Sublingual sufentanil, recently approved by the FDA, is well tolerated with mostly mild to moderate side effects when used in the hospital, according to an analysis of data for more than 800 cases in Pain Management. Dr. James Miner, an emergency medicine physician and researcher, said he can envision administering the drug to a patient in severe pain before an IV is administered.

A study in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management found that the use of fan therapy was effective for symptom management of dyspnea in patients with advanced cancer. The randomized, controlled trial in Japan included 40 patients in a palliative care unit.

Unrealistic expectations regarding pain relief contribute to the current opioid crisis, as do the cost of pain treatments, lack of physician training, and the nature of pain. In addition to measures such as limiting the number of opioids prescribed, these matters must be addressed if we are to be effective in battling opioid addiction, write Dr. Mahmud Ibrahim and Dr. Linda Girgis.

The Otsego County Commission On Aging has been using the CommunO2 SuperApp since 2016 to help connect seniors in the Michigan county to friends, family and the community, enabling remote church attendance, video chats with distant relatives, and access to local cultural, arts and government organizations. It's one of numerous programs Michigan agencies and community organizations are using to help address social isolation and loneliness among seniors, and some integrate with local medical practices and emergency departments to address needs identified by health care providers.

Disease progression in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis can significantly affect a patient's quality of life, a study published in Journal of the Neurological Sciences reported. Depression has already been established as a core predictor of health-related quality of life, and according to researchers, progression rate was also a relevant and independent predictor.

Mindfulness studies have found its practice can be helpful against anxiety, depression and physical pain, but there's no indication it's a better alternative to other treatments, writes Chadwick Matlin, who is a skeptic. While mindfulness might be overstated by its enthusiasts, Matlin says studying the issue reminded him "that one can overcommit to skepticism, just as one can overcommit to certainty."

Sixty-two percent of 254 patients and 59% of 61 clinicians surveyed said that care quality of virtual video visits was similar to office visits, while 21% of patients cited that virtual visits have a better overall quality, compared with 33% of clinicians who thought office visits have a better quality. The study, published in The American Journal of Managed Care, found that 52.5% and 70.5% of clinicians believe virtual video visits were better in terms of visit efficiency and timely scheduling of patient appointments, respectively, than office visits.

A survey of Rhode Island physicians showed overall that almost 26% reported at least one symptom of burnout, but for family physicians, the rate was 35.7%, the highest of any specialty, according to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association. EHR usage is associated with greater burnout, a fact that is driving a new AAFP informatics project aimed at encouraging innovations that make health IT work better for family physicians.

Improving EHR technology can improve patient care and reporting with customized screens and better data collection, writes Robin Ntoh, a senior professional services consultant at Nextech Systems. Using cloud-based technology will improve communication, Ntoh writes.

There are many reasons to attend the Annual Assembly, March 13-16, 2019 in Orlando, Fla. You will make new connections, become re-energized, learn the latest education, and more, but we think you should hear this from other attendees. Watch the video to see why the Assembly is right for you. Register by Jan. 31 to save up to 25%.

Continue your education on opioid prescribing to improve your practice and advocate for balanced public policy. This online opioid education hub provides resources from AAHPM and other organizations to help increase your knowledge in pain management. Explore the resources page now.