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Latest Preventive Medicine Articles on PCE's The Exchange
Universal Screening for Afib in Primary Care: Feasible but not Productive
Posted By: 
Ben Taylor, PA-C, PhD, DFAAPA
April 08, 2022
Recent data from the VITAL-AF study has provided insight into the efficacy of universal point-of-care screenings with single-lead ECG in primary care settings for diagnosis of atrial fibrillation (AF) in older adults. The study authors hypothesized that such screening would identify more patients with AF, and thus enable efficient initiation of oral anticoagulation. Over a screening period of 1 year, 30,715 patients ≥65 years of age from 16 primary care practices were randomly assigned (1:1... Continue Reading
Filed under: Cardiometabolic, Preventive Medicine
Pre-Exposure COVID-19 Prophylaxis in Rheumatology Patients
Posted By: Shannon Ghizzoni, PA-C
March 29, 2022
On December 8, 2021, the US Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) for tixagevimab/cilgavimab as pre-exposure prophylaxis o... Continue Reading
Filed under: Infectious Diseases, Preventive Medicine, Rheumatology
The Health Risk of Consuming Sugar-Sweetened Beverages
Posted By: 
Susan Tiso, DNP, FNP-BC
February 04, 2022
When I inquire about dietary intake during a new patient history, I am always surprised to hear how many people drink sugar-sweetened beverages. Although con... Continue Reading
Filed under: Miscellaneous, Preventive Medicine
Calcium Supplementation: How To Get Enough
Posted By: Susan Tiso, DNP, FNP-BC
February 01, 2022
Nutritional supplements (ie, vitamins, minerals, and herbs) are a multibillion-dollar industry in the US. Many people learn about supplements from pop-cultur... Continue Reading
Filed under: Preventive Medicine
Plant-based Diet to Lower Blood Pressure?
Posted By: 
Laura Ross, PA-C
January 21, 2022
Hypertension is 1 of the major risk factors for heart disease and stroke, affecting approximately one-third of adults in developed countries. Treatment optio... Continue Reading
Filed under: Cardiometabolic, Preventive Medicine
FDA Rules on COVID Booster Shot - 09/17/2021
Posted By: Susan Tiso, DNP, FNP-BC
September 24, 2021
In a meeting last week, a panel of advisors to the Food and Drug Administration recommended against widespread approval of a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 booster... Continue Reading
Filed under: Health Policy and Trends, Infectious Diseases, Preventive Medicine, Public Health
CDC Data and Clinical Considerations for Additional COVID Vaccine Doses in Immunocompromised People
Posted By: 
Mary Knudtson, DNSc, NP, FAAN
August 04, 2021
There has been discussion of whether people with immunocompromising conditions should receive a 3rd dose of the mRNA COVID vaccine. The CDC presented at the... Continue Reading
Filed under: Infectious Diseases, Preventive Medicine, Public Health
What to Do With Patients who Report Allergic Symptoms Following the First Dose of an mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine
Posted By: 
Amanda Michaud, MMS, PA-C
July 16, 2021
A major concern to public health officials is incomplete vaccination with the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine series. One reason for incomplete vaccination is if patie... Continue Reading
Filed under: Allergy/Immunology, Infectious Diseases, Preventive Medicine
A Free Algorithm Program to Scan Big Data for Chronic Kidney Disease
Posted By: 
Lawrence Herman, DMSc, MPA, PA-C
June 15, 2021
A team at Columbia University Medical Center in New York has developed and validated a free software algorithm that can scan an electronic medical record (EM... Continue Reading
Filed under: Preventive Medicine, Public Health
Blood Tests for Detecting More Than 50 Cancer Types: Ready for Prime Time?
Posted By: Lawrence Herman, DMSc, MPA, PA-C
June 11, 2021
In the March 2020 issue of Annals of Oncology, Liu and colleagues detailed a "sensitive and specific multi-cancer detection and localization using m... Continue Reading
Filed under: Oncology/Hematology, Preventive Medicine
Vaccinating Homebound Patients
Posted By: 
Debra A. Danforth, DNP, APRN, FAANP
May 21, 2021
How many of you have patients who are homebound? According to Trust for America's Health, there are between 2 million and 4 million homebound patients in the... Continue Reading
Filed under: Preventive Medicine
Should We Be Screening all Patients Over 50 for Age-Related Macular Degeneration?
