AJMC® in the Press, March 16, 2018

Articles in Becker’s Hospital Review and RevCycle Intelligence, as well as AHIP’s Wednesday Accountable Care SmartBrief, included a study published in The American Journal of Accountable Care^®. The study, “Thirty-Day Readmissions: Relationship to Physician Attending Type and Social Connectedness,” examined patient clinical and demographic characteristics, healthcare system factors, and patients’ experiences of care associated with 30-day readmissions in a hospital with a Pioneer Accountable Care Organization. The study found that there was a lower readmission rate for those with congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and pneumonia who were admitted by geriatricians, supporting the notion that enhanced care coordination lowers readmissions.

A Becker’s Hospital Review article outlined 6 things to know about irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and mentioned a study published in The American Journal of Managed Care^® (AJMC^®), “Evidence-Based Management of Irritable Bowel Syndrome With Diarrhea.” The study concluded that IBS is associated with significant burden, including direct medical costs and indirect costs, and the negative impact of IBS with diarrhea symptoms on quality of life reported by patients indicates that there is an unmet need for therapies that effectively treat and manage the symptoms of the condition.

WSB-TV Atlanta’s article on nonurgent emergency department (ED) visits included a study published in AJMC^®. The study, “Emergency Department Visits for Nonurgent Conditions: Systematic Literature Review,” conducted a systematic review of US literature on factors influencing the decision to visit the ED for nonurgent conditions. The researchers found that younger age, convenience of the ED compared with alternatives, referral to the ED by a physician, and negative perceptions about alternatives such as primary care providers all play a role in driving nonurgent ED use.

National Pharmaceutical Council’s Monday CER Daily Newsfeed included an article on AJMC^® on artificial intelligence being leveraged in oncology. The article, “Precision Health AI Launches Platform to Deliver Data-Driven Insights in Oncology,” reported on Precision Health AI’s launching of Eureka Health, a platform that leverages electronic health record data to provide artificial intelligence through more than 60 pretrained and learning-enhanced modules designed specifically for oncology.

A study published in the PAN Foundation and AJMC^® collaborative supplement, “A Descriptive Study of Patients Receiving Foundational Financial Assistance Through Local Specialty Pharmacies,” was the focus of an article in Drug Store News. The study found that a collaboration between the Good Days Foundation and Walgreens local specialty pharmacies may have been crucial in saving lives, preventing financial ruin, and supporting patient medication persistence. For patients dealing with chronic or life-altering diseases, the assistance and support provided through this collaboration included providing an alternative to reducing rising out-of-pocket costs and improving the ability to afford both treatments and the necessities of everyday living.

An article in News Medical featured an interview with Michael S. Ruma, MD, MPH, maternal-fetal medicine specialist, Perinatal Associates of New Mexico, who spoke about a review by him and his colleagues that was published in a supplement to AJMC^®. The review, “Current Perspectives on the Use of Fetal Fibronectin Testing in Preterm Labor Diagnosis and Management,” reported an overview of several clinical guidelines and recommendations from multiple studies regarding the use of fetal fibronectin testing and transvaginal ultrasound cervical length measurement, which are both used to assess the risk of spontaneous preterm birth.