AJMC® in the Press, June 9, 2017

An Inlander article about “Medication Mishaps” cited research published in 2017 in The American Journal of Managed Care^® (AJMC^®) to demonstrate the importance of vigilant medication monitoring upon discharge. “Impact of a Pharmacy-Based Transitional Care Program on Hospital Readmissions,” published in the March 2017 issue of AJMC^®, indicated that a pharmacy-based postdischarge transition program significantly reduced readmission rates compared with usual care.

An article on Alternet.org asked if direct primary care could “be a key part in solving America’s health care crisis.” To answer that question, it referenced a 2012 study published in AJMC^® that assessed the cost savings resulting from the implementation of direct primary care in 5 states. According to “Personalized Preventive Care Leads to Significant Reductions in Hospital Utilization,” the model produced $119.4 million in cost savings in 2010, partly due to lower readmission rates.

A Managed Healthcare Executive article weighed the pros and cons of retail clinics and examined how they could impact healthcare spending. A research consultant quoted in the article mentioned a study, “Retail Clinic Utilization Associated With Lower Total Cost of Care,” published in AJMC^® in 2013. “Long-term savings could therefore outweigh the $14 per person cost that this study shows can result from increased retail clinic utilization to manage low-acuity conditions,” the consultant summarized.

“Healthcare professionals must understand stigma as a mental healthcare barrier in order to overcome it,” a PatientEngagementHIT.com article declared, citing AJMC^® newsroom coverage of a report issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) in November 2016. That news article, “AAP Issues Report on Barriers to Mental Health Treatment for Young Children,” explained that “stigma is a pervasive factor that impedes access to mental health treatment for young children,” as parents and providers may have concerns that the child will be “labeled.”

An mHealthIntelligence.com article discussed how mobile health units, such as buses, can expand access to underserved neighborhoods. It referenced an AJMC^® Trends from the Field study from 2014 titled “Mobile Health Clinics in the Era of Reform.” After analyzing data from the Mobile Health Map Project, the researchers concluded that “mobile clinics have a critical role to play in providing high-quality, low-cost care to vulnerable populations.”