A birthday gift for everyone!

With each birthday, some of us may say to ourselves: “Is this all there is?” Last week, I listened to a story on NPR entitled, “The Doctor’s Guide to the ‘Art of Aging.’” The story includes an interview by NPR reporter Robert Siegel with Dr. Sherwin Nuland, a professor at Yale University Medical School, who’s written a new book entitled The Art of Aging: A Doctor’s Prescription for Well-Being, that seeks to help readers better understand the art of aging gracefully — and healthfully. NPR (Click the “Listen” icon to hear the interview.)

Editor’s Note: If you like the audio format, you should also check out www.caseinpointmagazine.com where we’ve created a new link, “Audio Archives.” You can listen there to two interviews we recently conducted for the article “Catastrophic Case Management: Focus on Brain and Spinal Cord Injuries,” in the February/March 2007 issue of Case in Point. If you do not currently receive the magazine at your home or organization, take a few minutes to sign up for your free subscription. In the meantime, you can view a PDF of the current issue online at the link above.

EPA offers guidelines for disposal of prescription drugs

The Environmental Protection Agency issued guidelines for the disposal of unneeded or expired prescription drugs in an effort to curb drug abuse and protect the environment. The agency recommends mixing the drugs with undesirable substances, such as cat litter or coffee grounds, and placing them in the trash in nondescript containers. Newsday

Editor’s Note: This story is important for all to ensure that expired or unused medications are disposed of in the proper manner. Case managers can use this information to educate their patients.

NCQA pushes for stricter health quality measures

The National Committee for Quality Assurance has proposed replacing some of its healthcare performance measures with stricter ones that would be designed to improve patient care. The measures would include improving childhood immunization measures and going beyond prescribing beta-blockers in heart attack patients to tracking whether patients are taking their beta-blocker treatments six months after a heart attack. Business Insurance

Editor’s Note: In addition to the measures mentioned in this story, NCQA is also issuing new HEDIS guidelines on COPD management and childhood lead screening. NCQA is also proposing retiring several existing HEDIS measures, including beta-blocker prescriptions after a heart attack. The proposed retirement is the result of the stunning success the measure has helped spur — the use of these life-saving drug therapies increased from an average of 63 percent in 1996 to nearly 97 percent in 2005. The public comment period for these changes is open till March 20, 2007. To comment, go to www.ncqa.org.

IBM, Duke develop patient Web site

A new Web site available to the nearly half a million people using the extensive Duke University Health System allows patients to make appointments, pay bills online and soon may make clinical information available as well, including prescriptions and lab results. The goal of the estimated $1 million site is to give patients more control over their personal health information. The Washington Post/AP

Editor’s Note: Another example of business and academia partnering to bring important tools to consumers so they can begin to manage their own healthcare.

Some employers reverse course, offer free drugs to workers

Some employers now are offering free drugs to workers instead of pushing for a reduction in company-paid healthcare expenses, with the belief that helping employees manage chronic conditions, such as diabetes and asthma, will help reduce long-term costs. The New York Times

Editor’s Note: Innovative concept by employers who recognize the importance of compliance with medication to control chronic conditions.

Hearing problems expected to affect 50 million by 2050

As many as 50 million people in the U.S. could face hearing problems by the year 2050, experts say. Loud music and a noisy world in general have caused young people to have two and a half times more hearing problems than their parents or grandparents, and researchers are looking into ways to produce more hair cells in the ear to improve the situation. CNN/AP

Editor’s Note: With more and more people using iPods and MP3 Players, the risks of hearing problems are rising.

AHA leans on women to lower risk for stroke, heart issues

The American Heart Association issued new guidelines this week, saying nearly all women in the U.S. should speak with their medical providers about taking aspirin to prevent strokes, as well as adopt a regular exercise routine and consume less fat. The guidelines, which were drafted by several groups, also encourage women to keep an eye on lowering their blood pressure and cholesterol levels and to avoid smoking.CNN/AP

Editor’s Note: This story was an important news item last week. Take some time to learn about the risks as well as the important tips that women can use to lower their risk factors.

Critics say budget cuts will worsen nursing shortage

Healthcare professionals say the Bush administration’s plan to eliminate the Advanced Education Nursing Programs, which offers grants to about 12,000 students, will worsen the nursing shortage. But the White House says there are better ways to address the recruiting problem. CQ Healthbeat

Editor’s Note: Planning for the future is important. The stats all say we are heading for a significant nursing shortage in the coming years. Is this good policy? If you don’t agree, take some action!

CMSA to joins the American Association of College of Pharmacy and Auburn University, College of Pharmacy in hosting a Motivational Interviewing Conference

A specialized training program designed for case managers and pharmacist educators seeking to learn and teach ways to support positive behavioral change in patients. In addition to learning motivational interviewing, attendees also learn how to teach MI through lecture, case scenarios, transition exercises and interactions with standardized patients. Classes will be held at the Auburn University Harrison School of Pharmacy and will provide participants the opportunity to experience the Objectives Structured Clinical Experience Laboratory. The dates of the training are: May 4-6 and July 27-29, 2007, at the Auburn University Hotel & Convention Center, in Auburn, Ala. Registration for the workshops can be completed at the CMSA Web site.

Editor’s Note: Today, case managers are looking for ways to assist patients (and themselves) in learning how to change behaviors that can put us at risk for chronic diseases. If you would like to learn and gain hands-on experience, take the time to check out this new program CMSA has just unveiled.