Health Imaging & IT - March 2008 - (Page 48)

Stat Sheet Peer coaching best for first-time colonoscopy Coaching from a peer who has already experienced a colonoscopy can help people go through it the first time, according to findings published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine. Currently, at least one-third of the people who schedule a colonoscopy don’t keep the appointment. Researchers used either peer coaches or brochures with patients scheduled for their first colonoscopy, but deemed likely not to show up (they had missed at least one-quarter of their regular doctor visits). Those who got peer counseling were twice as likely as those who received brochures to keep their colonoscopy appointment, the journal article said. Sweet on heart, not bones Chocolate may be good for the heart, but not so good for the bones, according to research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Older women who ate chocolate every day had weaker, thinner bones than their peers, who indulged less frequently, and the difference didn’t appear to be due to overall dietary habits. Chocolates are rich in flavonoids, which some studies suggest can be good for the bones, the researchers say. Chocolate also contains oxalate, which blocks the absorption of calcium, and sugar. Even small co-pays cut mammography screening rates Relatively small co-payments by Medicare managed plans were associated with significantly lower mammography rates among women who should undergo screening mammography according to accepted clinical guidelines, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Biennial screening rates were 8.3 percentage points lower in cost-sharing plans that required patients to pay more than $10. The effect of cost-sharing was magnified among women residing in areas of lower income or educational levels. Screening rates decreased by 5.5 percentage points in plans that instituted cost-sharing and increased by 3.4 percentage points in matched control plans that retained full coverage, the researchers said. arthritis burden to grow More than one-fifth of U.S. adults have arthritis or other rheumatic conditions, and by 2030 the number is projected to increase by nearly 40 percent as the population ages, according to a national study published in Arthritis & Rheumatism. Nearly two-thirds of the 46.4 million arthritis patients diagnosed by a physician are younger than 65. Among those reporting doctor-diagnosed arthritis, nearly two-thirds were younger than 65 and more than 60 percent were women. The report also found that osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis, affecting 26.9 million Americans. Reporting errors: Doctors willing, but don’t Almost two-thirds of doctors say they are willing to report medical errors, but only 18 percent have reported minor errors and just 4 percent reported a major error, according to findings published in the Archives of Internal Medicine. Even more troubling, 17 percent acknowledged having made a minor error and not reporting it, while 4 percent indicated having made but not disclosed a major error. 48 Health Imaging & IT | March 2008 HealthImaging.com http://HealthImaging.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Health Imaging & IT - March 2008

Health Imaging & IT - March 2008 Table of Contents On the Web The Enterprise: Communicating Better News Update Critical Test Results Management: The Human Touch The Changing Face of the Cath Lab Cardiovascular CT: A Clinical Boon Cardiology PACS: Solutions to Fit Your Needs ACC 08: Building Quality & Value Together Picking the Perfect PACS Displays PET/CT: A Game-Changer in Cancer Patient Management DR: You Gotta Have IT – Delivering Speed, Efficiency, Savings Laser Imagers: Answering the Call for Hard Copy Reader's Resources Stat Sheet

Health Imaging & IT - March 2008

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