The Infectious Disease Society of America recently released its guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of Group A Streptococcal (GAS) Pharyngitis. It’s difficult when a patient has a sore throat, but it’s a stick-to-your-guns issue for the good of your patients. Continue reading
Category Archives: Formulary & Pharmacy Issues
The 4-1-1 on the difference between generic and brand-name drugs
As a Regional Medical Director I often get inquiries and questions about Partnership’s generic-medication-based formulary. Misconceptions and myths abound about generic drugs. I thought I might address a few here. Continue reading
Lexapro, Celexa, and the difference between red and green jelly beans
If you request Lexapro (escitalopram) for your patient, the PHC formulary requires a trial and failure or a contraindication to two formulary agents, one of which must be citalopram . Why? Is it just to make things difficult, or is there an actual sensible Continue reading
Do intra-articular hyaluronate injections help knee OA?
Effective management of pain from OA of the knee can be frustrating, for patient and clinician alike. When NSAID’s and physical therapy prove ineffective, we often turn to intra-articular injections of steroids. If they don’t work, intra-articular hyaluronic Continue reading
Beware the use of NSAID’s after an MI
NSAID use is very common. Myocardial infarctions are very common. And the use of NSAID’s in patients with coronary artery disease is very common. But a study published last year in Circulation (May 25, 2011) offers a cautionary tale about Continue reading
Oral steroids added to antibiotics beneficial for chronic rhinosinusitis in children and adolescents
So many published studies spend large amounts of time and money to show tiny improvements in care and which have large NNT (number needed to treat to help one person). It is refreshing and important to note studies that unequivocally change Continue reading
Cost-effective treatment for onychomycosis
Onychomycosis is a very common condition leading patients to seek advice from their primary care clinician.
Systemic treatment is the most effective: oral terbenifine is off patent and very Continue reading