Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Radiology 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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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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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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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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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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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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Low BMI Tied to Better Surgical Scoliosis Curve Correction
TUESDAY, Jan. 28, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For patients undergoing spinal fusion for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), low body mass index (BMI) is associated with greater percent correction of thoracic curves, according to a study published in the Jan. 15 issue of Spine.
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USPSTF: Draft Recommendations Issued for AAA Screening
TUESDAY, Jan. 28, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has issued recommendations for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening. This draft recommendation statement is based on an evidence review published online Jan. 28 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Comment on Recommendations
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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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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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Radiation Exposure Compared for Lumbosacral Epidural Approaches
FRIDAY, Jan. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For fluoroscopy-guided lumbosacral epidural steroid injections (ESIs), the kerma-area product (KAP) of transforaminal ESI is less than that of caudal ESI, after adjustment for length of fluoroscopy time, according to a study published in the February issue of the Journal of Spinal Disorders & Techniques.
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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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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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Higher Omega-3 Levels Linked to Larger Brain Volume
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- In postmenopausal women, a higher omega-3 index is associated with increased brain and hippocampal volume eight years later, according to a study published online Jan. 22 in Neurology.
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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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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.
Abstract - Downing
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Abstract - Rome
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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More Specialists Needed to Meet Needs of Aging Population
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- More specialist providers, including vascular surgeons and cardiologists, are needed to meet the care needs of a growing elderly population, according to research published in the November issue of Health Affairs.
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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Save GME Website
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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