Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Otolaryngology for October 2015. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal articles, as well as the FDA approvals and regulatory changes that are the most likely to affect clinical practice.
Synchronized Prescription Renewal Process Saves Time
FRIDAY, Oct. 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A synchronized prescription renewal process can save physicians time and money, which can be dedicated to patient care, according to a report from the American Medical Association (AMA).
Increasing Numbers of Med School Applicants, Enrollees
FRIDAY, Oct. 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) — There has been a 25 percent increase in the number of medical school enrollees since 2002, with the number reaching an all-time high of 20,630 this year, according to a report published online Oct. 22 by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).
Face-Lifts Do Not Lead to Improvement in Self-Esteem
FRIDAY, Oct. 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Face-lifts seem to do little to boost self-esteem, according to a small study published online Oct. 29 in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery.
Continued Therapy Tied to Stable Productivity in Chronic Sinusitis
FRIDAY, Oct. 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients with refractory chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), continued medical therapy is associated with maintenance of productivity outcomes, according to a study published online Oct. 29 in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.
Nearly 15 Percent of Plans Lack In-Network Specialists
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 28, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A considerable proportion of federal marketplace plans lack at least one in-network specialist, according to a research letter published in the Oct. 27 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Physician Emphasizes Importance of Saying Thank You
TUESDAY, Oct. 27, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The importance of thanking patients for coming to see you, the physician, is described in an essay published online in Medical Economics.
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Transoral Robotic Surgery Feasible for Oropharyngeal SCC
TUESDAY, Oct. 27, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), transoral robotic surgery is feasible, according to a study published in the November issue of Head & Neck.
AMA: Eight Reasons for Nonadherence to Medications
FRIDAY, Oct. 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Eight reasons associated with patient’s intentional nonadherence to medications have been identified in a report published by the American Medical Association (AMA).
Neuromuscular Stimulation Doesn’t Aid Dysphagia Patients
FRIDAY, Oct. 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) does not add benefit to traditional swallow exercises for patients experiencing dysphagia after treatment for head and neck cancer, according to a study published online Oct. 15 in Head & Neck.
Secondhand Smoke in Infancy May Harm Children’s Teeth
THURSDAY, Oct. 22, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Children exposed to secondhand smoke at 4 months of age may be at risk for tooth decay by age 3, according to research published online Oct. 21 in The BMJ.
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Cancers Differ in Indigenous, Non-Indigenous Populations
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 21, 2015 (HealthDay News) — In Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the United States, indigenous populations exhibit clear differences in the scale and profile of cancer compared to non-indigenous populations, according to a study published online Oct. 14 in The Lancet Oncology.
Statistical Tool Predicts Risk of Major Post-Op Complications
FRIDAY, Oct. 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A statistical tool can accurately estimate an individual patient’s risk of developing a major complication after surgery for oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma, according to a study published online Oct. 15 in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.
Safety-Net Hospitals Have Higher Costs, Worse Outcomes
THURSDAY, Oct. 15, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Intrinsic qualities of safety-net hospitals, rather than patient characteristics, lead to inferior surgical outcomes and increased costs across nine elective surgical procedures, according to a study published online Oct. 14 in JAMA Surgery.
Cannabis Not Recommended to Prevent Post-op Nausea
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 14, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Cannabis should not be used to prevent postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) because of unacceptable side effects and low effectiveness, according to a study published online Sept. 30 in Anesthesia & Analgesia.
Hospital Factors Can Overcome ‘Weekend Effect’
MONDAY, Oct. 12, 2015 (HealthDay News) — More nurses and electronic medical records can help hospitals overcome the “weekend effect” (WE) associated with urgent general surgery procedures performed on weekends, according to a study published in the October issue of the Annals of Surgery.
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Americans Spend More on Health Care, but Fare Worse
MONDAY, Oct. 12, 2015 (HealthDay News) — When compared to 12 other industrialized nations, Americans spend more on health care services, but they fare worst in terms of life expectancy, according to recent findings from The Commonwealth Fund.
High Rate of Concussion Linked to Isolated Mandible Fractures
FRIDAY, Oct. 9, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The rate of concussions associated with isolated mandible fractures is high, according to a study published online Oct. 8 in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery.
Substantial Proportion of Revisits Post Ambulatory Sx Occur in ER
THURSDAY, Oct. 8, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Acute care revisits occur with considerable frequency among low-risk patients undergoing ambulatory operations, with a substantial proportion of revisits occurring in emergency departments, according to a research letter published in the Oct. 6 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Guidelines Developed for Managing Conflicts of Interest
TUESDAY, Oct. 6, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The Guidelines International Network has developed principles for disclosure and management of conflicts of interest (COIs) during the clinical practice guideline development process, according to a report published in the Oct. 6 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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β-Blockers May Up Risk of Surgical Complications for Some
MONDAY, Oct. 5, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Patients taking β-blockers may face heightened risks of cardiovascular complications during non-cardiac surgeries, according to a large study published online Oct. 5 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
High-Dose Hypofractionated RT Palliative in Head, Neck Cancer
MONDAY, Oct. 5, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients with incurable head and neck cancer, high-dose hypofractionated radiotherapy (RT) is associated with meaningful palliative effect, according to a study published online Sept. 2 in Head & Neck.
Modified SOAP Ups Student Awareness of Health Care Costs
MONDAY, Oct. 5, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Modification of the traditional Subjective-Objective-Assessment-Plan (SOAP) presentation to consider value (SOAP-V) can help medical students learn to practice high-value, cost-conscious care, according to a study published online Sept. 28 in the Journal of Hospital Medicine.
Providers Must Understand Legal Limits of Telemedicine
FRIDAY, Oct. 2, 2015 (HealthDay News) — In order to minimize risk when practicing telemedicine, providers should ensure they hold the proper medical licenses, have medical liability insurance coverage, and communicate with patients regarding the potential risks of telemedicine, according to a report published in Medical Economics.
Strategies Provided for Improving EHR Efficiency
THURSDAY, Oct. 1, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Several strategies can be implemented in order to better use electronic health records (EHRs) for patient care and efficiency, according to an article published in Medical Economics.
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