Chronic pain patients already have enough to worry about from adverse drug events, but a new study highlights a possibly overlooked concern – their costs. According to a recent study published by Pergolizzi et al. in the May 2014 article in the Journal of Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy, already vulnerable chronic pain patients could end up paying 22 percent more … Read More
People of Note: Dr. David Nash
Physicians will need to start thinking on a higher level, at least according to Dr. David Nash. One of the keynote speakers at this year’s Allscripts Client Experience (ACE), and founder of the Jefferson School of Population Health at Thomas Jefferson University, Dr. Nash is an outspoken proponent for population-focused care. According to Dr. Nash, hospitals need to be using … Read More
Study links genetics to skin reactions caused by common anti-epileptic drug
A study released this month provides a genetic link between a drug commonly prescribed to combat seizures and severe adverse, potentially fatal skin reactions. The study, which was published by Chung et al. in the August 2014 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, associated variants of the CYP2C gene group (which includes CYP2C9 and CYP2C19) with maculopapular … Read More
FDA Plans New Regulations for More Reliable Diagnostics
On July 31st, 2014, the FDA announced that they would be taking two steps to ensure the reliability of diagnostic tests. First, the FDA has issued guidance on the development of in vitro diagnostic companion devices. These are tests designed to be used in conjunction with a medication to identify patients who may or may not benefit from the treatment. … Read More
Chronic Conditions Affect Quality, Length of Life
Average life expectancy in the United States is actually rising more slowly than in other parts of the developed world and the culprit may be chronic conditions. As people live longer, thanks in part to improvements to acute care, they become more likely to develop chronic conditions such as heart disease or cancer. This means that further breakthroughs in life … Read More