Significant barriers to care for patients seeking medication for opioid use
Buprenorphine, a highly effective treatment for opioid use disorder, difficult to access in states with high rates of death associated with OUD.
Exploring solutions to the opioid epidemic
Nearly 100 researchers, health professionals, policymakers and community members gathered in Ypsilanti, Michigan on Friday, May 10, 2019 for a daylong summit, cosponsored by Harvard University and the University of Michigan, aimed at finding scalable solutions to the…
Better tech opens up new possibilities for telemedicine
Advances in wireless technology are helping expand the use of telemedicine and allowing doctors to remotely monitor patients’ vital signs, take x-rays, and provide input on surgical procedures, according to experts. A March 27, 2019 AFP article pointed…
The pros and cons of eConsults
Electronic consultations, or eConsults, which allow a primary care physician to connect quickly and securely with a specialist when a question arises that the primary care physician can’t answer, can cut down on unnecessary appointments for patients and…
A follow-up call from a pharmacist may cut down on hospital readmissions
Having pharmacists make follow-up calls to patients several times after the patient is discharged from the hospital may improve care and cut down on hospital readmissions, according to new research. A February 21, 2019 Reuters article described a…
How doctors see the opioid epidemic
The opioid epidemic, which has claimed tens of thousands of lives and contributed to a decline in American lifespans, has forced doctors and other medical professionals to reassess policies and practices that have contributed to it. A feature…
No easy path to reducing opioid overdoses
Efforts aimed at curbing access to opioids, including prescription drug monitoring programs and prescribing guidelines, will have only a modest effect on reducing the number of overdose deaths, according to new research. Researchers developed a mathematical model to…
How the U.S. opioid crisis is shifting family dynamics
As the opioid epidemic continues to ravage America, extended family members are increasingly stepping up to help raise children whose parents have overdosed, been incarcerated, or are in rehab. A January 28, 2019 U.S. News & World Report…
Opioid marketing linked to uptick in overdoses
Efforts to market opioids to physicians could have helped fuel an uptick in fatal overdoses from the prescription painkiller, according to new research. The study found that drug makers spent $39.7 million on marketing materials aimed at more…
A virtual visit with your doctor
New research shows that while telemedicine is on the rise in the U.S., it’s still relatively uncommon. In this week’s podcast we’ll explore ways to increase use of remotely delivered medical care among doctors and patients.
