Obstetrics-Gynecology & Women's Health

Extended use of combination monophasic oral contraceptives (OCs) used to treat women with menstrual disorders, such as endometriosis and dysmenorrhea, has been proven to be safe, effective, and acceptable to women. Even women without a medical indication for menstrual suppression may find that extending OC therapy may yield an improvement in their quality of life by diminishing menstrual symptoms associated with hormone withdrawal during the placebo interval. Most physicians and many women are aware of how to extend OC therapy, and commonly manipulate their cycles to avoid unwanted menstruation at inopportune times, such as during a honeymoon, vacation, or exams.

State efforts to curb costs range from medical liability and tort reform to mandated benfits

New indications and new combinations; first-time generic approvals

Plans offer the personal touch of these special caregivers

Letrozole therapy, in follow-up to 5 years of tamoxifen treatment, significantly improves disease-free survival compared to placebo, according to a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine.

Bone Density Testing by Location

Bea Leopold knows only too well how traumatic and potentially life-altering genetic testing can be. Having a sister with ovarian cancer and a mother who died of breast cancer convinced Leopold to be tested three-and-a-half years ago for the BRCA gene, which is predictive of both kinds of cancer.

Tools for each moment in care appeal to members who want to make smarter decisions

First extended-cycle oral contraceptive approved

Policies governing controversial or experimental modalities need to be in tune with best practices

Diagnostic Imaging is often the portal of entry for a patient into an integrated delivery system

Estrogen plus progestin therapy does not prevent mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in women aged 65 years and older, and it increases the risk for probable dementia in this group, according to researchers from the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study (WHIMS).

New HEDIS measures for 2004; President&s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health report; The Commonwealth Fund's report on eroding retiree benefits

Large cases generate four out of every five dollars in direct medical expenditures. Doesn't it make sense to pay special attention? Here's how it's done.

Educational pregnancy programs targeting minority members and those with risk factors help deliver optimal outcomes

Physician plan executives tap into daily experiences to serve even the tiniest of members

There's an old fable about mortality where a man is granted one wish by a prophet. The man says, "I want to know where I'm going to die." Astounded, the prophet asks, "Why would you want to know that?" The man responds, "Because then, I'll never go there."

Decision to cover self-administered injectables under medical or pharmacy benefit specific to individual plans.

Osteoporosis affects more than 10 million Americans and accounts for 1.5 million fractures annually. Several treatment options have been shown to prevent fractures and improve outcomes in patients with osteoporosis. Alendronate and risedronate clearly reduce fractures and are good initial choices in many patients. Raloxifene and calcitonin reduce the risk of vertebral fractures and may be appropriate in certain patients. Teriparatide was recently approved by FDA for the treatment of osteoporosis and may offer another treatment option. Combination therapy has been shown to increase bone mineral density; however, a reduction in the risk of fractures remains to be established. Zoledronic acid may offer an advantage of reduced frequency of administration.

Are megabuck malpractice lawsuits a villainous attack on physicians or the inalienable right of every American?

Consumer-directed healthcare warrants choice, control, customer satisfaction,among others

Ranked by total of all payers, 2001

Bank One used its massive database to track the impact of participation in a physical exam program on medical costs, short-term disability and lost productivity.

Propelled by degrees in mathematics, accounting and quantitative analysis, "which was like computers way back then," Horace Clark has engineered the information technology for companies of major interest to financial investors throughout his life.

These errors kill tens of thousands of patients annually; computerized systems, used correctly, can help lessen that number, improve quality of care

Expert analysis of a debate on cancer screening reveals 63 permutations on points of view. Is it any wonder, then, that the nation has trouble achieving consensus on health care policy?

A major clinical study, the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), has shown that regular exercise and a nutritious diet leading to weight loss can prevent type 2 diabetes among people at high risk for the disease.

Irene Brewster*, a 31-year-old mother of two who was in her 31st week of pregnancy, woke up one morning and noticed that her calf was abnormally swollen. After a call to her obstetrician, who was out of town, Brewster rounded up her children and drove to the hospital.

People always experience a certain amount of anxiety when adopting a new technology. When implementing that change costs tens of millions of dollars, however, it could become downright nerve-wracking.

Health plans emphasize a more personal touch and look to physicians to take the lead in the fight against a complicated disease