J Am Board Fam Med
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We previously developed a simple risk score with 3 items (age, patient report of dyspnea, and any relevant comorbidity), and in this report validate it in a prospective sample of patients, stratified by vaccination status. ⋯ We prospectively validated a simple risk score for primary and urgent care patients with COVID1919 that can support outpatient triage decisions around COVID-19.
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Medical scribes have been utilized to reduce electronic health record (EHR) associated documentation burden. Although evidence suggests benefits to scribes, no large-scale studies have quantitatively evaluated scribe impact on physician documentation across clinical settings. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of scribes on physician EHR documentation behaviors and performance. ⋯ Although scribes may improve documentation efficiency among some physicians, not all will improve EHR-related documentation practices. Different strategies may help to optimize documentation behaviors of physician-scribe dyads and maximize outcomes of scribe implementation.
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Food insecurity (FI) is a hidden epidemic associated with worsening health outcomes affecting 33.8 million people in the US in 2021. Although studies demonstrate the importance of health care clinician assessment of a patient's food insecurity, little is known about whether Family Medicine clinicians (FMC) discuss FI with patients and what barriers influence their ability to communicate about FI. This study evaluated FM clinicians' food insecurity screening practices to evaluate screening disparities and identify barriers that influence the decision to communicate about FI. ⋯ This survey provides insight into food insecurity screening disparities and identifies obstacles to FMC screening, such as time constraints, lack of resources, and knowledge of available resources. Understanding current communication practices could create opportunities for interventions to identify food insecurity and impact "Food as Medicine."
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Optimal care for persons with multiple chronic conditions (MCC) requires primary and specialty care continuity, access to multiple providers, social risk assessment, and self-management support. The COVID-19 pandemic abruptly changed primary care delivery to increase reliance on telehealth and virtual care. We report on the experiences of individuals with MCC and their family caregivers on managing their health and receiving health care during the initial pandemic. ⋯ New models of care delivery that recognize patient and family resilience and resourcefulness, emphasize provider continuity, and combine virtual and in-person care may support self-management for individuals with MCC and social needs.
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Time to meet privately with a health care provider can support optimal adolescent health, but numerous barriers exist to implementing this practice routinely. ⋯ Clinical and structural efforts to rectify these gaps may assist a broader share of youth in benefiting from private health care discussions with providers.