Be alarmed. Be very alarmed. A recent study in the journal Neurology reveals an increasing rate of strokes in young people. Though the overall stroke rate remains low compared to older folks, stroke rates are still climbing in a concerning fashion. Continue reading
Author Archives: RMoore
Knee MRI – are we getting TMI (Too Much Information)?
A recent BMJ study is an eye-opener about problems interpreting knee MRI’s in older adults. The bottom-line? A picture may not be worth a thousand words.
Let’s look briefly at Continue reading
“In thy foul throat thou liest.” – Richard III, William Shakespeare
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
Why should we be concerned about “amenable mortality”?
I don’t know what you would have done, but when I recently saw the adjective amenable used to describe mortality, I did a double take. The phrase appeared in a recent article in Health Affairs. Like any confused inhabitant of the 21st Century, I immediately went Continue reading
Do doctors die differently?
Now that is a good question, and no one knows the answer for sure. But there is substantial anecdotal evidence that doctors are more likely than others to have their Advance Directive filled out and are more likely to die as they would wish. According to Continue reading
What is the skinny on NAFLD?
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease – NAFLD – is fairly common among our adult patients, and is increasing in prevalence in our pediatric patients as well. You know the scenario. A person’s transaminases are a bit high on routine screening. Ultrasound shows Continue reading
The pen is mightier than the pill
New York City now has its highest-ever life expectancy. The NYC Health Department recently reported that a baby born in 2009 would have an 80.6 year life span (women 82 years and men 76.3 years). This is 17 months greater than in 2006 and 31 months longer Continue reading
Your Medi-Cal patients can get $20 for trying to stop smoking
Getting our smoking patients to put down their cigarettes (aka coffin nails) can be difficult. Sorry, I know this sounds like I’m preaching to the choir. Medi-Cal patients smoke at a higher rate – 31% – than patients with other insurance – 22%. They even smoke Continue reading
The Great Imitator continues to fool primary care clinicians
If an august, gray-haired professor delivered your medical school lecture on syphilis, or if you had to suffer the pontifications of a wise-acre resident on the I.D. service during internship, you may recall that syphilis was formerly known as “The Great Imitator.” Continue reading
The top 7 rules for teleconference engagement
As Regional Medical Director, I am frequently at one end of a PHC teleconference – either video or phone – doing the best I can to understand and participate in the meeting. PHC clinicians are currently spread over six counties, making teleconferencing Continue reading