Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Pediatrics for October 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.
Guidelines Developed for Diagnosis and Treatment of PCOS
THURSDAY, Oct. 31 (HealthDay News) -- Evidence-based guidelines have been developed for the diagnosis and treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS); the clinical practice guideline was published online Oct. 22 in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
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FDA Announces Moves to Avert Drug Shortages
THURSDAY, Oct. 31 (HealthDay News) -- Drug makers would have to promptly notify the federal government of potential drug shortages under a new rule proposed Thursday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The companies would be required to alert the FDA at least six months before a possible interruption in supply, or no later than five days after the interruption has occurred.
Top 100 EHR Systems Sorted by Company Revenue
THURSDAY, Oct. 31 (HealthDay News) -- The top 100 electronic health record (EHR) systems have been sorted, mainly by company revenue, in an article published Oct. 25 in Medical Economics.
IOM: Culture Change Needed in Sports-Related Concussions
THURSDAY, Oct. 31 (HealthDay News) -- A culture change is recommended to encourage reporting and appropriate management of sports-related concussions, according to a report published Oct. 30 by the Institute of Medicine.
Effect of Internet on Suicide, Self-Harm in Youth Unclear
THURSDAY, Oct. 31 (HealthDay News) -- Internet use may have both a positive and negative influence on youth who are at risk for self-harm or suicide, according to research published online Oct. 30 in PLOS ONE.
ACR Issues Five Peds Choosing Wisely Recommendations
THURSDAY, Oct. 31 (HealthDay News) -- The top five pediatric rheumatology-related issues that physicians and patients should question have been released by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) as part of the Choosing Wisely campaign.
'Safe Swaddling' Recommended to Prevent Hip Dysplasia
THURSDAY, Oct. 31 (HealthDay News) -- Health providers need to provide correct advice about how to swaddle infants safely, to reduce the risk of hip dysplasia, according to an article published online Oct. 28 in the Archives of Disease in Childhood.
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Suicide Risk Higher in Young After Cancer Diagnosis
THURSDAY, Oct. 31 (HealthDay News) -- Adolescents and young adults are more likely to attempt or complete suicide after a cancer diagnosis, particularly in the first year after diagnosis, according to a study published online Oct. 29 in the Annals of Oncology.
Sebelius: 'Hold Me Accountable' for Website 'Debacle'
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 30 (HealthDay News) -- U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on Wednesday claimed responsibility for the failed rollout of HealthCare.gov and committed to fixing the website's many software and system problems.
2013 Health Care Quality Report Shows Some Improvements
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 30 (HealthDay News) -- Five key quality issues are showing some positive trends, according to the 2013 State of Health Care Quality Report published by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).
Record High in Medical School Applicants, Enrollment
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 30 (HealthDay News) -- In 2013, a record number of students applied to and enrolled in medical schools, according to a report published by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).
Expedited Review Speeds Approval of New Drugs by FDA
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 30 (HealthDay News) -- In 2008, new drugs that received expedited review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration were approved more rapidly, but many questions about safety remain unresolved, according to research published online Oct. 28 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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Health Agency Chief Apologizes for Federal Website Woes
TUESDAY, Oct. 29 (HealthDay News) -- The head of the federal agency responsible for HealthCare.gov issued a public apology Tuesday for problems that have plagued the health insurance website since its Oct. 1 launch. "I want to apologize to you that the website has not worked as well as it should," Marilyn Tavenner, administrator of the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, told members of the House of Representatives' Ways and Means Committee at a hearing on the Affordable Care Act.
Consultant Offers Tips for Training Staff to Use EHR System
TUESDAY, Oct. 29 (HealthDay News) -- Six tips can help educate staff to use new electronic health record (EHR) systems, according to an article published Oct. 25 in Medical Economics.
Pediatric Flu Death Also Occurs Without High-Risk Conditions
TUESDAY, Oct. 29 (HealthDay News) -- For children, influenza can be fatal even for those without high-risk medical conditions, according to a study published online Oct. 28 in Pediatrics.
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Docs, Lawyers Join Forces to Allow Doctors to Apologize
TUESDAY, Oct. 29 (HealthDay News) -- A new Senate bill allows health care professionals to make benevolent gestures without fear of these statements being used against them, according to a report published by the Pennsylvania Medical Society.
