Podiatry Insurance Company of America (PICA)

APMA News Brief

American Podiatric Medical Association

National News
Nearly half of Americans have avoided going to a see physician following an illness or injury because of concerns about cost, and nearly as many have gone without recommended treatments or tests for the same reason, according to a national poll. 

Visit http://www.healthcarefinancenews.com/news/healthcare-spending-and-costs-rise-many-americans-are-going-without-necessary-medical-care to view the full article online.

 
According to a new survey, younger patients are more than twice as likely to opt for telemedicine or walk-in clinics for their care. 

Visit https://www.healthcaredive.com/news/millennials-more-likely-to-use-walk-in-clinics-telemedicine-survey-shows/519816/ to view the full article online.

 
A new study found that only small number of incidents of patient harm were associated with issues related to electronic health records, but those estimates may be low, according to the authors.

Editor’s Note: Don’t miss APMA’s Health IT resources on APMA.org.

Visit https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/tech/ehr-patient-safety-research-medstar-jama to view the full article online.

 
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While electronic health records were designed in part to reduce errors, it's important to take precautions to make sure the data that goes into them is accurate. 

Visit http://medicaleconomics.modernmedicine.com/medical-economics/news/3-dangerous-data-entry-habits-avoid to view the full article online.

 
Contracting with a management company is one alternative for physicians who wish to maintain an independent practice. 

Visit https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/practices/summit-health-management-model-physicians-jeffrey-d-lebenger to view the full article online.

 
Physicians who see more patients are likely to have lower online ratings, according to a new study. 

Visit https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/quality/study-higher-patient-loads-linked-to-worse-patient-reported-physician-ratings.html to view the full article online.

 
A strong policy is an important step in helping to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace. Here are some tips in crafting a policy that is comprehensive and effective. 

Visit http://medicaleconomics.modernmedicine.com/medical-economics/news/7-keys-strong-sexual-harassment-policy to view the full article online.

 
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More than 40 percent of patients consider the way they were treated the most important part of their visit to a physician's office. 

Visit https://www.renalandurologynews.com/practice-management/practice-management-talking-to-patients-about-surgery/article/753920/ to view the full article online.

 
Medicare reimbursement issues were among the top challenges listed, according to a recent survey. 

Visit https://medcitynews.com/2018/03/biggest-challenges-for-telemedicine-programs/ to view the full article online.

 
The $1.3 trillion budget bill signed into law last week includes significant funding to combat opioid abuse, with the bulk of the funds going to agencies within the Department of Health and Human Services.

Editor’s note: APMA has created an Opioid Use and Abuse Prevention resource just for members.

Visit https://wire.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/billions-approved-fight-end-opioid-epidemic to view the full article online.

 
What Patients are Reading
While some are advocating for the right not to wear shoes in more business establishments, going barefoot carries some risks to the people who do it.

Editor's note: See APMA's position statement on barefoot running.

Visit http://www.phillyvoice.com/theyre-fighting-your-right-go-wherever-you-want-barefoot/ to view the full article online.

 
Cycling, which involves relatively little pressure on sensitive feet, can be a good exercise for those dealing with type 2 diabetes. 

Visit https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/936266/diabetes-type-2-symptoms-best-exercise-cycling to view the full article online.

 
Treating gout, a form of arthritis, is more than a matter of regulating one's diet, experts contend; it must be treated as a chronic condition. 

Visit https://www.medpagetoday.com/rheumatology/generalrheumatology/71966 to view the full article online.

 
New research on foot fungus may provide insights into better treatments for the condition. 

Visit https://health.usnews.com/health-care/articles/2018-03-24/foot-fungus-on-the-run-hellip-but-race-has-a-long-way-to-go to view the full article online.

 
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American Podiatric Medical Association, Inc.
11400 Rockville Pike, Suite 220, Rockville, MD 20852
PH: 301-581-9200
info@apma.org | www.apma.org