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YOUR COMMUNITY FOR ISSUES THAT MATTER IN PRIMARY CARE

Primary Care Network’s online publication dedicated to providing primary care clinicians with the tools to help improve patient outcomes and their practices through patient-focused content and exceptional resources.

Best Practices in Primary Care 2023: On-Demand

This 12-hour on-demand CME activity (originally took place on April 20-22, 2023 in New Orleans, LA) examines various conditions often seen in everyday practice with the goal of learning new strategies for diagnosing and treating patients. This activity provides opportunities to get answers to your burning questions and learn ‘best practices’ tools and techniques to help you better treat your patients.

USING CGM AND THE AGP FOR CLINICAL DECISION-MAKING IN PRIMARY CARE

After watching this webinar series, participants should be able to: Prepare the clinical practice site for increased CGM use; Understand options available to the practice for professional and personal CGM; Locate and interpret CGM data, using the AGP to assess if the patient is achieving targets established by the International Consensus on Time in Range; Modify the treatment plan based on CGM data to improve patient outcomes

Best Practices in Primary Care: Focus on Osteoporosis

This complimentary CME activity will provide primary care clinicians with an update on osteoporosis and bone health. Current screening guidelines, modalities, and current prevention & treatment regimens will be highlighted. This activity was recorded from the live CME webcast held on October 26, 2022.

Reduce Progression of Kidney Disease in Patients with Diabetes

In this CME activity, Dr. Javier Morales discusses the therapeutic interventions that will delay progression of diabetic kidney disease, as well as early screening utilizing UACR, eGRF and the KDIGO heat map. The association of medical renal disease and cardiovascular risk will be addressed as well.

Identifying and Managing Sleep Issues in Primary Care

It is estimated that about 70 million people in the United States suffer from chronic sleep problems. Lack of sleep is associated with injuries, chronic and mental illnesses, lower quality of life, loss of productivity, and higher economic burden. This complimentary activity will help clinicians recognize, diagnose, and treat the different sleep-related problems that might affect their patient’s quality of life and reduce the chronic consequences of these disorders.

Identifying and Managing Osteoporosis in Primary Care

This complimentary activity will provide primary care clinicians with an update on osteoporosis and bone health. Current screening guidelines, modalities, and current prevention & treatment regimens will be highlighted.

The Role of Non-Statin Therapies for Management of ASCVD Risk

Presented by Dr. Paul Doghramji at PCN Destinations, this activity will review the latest guidelines and recommendations on cholesterol management, identify potential cholesterol-lowering therapies beyond statins and know when to utilize and recognize the indications for PCSK9 inhibitor therapy.

Complementary and Integrative Medicine: A Basic Primer – What’s Known and What Isn’t

Approximately one in three patients have used some form of complementary and integrative medicine (CIM) in the last year. Most do not share their use of unconventional care with their primary care providers. PCPs need to be aware of the prevalence of CIM use in their practice and how it can impact outcomes for better and for worse.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Practical Guide for Successful Treatment

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) affects 15% of the population. They are a challenging group whose care can often be frustrating. This activity will explain why the diagnosis of IBS in 2020 is no longer a “diagnosis of exclusion”.

From Depression to Wellness in MDD

In primary care, a sizable number of patients have major depressive disorder (MDD). Of these, up to three quarters are either not treated or incompletely treated. This lack of proper treatment leads to significant reduction in quality of life and carries with it increased risk of morbidity and mortality.

Managing Sleep Health in Primary Care

This activity will help the clinician identify common sleep disorders seen in primary care. You will be better able to explain the sleep/wake cycle and circadian rhythms and identify the most appropriate tools used to assess patients’ sleep health.

Overcoming Barriers: Improving the Insulin Experience for Patients with Diabetes

This activity will assist prescribers in basal insulin initiation and titration in these individuals. We will focus on treatments that allow patients to “self-titrate” their insulin doses while minimizing their risk of hypoglycemia. Barriers to insulin initiation as well as cultural concerns for insulin therapy will be addressed.