Autism Spectrum Disorder Linked to Prenatal Weight Gain
TUESDAY, Oct. 29 (HealthDay News) -- The risk of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is increased with maternal prenatal weight gain, but is not associated with pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), according to a study published online Oct. 28 in Pediatrics.
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One in 10 Teens Using ER Report Non-Rx Opiate, Sedative Use
MONDAY, Oct. 28 (HealthDay News) -- About one in 10 young people who use the emergency department report non-medical prescription opiate use (NPOU) or non-medical prescription sedative use (NPSU), according to a study published online Oct. 28 in Pediatrics.
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Halloween Contact Lenses Can Be Horror Story for Eyes
FRIDAY, Oct. 25 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers that if they plan to buy decorative contact lenses for Halloween there are potential risks of which they need to be aware.
Many Interns Don't Practice Etiquette-Based Communication
FRIDAY, Oct. 25 (HealthDay News) -- Internal medicine interns overestimate the extent to which they practice an etiquette-based communication approach, according to a study published online Oct. 12 in the Journal of Hospital Medicine.
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Social Media Can Professionally Benefit Pediatric Clinicians
FRIDAY, Oct. 25 (HealthDay News) -- There are increasing opportunities for social media to enhance the personal and professional lives of pediatric clinicians, but professionalism online needs to be modeled and taught, according to an article published online Oct. 21 in Pediatrics.
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Peer Intervention Program Reduces Patient Complaints
FRIDAY, Oct. 25 (HealthDay News) -- A physician peer intervention program is effective in improving unsafe and dissatisfying physician behaviors identified through patient complaints, according to a study published in the October issue of the Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety.
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Most Negative Online Posts Aren't Defamation
FRIDAY, Oct. 25 (HealthDay News) -- Few negative online posts about doctors reach the level of defamation, according to an article published Oct. 10 in Medical Economics.
Physicians Should Motivate and Retain Top Employees
THURSDAY, Oct. 24 (HealthDay News) -- Even in a time of declining reimbursements, smart employers should know how to motivate and retain superstar employees in their practice, according to an article published Oct. 10 in Medical Economics.
Penalty Delayed As Federal Exchange Comes Under Fire
THURSDAY, Oct. 24 (HealthDay News) -- U.S. consumers who sign up for health insurance by March 31 won't face tax penalties for being uninsured during the first three months of 2014, the Obama administration said Thursday.
Free Online Games Advertise Non-Nutritious Food to Children
THURSDAY, Oct. 24 (HealthDay News) -- Free online games designed to promote branded products ("advergames") are being used to market foods, snacks, and beverages with low nutritional value to young children, according to a study published Sept. 26 in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Preventing Chronic Disease.
Sunny Regions Have Lower ADHD Prevalence
THURSDAY, Oct. 24 (HealthDay News) -- Sunny areas of the world have a lower prevalence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to a study published in the Oct. 15 issue of Biological Psychiatry.
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Teen Tdap Vaccines May Cut Infant Pertussis Hospitalization
THURSDAY, Oct. 24 (HealthDay News) -- Universal administration of the tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine to adolescents correlates with a decrease in pertussis hospitalizations among vulnerable infants, according to a study published online Oct. 21 in Pediatrics.
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Most Parents Want Email Consultations for Minor Illness
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 23 (HealthDay News) -- Most parents would seek email advice for their children's minor illness if the service was available, according to a report published by the C.S. Mott Children's Hospital.
ADHD Linked to Defecation Disorders in Children
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 23 (HealthDay News) -- Children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are significantly more likely to have constipation and fecal incontinence issues than children without ADHD, according to a study published online Oct. 21 in Pediatrics.
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CDC: Use of Flavored Little Cigars, Cigarettes Up in U.S. Adolescents
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 23 (HealthDay News) -- More than 40 percent of student cigar or cigarette smokers report using flavored little cigars or flavored cigarettes, according to a study published online Oct. 23 in the Journal of Adolescent Health.
CDC: U.S. Flu Activity Remains Low Through Mid-October
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 23 (HealthDay News) -- During the week of Oct. 6 through Oct. 12, flu activity remained low in the United States, according to FluView, a weekly influenza surveillance report prepared by the Influenza Division of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Exercise Boosts Academic Performance in Adolescents
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 23 (HealthDay News) -- Objectively measured physical activity is positively associated with academic achievement in adolescents, according to research published online Oct. 22 in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
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Anti-Obesity Messages May Inadvertantly Up Eating Disorders
TUESDAY, Oct. 22 (HealthDay News) -- Anti-obesity messages may be backfiring, encouraging the development of eating disorders, according to an article in The Wall Street Journal.