Posted By: Mary Knudtson, DNSc, NP, FAAN
April 30, 2021
A growing public health issue for older adults is impaired sight. In fact, in 2011, 12% of US adults aged 65 to 74 years reported trouble with their vision,... Continue Reading
Filed under: Miscellaneous, Preventive Medicine
What Can You Tell Patients After Their Second COVID Vaccination?
Posted By: Mary Knudtson, DNSc, NP, FAAN
February 23, 2021
Patients are beginning to ask what they can safely do after they have received both doses of the currently approved COVID vaccines. What do the experts and t... Continue Reading
Filed under: Preventive Medicine, Public Health
It’s Time to Talk About Vaccinations
Posted By: 
Daniel Thibodeau, MHP, PA-C
February 16, 2021
As we make our way through the immunization phase of the COVID pandemic, I cannot help but think about the many Americans who have not received their vaccine... Continue Reading
Filed under: Preventive Medicine, Public Health
Can Leading a Healthy Lifestyle Change the Likelihood of Developing Systemic Lupus Erythematosus?
Posted By: 
Richard S. Pope, PA-C, MPAS
December 31, 2020
An abstract presented at this year's American College of Rheumatology (ACR) conference asked whether the likelihood of being diagnosed with systemic lupus er... Continue Reading
Filed under: Preventive Medicine, Rheumatology
Will You Get a COVID-19 Vaccine?
Posted By: 
Lawrence Herman, DMSc, MPA, PA-C
November 27, 2020
In a post earlier this week, I wrote about public skepticism concerning COVID-19 vaccines, with some surveys showing an estimated 50-50 split in terms of whe... Continue Reading
Filed under: Allergy/Immunology, Health Policy and Trends, Infectious Diseases, Preventive Medicine, Public Health
COVID-19 Vaccine Trials: Reality Check
Posted By: Lawrence Herman, DMSc, MPA, PA-C
November 24, 2020
There is both good and bad news with respect to the ongoing COVID-19 vaccine trials. As a preface, know that approximately 90% of vaccine trials fail to lead... Continue Reading
Filed under: Allergy/Immunology, Infectious Diseases, Preventive Medicine, Public Health
Single HCV Screening for All Adults
Posted By: Ben Taylor, PA-C, PhD, DFAAPA
April 21, 2020
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a contagious hepatic disease that lives in blood and bodily fluids, and can be passed from person to person through infected blood... Continue Reading
Filed under: Infectious Diseases, Preventive Medicine
New Cholesterol Drug Soon to Make It to the United States
Posted By: Daniel Thibodeau, MHP, PA-C
January 31, 2020
Normally, when a new drug hits the United States market you will see a small market spike of curiosity. As we continually seek ways to improve the health and... Continue Reading
Filed under: Cardiometabolic, Preventive Medicine
Cancer Screening Guidelines 2020: Let’s Recap!
Posted By: 
Beth Sandy, MSN, CRNP
January 24, 2020
We now have screening tools and methodologies for several of the most common types of cancer. Each year, the American Cancer Society (ACS) publishes updated... Continue Reading
Filed under: Health Policy and Trends, Oncology/Hematology, Preventive Medicine
Better Sleep Linked to Reduced Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke Risk
Posted By: Ben Taylor, PA-C, PhD, DFAAPA
January 10, 2020
We all know that sleep is crucial for heart health. Research has shown that regardless of a person's age, weight, smoking habits, and exercise l... Continue Reading
Filed under: Cardiometabolic, Preventive Medicine, Pulmonary Medicine
Can High-dose Vitamin D Prevent Functional Decline in Our Older Population?