Workup and Management of Anemia in the Elderly

This CME activity (recorded from the live webcast held on January 16, 2019) is designed to improve knowledge, attitude and behavior surrounding the awareness, workup and management of geriatric anemia. To accomplish these goals, practical information on differentiating and managing the various causes of geriatric anemia will be presented in an interactive format using real-world clinical cases likely to be seen in primary practice.

Hypoglycemia in Type 2 Diabetes

Hypoglycemia is the rate limiting step in managing diabetes intensively. Patients who experience treatment emergent hypoglycemia are at increased risk of cardiovascular death and all-cause mortality.

Thyroid Disease

Hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are common conditions that have lifelong effects on health. In the United States, approximately 5% of adults have thyroid disease or take thyroid medication. These conditions are usually seen first in primary care settings, but they frequently go undiagnosed for years.

Achieving Gout Goals

Gout is the most common form of inflammatory arthritis affecting 4% of US adults. In a recent study of more than 13,000 patients with gout, less than one-third (1/3) “ever” achieved target serum urate goals over an extended follow-up period. In short, gout is a problem for patients and straining healthcare systems. Although gout is a problem in primary care, there are paths leading to improved care, better outcomes, and reduced costs.

ADA Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes – 2022 Update

Every year, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) updates its evidence-based clinical practice guidelines, Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes. This article summarizes the changes most relevant to primary care practice.

Update to the American College of Cardiology Guidelines for the Evaluation and Diagnosis of Chest Pain

Although acute chest pain is the presenting complaint in less than 1% of primary care office visits, it requires immediate decisions on evaluation and management. After injuries, chest pain has been the second most common reason for adults to present to the emergency department (ED) in the United States.

Resources for the Recognition and Management of Long-COVID in Primary Care

Medical knowledge on the recognition and management of what is variously called “post-COVID syndrome”, “long COVID”, and multiple other descriptions is accumulating rapidly in response to an “epidemic within the pandemic”. The focus of this blog is to identify useful resources for primary care. Many of these resources are being continuously updated as knowledge evolves.

New Recommendation for Prediabetes Screening and Intervention from USPSTF

On August 24, 2021, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) revised their recommendations for type 2 diabetes and pre-diabetes screening. The revision includes a recommendation that screening of all overweight and obese adults should begin at age 35 rather than age 40, per their previous recommendation in 2015.

2020 Updated Asthma Guidelines

Asthma is one of the most common conditions we see in primary care and can result in significant morbidity and mortality if not diagnosed and managed optimally. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) has sponsored a consensus panel to develop clinical practice guidelines for child and adult asthma since 1989. The guidelines were updated at the end of 2020 for the first time in over a decade.

Telemedicine in Primary Care

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us all to alter our approach to patient care. Telemedicine has a century-long history of evolution, but the infrastructure for real-time broadband communication between providers and patients has only become widespread in the US over the past two decades.

Federal Support of COVID Care for the Uninsured

There is little good news about the coronavirus pandemic in the United States; however, there are new federal government programs to reimburse healthcare providers for coronavirus testing, counseling associated with testing, and treatment of individuals not covered under any other health insurance policy.

View of Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a chronic and disabling mental illness that has affected millions of people all over the world. Schizophrenia is defined as a psychotic thought disorder characterized by a mixture of symptoms. These symptoms may involve alterations in perception, cognition, emotions, behavior, attention, concentration, motivation, and judgment.

Mental Health Impact in the Midst of the Coronavirus

As the world continues to face the growing issue of the coronavirus, it is important for the mental health status of all individuals who find themselves at the frontline of this pandemic to be assessed on an ongoing basis. The mental health of all individuals is important and may require evaluation.

The Growing Concern over Vaping

While research on the health effects of vaping is ongoing, preliminary data indicates that it can pose risks to the heart as well as impair the normal lung function in those who were previously considered to be healthy. Ultimately, the continued use of electronic cigarettes will be determined by the ability of healthcare professionals to appropriately educate the public concerning its use and possible long-term effects.

