PHYSICIANS OFFICE NEWS BRIEFS
1.60; 95 percent CI, 0.80 to 3.20; two trials), but
not knee or hip arthroplasty (RR, 1.00; 95
percent CI, 0.49 to 2.05; five trials). With aspirin,
the risk of bleeding was lower than
anticoagulants following hip fracture repair (RR,
0.32; 95 percent CI, 0.13 to 0.77; two trials) and
nonsignificantly lower after arthroplasty (RR,
0.63; 95 percent CI, 0.33 to 1.21; five trials).
"Definitive recommendations for or against
the use of aspirin instead of anticoagulation for
VTE prevention following major orthopedic
surgery are not possible," the authors write.
enhance patient-clinician communication within
these appointments," the authors write.
P
hysicians Warned About
Counterfeit Medical Devices
Physicians should be aware of the
prevalence and serious
consequences associated with use
of counterfeit medical devices, according to a
letter to the editor published online July 20 in
Lasers in Surgery and Medicine.
Brian S. Biesman, M.D., from the Nashville
Center for Laser and Facial Surgery in Tennessee,
and Neelam Patel, from the Vanderbilt University
School of Medicine in Nashville, discuss the
prevalence and dangers of counterfeit medical
devices, many of which target legitimate devices
manufactured by Zeitiq and Ulthera.
The researchers note that both
companies' devices are protected by patents
and have integrated safety features.
However, the counterfeit devices are not
certified as safe, reliable, or reproducible,
and numerous
injuries have been
documented with
their use. There may
be economic
incentives for
purchasing
counterfeit devices,
but these are
outweighed by the
risks and liabilities
associated with using
counterfeit technology. Medical malpractice
insurance carriers may not provide coverage
for litigation arising from use of non-U.S.
Food and Drug Administration-approved
devices. There are currently 29 imitations of
the Zeltiq device and at least five counterfeit
Ulthera devices. Despite being unregulated
and unapproved, these can be purchased via
the Internet and some are displayed at
legitimate trade shows.
"Physicians should be aware of the
existence and prevalence of counterfeit
medical devices and need to understand that
P
atients Give High Marks to
Shared Medical Appointments
Shared medical appointments
(SMAs) improve patient satisfaction
with primary care, according to
research published in the July/August issue of
the Annals of Family Medicine.
Leonie Heyworth, M.D., M.P.H., of the
Veterans Administration Boston Healthcare
System in Jamaica Plain, Mass., and colleagues
mailed questionnaires
to SMA patients and
usual care patients (921
in each group) to
measure levels of
patient satisfaction and
other indicators.
The researchers
found that 40 percent
of SMA patients and 31
percent of usual care
patients responded.
After adjustment, SMA patients were found to
be more likely to rate their overall satisfaction
with care as "very good" than usual care patients
(odds ratio, 1.26; 95 percent confidence interval,
1.05 to 1.52). In the analysis of indicators for
patient-centered medical home, SMA patients
described their care as more accessible and
more sensitive to their needs; usual care
patients reported greater satisfaction with
physician communication and time spent
during the appointment.
"Additional research should examine satisfaction
with SMAs over time and identify strategies to
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