Research Backlog at NIH Due to Shutdown
TUESDAY, Oct. 22 (HealthDay News) -- It will take some time before research programs return to normal at the U.S. National Institutes of Health after the end of the federal government shutdown, officials say.
Online Breast Milk Exchange Announces Policy Changes
TUESDAY, Oct. 22 (HealthDay News) -- An online breast milk exchange says it will change its policies after a study found that three-quarters of samples bought through the website contained high amounts of bacteria that could sicken babies.
Bottle Feeding Ups Risk of Hypertrophic Pyloric Stenosis
TUESDAY, Oct. 22 (HealthDay News) -- Bottle feeding is associated with an increased risk of hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (HPS) in infants, with significant modifications by maternal age and parity, according to a study published online Oct. 21 in JAMA Pediatrics.
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Scribes Can Be Beneficial in Medical Practices
TUESDAY, Oct. 22 (HealthDay News) -- Medical scribes can accurately document physician or independent practitioner dictation and activities, allowing providers to spend more time with patients, according to an article published Oct. 10 in Medical Economics.
Obama: 'No Excuse' for Troubled HealthCare.gov Website
MONDAY, Oct. 21 (HealthDay News) -- Saying he's confident the problems will get fixed, President Barack Obama admitted today that there is "no excuse" for the troubles plaguing the beleaguered HealthCare.gov website. "There's no sugar-coating it. The website has been too slow, people have been getting stuck during the application process, and I think it's fair to say that nobody's more frustrated by that than I am," he said during the nearly 30-minute-long address in the White House Rose Garden.
Seniors Rarely Consider Switching Medicare Plan, Provider
MONDAY, Oct. 21 (HealthDay News) -- Most seniors report being satisfied with Medicare coverage and most would not consider switching plan or provider even though the Medicare annual open enrollment period, which lasts from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7, allows people the opportunity to make changes, according to a report from Allsup.
Pediatrician-Led Motivational Interviews Aid BMI Control
MONDAY, Oct. 21 (HealthDay News) -- For overweight children aged 4 to 7 years, an intervention comprised of pediatrician-led motivational interviews (MIs) is effective for body mass index (BMI) control, according to a study published online Oct. 21 in Pediatrics.
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Internet-Purchased Human Milk Often Has High Bacterial Growth
MONDAY, Oct. 21 (HealthDay News) -- Human milk purchased over the Internet exhibits high overall bacterial growth and is often contaminated with pathogenic bacteria, according to a study published online Oct. 21 in Pediatrics.
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Small Businesses Weigh Health Insurance Options
MONDAY, Oct. 21 (HealthDay News) -- Small businesses rated most features of the Small Business Health Options (SHOP) exchanges favorably, but reasonable prices for premiums are especially important to them, according to research published online Oct. 16 in Health Affairs.
Timing of First Dose of Measles Vaccine Questioned
MONDAY, Oct. 21 (HealthDay News) -- Children who receive the first dose of a two-dose schedule of measles vaccine at 12 to 13 months compared with 15 months or later have a greater risk of developing measles, according to a study published online Oct. 21 in Pediatrics.
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Psychotropic Drugs Commonly Prescribed to Children With ASD
MONDAY, Oct. 21 (HealthDay News) -- Psychotropic medications, singly and in combination, are commonly prescribed for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), according to research published online Oct. 21 in Pediatrics.
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Parental Spanking Negatively Impacts Child Behavior
MONDAY, Oct. 21 (HealthDay News) -- Maternal and paternal spanking of children at age 5 impacts children's externalizing behavior and receptive vocabulary scores at age 9, according to a study published online Oct. 21 in Pediatrics.
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Eye Contact Affects Patients' Perception of Clinician Empathy
FRIDAY, Oct. 18 (HealthDay News) -- Physicians who make direct eye contact and engage in a moderate amount of social touch are perceived by patients as being more empathetic, according to research published online Aug. 14 in the Journal of Participatory Medicine.
Physician Wait Times Analyzed by Specialty in Massachusetts
FRIDAY, Oct. 18 (HealthDay News) -- Wait times for new patients for non-emergency care in Massachusetts in 2013 have been stable or shorter in all specialties except internal medicine, orthopedic surgery, and pediatrics, according to a report issued by the Massachusetts Medical Society.