Expert Views

Expert Views® is a white paper-like publication that is designed to provide a valuable, scientific tool to enhance understanding of the terminology, definitions, patient management practices, and overall health and wellness across multiple therapeutic areas. Each publication is developed by health care professionals for health care professionals.

[ev_big_heading big_heading_text_align=”left” secondary_head=”Thomas MS Wolever, MS, PhD” secondary_head_font_size=”” secondary_head_color=”#dd9933″ primary_head=”Exploring the Health Benefits Different Types of Fiber” primary_head_font_size=”” primary_head_color=”#1e73be” remove_line=”true” css_animation=””][/ev_big_heading]

Fiber has long been heralded as an important component of a healthy diet. High-fiber diets have been associated with a number of health benefits, including cholesterol lowering, maintaining healthy glycemic control, maintaining a healthy weight, lowering the risk of heart disease, and helping maintain bowel regularity. Despite these benefits, however, fiber intake in the United States remains low, leading the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to consider it a “nutrient of concern.” Further, because not all fibers deliver the same health benefits, the availability of various types of dietary fibers and supplements can lead to confusion when trying to tailor a fiber regimen to address specific health needs. In order to achieve specific health benefits from fiber, healthcare professionals and patients should consider the types of fiber in their diets, as well as the role different fiber supplements can play in helping them achieve their health goals.

[ev_big_heading big_heading_text_align=”left” secondary_head=”Leonard Fromer, MD” secondary_head_font_size=”” secondary_head_color=”#dd9933″ primary_head=”Answering Frequently Asked Questions About Probiotics” primary_head_font_size=”” primary_head_color=”#1e73be” remove_line=”true” css_animation=””][/ev_big_heading]

With the growing appreciation for the role of the human microbiota in health, a diverse range of health benefits have been increasingly recognized.1 The intestinal flora, in particular, may impact human health through various protective, structural, and metabolic functions. Although these mechanisms have not been fully characterized, probiotic bacteria are believed to confer health benefits by bolstering these effects. Research regarding probiotics has exploded over the past decade, with the volume of medical literature involving these agents increasing more than 10-fold in the past decade, compared to the previous decade. Probiotics are a growing trend in the marketplace, attributable to increasing consumer education and awareness as well as new product introductions.

[ev_big_heading big_heading_text_align=”left” secondary_head=”Mary Ellen Sanders, PhD” secondary_head_font_size=”” secondary_head_color=”#dd9933″ primary_head=”Demystifying Probiotics” primary_head_font_size=”” primary_head_color=”#1e73be” remove_line=”true” css_animation=””][/ev_big_heading]

Human bodies are highly colonized, with the number of microbial cells outnumbering human cells by a factor of 10 to 1. Recognizing the profound impact of microbes to human health, global initiatives are currently underway to study native microbial communities and how they correlate with human health and disease. A key effort in this respect is the National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded Human Microbiome Project, which is utilizing metagenomics to characterize human microbial communities and make this information available as a comprehensive, publicly available data set for international research efforts to understand and improve health. It is likely that such research efforts will also contribute much to our understanding of probiotic bacteria, live microorganisms which have the potential of providing a diverse range of health benefits.

[ev_big_heading big_heading_text_align=”left” secondary_head=”Darren M. Brenner, MD” secondary_head_font_size=”” secondary_head_color=”#dd9933″ primary_head=”Facts and Fiction: Dispelling the Myths and Misconceptions of Probiotics” primary_head_font_size=”” primary_head_color=”#1e73be” remove_line=”true” css_animation=””][/ev_big_heading]

The complex microbial communities of the gastrointestinal tract—by far the most densely colonized human organ—are now appreciated to play an important role in human health. Although not fully characterized, probiotic bacteria are believed to confer health benefits by bolstering the myriad protective, structural, and metabolic functions of the normal intestinal microbiota. With the recognition of these potential benefits, there has been increasing interest in probiotic products within the scientific community, with consumers, and in the food industry. Despite expanding knowledge, however, many questions about probiotics remain unanswered, and misinformation and misconceptions are common.

