Explorations in French Health Care! (Or what I did on my vacation!)
By MATTHEW HOLT This is a personal story about this blog’s publisher (me!) but it has just enough health care stuff to keep it relevant! This year I finally got invited on the annual mountain bike ride run by my friend JB and his ex Taiwan/Hong Kong buddies. I’ve actually been practicing and training most of the summer and arrived pretty confident even though I knew it would be tough. This edition is in Provence in France. Before it all went wrong And then…..2 hours in on the first day it turns out I was too confident… Back in 2002 I smashed my knee snowboarding into a tree. When I tol...
Source: The Health Care Blog - October 4, 2022 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: matthew holt Tags: Patients French health care Matthew Holt Source Type: blogs

MKSAP: 86-year-old woman with pain
Test your medicine knowledge with the MKSAP challenge, in partnership with the American College of Physicians. An 86-year-old woman is evaluated in her assisted-living facility for pain. Four weeks ago, she developed herpetic lesions on her right posterior thorax in a T7 distribution. She was treated with acyclovir, and the lesions healed; however, she has persistent severe burning pain. The pain is so severe that she is unable to leave her bed to attend meals. Medical history is remarkable for hypertension, mild cognitive impairment, and osteoporosis. She ambulates short distances but uses a walker for longer distances....
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - July 2, 2016 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Tags: Conditions Neurology Source Type: blogs

District Court Dismisses Chicago's Painkiller Marketing Lawsuit Against Four of Five Opioid Manufacturers; Purdue Pharma Still on the Hook
District Court Judge Jorge Alonso of the Northern District of Illinois recently dismissed the City of Chicago’s lawsuit against four out of five pharmaceutical manufacturers that the city accused of marketing opioids in violation of Illinois’ consumer fraud laws and for causing doctors and pharmacies to submit, and the city to pay, claims that were false. Judge Alonso found the majority of allegations lacked the necessary specificity needed for a successful case. For example, while the City alleged fraudulent marketing schemes in fairly good detail, the complaint failed to mention the names of Chicago doctors or consum...
Source: Policy and Medicine - May 13, 2015 Category: American Health Authors: Thomas Sullivan Source Type: blogs

MKSAP: 64-year-old man with knee osteoarthritis
Test your medicine knowledge with the MKSAP challenge, in partnership with the American College of Physicians. A 64-year-old man is evaluated for a 2-year history of knee osteoarthritis. He has bilateral knee pain that worsens with walking. He has tried topical therapies, physical therapy, and acetaminophen, none of which has provided relief. The patient also has peripheral vascular disease, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension. Medications are hydrochlorothiazide, pravastatin, and a daily aspirin. On physical examination, temperature is 37.0 °C (98.6 °F), blood pressure is 116/76 mm Hg, pulse rate is 60/min, and respirati...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - July 12, 2014 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Tags: Meds Rheumatology Source Type: blogs

New restrictions on painkiller prescriptions take effect Saturday | syracuse.com
Syracuse, N.Y. – Central New Yorkers with prescriptions for Vicodin and other painkillers containing hydrocodone will not be able to get them refilled starting Saturday unless they go to their doctor for a new prescription.The change is required by the state's new I STOP law, designed to address the epidemic of prescription painkiller abuse and addiction sweeping Central New York and the rest of the nation.Hydrocodone will become classified as a schedule 2 drug Saturday. That means refills will no longer be allowed for hydrocodone prescriptions. Even people holding hydrocodone prescriptions authorized for more ...
Source: Psychology of Pain - February 18, 2013 Category: Psychiatrists and Psychologists Source Type: blogs