Top Q&As of 2023: The worsening primary care crisis, COVID-19 vaccine updates and more
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In 2023, Healio conducted exclusive interviews with physicians, health leaders and other experts to take an in-depth look at the latest research and trends in primary care.
The most popular interview was with Primary Care Collaborative President and CEO Ann Greiner, MCP, on the primary care crisis. She discussed a new report that revealed a net loss of 10 clinicians per 100,000 individuals in 2019, as well as potential strategies for retaining staff.
Other top interviews from this year focused on changes in COVID-19 vaccines, the 2024 physician fee schedule and antibiotic overprescribing. Read these and more below:
Q&A: Report shows primary care crisis is growing
The decline in the number of clinicians and in spending in primary care over the last several years have exacerbated the current primary care crisis, according to a new report from the Primary Care Collaborative and Robert Graham Center. Read more.
Q&A: What physicians should know about the latest COVID-19 vaccines
The CDC recently recommended updated versions of the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines aimed at omicron XBB subvariants of SARS-CoV-2, following their approval by the FDA. Read more.
Q&A: Proposed physician fee schedule cuts payments but also 'signals progress'
CMS issued the 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule on July 13. It includes a 1.25% decrease in the overall proposed payment amounts under the physician fee schedule compared with 2023. Read more.
Q&A: Novel UTI detection method may help curb antibiotic overprescribing in primary care
A new method of UTI detection designed specifically for use in primary care predicted with high accuracy when antibiotics could be safely withheld from low-risk patients, according to researchers. Read more.
Q&A: The 'insidious, chronic effects' of long-term heat exposure
Long-term exposure to extreme heat can lead to cognitive decline, according to experts. Read more.
Q&A: Eating almonds may help 'weekend warriors' recover from workouts
Daily almond intake might have health benefits for “weekend warriors,” according to results of a small randomized controlled trial. Read more.
Q&A: What to tell your patients about aspartame
WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer declared aspartame — a popular artificial sweetener that is used in products like soft drinks, chewing gum and ice cream — a potential carcinogen. Read more.
Q&A: 'Be cautious about the idea' that alcohol consumption offers health benefits
New research has challenged the idea that alcohol consumption confers health benefits, instead suggesting it may be worse for overall health. Read more.
Q&A: AI offers medical advice to clinicians like a colleague
Artificial intelligence has offered exciting new innovations for clinicians, but the next step may be AI communicating like clinicians, too. Read more.
Q&A: 2024 physician fee schedule means 'untenable payment cuts for family physicians'
Reductions to the 2024 Medicare conversion factor will mean unsustainable payment cuts for family physicians, according to the president of the American Academy of Family Physicians. Read more.