Obstetrics-Gynecology & Women's Health

Dr Al-Hendy discusses the impact UF has on a patient’s life and their typical patient journey through the healthcare system.

Ayman Al-Hendy, MD, PhD, FRCSC, FACOG, CCRP, provides a comprehensive background on uterine fibroids, explaining everything from clinical burden to symptoms.

More needs to be done to give healthcare access to low-income women.

We've come a long way, baby. Yes, women in the workplace, in the board room, in political office-and in healthcare-have come a long way. A status report on Health Plan Employer Data and Information Set (HEDIS) measures specifically targeting women is showing upward trends, or at least steady statistics. Private health plans showed improvement in 35 out of 42 effectiveness of care HEDIS measures in 2005.

Drug Manufacturers have introduced vaccines for meningococcal disease, shingles, pertussis, rotavirus, and cervical cancer, meanwhile even more vaccines are in the development pipeline. While each represents a major step forward for public health, the advances present an assortment of challenges from payment rates for physicians to moral issues for parents.

NATIONAL REPORTS-Medical tourism is a fast-growing movement in which American consumers are choosing to travel outside the country for a variety of healthcare procedures and treatments.

About two hours after a colleague and I lamented over breakfast about Americans' shortcomings in wellness, I heard the news that the vaccine for human papillomavirus (HPV) had received the final nod from FDA. Now there was something Americans were actually doing pretty well: immunizing.

There is no question in anyone's mind that the increased use of high-tech diagnostic imaging has significantly improved the diagnosis and treatment of patients during the past decade.

Although any change in moving newly released over-the-counter (OTC)medications to benefit designs or formularies is currently beingdriven by health plans, other emerging market factors willinfluence how plans and employer groups think about coverage forOTCs. For example, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota has hadnumerous inquiries about OTC coverage, usually from employer groupsthat know Medicaid and some Part D plans can cover OTCs. Inaddition, some states are evaluating their pharmacy practiceguidelines to determine how to revise them to accommodate changesin dispensing OTCs. This change is driven by the addition of OTCsto formularies and by the move to put pseudoephedrines behind thecounter. Another industry trend in some states, includingMinnesota, allows pharmacists to prescribe OTC products for publicprogram recipients.

Perhaps back when she was a graduate student at California State University, Sacramento (CSUS), Dorothy Tarrant, LCSW, MPA, had an idea that someday she would end up in her current role as the healthcare ombudsman/mediator (HCOM) for Kaiser Permanente's Redwood City Medical Center in California.

There is no question in anyone's mind that the increased use of high-tech diagnostic imaging has significantly improved the diagnosis and treatment of patients during the past decade.

In the United States today, 10 million people have osteoporosis (bone density that's about 25% less than a healthy young adult). In addition, 34 million more people have low levels of bone mass, placing them at increased risk. Osteoporosis is responsible for more than 1.5 million fractures annually, including 300,000 hip fractures, approximately 700,000 vertebral fractures, 250,000 wrist fractures, and more than 300,000 other fractures. About 68% of those affected by osteoporosis are women.

The best approach is to combine clinical therapy with strong support from behavioral health professionals.

If you're going to choose a consultant to help you navigate today's ever-changing healthcare waters, you'd probably look for three key qualifications: experience, insight and diversity. While those characteristics might seem obvious, finding someone with those traits isn't always so apparent.

Most cost estimates for infertility treatment, including IVF, range from $4 to $6 per member per year.

In the september issue, Part I of this two-part series on episode grouping focused on how this method of statistical tracking enables healthcare organizations to more effectively deliver the most appropriate treatments in order to manage the associated costs.

The 2006 introduction of Part D under the Medicare Modernization Act will definitely affect medications targeting osteoporosis, the majority of which are prescribed to those 65 or older.

The biggest bang for the buck is treating the older population for which fractures are more prevalent.

While the overall cost of injectables is relatively consistent from health plan to health plan, regional differences exist in the total cost of individual therapy classes as a result of PMPM utilization, necessitating payers to develop injectable management programs that are customized for their geographical service area. Examples of these regional differences include the higher incidence of multiple sclerosis in northern states, higher prevalence of older Americans in states such as Florida and Arizona (and the associated higher oncology costs), and infertility costs in states where coverage is state-mandated.

April FDA Pipeline

Parkinson's Disease is a chronic, progressive neurological disorder that occurs when neurons in the part of the brain that controls movement start to degenerate. This leads to a shortage of the neurotransmitter dopamine, causing characteristic movement problems.

BREAST CANCER is the most common cancer found in women, and the second leading cause of cancer deaths in women. More than 200,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer are diagnosed in the United States each year, approximately 77% of them in women over 50 years of age.

DEAN F. NELSON, MD, was the first board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist in the state of Utah. Not only was he the first, he also was one of the best when it came to connecting with patients and really understanding them, recalls his son, American Medical Assn. (AMA) President John C. Nelson, MD, MPH.

Sexually Transmitted infections (STIs) such as syphilis, gonorrhea, herpes and chlamydia are a major health concern in the United States.

New molecular entities

When Common wisdom is debunked, it takes time for physicians and their patients to adjust to a new way of thinking. Hormone therapy (HT) is just beginning to emerge from that state of limbo.

In recent years, the looped, colored ribbon pinned to a lapel has come to symbolize awareness, support and advocacy.

Is it legal to ask health plan members their race and ethnicity? Accordingto the Civil Rights Act of 1964, it is; however, California, New Jersey,New Hampshire and Maryland restrict the use and collection of racial data.With the go-ahead from the federal government, health insurers are usingthe data to design strategies to improve care for specific populations.

A decision that backs ERISA could refuel interest in Congress to enact patients' rights legislation

Many arthritis sufferes are under 65 and need added support to maintain daily function