Monthly Archives :

May 2016

Long Acting Reversible Contraceptives: A First-Line Approach to Prevent Teen Pregnancy
Long Acting Reversible Contraceptives: A First-Line Approach to Prevent Teen Pregnancy 150 150 Elise Berlan, MD, MPH

Unplanned teen pregnancies remain a problem in American society. In the United States, 82 percent of teen pregnancies are unplanned, and the United States has the highest teenage pregnancy rate among high income nations. Despite being highly effective and safe, misconceptions around long acting reversible contraceptives (LARC), such as etonogestrel implants and intrauterine devices (IUDs),…

Despite Safety Concerns, Nearly 1 in 4 Babies in the NICU Receive Acid Suppressing Medications
Despite Safety Concerns, Nearly 1 in 4 Babies in the NICU Receive Acid Suppressing Medications 150 150 Jeb Phillips

While use is dropping overall as doctors heed warnings, acid suppressing medication originally formulated for older children and adults is still being given to nearly 25 percent of babies in the NICU. Since 2006, several published studies have associated the use of some acid suppression medications in hospitalized high-risk babies with infections, necrotizing enterocolitis and…

Uncovering Racial Disparities in Down Syndrome
Uncovering Racial Disparities in Down Syndrome 1024 575 Stephanie Santoro, MD

Life expectancy for people with Down syndrome varies depending on race, but why? An estimated 6000 infants with Down syndrome (DS) are born in the United States annually, making it the most common liveborn trisomy and chromosomal condition.[1] And a significant increase in overall life expectancy has been noted over the last several decades.[2] However,…

First Implantable Hemodynamic Monitoring Device in Single Ventricle Fontan Anatomy
First Implantable Hemodynamic Monitoring Device in Single Ventricle Fontan Anatomy 150 150 Abbie Miller

The first IHM in a patient with Fontan anatomy and physiology enables real-time monitoring of central venous and pulmonary artery pressures. While the Fontan procedure has improved the short- and mid-term outcomes for patients born with single ventricle anatomy, long-term complications of Fontan circulation include heart failure. These complications are thought to be secondary to…

Creating the Patient-Centered Medical Neighborhood
Creating the Patient-Centered Medical Neighborhood 1024 575 Tiasha Letostak, PhD

How do we create a more integrated healthcare delivery system to improve outcomes in our community? The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) conceptualizes the medical neighborhood as a patient-centered medical home (PCMH) and the network of other clinicians providing health care services to patients within it, along with community and social service organizations, as well…