HSV-1 Antibody Levels Declined in Teens Over Past Decade
FRIDAY, Oct. 18 (HealthDay News) -- The prevalence of antibodies against herpes simplex virus (HSV) has substantially declined in adolescents in the last decade, which may put them at risk of acquiring genital herpes, according to a study published online Oct. 16 in the Journal of Infectious Diseases.
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In Buying Exchange Insurance, It Helps to Have Help
FRIDAY, Oct. 18 (HealthDay News) -- You have to wade through a lot of insurance jargon and be a skilled number-cruncher to choose the right health insurance plan on the new health exchanges, health literacy and consumer decision-making experts say.
Sebelius: Exchange Launch 'Rockier Than We Would Have Liked'
THURSDAY, Oct. 17 (HealthDay News) -- U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius admitted Wednesday that the troubled launch of the federal government's new health insurance exchange hasn't gone as planned. However, she said technicians were working to fix the glitches that have plagued the HealthCare.gov website, and improvements should be evident shortly to consumers, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported Wednesday.
'Coverage Gap' Likely to Affect 5.2 Million Uninsured Adults
THURSDAY, Oct. 17 (HealthDay News) -- About 5.2 million uninsured adults are expected to fall into the Affordable Care Act (ACA) 'coverage gap,' with incomes too high to qualify for Medicaid programs but below the level eligible for federal subsidies to purchase private insurance, according to a report issued by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.
Docs Should Discuss Out-of-Pocket Costs With Patients
THURSDAY, Oct. 17 (HealthDay News) -- Given the high out-of-pocket costs associated with health care and their implications for patients, physicians should discuss these costs with patients during the clinical decision-making process, according to a perspective piece published in the Oct. 17 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Steps Given to Minimize Burden of Prior Authorizations
THURSDAY, Oct. 17 (HealthDay News) -- Prior authorizations are a time-consuming part of work, but the process can be simplified, according to an article published online Oct. 10 in Medical Economics.
Med Students Value 'Enjoying Work' in Specialty Selection
THURSDAY, Oct. 17 (HealthDay News) -- For first year medical students, enjoying work is the most important lifestyle domain in choosing a specialty, according to a study published in the October issue of Academic Medicine.
Ambient Air Pollution Linked to Low Birth Weight at Term
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 16 (HealthDay News) -- Exposure to ambient air pollution is associated with low birth weight at term, according to a study published online Oct. 15 in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine.
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Nurse Practitioners Report High Job Satisfaction
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 16 (HealthDay News) -- Nurse practitioners report high job satisfaction and are positive about the future of their profession, according to an article published Oct. 7 in Medical Economics.
Medicare, Medicaid Will Be Affected by Federal Debt Default
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 16 (HealthDay News) -- Failure to raise the debt ceiling by Oct. 17 will have a substantial effect on health care programs, including Medicare and Medicaid, according to a report published by the American Association of Family Physicians (AAFP).
Gastric, Esophageal Cancer Risk Linked to Teen Overweight
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 16 (HealthDay News) -- Adolescents' weight and socioeconomic status (SES) may affect their subsequent risk of developing esophageal and gastric cancer, according to a study published online Oct. 15 in Cancer.
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Algorithm Developed to Guide Physicians in Obesity Care
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 16 (HealthDay News) -- An algorithm has been developed to help physicians navigate medical treatment for obesity care, according to a report published by the American Society of Bariatric Physicians (ASBP).
No Link Between Nausea Drug and Birth Defects
TUESDAY, Oct. 15 (HealthDay News) -- Metoclopramide use during pregnancy for nausea is not associated with an increased risk of birth defects, spontaneous abortion, or stillbirth, according to a study published in the Oct. 16 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Nonprofit U.S. Hospital CEO Compensation Varies Widely
TUESDAY, Oct. 15 (HealthDay News) Nonprofit hospital chief executive officer (CEO) compensation is associated with technology and patient satisfaction, but not with processes of care, patient outcomes, or community benefit, according to a study published online Oct. 14 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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More Steroid Courses No Better in Preterm Birth Strategy
TUESDAY, Oct. 15 (HealthDay News) -- Compared with a single course of antenatal corticosteroid therapy, multiple courses do not increase or decrease the risk of death or disability for the child at age 5 years, according to research published online Oct. 14 in JAMA Pediatrics.
