Articles related toPublic Health and Primary Care

To remedy economic challenges facing rural hospitals, the Save Rural Hospitals Act/HR 2957 was proposed to Congress. However, the bill is not a sustainable solution for resolving economic challenges and the workforce shortage. This article examines current challenges rural hospitals face and offers potential solutions to improve the rural health care delivery model.

Patients’ frustrations, worries, and concerns about living with diabetes are associated with poor self care, poor glycemic control, and lower quality of life. This descriptive, cross sectional study assessed diabetes distress and other psychosocial factors via an electronic anonymous survey of 173 students, faculty, and staff at a large university in the Midwestern US.

The author offers feedback on a previously published article: Peters J, Chien J. Contemporary routes of cannabis consumption: a primer for clinicians. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2018;118(2):67-70. doi:10.7556/jaoa.2018.020

The authors respond to a Letter to the Editor from Julianne Moy, DO regarding their article: Peters J, Chien J. Contemporary routes of cannabis consumption: a primer for clinicians. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2018;118(2):67-70. doi:10.7556/jaoa.2018.020

Despite numerous improvements in the management of advanced melanoma, the cornerstone to ensuring a cure remains early detection. To aid in the detection of melanoma—the deadliest form of skin cancer—and save costs associated with referrals and biopsies for benign nevi, primary care physicians may want to invest in a handheld diagnostic tool. This narrative literature review is intended to introduce osteopathic physicians to the dermoscopic features associated primarily with melanomas located on nonglabrous skin.

The authors illustrate the interrelationship of structure and function in resolving clicking and crepitation in 199 patients with temporomandibular disorders. Their secret? Splint therapy combined with occlusal adjustment based on a force diagram.

Osteoporosis is considered a major health concern for postmenopausal women, but little research has analyzed middle aged adults and men. Researchers assessed low bone mineral density and its associated risk factors in 173 patients from understudied populations.

Physicians are treating more patients who regularly use cannabis; however, little is known about how cannabis affects medical care. Researchers investigated the sedative doses required by regular cannabis users vs nonusers in 250 medical records.

In older patients, benzodiazepines have been associated with falls and impaired cognition. In 2 patients, cessation of the medication was attempted by dose tapering.