April 15, 2015

Accurate examination of persons with stroke symptoms can reduce disability and prevent recurrence. The most common physical findings of ischemic stroke are speech disturbance and unilateral weakness. The patient history and diagnostic studies will usually exclude stroke mimics…

Abdominal aortic aneurysm refers to an abdominal aortic dilation of 3.0 cm or greater. Primary risk factors include age older than 65 years, male sex, and a history of smoking. Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm is a medial emergency with a mortality rate of up to 90…

Family physicians are often asked to provide counseling, support, and resources for women with unwanted, unplanned, or mistimed pregnancies. Options include carrying the infant to term and raising the child, carrying the infant to term and choosing adoption, or having an…

Proposed Rules Released on Meaningful Use, 2015 Edition Certification Criteria | Change Doubles Number of Veterans Eligible to Receive Care Outside VA | MedPAC Urges Congress to Increase Payments to Primary Care Physicians | AAMC Road Map Seeks to Update, Strengthen U.S. GME…

As concerned primary care physicians, we should take a more active role in educating the public and our patients about the risks of nonindicated screening tests before those purchases are made. Harms of downstream testing or treatment for a positive test result are real and…

ACE inhibitors and ARBs have similar effects on cardiovascular outcomes and total mortality in head-to-head trials. However, slightly more adverse effects were noted in patients assigned to ACE inhibitor therapy.

Low-quality evidence suggests that training health care professionals in patient-centered communication improves the engagement of patients from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds in their health care. Interventions that were primarily educational appeared to be…

Naltrexone/bupropion produces clinically significant weight loss when combined with a diet and exercise program. It decreases body weight in patients with diabetes, but its effect on diabetic outcomes is not known. A significant proportion of patients will experience adverse…

A man presented with a on his back after a coronary stent procedure. The erythematous lesion was well demarcated with visible capillary break and petechiae inside the borders. There was a central fine scale.

C.S. is an older patient who presents to your office for an annual well visit. C.S. was advised by a relative, who is a physician, to be screened for an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA).

Using coronary CTA to screen for CAD in adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes and no indication of existing CAD does not improve outcomes more than standard care.

Nearly one-half of all pregnancies in the United States are unintended. Risk factors for unintended pregnancy include limited access to contraception, less than a college education, poor social support, age between 20 and 24 years, and black race. Family physicians are often…

This guideline on the diagnosis, management, and prevention of bronchiolitis in children one to 23 months of age from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) updates a previous guideline published in 2006.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends one-time screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) with ultrasonography in men ages 65 to 75 years who have ever smoked.

The USPSTF recommends screening for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in persons at high risk for infection.

Options for Unintended Pregnancy

Stroke: How to Recognize It and What to Do About It