The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association
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J Am Osteopath Assoc · Sep 2005
Review Comparative StudyAmerican osteopathic association commitment to quality and lifelong learning.
The American Osteopathic Association (AOA) initiated programs to enhance quality for 54,000 doctors of osteopathic medicine (DOs) practicing in the United States. Seven core competencies are required in undergraduate and graduate medical education standards. They include osteopathic philosophy and osteopathic manipulative medicine, medical knowledge, patient care, professionalism, interpersonal or communication skills, practice-based learning, and systems-based practice. ⋯ The goals of the AOA's continuing medical education (CME) program are continued excellence of patient care and improvement of health and well-being of individual patients and the public. The AOA agrees that CME will play a critical role in recertification and continual assessment of physician competence. The AOA believes that proposed activities of the Conjoint Committee on CME and quality initiatives of the osteopathic profession are in tandem with goals and quality initiatives of the AOA.
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J Am Osteopath Assoc · Aug 2005
Do women prefer care from female or male obstetrician-gynecologists? A study of patient gender preference.
To determine whether men should be encouraged to enter the medical specialty of obstetrics and gynecology. ⋯ The majority of women surveyed did not select their obstetrician-gynecologists based solely on physician gender. Although a small percentage of survey respondents did indicate a gender preference, it rarely influenced physician selection and was only a minor consideration when compared with other desirable physician attributes.
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J Am Osteopath Assoc · Aug 2005
Case ReportsBenzocaine-induced methemoglobinemia during transesophageal echocardiography.
Acquired or toxic methemoglobinemia is an uncommon complication of topically administered anesthetic agents in patients of all ages-but particularly in pediatric and elderly patients. This report describes a case of acquired methemoglobinemia that occurred after benzocaine spray was applied orally to a 69-year-old white woman weighing 175 lb who was undergoing transesophageal echocardiography. Patient care was successfully managed. Fundamental concepts regarding methemoglobinemia are also reviewed to heighten physician awareness of this potentially life-threatening complication associated with the application of common topical anesthetic agents.