FDA Urges Parents To Read Infant Acetaminophen Labels Carefully

On January 19, 2012, in Healthcare, Medication, submitted by Christopher Fisher, PhD
acetaminophen

Acetaminophen is one of the most commonly used pain and fever relievers for infants and children and is safe and effective when used as directed. However, with recent dosing changes to liquid acetaminophen products for infants, the FDA last week issued a press release urging parents to know the concentration and read the label as the new, less concentrated form of the popular pain reliever arrives on store shelves. Included in this report is a video discussion of these recommendations by Dr. Jim Sears.

The Nature Of The Doctor-Patient Relationship Influences Patient Engagement

On December 14, 2011, in Healthcare, submitted by Christopher Fisher, PhD
Physician with Patient

Patients who feel that their physicians treat them with respect and fairness, communicate well and engage with them outside of the office setting are more active in their own health care, finds a new study published in the journal Health Services Research. The study looked at how role relationships between patients and their physicians, which traditionally have followed a passive-patient and dominant-physician model, affect patient engagement.

Long-Lasting Depressive Symptoms And Physical Impairment Often Follow ICU Stays

On December 9, 2011, in Depression, Healthcare, submitted by Christopher Fisher, PhD
a patient receiving treatment

Critically ill patients who recover from a potentially deadly syndrome known as acute lung injury frequently emerge with new, apparently long-lasting depressive symptoms and new physical impairments that make them unable to perform many daily tasks, Johns Hopkins research suggests. Results of the new study, published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, also suggest that the depressive symptoms frequently precede the new physical impairments, not the other way around.

Few Parents Recall Being Told By Doctors That Their Child Is Overweight

On December 5, 2011, in Health | Fitness, Healthcare, submitted by Christopher Fisher, PhD
Dr. Eliana Perrin

A new analysis of national survey data finds that less than one-quarter of parents of overweight children recall ever being told by a doctor or other health care provider that their children were overweight. And although that percentage has increased over the last 10 years, more improvement is needed, said Eliana M. Perrin, MD, MPH, associate professor in the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, pediatrician at North Carolina Children’s Hospital, and lead author of the study.

Medication Spending Is Up, While Psychotherapy Utilization Decreases For Depression

On December 5, 2011, in Depression, Healthcare, submitted by Christopher Fisher, PhD
Prozac

Over a 10-year period, spending for Medicaid-enrolled patients with depression increased substantially but only minimal improvements in quality of care were observed, according to a report in the December issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. The study was carried out by Catherine A. Fullerton, M.D., M.P.H., of Harvard Medical School and Cambridge Health Alliance, Boston, and colleagues.

Ugent Message From American Psychological Association, ‘Three Weeks To Stop Medicare Cuts’

On December 3, 2011, in Healthcare, Political | Legal, submitted by Christopher Fisher, PhD
Government Budgets

As we [American Psychological Association Practice Organization] reported last week, the situation on Capitol Hill has once again shifted dramatically with the failure of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction to reach agreement on $1.2 trillion in debt savings. Legislative leaders have begun to discuss options to address critical, time-sensitive issues by the end of the year, including the expiration of unemployment benefits, the Alternative Minimum Tax patch, tax extenders and Medicare extenders.

As Joint Committee Struggles, CMS Releases 2012 Fee Schedule

On November 16, 2011, in Healthcare, Political | Legal, submitted by Christopher Fisher, PhD
U.S. Capitol

As you know, the APA Practice Organization has been hard at work on Capitol Hill to avert steep cuts to Medicare reimbursement for psychologists. The Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, which faces a November 23 deadline to identify at least $1.2 trillion in debt savings, has clearly indicated that the future of Medicare is on the table.

ACP Says “Congress Must ‘Go Big’ On Physician Payment Reform”

On November 12, 2011, in Healthcare, Political | Legal, submitted by Christopher Fisher, PhD
100 dollar bill

The American College of Physicians (ACP) today told the 112th Congress to “go big” by reforming Medicare payments, including enacting a permanent end to scheduled Medicare sustainable growth rate (SGR) physician payment cuts. The urgent need for Congress to act was demonstrated by today’s release of a Medicare final rule, announcing a 27.4 percent across-the-board cut in Medicare payments to doctors on January 1, 2012.

Medicare Payments At Risk For Psychologists

On October 2, 2011, in Healthcare, Political | Legal, submitted by Christopher Fisher, PhD
Picture of the White House

All psychologists needs to take action NOW to encourage your legislators to stand up and talk to their colleagues on the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction to protect psychologist payments from steep Medicare cuts. Take Action! Included in this report are specific instructions on how you can take action.

More-Frequent Office Visits Associated With Improvements In Risk Factors For Patients With Diabetes

On September 27, 2011, in Diabetes, Healthcare, submitted by Christopher Fisher, PhD

Visiting a primary care clinician every two weeks was associated with greater control of blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol levels among patients with diabetes, according to a report in the September 26 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

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