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| Today’s Top Story
Study: What factors predict return to strenuous sport after ACL reconstruction?
A study conducted in Sweden and published online in The American Journal of Sports Medicine examines predictors of return to knee-strenuous sports after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. The researchers conducted a case-control study of 272 patients with a mean age of 25 years. In multivariable analysis at 12-month follow-up, they found that male sex, younger age at time of ACL reconstruction, higher preinjury score on the Tegner Activity Scale, and absence of injury to the meniscus and medial collateral ligament were associated with higher likelihood of return to sport. In addition, a univariable analysis suggested that absence of cartilage injury was also linked to an increased likelihood of return to sport.
Read the abstract… |
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| Other News
USPSTF releases recommendations on fracture and fall prevention in older adults
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has released two final recommendation statements and evidence summaries on the prevention of fractures and falls in older adults. Among other things, the task force states that:
- Lower doses of vitamin D and calcium do not prevent fractures. USPSTF recommends against daily supplementation at lower doses in women who have gone through menopause.
- Evidence is unclear about whether higher doses of vitamin D and calcium may help prevent fractures in women who have gone through menopause.
- There is not enough evidence to recommend for or against vitamin D and calcium supplementation, alone or combined, to prevent fractures in men or in women who have not gone through menopause.
Regarding fall prevention, USPSTF recommends exercise or physical therapy for adults aged 65 years and older who live at home and are at increased risk of falls, and states that based on an individual’s circumstances, clinicians should selectively check older adults’ risks for falls and offer tailored interventions that address those specific risks.
Read more (PDF)…
Read the fracture prevention recommendation statement…
Read the fall prevention recommendation statement… |
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| FDA offers list of proposals to assure the safety of medical devices
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released the “Medical Device Safety Action Plan: Protecting Patients, Promoting Public Health,” which offers proposals to enhance agency programs and processes to assure the safety of medical devices. The plan focuses on the following five key areas:
- establishing a robust medical device patient safety net in the United States
- exploring regulatory options to streamline and modernize timely implementation of postmarket mitigations
- spurring innovation towards safer medical devices
- advancing medical device cybersecurity
- integrating FDA Center for Devices and Radiological Health’s premarket and postmarket offices and activities to advance the use of a Total Product Life Cycle approach to device safety
The agency also states that to deliver reasonable assurance of safety and effectiveness for certain highly complex technologies, it may need to require additional training or user education.
Read more…
Read the plan, with related links… |
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| Study: Medicare HRRP linked to reduction in racial disparities
A study published in the April issue of the journal Health Affairs finds that implementation of the Medicare Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP) may be linked to a reduction in racial disparities in health care. Members of the research team compared trends in 30-day readmission rates for congestive heart failure, acute myocardial infarction, and pneumonia among non-Hispanic whites versus non-Hispanic blacks, and among minority-serving hospitals versus other hospitals. They found that, during the penalty-free implementation period (April 2010–September 2012), readmission rates improved over pre-implementation trends for both white and black patients, with a significantly greater decline among blacks than among whites. Similarly, after implementation of penalties, they found that readmission improvements slowed for both demographic groups, but minority-serving hospitals saw greater reductions in readmissions than other hospitals.
Read the abstract… |
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| Apply now to participate in 2018 CMS study on burdens associated with reporting quality measures
The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is conducting the 2018 Burdens Associated with Reporting Quality Measures Study, as outlined in the Quality Payment Program Year 2 final rule. The goal of the study is to help CMS do the follwoing:
- examine clinical workflows and data collection methods using different submission systems
- understand the challenges clinicians face when collecting and reporting quality data
- make future recommendations for changes that will attempt to eliminate clinician burden, improve quality data collection and reporting, and enhance clinical care
Clinicians and groups who are eligible for the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and who participate successfully in the study will receive full credit for the 2018 MIPS Improvement Activities performance category. Applications for the study will be accepted through April 30.
Apply to participate in the study… |
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| CMS updates online opioid prescribing mapping tool
CMS has updated its Medicare Part D opioid prescribing mapping tool—an interactive, web-based visualization resource that presents geographic comparisons of Medicare Part D opioid prescribing rates. The updated tool presents Medicare Part D opioid prescribing rates for 2016 as well as the change in opioid prescribing rates from 2013 to 2016.
Access the tool… |
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| Your AAOS
Help transitioning veterans as part of AAOS/ACP mentoring initiative
AAOS has partnered with American Corporate Partners (ACP), a national, nonprofit organization dedicated to helping military service members transition to the private sector through one-on-one mentoring with business leaders. ACP mentors and protégés are paired for one year based on a variety of considerations including age, location, educational background, and shared career interests. Each pair is encouraged to speak at least once a month to discuss topics like résumé and interview preparation, networking, and other professional development topics. To sign up as an AAOS/ACP mentor, visit the link below and enter the access code “AAOSACP” when prompted.
Read more…
Submit your application… |
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