Current Issue - February 2010
Featured Articles
Evidence-based Medicine
Calmer talk needed about mammography
Controversy about implementing new mammography guidelines shouldn’t cloud talks between doctors and the women they counsel. Clarify what the guidelines really say, and share the decision-making with patients to provide the best informed consent possible, experts counsel.
Medical Education
Med schools promoting care for underserved
To encourage primary care careers, medical schools are offering students shortened specialty rotations in favor of fast-track graduation, half-tuition forgiveness and having students follow patients wherever they go in the health system. Different teaching models emphasize continuity of care over snapshots of diagnoses, and place students in the clinics where they can fulfill the nation’s need for rural care.
Perspectives
Practical Genomics
Filling in the GAPPs will strengthen evidence-based medicine
Few data support the use of genomic testing in areas such as warfarin dosing. Paradoxically, that lack of evidence leaves open the potential for the misuse of direct-to-consumer genomics tests, or for their premature adoption by clinicians.
President’s Message
Best patient care gets lost amid the health care delivery system
A primary care doctor measures the benefits that he can provide to his patients: continuity of care and a complete “story” to tell about each one.
Practice Management
Quality Improvement
Practice uses ACP survey for peer review, quality improvement
True North Health Center in Maine surveyed every patient who came through the doors from March through May last year to give each of its 28 practitioners information on outcomes. Proprietary surveys are expensive, so True North turned to ACP’s tools. The results helped those performing best to teach their peers about best practices.
Practice Rx
Making sense of CMS’ new policy on consultation billing
CMS stopped recognizing CPT consultation codes and issued instructions to physicians only a few days before the new policy took effect. ACP’s practice management staff digest what internists need to know to stay on top of billing for 2009, documentation, the “3-year rule” and crosswalks for services previously billed as consultations.
College Watch
Obituaries
Obituaries
Notes on John J. Hoesing, FACP, and Stephen M. Ayres, FACP.
ACP Internist Weekly
From the February 9, 2010 edition
- Proteinuria predicts mortality in kidney patients
- Federal government expands mental health parity coverage
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