Southern medical journal
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Southern medical journal · Feb 2023
Association between Financial Barriers to Healthcare Access and Mental Health Outcomes in Tennessee.
A large number of people cannot afford healthcare services in the United States. Researchers have studied the impact of lack of affordability of health care on the outcomes of various physical conditions. Mental health disorders have emerged as a major public health challenge during the past decade. The lack of affordability of health care also may contribute to the burden of mental health. This research focuses on the association between financial barriers to health care and mental health outcomes in the US state of Tennessee. ⋯ Statistically significant associations were observed between the inability to see a doctor when needed because of cost and increased days of poorer mental health outcomes. This research has potential policy implications in the postcoronavirus disease 2019 era with healthcare transformation and significant financial impact.
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Southern medical journal · Feb 2023
ReviewHypertension in Chronic Kidney Disease: An Update on Diagnosis and Management.
Hypertension (HTN) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are pathophysiologic states that are intimately related, such that long-term HTN can lead to poor kidney function, and renal function decline can lead to worsening blood pressure (BP) control. HTN in CKD is caused by an interplay of factors, including salt and water retention, with extracellular volume expansion, sympathetic nervous system overactivity, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system activation, and endothelial dysfunction. ⋯ With accumulating evidence, the diagnosis as well as management of HTN in CKD has been evolving in the last decade. In this comprehensive review based on current evidence and recommendations, we summarize the basics of pathophysiology, BP variability, diagnosis, and management of HTN in CKD with an emphasis on special populations with CKD.
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Southern medical journal · Feb 2023
Women's Health Provider Perspectives on Reproductive Services Provision in the Veterans Health Administration.
Women veterans are a fast-growing population in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), and ensuring reproductive service availability is a VHA priority. As such, we sought to explore barriers and facilitators to VHA reproductive service provision across a catchment area from women's health providers' perspectives. ⋯ Addressing barriers to VHA reproductive healthcare provision may overcome reproductive service variations related to clinic location and improve reproductive health outcomes for women veterans.
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Southern medical journal · Feb 2023
Retaining Faculty from Underrepresented Groups in Academic Medicine: Results from a Needs Assessment.
Academic medical centers can improve the quality of care and address health inequities by recruiting and retaining faculty from underrepresented in medicine (URiM) groups; however, the retention of URiM faculty is a barrier to reaching equity-related goals because URiM faculty are less likely to remain in academia and be promoted compared with their peers. As such, the objective of this study was to determine factors that influence the retention of URiM faculty at large academic centers. ⋯ This study underscored the importance of supportive leadership, URiM-specific faculty development programs, networking opportunities, and the recognition of achievements as factors that influence the retention of faculty at a large academic medical center. In addition, participants highlighted the need for strong mentor networks and emphasizing sponsorship.