A cluster of acute norovirus gastroenteritis was recently reported to the Oregon Public Health Division. It occurred in a group of 17 girls on a soccer team traveling with their four adult chaparones.1 After thorough investigation, the source of the norovirus appeared to be Continue reading
Author Archives: RMoore
A crow dies in Dixon – authorities on the look-out for West Nile virus
Usually the death of a crow does not merit a front page news story. But the crow found down July 12 in Dixon, in Solano County, succumbed to West Nile virus and this fact garnered the poor bird much attention. With summer upon us, it is once again Continue reading
Referring to referrals
This will be the first in an occasional series of posts aimed at optimal referrals to our specialists. At PHC we deeply appreciate the specialists who see our patients. We pay specialists significantly better than state fee-for-service rates, but we cannot match Continue reading
Am I seeing double? — Vision screening for members and members with diabetes – a double QIP win!
Did you know that many of our non-Kaiser PHC members have a separate vision care plan under Vision Service Plan (VSP)? They do. That information is available on the eligibility screen and also on their PHC card. These services can be provided by Continue reading
Enhanced services for Partnership’s outpatient network
In an effort to find ways to support our loyal outpatient clinicians in small and medium sized groups and Community Health Centers, Partnership HealthPlan surveyed these providers to see what they would prefer as far as Partnership helping with various Continue reading
Help make sure your pediatric patients get their shots
The last week of April every year is designated National Infant Immunization Week. We are deluged with many special weeks and even months – did you know that April is Mathematics Awareness Month, or that the second week of April is celebrated as Continue reading
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
Nine specialty societies recommend less and better testing
A new national campaign to reduce inappropriate tests and procedures was launched in early April 2012 by nine medical specialty societies in association with Consumer Reports magazine. The campaign, called “Choosing Wisely,” is intended to educate the public and clinicians both 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