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Sexual Minorities at Higher Risk of Teen Pregnancy
TUESDAY, Oct. 15 (HealthDay News) -- Adolescent sexual minorities other than lesbians use less hormonal contraception and continue to be at an increased risk for teen pregnancy, with the exception of lesbians, according to a study published in the September issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Most Docs Monitor Online Reviews About Themselves
TUESDAY, Oct. 15 (HealthDay News) -- Most health care providers monitor online reviews about themselves and find the reviews fair, according to the results of a survey published by ZocDoc.
CBT Equal to Intensive Medical Care for Peds Abdominal Pain
MONDAY, Oct. 14 (HealthDay News) -- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is as effective as intensive medical care (IMC) for the treatment of pediatric functional abdominal pain (FAP), according to a study published online Oct. 14 in Pediatrics.
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Delayed First Measles Vaccine May Up Risk of Adverse Effects
MONDAY, Oct. 14 (HealthDay News) -- The increased risk of seizures following immunization with measles-containing vaccines is lower when the first dose is administered on schedule at 12 to 15 months, according to research published online Oct. 14 in JAMA Pediatrics.
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Study Discusses How to Create Value in Insurance Marketplaces
MONDAY, Oct. 14 (HealthDay News) -- Based on experience from other markets, health insurance exchange marketplaces can create greater value for consumers, according to research published in the September issue of Health Management, Policy and Innovation.
Alternative Medicine Often Used by Youth With Headache
MONDAY, Oct. 14 (HealthDay News) -- Youth with headache frequently use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), according to a study published online Oct. 14 in Pediatrics.
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Irregular Bedtimes Linked to Behavioral Difficulties
MONDAY, Oct. 14 (HealthDay News) -- Children with irregular bedtimes are more likely to have behavioral difficulties, while switching to regular bedtimes significantly improves behavior, according to a study published online Oct. 14 in Pediatrics.
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Performance Enhancing Drug Use Common in Young Males
MONDAY, Oct. 14 (HealthDay News) -- Many male youths are using appearance and performance enhancing drugs (APEDs), which include anabolic steroids and human growth hormone, and are finding them easily accessible online, according to a report published by the Digital Citizens Alliance.
Hospital Care Quality Varies by Insurance Coverage
MONDAY, Oct. 14 (HealthDay News) -- Examining hospital quality differences by various patient insurance groups would help reduce care disparities, according to a study published in the October issue of Health Affairs.
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'Cyberchondria' Worse in Those Troubled by Uncertainty
FRIDAY, Oct. 11 (HealthDay News) -- In a vicious cycle, those who have trouble handling uncertainty turn to the Internet to search for medical information which in turn leads to greater health anxiety ("cyberchondria"), according to a study published online Aug. 31 in Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking.
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Regional Variation Seen in Medicare ACO Formation
FRIDAY, Oct. 11 (HealthDay News) -- Underlying provider integration in a given geographic region may drive the formation of Medicare accountable care organizations (ACOs), according to a study published in the October issue of Health Affairs.
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Consumers Frustrated With First Days of ACA Exchanges
FRIDAY, Oct. 11 (HealthDay News) -- A new poll of consumer satisfaction with the Affordable Care Act's health insurance exchanges confirms what headlines having been saying since the online marketplaces' launch: things have not gone smoothly.
Unexplained Post-Op Pain in 7 Percent of Teen Scoliosis Cases
FRIDAY, Oct. 11 (HealthDay News) -- Unexplained pain after the six-month postoperative period occurs in 7 percent of patients undergoing surgery for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), according to a study published in the Oct. 1 issue of Spine.
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Checklist Developed to Cut Radiation Exposure in Children
FRIDAY, Oct. 11 (HealthDay News) -- A checklist has been developed to minimize radiation exposure to children during radiography; the checklist has been published in the October issue of the Journal of the American College of Radiology.
Addicted Physicians Say Rx Misuse Is for 'Self-Medication'
FRIDAY, Oct. 11 (HealthDay News) -- Physicians who misuse prescription drugs report self-medication as a leading reason, according to research published in the September/October issue of the Journal of Addiction Medicine.
Maternal Antenatal Depression Tied to Offspring's Depression
THURSDAY, Oct. 10 (HealthDay News) -- Antenatal depression in mothers is a risk factor for adult depression in their offspring, according to a study published online Oct. 9 in JAMA Psychiatry.
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State-Run Health Exchanges Off to Smoother Start
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 9 (HealthDay News) -- Unlike the highly publicized problems that have plagued the federal health exchange website created to help Americans register for insurance coverage, many state-run exchanges are operating well, according to published reports.
