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Doctors Overprescribing Drugs in the U.S.
According to a report by HealthDay, physicians based in the United States continue to prescribe drugs that aren't always necessary, despite evidence that says otherwise. A recent survey of doctors revealed this news, according to the report, which claims antibiotics are by far the most frequently used medications in situations where they’ll provide no value for patients. The survey reportedly found more than 25% of doctors said antibiotics are often administered to patients when the drugs will do no good. In most cases, the antibiotics are prescribed to treat upper-respiratory infections even though these are most often caused by viruses unaffected by the medication, the report claims. Other treatments frequently used despite questionable value include aggressive treatments for terminally ill patients (9%), drugs prescribed for chronic pain (7%), and dietary supplements such as fish oil and multivitamins (5%). The results are from a random survey of 5,000 members of the American College of Physicians. The study findings are published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Tissue Regenix Signs Contract for DermaPure
Tissue Regenix Group PLC (San Antonio, TX), an international medical device company in the field of regenerative medicine, has signed a contract with United States group-purchasing organization Premier Inc. (Charlotte, NC), which has about 3,700 hospitals and 130,000 other healthcare providers in its network. All providers in the network will now have contracted access to the wound care product DermaPure.TM DermaPure was awarded the contract under a breakthrough technology agreement, according to officials, which Premier only awards after a review process determines the new product offers unique benefits compared to other products its companies have access to. “Approval under Premier’s breakthrough technology agreement marks a significant milestone for DermaPure,” said chief executive Antony Odell. “This confirms the unique characteristics of our patented dCELL® technology, the powerful clinical evidence we have collected, and the remarkable outcomes it achieves in real-world clinical situations.” DermaPure is a graft designed to replicate the human skin as closely as possible and is used to cover and help heal wounds.
Study Claims Preventable Amputations Among High-Risk Patients Up Significantly
Overall, the rate of preventable amputations has decreased in the United States, but in California there is one subgroup for which the opposite may be true. An epidemiology study of 219,547 patients living with lower extremity ulcers found potentially preventable amputations increased significantly between 2005 and 2013, with the greatest increase occurring in patients living with both diabetes and peripheral arterial disease (PAD), according to the Society for Vascular Surgery. Patients with repeated hospitalizations had the highest risk of amputation.
The study is reported in the December issue of the Journal of Vascular Surgery.
The study reviewed patients considered to be at high risk of preventable amputations, specifically those living with diabetes, PAD, or both, who developed a foot ulcer. The study focused on patients who receive care through the emergency department (ED) or required hospitalization instead of being treated at a foot clinic or doctor’s office.
“We focused on this high-risk group, because population-based studies underestimate the problem for these patients,” said lead author Misty Humphries, MD, MAS, RPVI, FACS, vascular surgeon and researcher at the University of California Davis. “These patients are far more likely to face amputation now than they were in 2005.”
The study also found (among the high-risk patients):
- Diabetes patients living with PAD faced an increased risk that went from 10% to 28%, which is both statistically and clinically significant.
- Having multiple prior ED visits or hospital admissions was a significant predictor of amputation.
- All high-risk patients survived longer without an amputation if they were treated by a multidisciplinary team of specialists that includes a vascular surgeon, a podiatrist, and assistants trained in foot care.
The study points to the uneven nature of healthcare delivery for these patients. In urban areas and among the well insured, patients tend to get regular care for their diabetes and its side effects, the authors acknowledged. Patients had higher rates of amputations if they live in rural areas, are African American or Hispanic, or are on Medi-Cal. While it’s not completely clear why the number of amputations is up in this risk group, Humphries said there are some clues.
“The number of patients who were being seen in the ED during this time increased,” she said. “Many primary physicians are not comfortable with managing these patients. They may not know a specialist to refer patients to. Some physicians and nursing facilities find it is easier to send patients to the ED.”
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