Annals of family medicine
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Annals of family medicine · Jan 2018
Prescription Opioid Use and Satisfaction With Care Among Adults With Musculoskeletal Conditions.
In the current payment paradigm, reimbursement is partially based on patient satisfaction scores. We sought to understand the relationship between prescription opioid use and satisfaction with care among adults who have musculoskeletal conditions. ⋯ Among patients with musculoskeletal conditions, those using prescription opioids are more likely to be highly satisfied with their care. Considering that emerging reimbursement models include patient satisfaction, future work is warranted to better understand this relationship.
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Annals of family medicine · Jan 2018
Multicenter Study Comparative Study Observational StudyThe Influence of Family Physicians Within the South African District Health System: A Cross-Sectional Study.
Evidence of the influence of family physicians on health care is required to assist managers and policy makers with human resource planning in Africa. The international argument for family physicians derives mainly from research in high-income countries, so this study aimed to evaluate the influence of family physicians on the South African district health system. ⋯ In this study, having family physicians on staff was associated with better indicators of performance and processes in district hospitals but not in community health centers. The latter was surprising and is inconsistent with the global literature, suggesting that further research is needed on the influence of family physicians at the primary care level.
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Annals of family medicine · Jan 2018
Multicenter StudyIntegrating Community Health Workers Into Medical Homes.
Though evidence supports the value of community health workers (CHWs) in chronic disease self-management support, and authorities have called for expanding their roles within patient-centered medical homes (PCMHs), few PCMHs in Minnesota have incorporated these health workers into their care teams. We undertook a qualitative study to (1) identify facilitators and barriers to utilizing a CHW model among PCMHs in Minnesota, and (2) define roles played by this workforce within the PCMH team. ⋯ We identified facilitators and barriers to adopting CHW roles as part of PCMH care teams in Minnesota and documented their roles being played in these settings. Our findings can be used when considering strategies to enhance utilization and integration of this emerging workforce.
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This article provides an overview of the federal requirements related to providing interpreter services for non-English-speaking patients in outpatient practice. Antidiscrimination provisions in federal law require health programs and clinicians receiving federal financial assistance to take reasonable steps to provide meaningful access to individuals with limited English proficiency who are eligible for or likely to be encountered in their health programs or activities. Federal financial assistance includes grants, contracts, loans, tax credits and subsidies, as well as payments through Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program, and most Medicare programs. ⋯ Failure to use qualified interpreters can have serious negative consequences for both practitioners and patients. In one study, 1 of every 40 malpractice claims were related, all or in part, to failure to provide appropriate interpreter services. Most importantly, however, the use of qualified interpreters results in better and more efficient patient care.
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Annals of family medicine · Jan 2018
Multicenter StudyDetecting Hepatitis B and C by Combined Public Health and Primary Care Birth Cohort Testing.
Both chronic hepatitis C (HCV) and B virus (HBV) infections are generally asymptomatic, and many remain undetected or are diagnosed at a late stage. Studies that evaluate best practice hepatitis testing strategies are needed to better detect this hidden population. ⋯ This best practice testing strategy was effective in achieving a high test uptake. It completely failed, however, to detect hidden chronic HCV infections and is not recommended for countries with a low prevalence of the disease.