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Evidence Shows Prior Auth Requirements Hurt Patient Care
Complying with health insurance companies’ prior authorization requirements is demanding ever-increasing resources from patient access. The authors of multiple recent studies found these requirements also stop patients from receiving needed — and sometimes life-saving — medical care.
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Ethics Curriculum Feasible for OB/GYN Faculty
Much ethics education focuses on students and residents, but practicing physicians also need ethics expertise. An ethics and professional curriculum was piloted for faculty in obstetrics and gynecology.
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Testing Detects Hormone Changes Signaling Menopause
Results of a new study established that levels of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) can predict when a woman’s final menstrual period will occur. By measuring AMH levels, clinicians have an indicator of how many eggs a woman has remaining. The results of the research were part of the scientific evidence presented to the FDA for the 2018 approval of MenoCheck, an assay kit used to determine menopausal status in women ages 42-62 years.
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Research Reinforces Importance of Tailoring Hormone Therapy
Data from research that examined the use of different oral and transdermal hormone therapy agents and their associations between heart fat accumulation and atherosclerosis progression indicated that in comparison to transdermal estradiol patch, oral conjugated equine estrogen appears to slow the adverse effects of increasing paracardial adipose tissue on the progression of atherosclerosis.
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Scientists Make Important Step Toward HIV Cure
In two separate papers, scientists have documented how their efforts reversed HIV and simian immunodeficiency virus latency in two animal models. Findings indicated progress toward an HIV cure.
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Generic Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Set to Debut
Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), which consists of the anti-HIV drugs emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF/FTC, brand name Truvada), is recommended as a first-line resource in HIV prevention. A generic version of the drug combination is set to be released in 2020, which could expand access to PrEP in the United States.
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Drug Studied for Treatment of Fibroid-Associated Bleeding
Elagolix, a gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist currently used in the treatment of endometriosis pain, is now being studied for treatment of uterine fibroids and heavy menstrual bleeding in women. The drug was approved by the FDA in July 2018 for the treatment of moderate to severe endometriosis pain.
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Expanding Intrauterine Contraceptive Choices: Science Seeks Options
The copper T 380A intrauterine device (IUD), developed almost 50 years ago, was introduced in the United States in 1988. It is an extremely effective form of birth control. Researchers are conducting a clinical trial comparing the device with a newer, smaller copper IUD not sold in the United States.
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The Case Manager’s Toolbox: The Essential Skills of an Effective Case Manager, Part 1
RN case managers and social workers are key advocates in the delivery of quality healthcare. Their broad skills and training allow them to assess patients’ needs and work well with families and other members of the healthcare team. Negotiating, collaborating, communicating, team-building, precepting, educating, and consulting are the basis of what a successful case manager brings to the care setting each day. This month will begin a discussion of the skill sets every case manager and social worker should possess to be as effective in the role as possible.
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Program Tailored to Reducing Senior Patient Readmissions
A program in the Chicago area is demonstrating the value of tailoring discharge plans to the particular needs of elderly patients with little support outside the hospital. These “solo seniors” often face complex medical challenges after discharge and can experience high rates of readmission without help from family and friends. With hospitals facing significant penalties from 30-day readmissions, the program could be a model for hospitals to emulate.