Month: February 2015

Uncategorized Published - 19 February, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
HHS Announces Goals for Medicare Payment Models

I got this from the ASA so I wanted to share it. Health & Human Services (HHS) Secretary Sylvia Burwell announced an initiative to shift the Medicare system more towards payment based upon alternative payments models. This marks the first time in Medicare’s history that HHS has set explicit goals for further establishing alternative payment […]

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Uncategorized Published - 19 February, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
No Easy Fix to Opioid Abuse-Related Problems

While death and abuse rates from prescription opioids are dropping, death rates from heroin use are going in the opposite direction. Behind every apparent bit of progress in healthcare lurks disaster. First the progress, which is indeed good news: drug diversion and abuse of prescription opioids, which saw a horrifying increase over the last decade, […]

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Uncategorized Published - 19 February, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Is There Hope for an SGR Replacement Measure?

The clock is ticking toward April 1, when the latest sustainable growth rate (SGR) fix expires and physicians are due to get a 21% cut in Medicare payments. Some members of Congress are trying to eliminate the SGR payment methodology once again. In late January 2015, a House subcommittee held hearings on how to build […]

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Uncategorized Published - 19 February, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Fibromyalgia Prevalence Varies Widely by Diagnostic Criteria

The prevalence of fibromyalgia varied by as much as fourfold, depending on which of three different American College of Rheumatology diagnostic criteria sets was used, a new study reveals. The findings were published online January 28 in Arthritis & Rheumatology by Gareth T. Jones, PhD, from the University of Aberdeen, United Kingdom, and colleagues. The […]

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Uncategorized Published - 19 February, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Pharmacokinetics of Tranexamic Acid in Neonates, Infants, and Children Undergoing Cardiac Surgery with Cardiopulmonary Bypass

Published in The Journal of the American Society of Anesthesiologists on 1 2015. Authors: Mark C. Wesley, M.D. et al Background: Tranexamic acid (TXA) is one of the most commonly used antifibrinolytic medications in children undergoing repair of congenital heart defects. However, a pharmacokinetics analysis of TXA has never been performed in neonates or young […]

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Uncategorized Published - 18 February, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Barriers to Referral for Epilepsy Surgery Evaluation

Published in Neurology 2015 Jan 13; 84:159 Authors: Roberts JI et al. A large national survey in Canada reveals insights into neurologist-related barriers to referral for possible surgical treatment of drug-resistant seizure disorders. Marked underuse of resective surgery for drug-resistant focal epilepsy has not changed in recent decades. Although substantial accumulated evidence has demonstrated safety […]

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Uncategorized Published - 18 February, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Transfuse Plasma, Platelets, and Red Blood Cells in a 1:1:1 Ratio in Trauma Patients

Published in JAMA 2015 Feb 3; 313:471 Authors: Holcomb JB et al. Compared with a 1:1:2 ratio, the 1:1:1 ratio improved hemostasis without causing more adverse effects, although mortality did not differ. In recent years, the dogma regarding large-volume crystalloid resuscitation in trauma patients has changed, with increased emphasis on including plasma and platelets in […]

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Uncategorized Published - 18 February, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Neuropathic Pain Therapy: Evidence-Based Recommendations

Published in Lancet Neurol 2015 Feb 14:162 Authors: Finnerup NB et al. Results of a meta-analysis and systematic review Neuropathic pain is a serious chronic condition affecting quality of life that can be relieved but not cured. The estimated prevalence is at least 1% to 5% of the general population (Pain Pract 2014; 14:283). Neuropathic […]

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Uncategorized Published - 18 February, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
A Falling Trend in U.S. Coronary Revascularization Procedures

Published in Circulation 2015 Jan 27; 131:362 Authors: Culler SD et al. Published in Circulation 2015 Jan 27; 131:362 Findings from an analysis of two national Medicare databases To determine recent trends in coronary revascularization among Medicare beneficiaries, researchers analyzed two national administrative databases. The data covered inpatient and outpatient percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) and […]

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Uncategorized Published - 18 February, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Anesthesiologists have to start to truly care for patients

Anesthesiology used to be a job that was attractive for people who don’t like patients very much. The drill was: Meet patient 5 minutes before surgery, do case in OR without interruption, drop off in PACU, done. Minimal need for personal interaction with patient, no need to listen to complaints about back pain and demands […]

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