Today’s Top Story
Study: Patients with children may need to be educated regarding safe storage of opioids.
A study published online in the journal Pediatrics finds that opioid pain relievers are often stored unsafely in households with children. The research team surveyed a nationally representative sample of 681 adults who reported prescription opioid use and children at home. They found that safe storage was reported by 32.6 percent of those with only young children (age <7 years), 11.7 percent among those with only older children (age 7- 17 years), and 29.0 percent among those with children in both age groups.
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Other News
Study: Early weight-bearing linked to improved early outcomes for patients treated surgically for ankle fracture.
Findings from a study published in the Feb. 15 issue of The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery suggest that, for patients who undergo surgical fixation of unstable ankle fractures, early weight-bearing and range-of-motion exercises may improve early function and reduce reoperations, but may have less effect on return to work or most measures of long-term function. The authors conducted a randomized, unblended, controlled trial of 110 patients (mean age 42 years) with isolated, acute, unstable ankle fractures that were treated with stable internal fixation. Patients were allocated to early (2 weeks postoperative; n = 56) or late (6 weeks postoperative; n = 54) weight-bearing and range-of-motion exercise under the direction of physiotherapists. At 6-week follow-up, they found that patients in the early group had better ankle range of motion, Olerud-Molander ankle function scores, and SF-36 scores in both physical and mental components. Overall, outcomes did not differ between the 2 groups beyond 6 weeks, except for higher physical SF-36 scores in the early group at 12 months. There were no differences between the groups in terms of time to return to work, wound complications, surgical site infections, or loss of fixation or reduction, although patients in the late group had a higher rate of reoperations for implant removal than those in the early group.
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Some hospitals concerned about impact of immigration restrictions.
An article in McClatchy notes the concerns of some hospital systems in the wake of new restrictions on legal immigration. A recently issued executive order restricts entry to the United States for citizens of certain countries. An appellate court recently upheld an injunction against the order, but President Trump has discussed issuing a new order as early as this week. The article notes that nearly a quarter of physicians working in the United States are international medical graduates who have come to the country on H-1B visas to train and work. Of particular concern is the impact immigration restrictions could have on medical staffing in high-poverty urban areas, rural environments, and Department of Veterans Affairs facilities.
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Study: Peripheral vision test could help diagnose mTBI.
Data from a pilot study published online in the Journal of Neurotrauma suggest that a peripheral vision reaction time (PVRT) test may help identify patients with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). The researchers used a laptop computer that displayed visual stimuli predominantly to either the left or the right visual field of the retina to measure crossed reaction times, uncrossed reaction times, and crossed–uncrossed difference among 23 patients with mTBI and nine uninjured controls. All participants also received a diffusion tensor-MRI scan and a battery of neuropsychological tests. The researchers write that the findings suggest that the PVRT indirectly measures white matter integrity in the posterior corpus callosum, a brain region frequently damaged by mTBI.
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California.
According to California Healthfax, a report from the California Department of Managed Health Care finds a large degree of inaccuracy in provider directories and compliance reports supplied by insurers. The report states that 36 of 40 Timely Access Compliance Reports submitted by insurers for 2015 contained “significant data inaccuracies” to the degree that they were not usable. Across insurers, 22 percent to 56 percent of physicians listed in their compliance reports were not listed in the plan’s provider rosters.
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South Dakota.
An article in the Argus Leader outlines issues raised when a group of orthopaedic surgeons previously contracted to a health system agreed to sell its surgery center to a specialty hospital. The move was at first viewed as a victory for the physicians and the specialty hospital, but the health system has moved to construct its own orthopaedic hospital, and is expected to close its emergency department and outreach clinics to providers who aren’t employed by the system.
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Call for volunteers: Orthopaedic PAC.
April 9 is the last day to submit your application for a position on the Political Action Committee of the AAOS (Orthopaedic PAC; one resident-at-large opening). The Resident Fellowship Program is designed to encourage participation of orthopaedic residents in the political efforts of the Orthopaedic PAC. Applicants for this position must be resident members, PGY-3 or PGY-4, and U.S. citizens. In addition, each applicant must provide the following: a cover letter with complete contact information throughout the application period; a current resume or curriculum vitae; a brief essay on why he/she would like to participate; a letter of recommendation from the applicant’s program Chair/Director containing an evaluation of the applicant’s qualifications, an endorsement of the applicant’s participation in this program, and a statement of commitment to the applicant’s participation in this program.
Learn more and submit your application…(member login required)