Antibiotic Resistance Ups Salmonella Hospitalizations
THURSDAY, Oct. 10 (HealthDay News) -- Because of antibiotic resistance, 42 percent of patients stricken with Salmonella tied to a California chicken farm have required hospitalization, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Wednesday.
Greater Potential for Health Gains From Delayed Aging
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 9 (HealthDay News) -- The most effective way to stall disease, extend years of life in good health, and enhance public health would be to delay aging, according to research published in the October issue of Health Affairs.
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AAFP Urges Congress to End Federal Government Shutdown
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 9 (HealthDay News) -- The American Association of Family Physicians (AAFP) is urging Congress to end the federal shutdown, according to a statement from the association.
Provision of High-Quality Care Linked to Doc Job Satisfaction
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 9 (HealthDay News) -- For physicians, being able to provide high-quality health care is a driver of professional satisfaction, according to a study published online Oct. 9 by the RAND Corporation.
Insufficient Evidence to Support Probiotics for Crying Infants
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 9 (HealthDay News) -- There is still insufficient evidence to support probiotic use to manage colic, especially in formula-fed infants, or to prevent infant crying, according to a review published online Oct. 7 in JAMA Pediatrics.
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Nearly One in 10 Young People Perpetrate Sexual Violence
TUESDAY, Oct. 8 (HealthDay News) -- Sexual violence perpetration appears to emerge earlier for males than females, with a link seen between perpetration and the viewing of violent sexual media, according to a study published online Oct. 7 in JAMA Pediatrics.
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Negative Effects Noted for 2011 ACGME Requirements
TUESDAY, Oct. 8 (HealthDay News) -- Pediatric program directors report negative effects of the 2011 Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Common Program Requirements, raising questions relating to patient safety and education quality, according to a study and editorial published online Oct. 7 in Pediatrics.
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Confusion Still Surrounds ACA Health Insurance Exchanges
TUESDAY, Oct. 8 (HealthDay News) -- Much confusion still exists surrounding the Affordable Care Act (ACA) health care insurance exchanges, which opened on Oct. 1, according to an article published online Sept. 30 in Medical Economics.
Patterns of Health Insurance Coverage Vary by State
TUESDAY, Oct. 8 (HealthDay News) -- Patterns of health insurance coverage among adults vary by state, and these differences may be used to guide efforts to expand coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), according to research published online Sept. 25 in Health Affairs.
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Patient Satisfaction Is Poor Measure of Hospital Quality
TUESDAY, Oct. 8 (HealthDay News) -- The Pridit approach can be used to predict hospital quality and health outcomes, according to a study published online Sept. 30 in the Risk Management and Insurance Review.
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USPSTF: Evidence Lacking for HTN Screening in Children
MONDAY, Oct. 7 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has found that there is currently insufficient evidence to weigh the benefits and harms of screening for primary hypertension in children and adolescents in order to prevent subsequent cardiovascular disease, according to a final Recommendation Statement published online Oct. 8 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Both Patients and Doctors Tend to Be Creatures of Habit
MONDAY, Oct. 7 (HealthDay News) -- Doctors often struggle with their patients' reluctance or inability to modify behaviors for the sake of their health, but physicians themselves are prone to stay the path they're on even if it isn't working or recommended, according to an opinion piece published Oct. 5 in The New York Times.
Design and Software Problems Plague Health Exchanges
MONDAY, Oct. 7 (HealthDay News) -- Problems signing up for health insurance through HealthCare.gov, the federal website serving health exchanges in 36 states, are the result of design and software problems, The Wall Street Journal reported.
U.S. Health Exchange Website Faced Intermittent Shutdowns
MONDAY, Oct. 7 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Health and Human Services Department announced late Friday that the healthcare.gov site -- a key to the launch of the new health care insurance exchanges -- would be unavailable during "off-peak" hours over the weekend for repairs.
Senators Request Delay in Transition to Meaningful Use 2
MONDAY, Oct. 7 (HealthDay News) -- A group of U.S. senators has requested that the transition to meaningful use 2 be delayed by one year, according to an article published Sept. 30 in Medical Economics.
Delayed Gluten Introduction Linked to Increased Celiac Risk
MONDAY, Oct. 7 (HealthDay News) -- Delayed gluten introduction and increased length of breastfeeding are associated with increases in the risk of celiac disease (CD), according to a study published online Oct. 7 in Pediatrics.
