3 barriers keeping data from improving health outcomes
Access to actionable, real-time data can create opportunities for physicians to improve the health of their patients, but the current environment often prevents physicians from being able to access and use that data. Find out what three experts think the future holds for data usage and what they say needs to change first.
How health data can—and does—save lives
Experts recently spoke to the health IT community about current and future uses of data at Health Datapalooza in Washington, D.C. Though there are issues in the current health system that cause problems for data usage in practice, the panelists were first an...
Source: AMA Wire - May 20, 2016 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Troy Parks Source Type: news
Weigh in on pressing health care issues by June 5
How do you think the practice of medicine should be improved in the United States? Share your thoughts on important health care topics—and have a chance to shape AMA policy—via the AMA Online Member Forums (log in). They’re now open in advance of the 2016 AMA Annual Meeting, taking place June 11-15 in Chicago.
Online forums allow AMA members to weigh in on key policy issues facing medicine at the convenience of their own schedules. By participating in the forums, you can add your voice to the AMAÂ policy discussion from your home, at your office or on the go.
Resolutions and reports up for discussion at the 20...
Source: AMA Wire - May 19, 2016 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Troy Parks Source Type: news
4 ways schools are paving a new path to residency
Several medical schools are overhauling the way their students make the traditionally stressful leap into graduate medicine education (GME).
Schools are implementing these programs as part of their work with the AMA’s Accelerating Change in Medical Education Consortium, which is working to modernize and reshape the way physicians are trained. The programs are designed to improve competency, leadership and patient care through innovations that bridge the curriculum gap between medical school and internship.
A transition curriculum
“Interns in July are expected to hit the ground running and take care of patients,â€...
Source: AMA Wire - May 19, 2016 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Troy Parks Source Type: news
The impact of parenthood on residency
With women comprising one-half of medical school graduates, two recent studies examined the experience that residents have when they decide to become parents during training. Find out how common parenthood is and how it impacts men versus women.
Deciding when to have children
Two recent investigations into parenthood during training found that residents are concerned about how having a child will impact their training and how their skills and work ethic will be perceived. But the studies showed women who become pregnant are more often impacted than men who become fathers during residency.
With residents spending the ...
Source: AMA Wire - May 18, 2016 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Troy Parks Source Type: news
Why your practice needs a health coach (and how to get one)
Engaging patients in behavior changes can improve their overall health and reduce the amount of medical care they need, but it’s often difficult for physicians to find the extra time to collaborate and plan these types of strategies. Trained health coaches can take on a lot of these responsibilities to advance lifestyle changes, prevention and patient health.
Having a health coach involved in a patient’s care can not only increase patient satisfaction and engagement but also reduce physician stress and burnout by freeing up time.
In a new module from the AMA’s STEPS Forward™ collection of practice improvement s...
Source: AMA Wire - May 18, 2016 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Troy Parks Source Type: news
Student wellness: Blueprints for the curriculum of the future
The focus on wellness in medical education is growing, and it’s motivating students and faculty to search for the path to the wellness-centered learning environment of the future.
Several submissions to the AMA Medical Education Innovation Challenge, which encouraged students around the nation to upend the traditional medical school curriculum with outside-the-box ideas, and projects within the AMA Accelerating Change in Medical Education Consortium emphasize student wellness.
The goal is to create physicians who are better equipped to take care of themselves and therefore able to serve patients throughout the course...
Source: AMA Wire - May 17, 2016 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Troy Parks Source Type: news
Freedom of patient-physician conversations hinges on court case
A federal court will be hearing a case about the constitutionality of a state law that represses free discussion between physicians and patients regarding health and safety issues.
In a friend-of-the-court brief filed April 26, the AMA and eight other medical societies urged the Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit to overturn a Florida law that restricts physicians from discussing firearm safety with patients and their families.
The brief argues that the Firearm Owners’ Privacy Act is unconstitutional and intrudes on the practice of medicine. The law will inevitably affect other aspects of patient care, the brief s...
Source: AMA Wire - May 17, 2016 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Troy Parks Source Type: news
Fix EHRs for the patient-physician relationship, Senator says
Electronic health records (EHR) have caused many problems for the patient-physician relationship, and Sen. Bill Cassidy, MD, R-La., definitely has his fair share of troublesome EHR stories. The current state of EHRs is tearing the patient-physician relationship apart, Sen. Cassidy said. And that’s why he is taking steps in the U.S. Senate to relieve this burden and put physicians in the driver's seat.
