March 2010


Consultations between primary care physicians and psychologists can aid diagnoses and help patients get better quicker

Guidelines call for depression screening

Guidelines call for internists to screen for depression, but only if they can offer support once they make a diagnosis. Internists who've already achieved this describe how they did so, and how it's benefited their patients.

Remote monitoring: Out of sight, right in line

Remote monitoring programs help physicians and nurses ensure continuity of care for elderly patients with chronic conditions. The goal is to catch problems early and improve self-management. Another goal: provide physician reimbursement.

There is a doctor in the ‘House’ (and she's an ACP Member)

From television news producer to internist to columnist to advisor to one of the most popular medical dramas, Lisa Sanders, ACP Member, explains how a career spent considering the stories behind every diagnosis has led her to become one of the real physicians behind House, M.D.

Physicians and social media: Debating where to draw the line

Blogging doctors have a powerful megaphone and a new way to interact with their patients. But mishandling this tool, or misusing Twitter or Facebook, can blur the patient-physician divide or place the relationship at risk. Some of the internet's most famous physicians log in to discuss the pros and cons of social media.

An internist makes the leap to practice hospital medicine

Internist Peter Nock, ACP Member, describes how the immediacy of treating hospitalized patients prompted him to leave his office-based practice.

Use your hands, not just your mind, at Internal Medicine 2010

Preview upcoming attractions and sessions of the College's annual meeting, being held this year in Toronto. Find events occurring at the meeting, or for those not going, find out how to follow news as it happens.

Major Tylenol recall; FDA concerned about BPA and children

Approvals, recalls, and other regulatory news.

‘Preventive’ measures don't translate properly to the public

Prevention is an important tool, but it must be placed in the context of evidence and value. The cost of ignoring that is false reassurance and the politicization of medical care.

Screen for depression—but be ready for the results

Depression can be a complicated issue. It's co-morbid with certain conditions and can affect the outcomes of other diseases. But primary care practices may not be set up to handle screening properly. Ensuring resources are in place makes the difference when screening.

Letters to the Editor

Readers respond to the ACP Internist cover story that questioned the value of the annual physical exam. Whether they are for or against the practice, their opinions are strongly held.

Medicare could stay solvent if stakeholders act soon

Congress faces unpopular options as they consider how to stay solvent through this decade and the next.

Prepare for this year's significant changes to PQRI reporting

Now in its fourth year, the Medicare Physician Quality Reporting Initiative continues to adjust its parameters. ACP's Running a Practice section offers resources to stay atop the ebb and flow.

Getting a handle on HIPAA and HITECH

Just as practice staff adjusted to HIPAA regulations, along comes a new set of rules addressing privacy and security. More rules, more enforcement##mdash;and more penalties. Learn how to avoid mistakes.

IMIG program announces top five schools

The 2009 ACP IMIG program announces the top five schools with the highest recruitment.

Nominate your heroes, mentors, and colleagues for ACP Awards and Masterships

The Awards Committee of the American College of Physicians invites your assistance in recognizing the accomplishments of distinguished individuals and organizations through the College's awards and Masterships.

MKSAP Quiz: Dyspnea during walking

A 79-year-old woman is seen for an annual examination. She is in good health except for osteopenia, for which she takes calcium and Vitamin D supplements. She walks regularly to and from the bus stop several times per week. It takes her 25 minutes to get to the bus stop whereas it only took her 10 minutes a year ago. She describes dyspnea midway in her walk, causing her to stop and catch her breath. She denies angina, presyncope, syncope, or pedal edema. Following a physical exam and lab results, what is the most appropriate option for improving this patient's quality of life?.