Today’s Top Story
ACP position paper argues that administrative tasks negatively affect patients and the healthcare system.
A position paper released by the American College of Physicians (ACP) argues that an increasing number of administrative tasks has negatively affected physicians, patients, and the healthcare system as a whole. The writers offer a framework for analysis and outline steps for stakeholders to reduce and streamline administrative tasks. Among other things, ACP states that tasks “that are determined to have a negative effect on quality and patient care, that unnecessarily question the judgment of physicians and other clinicians, and/or that increase costs should be challenged, revised, or removed entirely.”
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Read the position paper…
Other News
Study: Rivaroxaban may reduce risk of VTE more than aspirin, with little risk to safety.
A study published in the March 30 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine suggests that rivaroxaban may reduce risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) more than aspirin, without a significant increase in bleeding. The authors conducted a randomized, double-blind study of 3,365 patients with VTE, who had received 6 to 12 months of anticoagulation therapy using either once-daily rivaroxaban (at doses of 20 mg [n = 1,107] or 10 mg [n = 1,127]) or 100 mg of aspirin (n = 1,131). They found that the primary efficacy outcome (symptomatic recurrent fatal or nonfatal VTE) occurred in 1.5 percent (n = 17) of patients in the 20 mg rivaroxaban group, 1.2 percent (n = 13) of patients in the 10 mg rivaroxaban group, and 4.4 percent (n = 50) of patients in the aspirin group. Overall, rates of major bleeding were 0.5 percent in the 20 mg rivaroxaban cohort, 0.4 percent in the 10 mg rivaroxaban cohort, and 0.3 percent in the aspirin cohort. Incidence of adverse events was similar across all cohorts.
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Study: Pelvic embolization may not increase risk of infection for some acetabular fracture patients.
Findings from a study published in the April issue of the Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma suggest that pelvic embolization may not be associated with increased risk of infection for patients who undergo open treatment of acetabular fracture. The research team reviewed information on 72 patients with acetabular fracture, 25 of whom underwent embolization, 16 of whom underwent angiography without embolization, and 31 of whom did not undergo angiography. Among patients in the embolization cohort, they found that infection developed in two patients (8 percent), while infection developed in five patients (31 percent) in the nonembolization cohort. Among patients who did not undergo angiography, the deep infection rate was 9.6 percent, compared to 4 percent following embolization. “This suggests that concerns for higher rates of infection are not substantiated,” the research team writes, “and pelvic embolization should be performed when indicated.”
Read the abstract…
Survey: 90 percent of U.S. physicians are satisfied with their career choice.
A survey conducted by the American Medical Association finds that despite challenges, nine of 10 physicians are satisfied with their career choice. In addition, three of four medical students, residents, and physicians responded that helping people is a top motivator for pursuing their career, while 61 percent of respondents said they would encourage others to enter the field of medicine. The researchers surveyed 1,200 physicians, residents, and medical students during February 2017.
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California.
The Sacramento Bee reports that a bill under consideration in the California State Legislature would, if enacted, implement a single-payer insurance market in the state. Under the proposal, the state would negotiate prices for services and prescriptions with providers, pharmaceutical companies and others. In addition, all Californians would be required to participate in the program, and insurance companies would be barred from offering coverage for services already included in the plan.
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April AAOS Now is online now and in your mailbox soon!
AAOS members will soon receive the print edition of the April issue of AAOS Now, but the online edition is already available on the AAOS Now website. This month’s issue includes a profile of incoming AAOS President William J. Maloney, MD, a look at new AAOS public service announcements, a report from a symposium on infection held at the AAOS Annual Meeting, and much more!
Read more…(member login required)
Read “William J. Maloney, MD, Takes the Helm”…
Read “New AAOS PSAs Tackle Opioid Misuse, Childhood Obesity”…
Read “Symposium Addresses ‘All Things Infection’”…
Call for volunteers: NQF Measure Applications Partnership.
AAOS seeks to nominate members to the National Quality Forum (NQF) Measure Applications Partnership. This is a public-private partnership convened by NQF to provide input to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services on the selection of performance measures for public reporting and performance-based payment programs. Applicants for this position must be active fellows, resident members, candidate members, candidate member applicants for fellowship, candidate members osteopathic, or candidate member applicants for fellowship osteopathic. In addition, all applicants must provide the following: an online AAOS CAP application, a current curriculum vitae, a 100-word biosketch, and a letter of interest highlighting their expertise in the subject area and a statement that they are able to participate in full capacity. All supporting materials must be submitted by April 2, 2017 at 11:59 p.m. CT, to Kyle Shah at shah@aaos.org.
Learn more and submit your application…
Last call: Content Committees.
April 3 is the last day to submit your application for a position on various Content Committees (three member openings). Content Committees analyze information to identify member knowledge gaps in different specialty areas. These positions are open to generalist orthopaedic surgeons who would be called upon for their perspective on how new products could provide value to generalists in the orthopaedic community. Applicants must be active fellows with a general (non-specialty) practice emphasis.
Learn more and submit your application…(member login required)
