Annals of internal medicine
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Review
The Development and Performance of After-Hours Primary Care in the Netherlands: A Narrative Review.
In many Western countries, hospital emergency departments are overcrowded, leading to the desire to strengthen primary care, particularly after hours. To achieve this goal, an increasing number of Western nations are reorganizing their after-hours primary care systems into large-scale primary care physician (PCP) cooperatives. This article provides an overview of the organization, performance, and development of PCP cooperatives in the Netherlands. ⋯ More than half of the PCP cooperatives in the Netherlands have integrated with hospital emergency departments, forming "emergency care access points." This collaboration has decreased emergency department use by 13% to 22%, and treatment of self-referrals by PCP cooperatives in emergency care access points is safe and cost-effective. Direct access to diagnostic facilities may optimize efficiency even more. Other recent developments include access to electronic health records of daytime primary care practices, task substitution from physicians to nurses, and the launch of a 2-year training program for PCPs to become experts in emergency care.
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Review Meta Analysis
Benefits and Harms of Osteoporosis Medications in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
Complications of chronic kidney disease (CKD) include weak bones and increased fracture risk. ⋯ Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes.
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Review Meta Analysis
Benefits and Harms of Osteoporosis Medications in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
Complications of chronic kidney disease (CKD) include weak bones and increased fracture risk. ⋯ Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes.
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Rapid improvements in hepatitis C virus (HCV) therapy have led to the approval of multiple oral direct-acting antiviral (DAA) regimens by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of chronic HCV infection. ⋯ Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute. (PROSPERO: CRD42014009711).
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Rapid improvements in hepatitis C virus (HCV) therapy have led to the approval of multiple oral direct-acting antiviral (DAA) regimens by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of chronic HCV infection. ⋯ Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute. (PROSPERO: CRD42014009711).