A study presented at the Crohn's and Colitis Congress found that intestinal ultrasound could be used to detect postoperative Crohn's disease recurrence, and may be even "more accurate than our traditional noninvasive biomarkers and clinical activity scores," said lead researcher Michael Dolinger. The findings were based on data from 18 patients with CD who underwent IUS and ileocolic resection within 30 days of a scheduled colonoscopy.

New study data found point-of-care ultrasound to be on par with chest x-rays for lung imaging in diagnosing COVID-19, according to research published in the Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine. The study found that ultrasound characteristics such as B-lines, small consolidation and irregular pleural lines were found in COVID-positive patients and "Lung ultrasound holds the promise of an accurate, radiation-free, and affordable diagnostic and monitoring tool in COVID-19 pneumonia," while also preventing radiation exposure, the researchers wrote.

A study of EHRs at an urban academic medical center found hints of bias and racism in how health care professionals described certain patients' behaviors. The study, in Health Affairs, found Black patients' EHRs were 2.54 times as likely as white patients' to contain at least one negative descriptor in the notes or history, and the EHRs of patients who were not married or were covered by public health insurance were also more likely than married or commercially insured patients' EHRs to have negative descriptors.

Researchers found that a probabilistic graphical network was helpful in determining a patient's susceptibility to heart disease, and adults most at risk were those with a history of cardiomyopathy or viral myocarditis and those taking milrinone, based on findings published in the journal PLOS Digital Health. Electronic health records were used to identify conditions linked to cardiovascular disease, and the AI program calculated which conditions could lead to individuals becoming at risk for heart disease, sinoatrial node dysfunction or heart transplants.

A survey of more than 13,000 US physicians from 29 areas of specialty indicated that many are dealing with high levels of stress and feelings of burnout. Overall, 47% of physicians said they were affected by burnout over the last year compared to 42% a year ago, with 51% of family medicine physicians saying they had experienced it.

The University of California at San Francisco health system has begun billing patients' insurers for email consultations that require medical evaluation or more than a simple reply. The CMS allows Medicare reimbursement for complex emails, and UCSF's move could reduce burnout by compensating health care professionals for what had been unpaid work, but it could also increase administrative burdens, irritate patients who are unexpectedly billed for co-pays, and hinder the transition to value-based care.

Federal statistics indicate that 3.5 million Americans age 65 and older had trouble affording their prescription medications in 2019. The data also showed that Medicare enrollees of color and people in lower-income groups were more likely to miss doses of necessary medications because of cost concerns.

Many things are important, but few are urgent enough that they'll really matter in 30 days or five years, so use that reminder to find perspective and focus on what does matter, writes Steve Keating. "Few things in life I can guarantee more than this ... if you lack real goals in life then you will spend your life helping people who do have real goals achieve theirs," Keating writes.

Your emotions should ideally match the situation, but how should you communicate when there's a mismatch? "It turned out that over the course of many interactions, 'medium richness' communication, such as telephone or audio, is most likely to make inauthentically communicated emotion seem the most authentic," writes University of Texas at Austin professor Andrew Brodsky, who presents his research findings.

Eighteen associations representing surgeons, rheumatologists, pathologists, radiologists and others sent a letter to the Center for Clinical Standards and Quality calling for transparency on how Medicare administrative contractors come to local coverage determinations. The letter recommended six policies for the CMS to consider, including requiring contractors to provide public notice before changing coverage policies and holding MACs accountable to timelines.

Have you passed one of the examinations required for a credential (RDMS, RDCS, RVT, RMSKS) but haven't earned the credential yet? Please remember there's a five-year time limit on earning a credential once you've passed the first examination (i.e., you passed the SPI examination but haven't passed the specialty examination, or vice versa). Learn more about the five-year rule.

The RMSKS credential raises the standard of musculoskeletal ultrasound practice worldwide and promotes best practices for enhanced patient safety. Apply Now!