Curious About the ABFM Pilot? Here's My Experience So Far
Family physicians have long clamored for an alternative to the high-stakes continuing certification exam. In this Leader Voices Blog post, Tochi Iroku-Malize, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A., offers her perspective on the Family Medicine Certification Longitudinal Assessment pilot.
AAFP News : AAFP Leader Voices | AAFP News Blog : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/leadervoices/entry/20190304lv-fmcla.html
Metformin for Improving Maternal and Infant Outcomes in Pregnant Women Who Are Obese - ...
Mar 1, 2019 - This meta-analysis showed no clear benefit for metformin in reducing the risk of large for gestational age infants. Additionally, there was no difference in important secondary outcomes such as gestational diabetes, hypertensive disease in pregnancy, shoulder dystocia, advanced perineal...
American Family Physician : Medicine by the Numbers
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2019/0301/od1.html
Hepatitis B: Screening, Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment - American Family Physician
Mar 1, 2019 - Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a partly double-stranded DNA virus that causes acute and chronic liver infection. Screening for hepatitis B is recommended in pregnant women at their first prenatal visit and in adolescents and adults at high risk of chronic infection. Hepatitis B vaccination ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2019/0301/p314.html
Bipartisan Work on Crucial Issues Deserves Support
Congress is showing signs of bipartisan agreement on three health care issues. AAFP Senior Vice President for Advocacy, Practice Advancement and Policy Shawn Martin offers an update on prescription drug pricing, physician workforce training and insurance reform.
AAFP News : In the Trenches : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/inthetrenches/entry/20190219itt-bipartisan.html
Better Health Care for Veterans Requires Better Payment
Ada Stewart, M.D., who cares for active-duty soldiers and veterans as a U.S. Army Reserve physician, as well as in her civilian practice, writes about the urgent need for payment and workforce reform in the nation's veterans health care system.
AAFP News : AAFP Leader Voices | AAFP News Blog : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/leadervoices/entry/20190218lv-veterans.html
Type 2 Diabetes Therapies: A STEPS Approach - American Family Physician
Feb 15, 2019 - A concise way to evaluate pharmacotherapy options for type 2 diabetes mellitus is to use the five patient-oriented STEPS criteria: safety, tolerability, efficacy, price, and simplicity. The first-line treatment option, metformin, is safe and fairly well-tolerated, has excellent ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2019/0215/p237.html
Manipulative Therapies: What Works - American Family Physician
Feb 15, 2019 - Manipulative therapies include osteopathic manipulative treatment and many other forms of manual therapies used to manage a variety of conditions in adults and children. Spinal manipulative therapy may provide short-term improvement in patients with acute or chronic low back pain, ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2019/0215/p248.html
Screening for Cervical Cancer: Recommendation Statement - U.S. Preventive Services Task...
Feb 15, 2019 - The USPSTF recommends screening for cervical cancer every 3 years with cervical cytology alone in women aged 21 to 29 years. For women aged 30 to 65 years, the USPSTF recommends screening every 3 years with cervical cytology alone, every 5 years with high-risk human papillomavirus ...
American Family Physician : U.S. Preventive Services Task Force
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2019/0215/od1.html
Are Your Patients Wasting Money on Supplements?
According to the latest Fresh Perspectives blog post, a recent survey found that nearly 90 percent of adults take vitamins or supplements, but less than 25 percent of respondents had a confirmed nutrient deficiency.
AAFP News : Fresh Perspectives: New Docs in Practice | AAFP News Blog : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/freshperspectives/entry/20190213fp-supplements.html
Can Design Thinking Improve Health Care for Patients, Physicians?
Design thinking requires decision-makers to empathize with, and test potential solutions with, users and stakeholders. Lalita Abhyankar, M.D., M.H.S., shares insights from a crash course on the process.
AAFP News : Fresh Perspectives: New Docs in Practice | AAFP News Blog : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/freshperspectives/entry/20190205fp-designthinking.html
Dyspnea Due to Acute Heart Failure Syndrome - Medicine by the Numbers - American Family...
Feb 1, 2019 - This review concluded that the individual components of the clinical history and physical examination, electrocardiography, and chest radiography are not useful independently for confirming or excluding the diagnosis of acute heart failure syndrome in patients presenting to the ...
