Management of Venous Thromboembolism: A Clinical Practice Guideline from the American College of Physicians and the American Academy of Family Physicians
Vincenza Snow, M.D., et al
Review of the Evidence on Diagnosis of Deep Venous Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism
Jodi B. Segal, M.D., M.P.H., et al
OTHER STUDIES IN THIS ISSUE
CHRONIC CARE MODEL ASSOCIATED WITH IMPROVED DIABETES CARE
Incorporating elements of the Chronic Care Model (CCM) in small independent primary care practices can be done with ease and is associated with better intermediate outcomes of diabetes care. This study of 90 clinicians and 886 patients found that clinician-reported use of CCM elements was significantly associated with lower glycosylated hemoglobin levels (the standard measure of the degree of control of diabetes) and ratios of cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Specifically, for every unit increase in clinician-reported CCM use (e.g., from "rarely" to "occasionally"), there was an associated 0.30% reduction in glycosylated hemoglobin values and a 0.17 reduction in the lipid ratio.
Use of Chronic Care Model Elements Is Associated with Higher-Quality Care for Diabetes
By Paul A. Nutting, M.D., M.S.P.H., et al
VALIDATION OF PATIENT CONCERNS IMPROVES QUALITY OF DEPRESSION CARE
Quality of care for depression is improved when patients participate actively in the patient-physician encounter and when physicians explore and validate patient concerns. This analysis of data from a randomized trial that included 152 primary care physicians found that physician exploration and validation of patients concerns including the patients symptoms, ideas, expectations, functioning and feelings is linked to quality of care for depression. Higher levels of validation of patients conc
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Contact: Kristin Robinson
kristinr@aafp.org
913-906-6000, ext. 5221
American Academy of Family Physicians
29-Jan-2007