Practice Management News

The sharing, integration and analysis of data from clinical trials among academic and commercial institutions benefits future research efforts and improves on clinical care across all health care specialties.

A national shortage of between 46,000 and 90,000 physicians is projected by 2025, affecting primary care, surgical care and other medical specialties, according to a report released by the Association of American Medical Colleges. 

SAN FRANCISCO — Last year was ‘a banner year’ for gastroenterological medical technology, Pankaj Jay Pasricha, MD, from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, said in a presentation at the 6th annual American Gastroenterological Association Tech Summit.

More than half of parents who participated in a nationally representative study indicated they would be interested in whole genome sequencing for themselves, as well as for their youngest children.

The FDA has approved changes to the warnings and precautions labels for Harvoni and Sovaldi, indicating that amiodarone should not be used while taking the combination regimen of Harvoni or while taking Sovaldi with another direct-acting antiviral for the treatment of hepatitis C virus infection, according to a news release from the FDA.

The American Association for Clinical Chemistry wrote a formal request letter to the FDA expressing concern about the potential overregulation of next-generation sequencing tests, the association said in a press release. The letter was written in response to FDA’s preliminary discussion paper on next-generation sequencing (NGS) titled “Optimizing FDA’s Regulatory Oversight of Next-Generation Sequencing Diagnostic Tests.”

The Pittsburgh Health Data Alliance, a collaborative effort between Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Pittsburgh and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, will focus on optimizing “big data” to transform health care, the institutions announced in a press release.

Hospitals with low readmission rates were associated with higher ratings on Facebook, according to a recently published study.

The FDA approved Cholbam, a cholic acid, for children and adults with bile acid synthesis disorders and peroxisomal disorders, according to a press release from the FDA.   

In the January issue, HCV Next highlighted the next treatment frontier in eradicating maternal-to-child transmission of hepatitis C. However, counseling a family, young child or adolescent about this “virus” and “liver disease” requires more than just an understanding of hepatitis C’s pathophysiology. As providers, we need to be prepared to equip families and their children with the knowledge and practical solutions to every day questions such as: “Can Johnny play football?” “Do we need to disclose his diagnosis to the school?” “What advice do you have for Sally who is going to be a freshman in college next year?”