Medicare paid $92 million for 2008 quality bonuses :: Nov. 23, 2009 The number of doctors who received a PQRI bonus increased by a third from 2007, but the participant success rate was only about 55%. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/11/23/gvsc1123.htm- 31.6KB

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AMA meeting: Keep hands off the handhelds, drivers urged :: Nov. 23, 2009 Delegates said the use of cell phones and other devices while on the road distracts drivers and endangers public safety. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/11/23/prsf1123.htm- 29.6KB

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AMA meeting: Nap time mandate for on-call residents rejected :: Nov. 23, 2009 Delegates support tracking studies of how resident fatigue affects patient safety, but they say medicine -- not politicians -- should devise duty-hour rules. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/11/23/prsh1123.htm- 32.8KB

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Disruptive behavior by doctors, nurses persists a year after crackdown :: Nov. 16 ... A survey of physician and nurse executives raises questions on how to implement zero-tolerance policies required by the Joint Commission. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/11/16/prl11116.htm- 35.6KB

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Liability reform demos must have patient safety element :: Nov. 9, 2009 It's not clear how closely projects must focus on medical errors in order to qualify for some of the $25 million in federal grants. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/11/09/gvsa1109.htm- 33.4KB

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Medicare's no-pay rule has little financial impact :: Oct. 26, 2009 Hospitals would lose an average $368 annually in nonpayment for preventable conditions, a study finds. This could undermine CMS' economic case to improve patient safety. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/10/26/prsc1026.htm- 32.7KB

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Doctors called on to screen all adults for depression :: Oct. 26, 2009 A new position statement from the American College of Preventive Medicine says primary care physicians have a key role in combating the undertreatment of depression. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/10/26/prsa1026.htm- 33.5KB

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'July phenomenon' from new residents debunked :: Oct. 26, 2009 Despite the month's traditional influx of new residents, guidance and protocols given to new physicians provide year-round safety, a growing body of evidence finds. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/10/26/prsb1026.htm- 30.1KB

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EMR alerts can signal abnormal tests, but some doctors don't use them :: Oct. 19, ... Physicians fail to follow up on about 8% of warnings about imaging tests, a new study of office-based care found. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/10/19/prse1019.htm- 29.2KB

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H1N1 vaccination of children can require reasoning with concerned parents :: Oct. ... Ethics Forum - A column that answers questions on ethical issues in medical practice http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/10/12/prca1012.htm- 37.0KB

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H1N1 vaccine to be tracked for safety concerns :: Oct. 12, 2009 .. American ... Health officials hope physicians will report any adverse reactions that could be related to the vaccine. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/10/12/prsa1012.htm- 33.2KB

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Quality improvement tool available for doctors, hospitals :: Oct. 12, 2009 .. ... The Institute for Healthcare Improvement's online resource gathers evidence, cost and implementation information on quality and safety initiatives. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/10/12/prsc1012.htm- 28.3KB

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Medicare use found to vary significantly by location :: Oct. 5, 2009 .. American ... The preliminary MedPAC report partially confirms Medicare spending analyses by the Dartmouth Atlas Project, but diverges on some points. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/10/05/gvsc1005.htm- 31.7KB

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Resident duty hours: Does more sleep mean safer care? :: Oct. 5, 2009 .. American ... Six years after resident work limits took effect, the impact on safety is still hotly contested. A push for more sleep is reigniting the debate. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/10/05/prsa1005.htm- 42.8KB

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Doctors, nurses, seniors target reform myths :: Sept. 21, 2009 .. American ... The AMA joins with AARP and the American Nurses Assn. to clarify positions on health system reform and help move the debate beyond anti-reform rhetoric. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/09/21/gvsb0921.htm- 32.9KB

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Comparative effectiveness research: New ways to say 'no' :: Sept. 21, 2009 ... Health plans have stepped up their efforts in using this tool to decide what to cover. Doctors ask: Is the goal better medicine, or just cheaper medicine? http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/09/21/bisa0921.htm- 41.1KB

