. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The benefits and harms of screening mammography have been quantified in a special communication published online Dec. 30 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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Most Women Experience Breast Cancer Postoperative Pain
FRIDAY, Jan. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Most women with unilateral non-metastasized breast cancer treated with breast conserving surgery or mastectomy with axillary surgery experience postoperative pain at 12 months, according to a research letter published in the Jan. 1 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Impact of Transitions in Doctors' Careers Discussed
THURSDAY, Jan. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Transitions and their associated challenges are encountered throughout a doctors' medical career, according to an editorial published online Nov. 26 in BMJ.
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CDC: Updated Guidance for HBV Vaccination for Health Workers
THURSDAY, Jan. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Health care personnel should be vaccinated against hepatitis B virus (HBV) if they anticipate exposure to blood or body fluids, and receive serologic testing to assess for antibody against the virus, according to updated guidelines published in the Dec. 20 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
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Worsening of Shortage of Residency Slots Feared
THURSDAY, Jan. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Despite a looming physician shortage, the number of residency positions in the United States has not changed since 1996, creating a bottleneck that will become worse with further budget cuts, according to a blog post published Dec. 7 on KevinMD.com.
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Patient Experience of Service Quality Predicts CRC Survival
THURSDAY, Jan. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with colorectal cancer, satisfaction with quality of care is associated with survival, according to a study published in the November/December issue of the Journal for Healthcare Quality.
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Docs Have Until Jan. 31 to Change Medicare Status
THURSDAY, Jan. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The deadline for making changes to Medicare participation status has been extended to Jan. 31, 2014, according to a report from the American Medical Association (AMA).
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