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Pro Athletes Peddle Nutrient-Poor Products to Youth
MONDAY, Oct. 7 (HealthDay News) -- Adolescents are exposed to the most athlete-endorsed food and beverage commercials, the majority of which promote nutrient-poor products, according to a study published online Oct. 7 in Pediatrics.
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Two-Dose Vaccination Program Cuts Varicella Incidence
MONDAY, Oct. 7 (HealthDay News) -- There have been declines in varicella incidence during the first five years of the two-dose vaccination program, according to a study published online Oct. 7 in Pediatrics.
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Restaurant Menus Are Not Becoming Healthier
FRIDAY, Oct. 4 (HealthDay News) -- Although the Affordable Care Act required restaurants to post nutritional information, the energy and sodium content of menu items at chain restaurants did not change significantly from 2010 to 2011 despite industry pledges to offer healthier foods, according to a study published online Oct. 3 in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
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Majority of Physicians Concerned About Future of Medicine
FRIDAY, Oct. 4 (HealthDay News) -- Although physicians are concerned about the future of medicine, the majority are satisfied with practicing medicine and feel financial incentives could provide a way to motivate patients to change behavior, according to a survey conducted by the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions.
Flu Vaccine Recommendations Updated for Egg-Allergic
FRIDAY, Oct. 4 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with egg allergy face no increased danger from receiving injectable inactivated influenza vaccine as a single dose, according to a letter published in the October issue of the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.
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Patient Portal Market Earned $279.8 Million in 2012
FRIDAY, Oct. 4 (HealthDay News) -- The total U.S. patient portal market for hospitals and physicians earned $279.8 million in 2012, and this is expected to increase in the coming years, mainly due to stage 2 meaningful use requirements, according to a report published by consulting firm Frost & Sullivan.
Number of EMR Functions Linked to Physician Stress
FRIDAY, Oct. 4 (HealthDay News) -- For primary care physicians, the number of electronic medical record (EMR) functions is associated with stress and satisfaction, according to a study published online Sept. 4 in the Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association.
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Late-Preterm Birth May Lead to Socioeconomic Disadvantage
FRIDAY, Oct. 4 (HealthDay News) -- Late-preterm birth (at 34 to 36 weeks of gestation) may lead to long-term socioeconomic disadvantages not explained by the parents' socioeconomic position (SEP), according to a study published in the Oct. 1 issue of Pediatrics.
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Glitches Still Dog Online Health Exchanges
THURSDAY, Oct. 3 (HealthDay News) -- Problems navigating the new federal and state computer-based health insurance exchanges spilled into a third day Thursday.
Impact of Shutdown on Docs, Patients Discussed
THURSDAY, Oct. 3 (HealthDay News) -- The shutdown of non-essential government services as of midnight Oct. 1 has led to questions about what the shutdown means for primary care physicians and their patients; answers have been issued in an article published Oct. 1 in Medical Economics.
AAP Affirms Importance of Culturally Effective Pediatric Care
THURSDAY, Oct. 3 (HealthDay News) -- Health policy and advocacy initiatives should be supported to promote delivery of culturally effective health care (CEHC ) and to promote workplace diversity, according to a policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) published online Sept. 30 in Pediatrics.
Expanding Scope of Nurse Practitioners Practice Discussed
THURSDAY, Oct. 3 (HealthDay News) -- Non-physician practitioners could ease the anticipated increased demand for physicians, but broadening their scope of practice is controversial, according to an article published Sept. 10 in Medical Economics.
Government Shutdown Impacting Health Care Agencies
THURSDAY, Oct. 3 (HealthDay News) -- The government shutdown is having a serious impact on health care agencies, according to an article published Oct. 1 in Medical Economics.
Fallout From Increase in High-Deductible Plans Examined
THURSDAY, Oct. 3 (HealthDay News) -- The expected increase in high-deductible health plan (HDHP) enrollment due to implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) highlights the need for more research into the health impact of HDHPs, according to a perspective piece published online Oct. 2 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Demand for Doctors Remained High in 2012
THURSDAY, Oct. 3 (HealthDay News) -- Demand for physicians, particularly primary care physicians remains high, according to a report published by the Association of Staff Physician Recruiters (ASPR).