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When is conduct reportable? National Practitioner Data Bank takes complaints from ... The peer review process is not black and white, which raises questions on reportability. And once a report is made, it's hard to undo the damage. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/09/21/prsa0921.htm- 38.7KB

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Surgical quality program cuts complications, patient deaths :: Sept. 21, 2009 .. ... Giving surgeons reliable clinical data is key to helping them pinpoint safety problems, researchers say. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/09/21/prsb0921.htm- 28.5KB

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Medical home model saves money, boosts quality, study finds :: Sept. 14, 2009 .. ... Cutting patient loads and making visits longer were also found to ease burnout rates for physicians. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/09/14/prsb0914.htm- 29.3KB

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Physicians know FDA-OK'd uses for drugs half the time :: Sept. 7, 2009 .. ... Critics say doctors need better information and call for tougher action on off-label marketing. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/09/07/prsc0907.htm- 32.2KB

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Half of large practices net bonuses from Medicare P4P demo :: Aug. 31, 2009 ... Participants say they are pleased with the results, despite the payout rate. Small practices start seeing their own performance dollars. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/08/31/gvl20831.htm- 34.9KB

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Accountable care organizations: A new idea for managing Medicare :: Aug. 31, 2009 ... The goal of ACOs is to encourage physicians and hospitals to integrate care by holding them jointly responsible for Medicare quality and costs. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/08/31/gvsa0831.htm- 38.3KB

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75% of discharge summaries don't mention pending test results :: Aug. 31, 2009 ... Primary care physicians often are left in the dark about what tests to follow up on. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/08/31/prsa0831.htm- 31.3KB

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Quality-of-care concerns add to doctors' stress :: Aug. 31, 2009 .. American ... Well-designed improvement initiatives may help physicians feel less isolated or dissatisfied, a Massachusetts study says. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/08/31/prsb0831.htm- 28.7KB

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Medicare pay for services by nonphysicians comes under scrutiny :: Aug. 24, 2009 ... OIG finds the 'incident to' rule is allowing care to be provided by nonphysicians who lack the necessary qualifications. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/08/24/gvsb0824.htm- 32.0KB

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Public support for health system reform drops :: Aug. 10, 2009 .. American ... Quick View - An occasional snapshot of current facts and trends in medicine. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/08/10/gvca0810.htm- 26.4KB

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Chaotic working conditions wear down primary care physicians :: Aug. 3, 2009 .. ... Pressured pace, lack of control linked to low satisfaction, high stress and burnout, a new study reports. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/08/03/prsb0803.htm- 28.2KB

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Building solid medical homes :: Editorial July 20, 2009 .. American Medical News In this emerging model of health care, the AMA has focused on outlining the essential elements of providing the best care and the fairest funding. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/07/20/edsa0720.htm- 29.8KB

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Can protecting patients be made recession-proof? (Patient Safety Congress annual .. As hospitals cut back, doctors and patient safety officers are exploring the business case for quality initiatives. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/07/20/prsa0720.htm- 44.4KB

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IOM lists top 100 comparative effectiveness research topics :: July 13, 2009 ... The panel recommends examining treatment outside clinical settings and encourages strong public awareness and involvement in such research. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/07/13/gvsa0713.htm- 35.4KB

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Quality data have limited impact on patient behavior :: July 13, 2009 .. American ... The information is not always trusted, studies find, and matters more when patients are paying out of pocket for nonurgent care. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/07/13/bisa0713.htm- 32.9KB

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First draft of EHR 'meaningful use' definition unveiled :: June 29, 2009 .. ... But the national health IT chief asks for revised recommendations, which will help determine who gets stimulus dollars. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/06/29/gvsb0629.htm- 32.4KB

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Some licensing questions at odds with the ADA :: June 29, 2009 .. American ... Authors of a recent study would like inquiries on state medical board applications reworded to focus on a physician's ability to practice. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/06/29/prsc0629.htm- 32.8KB

