June 2011
Opioid Risk Reduction Strategies Are Infrequently Used in Primary Care
August 22nd 2011Physicians need better tools for identifying patients at higher risk of opioid abuse and misuse, as well as better guidance on managing chronic pain patients. Is the limited use of opioid risk reduction tools in the primary care setting due to providers shunning the use of these tools because of a lack of good quality evidence supporting their effectiveness, or do primary care providers "lack a systematic way of identifying high-risk patients who need to be monitored closely?"
Pain Management after Hip Fracture in Older Patients
August 22nd 2011According to a recent systematic review, limited evidence exists to guide clinicians on the best approaches for managing pain in older (> 50 years of age) patients who have suffered a hip fracture. The strongest evidence supports nerve blockade to improve acute pain and to reduce risk for delirium. Data also suggest that preoperative traction does not improve relief from acute pain.
The DEA Has Given the Green Light for Electronically Prescribing Controlled Substances
It has been legal to transmit prescriptions for federally designated controlled substances electronically since June 2010. Yet, few of the physicians who already have embraced electronic prescribing have been able to take advantage of the change in the law.
Tablet PCs Have Finally Arrived in Health Care
August 22nd 2011After years of false starts and disappointing products and software, a new generation of tablet PCs, led by the Apple iPad, appears poised for widespread adoption in the clinical setting. What makes the current crop of devices so useful for busy physicians? It all comes down to the perfect combination of form and function.