Posted By: Richard S. Pope, PA-C, MPAS
December 24, 2019
Lower extremity functional decline in our elderly population is a major risk factor for falls, hip fracture, frailty, and loss of autonomy. As the baby boome... Continue Reading
Filed under: Miscellaneous, Orthopedics, Preventive Medicine
Intermittent Fasting
Posted By: Susan Tiso, DNP, FNP-BC
December 20, 2019
If you think about how humans have been eating for centuries, it has likely included some "natural" intermittent fasting. For examp... Continue Reading
Filed under: Cardiometabolic, Miscellaneous, Preventive Medicine, Public Health
Circadian Rhythms and Metabolic Syndrome
Posted By: Susan Tiso, DNP, FNP-BC
December 17, 2019
As researchers explore the complex relationship of circadian rhythm and metabolic syndrome, they are searching for root causes and best treatment approaches Continue Reading
Filed under: Cardiometabolic, Miscellaneous, Preventive Medicine, Public Health
November is Diabetes Awareness Month
Posted By: 
Lawrence Herman, PA-C, MPA
November 15, 2019
Along with the colder weather and the promise of holiday season, November brings us the opportunity to raise awareness about diabetes. Both type 1 and type 2... Continue Reading
Filed under: Cardiometabolic, NPs & PAs, Practice Management/Career, Preventive Medicine, Public Health
Trans Fatty Acids Now Also Linked to Higher Risk of Dementia
Posted By: Lawrence Herman, PA-C, MPA
November 12, 2019
Consumption of trans fats in high levels has been linked to coronary artery disease, diabetes and more. Now, a team of Japanese researchers have specifically... Continue Reading
Filed under: Cardiometabolic, Neurology, Preventive Medicine
'Tis the Flu Season! 2020 Influenza Updates
Posted By: 
Susanne J. Phillips, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC
September 27, 2019
On August 23, 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published Prevention and Control of Seasonal Influenza with Vaccines: Recommendations of t... Continue Reading
Filed under: Preventive Medicine, Public Health
Nutrition Recommendations for Prevention or Delaying Onset of Dementia and Cognitive Decline
Posted By: Susanne J. Phillips, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC
August 13, 2019
In 2015, researchers at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago and Harvard School of Public Health in Boston published results of their prospective study... Continue Reading
Filed under: Preventive Medicine
Do Meal Times Affect Weight Control?
Posted By: Susan Tiso, DNP, FNP-BC
August 09, 2019
In 2009, researchers at Northwestern University conducted a study on mice and timed feeding, later publishing their research in Obesity. For 6 weeks... Continue Reading
Filed under: Preventive Medicine, Public Health
Are Chemicals Making Us Fat?
Posted By: Susan Tiso, DNP, FNP-BC
August 07, 2019
Holistic health proponents are advocating to get rid of our so-common use of plastics for environmental as well as health reasons. For example, did you ever... Continue Reading
Filed under: Cardiometabolic, Preventive Medicine
A Glimpse of What Artificial Intelligence May Bring to Medicine
Posted By: 
Lawrence Herman, MPA, PA-C
July 30, 2019
I’ve always been fascinated by what the intersection of big data, technology, and medicine will bring. While I am a firm believer that IBM's Watson will no... Continue Reading
Filed under: Preventive Medicine, Public Health
Updated Beers Criteria for Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults
Posted By: Ben Taylor, PA-C, PhD, DFAAPA
July 22, 2019
The American Geriatrics Society (AGS) 2019 Updated Beers Criteria—updated from 2015—are designed to reduce older adults' drug-related problems including,... Continue Reading
Filed under: Health Policy and Trends, Preventive Medicine
CHAMPS HF - We All Can do Better!
Posted By: Daniel Thibodeau, MHP, PA-C
June 14, 2019
Many of us manage patients with heart failure with a reduced ejection fraction, or HFrEF. The management of this patient population is complex, and most pati... Continue Reading
Filed under: Cardiometabolic, Preventive Medicine
What Price to Save Your Child?