American Family Physician : Medicine by the Numbers
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2019/0201/od1.html
Gastroenteritis in Children - American Family Physician
Feb 1, 2019 - Acute gastroenteritis is defined as a diarrheal disease of rapid onset, with or without nausea, vomiting, fever, or abdominal pain. In the United States, acute gastroenteritis accounts for 1.5 million office visits, 200,000 hospitalizations, and 300 deaths in children each year. ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2019/0201/p159.html
First Trimester Bleeding: Evaluation and Management - American Family Physician
Feb 1, 2019 - Approximately one-fourth of pregnant women will experience bleeding in the first trimester. The differential diagnosis includes threatened abortion, early pregnancy loss, and ectopic pregnancy. Pain and heavy bleeding are associated with an increased risk of early pregnancy loss. ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2019/0201/p166.html
Increased Quantity but Not Proportion: U.S. Medical Schools and Family Medicine Entry ...
Feb 1, 2019 - Expansion in the number of American medical schools since 2005 led to an absolute increase in graduates matching into family medicine (FM) residency programs from 2008 to 2018. Proportionally, however, FM training has become increasingly reliant on osteopathic physicians and U.S. ...
American Family Physician : Graham Center Policy One-Pagers
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2019/0201/p153.html
Point-of-Care Ultrasonography: An Effective Tool When Used Appropriately - Letters to ...
Feb 1, 2019 - Letters to the Editor from AFP readers regarding previously published articles.
American Family Physician : Letter
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2019/0201/p143.html
The 2019 Medicare Documentation, Coding, and Payment Update -- FPM
Feb 1, 2019 - This year’s changes include some welcome documentation relief, new codes for portal and telephone encounters, and much more.
Family Practice Management : Articles
https://www.aafp.org/fpm/2019/0100/p23.html
Complementary and Integrative Treatments for Pain Management in Labor - Cochrane for ...
Feb 1, 2019 - There is evidence that all of the studied interventions have some benefit in labor, but the evidence is of low to very low quality. Massage, thermal interventions (warm and cold packs), relaxation techniques, yoga, and music reduce pain during latent labor, but not during active labor.
American Family Physician : Cochrane for Clinicians
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2019/0201/p154.html
Using Empowered CMAs and Nursing Staff to Improve Team-based Care -- FPM
Feb 1, 2019 - Highly trained workers can perform more visit-related tasks, boosting care quality and reducing physician burnout.
Family Practice Management : Articles
https://www.aafp.org/fpm/2019/0100/p17.html
Tools for Better Dementia Care -- FPM
Feb 1, 2019 - Quality measures and clinical tools can bring focus and clarity to caring for patients with cognitive impairment and supporting their caregivers.
Family Practice Management : Articles
https://www.aafp.org/fpm/2019/0100/p11.html
Antibiotic Prophylaxis for UTIs in Patients with Neurogenic Bladder - FPIN's Help Desk ...
Feb 1, 2019 - Daily antibiotic prophylaxis should not be used in patients with acute and nonacute spinal cord injuries.
American Family Physician : FPIN's Help Desk Answers
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2019/0201/p186.html
Clopidogrel Plus Aspirin Provides More Net Benefit Than Aspirin Alone After Minor ...
Feb 1, 2019 - This study provides support for a strategy of adding clopidogrel to aspirin for the first week or so after a minor ischemic stroke or TIA because this is when the greatest benefit occurs. Harms were spread fairly evenly throughout the study period.
American Family Physician : POEMs
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2019/0201/p188a.html
Chronic Sinusitis: Saline Irrigation Helps Somewhat; Steroid Does Not Add More Benefit ...
Feb 1, 2019 - This study showed that patients with chronic rhinosinusitis who continue to use a saline nasal wash (NeilMed) will often experience an improvement in symptoms that can be clinically meaningful, but the addition of the corticosteroid budesonide has yet to show an extra benefit.
American Family Physician : POEMs
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2019/0201/p188.html
Primary Care for Persons Who Inject Drugs - American Family Physician
Jan 15, 2019 - More than 750,000 persons in the United States inject opioids, methamphetamine, cocaine, or ketamine, and that number is increasing because of the current opioid epidemic. Persons who inject drugs (PWID) are at higher risk of infectious and noninfectious skin, pulmonary, cardiac, ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2019/0115/p109.html
Neuropsychological Evaluations in Adults - American Family Physician
Jan 15, 2019 - Neuropsychologists provide detailed assessments of cognitive and emotional functioning that often cannot be obtained through other diagnostic means. They use standardized assessment tools and integrate the findings with other data to determine whether cognitive decline has occurred, to ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2019/0115/p101.html
Intravenous Magnesium Sulfate for Acute Asthma Exacerbations - FPIN's Clinical ...
