Journal of general internal medicine
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The 21st Century Cures Act enables patients to access their medical records, thus providing a unique opportunity to engage patients in their diagnostic journey. ⋯ Patients and clinicians appear to have certain differences in their mental models of what is considered a diagnostic concern. Efforts to integrate patient perspectives and experiences with the diagnostic process can lead to better measurement of diagnostic safety.
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Female sexual dysfunction (FSD), defined as clinically distressing problems with desire, arousal, orgasm, or pain, affects 12% of US women. Despite availability of medications for FSD, primary care physicians (PCPs) report feeling underprepared to manage it. In contrast, erectile dysfunction (ED) is frequently treated in primary care. ⋯ Primary care patients with FSD are less likely to receive management if they are diagnosed by a PCP than by an OB/GYN. The opposite was true of ED patients, exposing a gap in the quality of care female patients receive.
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Many interventions implemented for multi-visit patients (MVP) have been developed to address patient-centric needs of these individuals and reduce unplanned care for ambulatory-sensitive conditions. More rigorous research is needed to better understand the impact of these interventions on changes in care utilization including unplanned care. ⋯ ECP showed significant reduction of unplanned care for MVP patients.
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Direct-to-consumer (DTC) pharmacies sell generic prescription drugs, often at lower prices than traditional retail pharmacies; however, not all drugs are available, and prices vary. ⋯ Many of the most expensive generic drugs are unavailable at direct-to-consumer pharmacies. Meanwhile, less expensive, commonly used generics are widely available, but drug prices vary by pharmacy and savings are modest, requiring patients to shop around for the lowest cost.