The work of Bill Golden, M.D., Professor of Medicine and Health Policy and Management at UAMS, and his colleagues received recognition in a report by the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC), released Jan. 15, Transitioning to Organized Systems of Care: Medical Homes, Payment Bundles, and the Role of Fee-for-Service.
Dr. Golden and former Arkansas Surgeon General Joe Thompson, M.D., collaborated with others on the development of the patient-centered medical home (PCMH) model as a way to improve patient care and contain costs. The BPC’s report lauded the Arkansas PCMH model, based on early data on its implementation.
“While there have been many private and public approaches to the PCMH model, the CPCI and an implementation of SIM in Arkansas appear particularly promising. These approaches not only provide a PMPM payment in addition to FFS reimbursements, but also hold participating practices accountable for quality and offer the opportunity to share in savings,” the report states.
To access the BPC report, go here. To read the Health Affairs blog by Dr. Golden and his colleagues about PCMHs in Arkansas that was cited in the BPC report, go here.
Lori Fischbach, Ph.D., Associate Professor in the Department of Epidemiology at the UAMS Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, presented on Jan. 27 at COPH Public Health Seminar. The title of her presentation was “Does Standard Triple Therapy for Helicobacter Pylori Work in Developing Countries? Preliminary Results from a Meta-Analysis.” Dr. Fischbach conducted a meta-analysis of findings from 276 studies on the efficacy of drug regimens to treat H. pylori in adults in developing countries, where the disease is much more common, compared to developed countries. She drew conclusions regarding why the drug treatment mostly commonly recommended globally is less effective in developing countries; identify the treatments shown to be most effective in developing countries; provide insight into local factors that may affect eradication rates; and recommend treatment guidelines.
Kevin Ryan, J.D., MA, Associate Dean for Professional Programs for the UAMS Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, presented on Jan. 22 at Public Health Grand Rounds at the Arkansas Department of Health. Co-presenter was Micah Hester, Ph.D., the Chief of the Division of Medical Humanities at UAMS. The title of their talk was “Threats to the Public’s Health: Legal and Ethical Considerations of Quarantine (and Other Public Health Tools).” The presentation provided historical, legal and ethical perspectives on the authority of public health officials to protect the common good and the limits of individual rights in relation to infectious disease quarantine and other public health interventions. A video of their presentation can be viewed by connecting to this link.