February 10th, 2011
publichealthroll
Most U.S. medical students gain a discouraging view of practice in primary care as they observe harried primary care physicians who have too much to do and too little time in which to do it. They hear disparaging remarks about primary care from residents and faculty members, who extol narrowly focused expertise. Students see the same values expressed in the wider society, which compensates subspecialists at far higher levels than primary care physicians. Students are intimidated by the breadth of knowledge required for primary care — but simultaneously concerned that primary care might be boring. And schools have difficulty finding high-quality ambulatory care teaching sites where students can learn the art and science of primary care.
Stephen Smith, MD, MPH in the New England Journal of Medicine examining how medical schools can encourage more students to go into primary care. (via numberneededtotreat)
Reblogged from number needed to treat
6 notes·
primary care
February 6th, 2011
publichealthroll
The usual experience of a sick older person today is similar to that of an American traveling in a foreign country with no passport, no ability to speak or read the language, and no tour guide, all while deathly ill, often hungry and thirsty, exhausted, confused, and frightened. During my mother’s illness, my sister (a lawyer) and I were her “health care navigators,’’ and together we managed the treacherous voyage.

A Deadly Information Gap

Recent op-ed/ health literacy call to arms in The Boston Globe.

Also see:

A Health Care Nightmare on the  The Schwartz Center for Compassionate Health Care blog.

health care reform
health literacy
primary care
January 14th, 2011
publichealthroll
RAND: How are residency programs preparing our 21st century internists?

Key Points

  • Status of the US population - U.S. population is aging and becoming increasingly diverse and the prevalence of chronic diseases is on the rise.
  • In 2003, an Institute ofMedicine (IOM) report on these changes noted that “clinical education has not kept pace with, or been responsive enough to, shifting patient demographics and desires, changing health system expectations, evolving practice requirements and staffing arrangements, new information, a focus on improving quality, or new technologies.”
2 notes·
primary care
December 30th, 2010
publichealthroll
How doctors talk can help with weight loss

davisliumd:

Recent article suggests primary care doctors who discuss weight loss in a more motivational tone rather than confrontational makes a difference.

Reblogged from The Doctor is In
2 notes·
public health
nutrition
primary care
September 21st, 2010
publichealthroll
Coordinated Care Needed Now
primary care
public health
June 28th, 2010
publichealthroll
Fact Sheet: Creating Jobs and Increasing the Number of Primary Care Providers via healthreform.gov

Highlights

  • Creating additional primary care residency slots: $168 million for training more than 500 new primary care physicians by 2015;
  • Supporting physician assistant training in primary care: $32 million for supporting the development of more than 600 new physician assistants, who practice medicine as members of a team with their supervising physician, and can be trained in a shorter period of time compared to physicians;
  • Increasing the number of nurse practitioners trained: $30 million will train an additional 600 nurse practitioners, including providing incentives for part-time students to become full-time and complete their education sooner. Nurse practitioners provide comprehensive primary care;
  • Establishing new nurse practitioner-led clinics: $15 million for the operation of 10 nurse-managed health clinics which assist in the training of nurse practitioners. These clinics are staffed by nurse practitioners, which provide comprehensive primary health care services to populations living in medically underserved communities.
  • Encouraging States to plan for and address health professional workforce needs: $5 million for States to plan and implement innovative strategies to expand their primary care workforce by 10 to 25 percent over ten years to meet increased demand for primary care services.
1 note·
Primary Care
public health
June 18th, 2010
publichealthroll
Medical Home Capabilities of Primary Care Practices That Serve Sociodemographically Vulnerable Neighborhoods - The Commonwealth Fund Synopsis A survey of primary care practices in Massachusetts that serve neighborhoods with high percentages of racial and ethnic minorities or economically disadvantaged residents found these practices were more likely than others in the state to have several key components of medical homes, including on-site language interpreters, clinicians who speak multiple languages, and frequently used, multifunctional electronic health records.

Medical Home Capabilities of Primary Care Practices That Serve Sociodemographically Vulnerable Neighborhoods - The Commonwealth Fund

Synopsis

A survey of primary care practices in Massachusetts that serve neighborhoods with high percentages of racial and ethnic minorities or economically disadvantaged residents found these practices were more likely than others in the state to have several key components of medical homes, including on-site language interpreters, clinicians who speak multiple languages, and frequently used, multifunctional electronic health records.

2 notes·
health disparities
Primary Care
public health
June 11th, 2010
publichealthroll
Survey: Bisexual women in poorest health Compared to heterosexuals, gays, lesbians, and bisexuals were more likely to say their health was worse on 16 of 22 measures. They were more likely to be tense or worried, to smoke, have asthma, abuse drugs, or be victims of sexual abuse. Bisexual men and women were also more likely than heterosexuals to say they faced barriers to getting health care, had higher cardiovascular risk, felt sad, and had contemplated suicide in the past year. Binge drinking was more common among bisexual women than heterosexuals. Dr. Stephen Boswell, president and chief executive officer of Fenway Health, said the study confirms what previous research has shown about smoking, mental health, and violence in sexual minorities. -Boston.com ————————————————————————————————————————- Bi-Health Resources BiNetUSA Fenway Health- Bisexual Health Bisexual Resource Center Bisexual-aware professionals directory Biversity Boston American Institute of Bisexuality BiYouth Safer Sex for Bisexuals and Their Partners - by Fenway Health

Survey: Bisexual women in poorest health

Compared to heterosexuals, gays, lesbians, and bisexuals were more likely to say their health was worse on 16 of 22 measures. They were more likely to be tense or worried, to smoke, have asthma, abuse drugs, or be victims of sexual abuse. Bisexual men and women were also more likely than heterosexuals to say they faced barriers to getting health care, had higher cardiovascular risk, felt sad, and had contemplated suicide in the past year. Binge drinking was more common among bisexual women than heterosexuals.

Dr. Stephen Boswell, president and chief executive officer of Fenway Health, said the study confirms what previous research has shown about smoking, mental health, and violence in sexual minorities.

-Boston.com

————————————————————————————————————————-

Bi-Health Resources

BiNetUSA

Fenway Health- Bisexual Health

Bisexual Resource Center

Bisexual-aware professionals directory

Biversity Boston

American Institute of Bisexuality

BiYouth

Safer Sex for Bisexuals and Their Partners - by Fenway Health

health disparities
lgbt health
primary care
sexual health
womens health
public health
June 7th, 2010
publichealthroll
Medical Schools Can Play Role in Boosting Interest in Primary Care, Says Report (But Income Disparities Still Affect Student Choices)

via American Academy of Family Physicians

primary care
public health
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