June 2016


Recent guidelines did not rank colorectal cancer screening tests such as the fecal occult blood test shown above in any preferred order and instead stressed the importance of getting some kind of te

Colorectal screening methods debated

The prevention successes achieved by colorectal cancer screening have been well documented, but the debate persists regarding to what extent should doctors insist on colonoscopy, rather than allowing patients to select a method that they are more likely to consistently follow.

A better signal-to-noise ratio for guidelines

It takes about 15 years to broadly implement clinical guidelines into practice. Physicians and scientists are working to shorten this lag and strengthen the connection by examining how guidelines are developed, delivered, and adopted.

10 tips for inpatient geriatric care

Optimizing inpatient geriatric care is a common priority for physicians, according to a speaker at the Society of Hospital Medicine's 2016 meeting, held in San Diego in March.

Optimizing medical therapy after stroke

Stroke survivors often leave the hospital with new prescriptions and substantial confusion about how, or even whether, to take them. This leaves internists with the sometimes formidable job of evaluating, prescribing, or tweaking these regimens, identifying and managing adverse effects, and reinforcing education about treatment risks, benefits, and adherence.

Internists tasked with implementing the triple aim

The Centers for Medicare ##amp; Medicaid Services is transitioning toward new practice models, and the overarching theme of these programs is the triple aim of health care: better patient experience, improved population health, and higher quality at lower cost.

CMS charts the way to a new Medicare payment system

Medicare is transitioning to a new value-based payment system, and the agency has outlined specifics about how it intends to implement it.

What economic theory can teach us about retail clinics

As clinicians continue to debate the merits and limitations of retail clinics, it is increasingly clear that they are here to stay. Although some concerns about this trend have merit, retail clinics could also create positive disruption for the medical community.

Internal Medicine Meeting 2016 goes to Washington

This issue covers topics such as colorectal cancer screening, the development and implementation of clinical guidelines, and management of stroke patients.

Transitioning patients from pediatric to adult care

As adolescents become young adults, there comes a time when pediatricians will no longer see them. For those patients with chronic, sometimes complex, conditions, it can be hard to know how to transition into the adult internal medicine world. ACP, in collaboration with several pediatric and adult subspecialty societies, has developed a toolkit to help patients and practices manage this transition.

Warning on an antipsychotic; generic rosuvastatin approval

This update covers new warnings on the entire class of opioids and approval of the first leadless pacemaker approved to treat heart rhythm disorders.

MKSAP Quiz: Painless neck swelling

A 65-year-old man is evaluated because of painless neck swelling and difficulty swallowing that has progressively worsened over the last year. He does not have hoarseness, but he feels as though his voice is not as strong as it was in the past. Medical history is significant for multiple thyroid nodules. Fine-needle aspiration of three of the largest nodules 5 years ago showed that all nodules were benign on cytologic examination. Medical history is otherwise unremarkable, and he takes no medications. Following a physical exam, lab studies, and thyroid ultrasound, what is the most appropriate treatment?.