Technical Problems Still Vex Day 2 of ACA Exchange Rollout
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 2 (HealthDay News) -- Computer troubles continued to plague the launch of the Affordable Care Act's health insurance exchanges on Wednesday. But Obama administration officials said Wednesday that the computer glitches were a reflection of heavy consumer interest in the exchanges, not flaws with the online registration system.
Technical Glitches Mar Affordable Care Act Exchange Debut
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 2 (HealthDay News) -- The Affordable Care Act health insurance exchanges rollout did not run smoothly on Tuesday as many consumers were frustrated by long delays and computer system failures.
Technological Advances in Health Care for Google, Apple
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 2 (HealthDay News) -- Google and Apple have launched developments in health care technology, according to a report published Sept. 20 in Medical Economics.
AMA: More Than Half of Doctors Self-Employed in 2012
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 2 (HealthDay News) -- More than half of physicians are self-employed, and 60 percent work in practices that are fully owned by physicians, according to the results of the 2012 Physician Practice Benchmark Survey.
Higher Neonatal Morbidity With Early-Term Birth
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 2 (HealthDay News) -- Early-term births are associated with high neonatal morbidity and admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) or a neonatology service, according to research published online Sept. 30 in JAMA Pediatrics.
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AAP Discusses Responsibilities, Role of Pediatric Hospitalists
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 2 (HealthDay News) -- Pediatric hospital medicine programs have an established place in pediatric medicine, and the expanded roles and responsibilities of pediatric hospitalists should be recognized, along with their integrated role among community pediatricians, according to a policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) published online Sept. 30 in Pediatrics.
USPSTF: Evidence Lacking for Tools to Lower Teen Drug Use
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 2 (HealthDay News) -- There is currently insufficient evidence to weigh the balance of benefits and harms of primary care-based behavioral interventions to prevent or reduce illicit drug use among children, according to a draft Recommendation Statement issued Oct. 1 by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF).
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Peanut Butter Intake in Pre-Teens Tied to Breast Health
TUESDAY, Oct. 1 (HealthDay News) -- Vegetable protein and fat intakes, including peanut butter and nuts, during pre-adolescence may subsequently help reduce the risk for benign breast disease (BBD), according to a study published in the September issue of Breast Cancer Research and Treatment.
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AAFP Adds Five More Choosing Wisely Recommendations
TUESDAY, Oct. 1 (HealthDay News) -- Five additional recommendations have been made as part of the Choosing Wisely campaign, according to a report published by the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP).
Infant Bed Sharing Doubled Since 1993
TUESDAY, Oct. 1 (HealthDay News) -- Sharing a bed with an infant has doubled over the last two decades and is higher for black and Hispanic infants, according to a study published online Sept. 30 in JAMA Pediatrics.
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Poor Performance Triggering EMR Switch for Small Practices
TUESDAY, Oct. 1 (HealthDay News) -- Small physician practices are leaving electronic medical record (EMR) vendors as software systems have failed to meet growing expectations, according to a report from KLAS research.
In the Doctor's Lounge With Dr. Cindy Haines
TUESDAY, Oct. 1 (HealthDay News) -- Please allow me to introduce myself: I am HealthDay's chief medical officer and the managing editor of Physician's Briefing, HealthDay's news service for health care professionals. This service is intended to provide busy physicians, nurses, and pharmacists with easily accessible, digestible health news that can keep them up-to-date and not missing a beat in their busy days providing care for those in need (and navigating the headaches and heartaches the business of medicine can too often bring). In short, this service is intended to make your professional life flow more smoothly in the way that helpful, useable, relevant, and timely information can.
Exchanges Will Be Cornerstone for Coverage Choices
Young Adults May Be Key to Making It All Work
Expect Pluses, Minuses for Those With Job-Based Coverage
If You're an Uninsured Worker, It's Your Chance to Get Covered
Medicaid Expansion Will Allow More to Get More
Many on Medicare Already Enjoying Benefits
AMA Presents: The National Journal
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Many Health Care Professionals Oppose ACA Proposals
TUESDAY, Oct. 1 (HealthDay News) -- The majority of health care professionals are concerned about negative outcomes relating to enactment of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), although they recognize the benefits, according to a survey conducted by Coupa Software.
Affordable Care Act Exchanges Are Up and Running
TUESDAY, Oct. 1 (HealthDay News) -- Despite the first federal government shutdown in 17 years and a push by Republicans in the House of Representatives to delay further implementation of "Obamacare," the Affordable Care Act's health insurance exchanges opened for business today.