Posted By: Lawrence Herman, MPA, PA-C
June 07, 2019
Let’s say you have your first child and are elated to bring him or her home from the hospital. A month later, you notice something isn’t right and soon y... Continue Reading
Filed under: Preventive Medicine
Consider Deprescribing in Our Older Adults
Posted By: Daniel Thibodeau, MHP, PA-C
June 01, 2019
We all have patients in our practices who are older and on numerous medications. They are stabilizing their problems but are faced with the reality of nearin... Continue Reading
Filed under: Health Policy and Trends, Preventive Medicine, Public Health
National Stop the Bleed Month
Posted By: Debra A. Danforth, DNP, APRN, FAANP
May 17, 2019
Did you know that May 2019 is the first-ever National Stop the Bleed Month? Also, May 23 is the second annual Stop the Bleed® Day. So what is “... Continue Reading
Filed under: Health Policy and Trends, Miscellaneous, Preventive Medicine, Public Health
Lower Cholesterol – The Natural Way
Posted By: Debra A. Danforth, DNP, APRN, FAANP
May 14, 2019
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 95 million US adults aged 20 or older have total cholesterol levels higher than 200 mg/dL. Many... Continue Reading
Filed under: Preventive Medicine
Hypertension in the Pediatric Population
Posted By: Ben Taylor, PA-C, PhD, DFAAPA
May 07, 2019
The prevalence of systemic hypertension (HTN) in the pediatric population is now commonly observed to be increasing, especially in view of the growing popula... Continue Reading
Filed under: Cardiometabolic, Health Policy and Trends, Preventive Medicine
It’s a Digital World: Screen Time Recommendations for Children
Posted By: Susan Tiso, DNP, FNP-BC
May 03, 2019
We definitely live in a different day and age than when I was a child… As children, my siblings and I just opened the door and went outside to play all day... Continue Reading
Filed under: Miscellaneous, Preventive Medicine, Public Health
Using Policy to Impact HPV Vaccine Rates
Posted By: Susan Tiso, DNP, FNP-BC
May 02, 2019
For more than 10 years we have had a safe and effective vaccine that can prevent several types of cancer. I understand the reluctance to accept a vaccine whe... Continue Reading
Filed under: Health Policy and Trends, Infectious Diseases, Preventive Medicine, Women's Health
Measles Outbreak – A Public Health Concern
Posted By: Daniel Thibodeau, MHP, PA-C
April 26, 2019
The modern world was turned upside down in 1997 when researcher Andrew Wakefield suggested there was a direct correlation between the MMR (measles/mumps/rube... Continue Reading
Filed under: Infectious Diseases, Preventive Medicine, Public Health
Cardiovascular Health Promotion—A Must Read for PAs and NPs
Posted By: Daniel Thibodeau, MHP, PA-C
April 23, 2019
PAs and NPs are encouraged to read a recent issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology on cardiovascular health and promotion. This... Continue Reading
Filed under: Cardiometabolic, Preventive Medicine
Was the Apple Heart Study Virtually Useless?
Posted By: Lawrence Herman, MPA, PA-C
April 12, 2019
My wife absolutely loves her Apple Watch and would admit that it is like her crack cocaine: she feels compelled to close all of her rings daily, even when we... Continue Reading
Filed under: Cardiometabolic, Preventive Medicine
Aspirin Use for ASCVD Prevention
Posted By: Ben Taylor, PA-C, PhD, DFAAPA
April 02, 2019
For decades aspirin has been a staple of primary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) in at-risk populations, based on recommendation... Continue Reading
Filed under: Cardiometabolic, Preventive Medicine
Super Bowl and Food Recovery
Posted By: Susan Tiso, DNP, FNP-BC
February 03, 2019
Super Bowl Sunday is reportedly one of the biggest eating days of the year, behind Thanksgiving. There were lots of parties and celebrations this week, which... Continue Reading
Filed under: Preventive Medicine, Public Health
Here We Go Again: Measles in Seattle This Time
Posted By: Susan Tiso, DNP, FNP-BC
January 31, 2019
As of January 31, 2019, there were 42 confirmed cases of measles in the Pacific Northwest. This includes 41 cases in Clark County, the epicenter for the outb... Continue Reading
Filed under: Health Policy and Trends, Infectious Diseases, Preventive Medicine