Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Pain Management 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.
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.
Risk Factors for Lumbar Spine Fx ID'd in U.S. Military Cohort
TUESDAY, July 30 (HealthDay News) -- The overall incidence rate of lumbar fractures was 0.38 per 1,000 person-years from 2001 to 2010 among a U.S. military cohort, according to a study published in the June issue of the Journal of Spinal Disorders & Techniques.
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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.
Spondylolisthesis Sx Improves Pediatric Health Related-QOL
TUESDAY, July 30 (HealthDay News) -- In pediatric patients with high-grade spondylolisthesis, health-related quality of life (HRQOL) improves significantly after surgery, especially in patients with low baseline HRQOL scores, according to a study published in the July issue of The Spine Journal.
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Back Pain Management Relying on Guideline Discordant Care
TUESDAY, July 30 (HealthDay News) -- Management of back pain is increasingly relying on guideline discordant care, including narcotic use, advanced imaging, and referrals to physicians, according to research published online July 29 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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Veterans Benefit From Group Outdoor Recreational Activities
TUESDAY, July 30 (HealthDay News) -- For veterans, participation in group-based outdoor recreational activities correlates with benefits in psychological well-being, social functioning, and life outlook, according to a study published by the University of Michigan for the Sierra Club Military Families and Veterans Initiative.
After Cervical Disc Surgery Pro Athletes Can Return to Sports
MONDAY, July 29 (HealthDay News) -- Professional athletes may return to full contact sports following a single-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), according to research published in the July issue of Neurosurgery.
Arthritis Physical Activity Plans Must Consider Work, Life
FRIDAY, July 26 (HealthDay News) -- Physical activity (PA) interventions for working adults with arthritis may be improved by taking into account the demands of an individual's multiple roles, including the complex relationship between work, health, and other life responsibilities, according to a study published in the July issue of Arthritis Care & Research.
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Review Defines New Fracture Risk Factors Post-Vertebroplasty
THURSDAY, July 25 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with low bone mineral density (BMD), low body mass index (BMI), and intradiscal cement leakage are at risk for new osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) after vertebroplasty, according to a review published in the June issue of the Journal of Spinal Disorders & Techniques.
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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.
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).
Transcranial Ultrasound Seems Beneficial in Chronic Pain
WEDNESDAY, July 24 (HealthDay News) -- Transcranial ultrasound (TUS) is associated with significant improvements in subjective mood, and slight improvements in pain among patients with chronic pain, according to a study published in the May issue of Brain Stimulation.
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Self-Help Program Ups Mental Health in Rheumatic Disease
WEDNESDAY, July 24 (HealthDay News) -- A cognitive-behavioral, self-help intervention can improve depression and anxiety in patients with rheumatic conditions, according to a study published in the July issue of Arthritis Care & Research.
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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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Ischemic Stroke Described in Patients With Fungal Meningitis
MONDAY, July 22 (HealthDay News) -- Patients presenting with acute ischemic stroke may have fungal infections attributable to contaminated methylprednisolone associated with epidural injections, according to a case series published online July 22 in JAMA Neurology.
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Incidence of Cardiac Events in Lumbar Spine Surgery ID'd
MONDAY, July 22 (HealthDay News) -- The overall incidence of cardiac complications is 6.7 per 1,000 lumbar spine surgical procedures, and complications are more frequent with lumbar fusion versus decompression, according to a study published in the July 15 issue of Spine.
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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).
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.
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.
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.
Pre-Op Anemia Tied to Adverse Outcomes in Elective Spine Sx
FRIDAY, July 19 (HealthDay News) -- Preoperative anemia is significantly associated with adverse perioperative and postoperative outcomes following elective spine surgery, according to a study published in the July 1 issue of Spine.
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~2 Percent of Opioid Rx Bought by 0.7 Percent of Patients
THURSDAY, July 18 (HealthDay News) -- A small proportion of opioid prescription purchasers (0.7 percent) obtain an average of 32 prescriptions from 10 different prescribers, accounting for 1.9 percent of all opioid prescriptions, according to a study published online July 17 in PLOS ONE.
Music Beneficial for Children Undergoing IV Placement
THURSDAY, July 18 (HealthDay News) -- For children undergoing intravenous placement, music seems to have a favorable effect, with benefits also reported by parents and health care providers, according to a study published online July 15 in JAMA Pediatrics.
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Medicaid Insurance Linked to Post-Spine Sx Complications
THURSDAY, July 18 (HealthDay News) -- Spine surgery patients who are covered by Medicaid have a significantly increased likelihood of complications compared with privately insured patients, according to a study published in the July 15 issue of Spine.
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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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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.
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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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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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).
Tool Helps Emergency Providers ID Drug-Seeking Behavior
MONDAY, July 15 (HealthDay News) -- Emergency providers are fairly accurate at identifying drug-seeking behavior, demonstrating fair agreement with prescription drug monitoring program criteria, according to a study published online July 11 in the Annals of Emergency 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.
Pilates, Cycling Achieve Similar Benefits for Low Back Pain
MONDAY, July 15 (HealthDay News) -- Over the long-term, Pilates has the same benefits as stationary cycling for patients with low back pain, according to a study published in the July 1 issue of Spine.
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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.
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).
Smoker Status Not Linked to Poor Outcome in Spine Surgery
FRIDAY, July 12 (HealthDay News) -- Smoking, by itself, is not associated with adverse outcomes in elective spinal surgery, but current smokers with more than 60 pack-years are more likely to die within 30 days of surgery than never smokers, according to research published in the July 1 issue of Spine.
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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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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).
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.
Full, Limited Range of Motion Extension Exercise Benefit LBP
THURSDAY, July 11 (HealthDay News) -- A 12-week training program with isolated lumbar extension resistance training with either full range of motion (FullROM) or limited ROM (LimROM) increases full ROM lumbar extension strength and improves perceived pain and disability in patients with chronic low back pain, according to a study published in the July 1 issue of Spine.
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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).
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).
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.
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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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.
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.
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.
Correlates of Care Seeking ID'd for Those With Low Back Pain
TUESDAY, July 9 (HealthDay News) -- Not all patients with low back pain (LBP) seek medical care, with female sex, LBP frequency, limitations in activities of daily living, and fear-avoidance beliefs contributing to increased odds of seeking care, according to a study published in the May 20 issue of Spine.
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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).
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.
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.
Work Loss Not Tied to Drug Choice in Rheumatoid Arthritis
WEDNESDAY, July 3 (HealthDay News) -- Therapy including a biological agent is not superior to conventional therapy in reducing work loss in patients with early-stage rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who fail to respond to methotrexate, according to research published online July 1 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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Drug Overdose Deaths, ER Visits Up for Women Since 1999
WEDNESDAY, July 3 (HealthDay News) -- Drug-related deaths and emergency department visits have increased among women since 1999, according to research published in the July 2 early-release issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
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.
Patients, Spinal Surgeons Differ in Expectations of Sx Outcomes
TUESDAY, July 2 (HealthDay News) -- For patients and spinal surgeons, there are frequently wide discrepancies in the expectations of the outcomes of surgery, according to a study published in the May 20 issue of Spine.
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Etanercept Reduces Work, Activity Impairment in RA
MONDAY, July 1 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA), continued etanercept treatment is associated with reduced work and activity impairment, according to a study published online April 1 in Arthritis Care & Research.
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