Sen. Cassidy recently spoke to the health IT community at Health Datapalooza in Washington, D.C.
Sen. Cassidy and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., who also spoke at the event, introduced the Transparent Ratings on Usabi...
Source: AMA Wire - May 16, 2016 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Troy Parks Source Type: news
Harnessing senior physicians ’ expertise
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Older physicians —especially those who are still interested in actively contributing to health care after retirement—have invaluable knowledge to pass on. Find out what one physician has to say about the profession finding new ways for these doctors to impart what they’ve learned. < /p > < p > < strong > Creating new opportunities < /strong > < /p > < p >
Late-career physicians need pathways that let them pursue professional mentoring, teaching and meaningful community involvement, such as volunteering or working with service agencies or communities that are important to their organizations, a < em > Mayo C...
Source: AMA Wire - May 16, 2016 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Troy Parks Source Type: news
Harnessing senior physicians’ expertise
Older physicians—especially those who are still interested in actively contributing to health care after retirement—have invaluable knowledge to pass on. Find out what one physician has to say about the profession finding new ways for these doctors to impart what they’ve learned.
Creating new opportunities
Late-career physicians need pathways that let them pursue professional mentoring, teaching and meaningful community involvement, such as volunteering or working with service agencies or communities that are important to their organizations, a Mayo Clinic Proceedings commentary urges.
Older physicians are less...
Source: AMA Wire - May 16, 2016 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Troy Parks Source Type: news
Biden seeks physician input in global cancer fight
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden passionately called for data experts, researchers and physicians to join him in the National Cancer Moonshot Initiative announced earlier this year by lending their talents and expertise to the global fight against cancer. Breaking down the walls that prevent data sharing will be an essential component to the initiative, as is physician input.Â
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Mr. Biden last week addressed the health IT community at Health Datapalooza in Washington, D.C.Â
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“Data and technology—when combined—can have an incredible impact on saving people’s lives and improving the health of people here an...
Source: AMA Wire - May 13, 2016 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Troy Parks Source Type: news
4 steps to prepare for Medicare ’s new payment systems
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While the details of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) regulations still are being hammered out, physicians should start preparing for the new payment systems now. Make sure you ’re on track by taking four important steps. < /p > < p >
The lengthy < a href= " https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2016/05/09/2016-10032/medicare-program-merit-based-incentive-payment-system-mips-and-alternative-payment-model-apm " rel= " nofollow " target= " _blank " > proposed rule < /a > released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) outlines the draft regulations the agency is consi...
Source: AMA Wire - May 13, 2016 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Troy Parks Source Type: news
4 steps to prepare for Medicare’s new payment systems
While the details of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) regulations still are being hammered out, physicians should start preparing for the new payment systems now. Make sure you’re on track by taking four important steps.
The lengthy proposed rule released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) outlines the draft regulations the agency is considering for implementation. This is just the beginning of the official rulemaking process, but what is known for sure is that physicians will have a choice in whether to participate in the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) or meet re...
Source: AMA Wire - May 13, 2016 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Troy Parks Source Type: news
3 principles driving new Medicare payment systems
When Andy Slavitt, acting administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), testified before an influential congressional committee Wednesday about implementation of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA), the focus was clear: The patient and physician must be at center of the new Medicare payment systems.Â
A look at the draft regulations
Rep. Pat Tiberi, chairman of the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee, said the committee called the hearing to discuss how the draft regulations released last month match the congressional intent of the law. In particular, the committee was intere...
Source: AMA Wire - May 12, 2016 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Troy Parks Source Type: news
What successful self-measured BP looks like in practice
When a patient is willing to partner with their physician in gaining control of high blood pressure, the results can be rewarding for both parties. That partnership is both important and surprisingly simple. A resident physician gives an inside look at how her medical center implemented self-measured blood pressure (SMBP) monitoring and is engaging patients in the advancement of their own health.
At Family Health Center at Medstar Franklin Square in Baltimore, physicians incorporated SMBP monitoring in their practice in a way that has helped patients with high blood pressure take control of their health.
The practice i...
Source: AMA Wire - May 11, 2016 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Amy Farouk Source Type: news