[ev_big_heading big_heading_text_align=”left” secondary_head=”Thomas Roth, Ph.D.” secondary_head_font_size=”” secondary_head_color=”#dd9933″ primary_head=”Optimizing Self-Treatment of Occasional Sleep Disturbances/Sleeplessness” primary_head_font_size=”” primary_head_color=”#1e73be” remove_line=”true” css_animation=””][/ev_big_heading]

Throughout recorded history, philosophers, poets and scientists around the world have mused over the origins of sleep and its importance to physical and mental health. Indeed, people have pursued remedies to manage sleep for as long as sleep has been recognized as a priority for humans. As far back as 2800 B.C., the Chinese used ginseng root for its sedative properties, while the ancient Greeks used remedies made from geese and snakes, as well as opiates from poppies for sleep therapy.

[ev_big_heading big_heading_text_align=”left” secondary_head=” Philip O. Katz, MD” secondary_head_font_size=”” secondary_head_color=”#dd9933″ primary_head=”Optimizing the Over-the-Counter Management of Heartburn” primary_head_font_size=”” primary_head_color=”#1e73be” remove_line=”true” css_animation=””][/ev_big_heading]

Heartburn is an extremely prevalent condition, affecting 44% to 60% of all Americans at least once monthly, nearly 30% two or more days per week, and up to 7% daily. Indeed, more than 50 million Americans are believed to experience the condition of frequent heartburn, defined as occurring at least 2 days a week. For these millions of heartburn sufferers, the availability of over-the-counter (OTC) heartburn medications offers the potential for effective patient-directed management and substantial symptom improvement when used appropriately.

[ev_big_heading big_heading_text_align=”left” secondary_head=”Philip O. Katz, MD, Leonard Fromer, MD, Catherine Cone, PharmD, BCPS, PhC” secondary_head_font_size=”” secondary_head_color=”#dd9933″ primary_head=”Optimizing the Treatment of Frequent Heartburn in the Primary Care Setting” primary_head_font_size=”” primary_head_color=”#1e73be” remove_line=”true” css_animation=””][/ev_big_heading]

Heartburn is a very prevalent condition with approximately 44% of all Americans experiencing heartburn at least once a month,1 and nearly 70 million Americans are believed to experience frequent heartburn, which is defined as heartburn that occurs two or more days a week. For the millions of frequent heartburn sufferers, over-the-counter (OTC) proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) may be appropriate therapies when antacids or histamine2 receptor antagonists (H2RAs) are not providing the needed efficacy. PPIs offer the potential for effective patient-directed management and substantial symptom improvement when used appropriately.

Migraine Pro Interactive Learning System

The NEW MigrainePro 2.0 features seven raw interviews featuring headache specialist and author Trupti Gokani, MD. As seen on Dr. Oz, Dr. Gokani demonstrates a powerful interview technique that you can instantly utilize in your practice.

WARNING: The journeys covered in the interviews are emotional and personal; however, these unbelievable people volunteered to share their story in hopes it will improve patient/provider communication and quality of care. MigrainePro 2.0 will show you how to make a shared decision with your patient no matter the disease. It features the importance of lifestyle modifications and the important role the patient has to play in managing their own health with your guidance.

FREE Migraine Infographic for your practice!

Obesity Shared Decision Making Tool

This weight management tool is designed to promote wellness and self-management through shared decision-making between patients and clinicians. It provides patients with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to actively participate with their clinicians when making decisions that can improve their health and healthcare.

Gout Shared Decision Making Tool

This gout tool is designed to activate patients through education, shared decision-making, and self-management to improve their health, therapy adherence, and overall satisfaction. The patient is able to create and print a customized action plan to share with their clinician for use in mutual decision making discussions.