Jan 15, 2019 - Patients presenting to the emergency department with an acute asthma exacerbation that has not responded to first-line therapy (bronchodilators and corticosteroids) can be treated effectively with intravenous magnesium sulfate.
American Family Physician : FPIN's Clinical Inquiries
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2019/0115/p127.html
Prasterone (Intrarosa) for Dyspareunia - STEPS - American Family Physician
Jan 15, 2019 - Prasterone is similarly effective to nonprescription options for treating vaginal dryness and itching associated with menopause and may offer a small benefit in the treatment of dyspareunia.
American Family Physician : STEPS
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2019/0115/p117.html
No Margin, No Mission: Better Physician Pay = Better Patient Care
AAFP Senior Vice President for Advocacy, Practice Advancement and Policy Shawn Martin outlines six areas of focus where the Academy's advocacy work is aimed at improving payment for primary care.
AAFP News : In the Trenches : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/inthetrenches/entry/20190108itt-betterpayment.html
Migraine Headache Prophylaxis - American Family Physician
Jan 1, 2019 - Migraines impose significant health and financial burdens. Approximately 38% of patients with episodic migraines would benefit from preventive therapy, but less than 13% take prophylactic medications. Preventive medication therapy reduces migraine frequency, severity, and ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2019/0101/p17.html
Liberal vs. Conservative Oxygen Therapy in the Acutely Ill - Medicine by the Numbers - ...
Jan 1, 2019 - This review compares liberal and conservative oxygen therapy in acutely ill adults and their effect on mortality (in-hospital, 30-day, and longest follow-up) and morbidity (disability at longest follow-up, risk of hospital-acquired pneumonia, any hospital-acquired infection, and length ...
American Family Physician : Medicine by the Numbers
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2019/0101/od1.html
Urine Drug Tests: Ordering and Interpreting Results - American Family Physician
Jan 1, 2019 - Urine drug testing is an essential component of monitoring patients who are receiving long-term opioid therapy, and it has been suggested for patients receiving long-term benzodiazepine or stimulant therapy. Family physicians should be familiar with the characteristics and capabilities ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2019/0101/p33.html
Inborn Errors of Metabolism: From Preconception to Adulthood - American Family Physician
Jan 1, 2019 - Inborn errors of metabolism (IEM), although individually rare, occur in 1 out of every 1,500 births. The first opportunity to detect IEM occurs during preconception counseling, when pregnant women and couples considering future pregnancies can undergo carrier screening. For individuals ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2019/0101/p25.html
Prophylactic Vaccination Against Human Papillomavirus to Prevent Cervical Cancer and ...
Jan 1, 2019 - HPV vaccination in women 15 to 26 years of age prevents the development of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 2 and CIN 3 in women regardless of previous HPV exposure (number needed to treat [NNT] = 39). No serious adverse effects are associated with administration of the HPV ...
American Family Physician : Cochrane for Clinicians
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2019/0101/p15.html
Deprescribing Is an Essential Part of Good Prescribing - Editorials - American Family ...
Jan 1, 2019 - There are four important medication issues to discuss with patients as they get older. Find out more and learn the five steps to individualize deprescribing practices for each patient.
American Family Physician : Editorials
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2019/0101/p7.html
Correction - Corrections - American Family Physician
Jan 1, 2019 - ...Incorrect vaccine recommendations. The Medicine by the Numbers Pneumococcal Vaccines in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (April 1, 2018, p. 463) included inaccurate details regarding the recommendations for administering pneumococcal vaccinations in patients with chronic...
American Family Physician : Corrections
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2019/0101/p5a.html
LABA Plus Inhaled Corticosteroid Reduces Exacerbations, But Not Hospitalizations - ...
Jan 1, 2019 - Adding a LABA to an inhaled corticosteroid is safe but does not reduce the likelihood of a serious exacerbation requiring hospitalization. There is a small reduction in nonsevere asthma exacerbations, with one fewer exacerbation for every 53 patients treated for six months.