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AMA meeting: Delegates see boosting quality of care as duty :: June 29, 2009 .. ... A new AMA ethics policy lays out steps physicians should take to make sure patients get the correct treatments. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/06/29/prsn0629.htm- 32.3KB

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FTC opinion expands guidance on joint contracting :: June 1, 2009 .. American .. Although the advisory tamps down some antitrust fears, the AMA raises concerns that physicians might think hospital collaborations are necessary. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/06/01/gvsa0601.htm- 34.1KB

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Prevalence of C. diff in hospital patients :: June 1, 2009 .. American Medical ... Quick View - An occasional snapshot of current facts and trends in medicine. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/06/01/prca0601.htm- 26.2KB

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More cuts in resident hours could be costly :: June 1, 2009 .. American Medical ... A new study puts a huge price tag on more cuts in work time. Meanwhile, concerns linger about how reductions affect training quality. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/06/01/prsb0601.htm- 31.9KB

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Medicine's voice being heard on health system reform :: May 18, 2009 .. American .. AMA Leader Commentary - A message to all physicians about current events in medical practice http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/05/18/edca0518.htm- 33.9KB

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Yale obstetrics safety plan cuts adverse events by 40% :: May 18, 2009 .. ... Hospital adds safety nurse position, increases training for doctors, nurses. A national perinatal safety initiative will expand this fall. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/05/18/prsb0518.htm- 32.1KB

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Medicine scores legal victories in scope of practice :: May 11, 2009 .. American ... High courts in Louisiana and Kentucky rejected moves by nonphysicians that physicians say infringe on the practice of medicine. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/05/11/prsa0511.htm- 32.2KB

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Key Senate panel sets brisk pace for health system reform package :: May 4, 2009 ... Lawmakers at a Finance Committee roundtable zeroed in on the quality improvements and cost savings demonstrated by a Pennsylvania health system. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/05/04/gvl10504.htm- 34.7KB

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Tight not always right for controlling diabetes :: May 4, 2009 .. American ... Studies suggest that the strategy of more blood glucose control could harm patients and that greater attention is needed on overall health. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/05/04/hlsc0504.htm- 32.1KB

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Medical students taking free online courses in quality, safety :: May 4, 2009 .. ... The Institute for Healthcare Improvement's curriculum stresses less-traditional topics of error reduction and resource management. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/05/04/prsb0504.htm- 32.4KB

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Court approves doctors' suit over ranking program :: April 27, 2009 .. American ... Massachusetts physicians are challenging the methods used to grade their performances. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/04/27/prsb0427.htm- 29.7KB

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Success from surgical checklists breeds idea for ethical checks :: April 13, 2009 ... Pilot program explores a list for ethical concerns. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/04/13/prsa0413.htm- 33.6KB

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Science trumps speculation: MMR not linked to autism :: Editorial April 6, 2009 ... A special vaccine court dismissed claims that the vaccine can cause the cognitive disorder. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/04/06/edsa0406.htm- 30.1KB

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Initiative to cut catheter infections expands :: April 6, 2009 .. American ... The $23 million effort, backed by the federal government and private philanthropy, builds on success in Michigan ICUs. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/04/06/prsa0406.htm- 33.9KB

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Waning confidence in the health insurance status quo :: March 30, 2009 .. ... Among hundreds of executives surveyed, the economy and the prospect of reform may have raised doubts about the future of employer-sponsored health benefits. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/03/30/bisb0330.htm- 32.3KB

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Doctors override most e-Rx safety alerts :: March 9, 2009 .. American Medical ... E-prescribing systems' clinical decision support is 'grossly inadequate,' says a new study. But there are ways to stop low-severity alerts. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/03/09/prsa0309.htm- 34.1KB

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Mailing reminders boosts colon cancer screening :: March 9, 2009 .. American ... Study findings show that primary care doctors need help getting out the preventive message to patients. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/03/09/prsd0309.htm- 31.2KB