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
Monthly Archives: February 2012
Vertebral compression fractures: treat conservatively
Clinical Question
Is vertebroplasty better than usual care in decreasing pain in patients with vertebral compression fractures? 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
Massage improves function in patients with chronic low back pain
A randomized controlled trial published in the Annals of Internal Medicine comparing two techniques of massage therapy showed a significant short- and long-term improvement using either technique, compared to usual care. Continue reading
Tube feeding at the end of life: ethics and best practices
I attended a great CME on tube feeding at the end of life, on August 18, 2011, by Dr. Michael Rabow from UCSF. Here is a summary of the highlights:
While 90% of doctors think patients with advanced dementia benefit from tube feeds Continue reading
Intermittent inhaled corticosteroids effective for childhood asthma
This study shows a new way to treat a common problem, with less side effects.
From Daily POEM (Patient Oriented Evidence that Matters) part of Essential Evidence Plus service, which analyzes the medical literature to identify studies Continue reading
Reflections on Advance Care Planning in primary care and as a hospital specialty
Palliative Care is different from hospice, comfort care and DNR status: Palliative care (care where Advance Care Planning takes place) is an ongoing conversation in the context of a trusting relationship over time. This is the essence of true Continue reading
Welcome to PHCPrimaryCare Blog
The Medical Directors of Partnership HealthPlan of California, serving 200,000 members in 6 counties north of the San Francisco Bay, post items we think will be of interest to our primary care provider network. Our goals are to identify information that is clinically useful, based on good scientific evidence, data and expert opinion, and to present it in a conversational, accessible way that will improve quality of care for our patients to provide optimum value and cost-effectiveness in health care decision-making.
If you would like to suggest a topic or resource, please send an email to the blog editor, Richard Fleming: rfleming@partnershiphp.org
We would like to extend a special thank you to the primary care clinicians in our network, for providing respectful, caring, high quality care to our members. We share your commitment to your patients, many of whom are among the most vulnerable members of our community.
Sincerely,
Robert Moore, MD MPH, Chief Medical Officer
Richard Fleming, MD, Regional Medical Director, Solano and Yolo Counties
Marshall Kubota, MD, Regional Medical Director, Sonoma, Marin and Mendocino counties
Mark Glickstein, MD Associate Medical Director
Partnership HealthPlan of California
360 Campus Lane, Suite 100, Fairfield, CA 94534
www.partnershiphp.org