American Family Physician : POEMs
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2019/0101/p53.html
The Adult Well-Male Examination - American Family Physician
Dec 15, 2018 - The adult well-male examination should provide evidence-based guidance toward the promotion of optimal health and well-being. The medical history should focus on tobacco and alcohol use, risk of human immunodeficiency virus and other sexually transmitted infections, and diet and ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2018/1215/p729.html
School Absenteeism in Children and Adolescents - American Family Physician
Dec 15, 2018 - Frequent school absenteeism has immediate and long-term negative effects on academic performance, social functioning, high school and college graduation rates, adult income, health, and life expectancy. Previous research focused on distinguishing between truancy and anxiety-driven ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2018/1215/p738.html
Evaluating Benefits and Harms of Anticoagulation in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation -...
Dec 15, 2018 - In patients with NVAF, anticoagulants decrease the risk of stroke by approximately 60%. However, they also significantly increase the risk of a major bleeding event or intracranial hemorrhage.
American Family Physician : Point-of-Care Guides
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2018/1215/p751.html
Why Are We So Slow to Adopt Some Evidence-Based Practices? - Editorials - American ...
Dec 15, 2018 - Physicians must accept that change is uncomfortable, recognizing the pain of giving up an old idea or practice as medical knowledge evolves around us. We need to remain flexible in our thinking if we are to meet our goal of doing our best when caring for every patient.
American Family Physician : Editorials
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2018/1215/p709.html
AAFP News - Dec 15, 2018 - American Family Physician
Dec 15, 2018 - Selected policy and health issues news briefs from AAFP News.
American Family Physician : AAFP News: AFP Edition
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2018/1215/p707.html
Why I Love Working in a Community Health Center
Luis Garcia, M.D., spoke with several colleagues who work in community health centers, as he does, about what makes these practices so rewarding for family physicians.
AAFP News : Fresh Perspectives: New Docs in Practice | AAFP News Blog : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/freshperspectives/entry/20181211fp-chc.html
Teaching Health Centers Funding a Top Priority for 2019
AAFP Senior Vice President for Advocacy, Practice Advancement and Policy Shawn Martin writes that securing funding for the teaching health center program will be a top priority for the Academy when the new Congress convenes.
AAFP News : In the Trenches : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/inthetrenches/entry/20181204itt-thcgme.html
Early Invasive Management of Acute Coronary Syndromes - Medicine by the Numbers - ...
Dec 1, 2018 - Does early invasive management help patients with unstable angina or acute non–ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) in reducing occurence of death, myocardial infarction, angina symptoms, and rehospitalization at six- to 12-month follow-up? Find out.
American Family Physician : Medicine by the Numbers
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2018/1201/od1.html
Caring for Transgender and Gender-Diverse Persons: What Clinicians Should Know - ...
Dec 1, 2018 - Persons whose experienced or expressed gender differs from their sex assigned at birth may identify as transgender. Transgender and gender-diverse persons may have gender dysphoria (i.e., distress related to this incongruence) and often face substantial health care disparities and ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2018/1201/p645.html
Dental Problems in Primary Care - American Family Physician
Dec 1, 2018 - Oral health directly affects overall health and quality of life. More Americans lack dental insurance than medical insurance. Patients with poor oral health are more likely to have respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and diabetes mellitus. Early ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2018/1201/p654.html
Preventing or Delaying Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus with Diet and Exercise - Cochrane for ...
Dec 1, 2018 - There is moderate-quality evidence that in patients with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) defined by an abnormal 75-g two-hour glucose tolerance test, implementing changes in diet and adding physical activity together can prevent or delay the development of type 2 diabetes.
American Family Physician : Cochrane for Clinicians
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2018/1201/p643.html
Six Mobile Apps to Make Prescribing Easier -- FPM
Dec 1, 2018 - These apps can help you more effectively make medication decisions on the go.
Family Practice Management : SPPACES: App Reviews
https://www.aafp.org/fpm/2018/1100/p11.html
Five Ways to Communicate Risks So That Patients Understand -- FPM
Dec 1, 2018 - When discussing a patient’s risk of developing a disease or the risks associated with a screening test, these simple techniques can ensure clarity.
Family Practice Management : Articles
https://www.aafp.org/fpm/2018/1100/p28.html
How to Prepare for and Survive a Violent Patient Encounter -- FPM
Dec 1, 2018 - When the unthinkable happens, having a plan that you have practiced regularly can make all the difference.
Family Practice Management : Articles
https://www.aafp.org/fpm/2018/1100/p5.html
Practice Pearls - Nov-Dec 2018 -- FPM
Dec 1, 2018 - Know your RVUs | Set antibiotic expectations before a sore throat exam | Use a white board to track high-risk patients
Family Practice Management : Practice Pearls
https://www.aafp.org/fpm/2018/1100/p34.html