Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/1322224
BY K ATY MENA-BERKLEY IN THE MIDST of the COVID-19 pandemic, physicians must still be able to provide care unrelated to the virus. And while telehealth can help providers stay connected with patients, there is no substitute for in-person care. The American Academy of Family Physicians understands the need to resume in-person care, but the organization is also aware that face-to-face visits may present different risks in various regions throughout the country. To help physicians determine whether the risks of reopening outweigh the benefits to the communities they serve, the A AFP recommends each physician consider factors unique to his or her region. These include: + Access to personal protective equipment + Availability of COVID-19 testing + Prevalence of COVID-19 cases + R e c om mend at ion s f r om s t at e -le vel hea lt h of f ici a l s and governors + Resources available to the practice, including finances, staff availability and telehealth capabilities If you elect to reopen your practice, communicate with your patients about steps you have taken to protect them when in your office. These should include: + Designated areas for healthy and sick patients + Mask wearing + Screening protocols + Temperature checks for patients and staff + Thorough sanitation measures If possible, also try to minimize the things that people must touch. For example, prop doors open or install sensors so that doors will open automatically. n BY FOLLOWING KE Y GUIDELINES, PHYSICIANS CAN CONFIDENTLY WELCOME PATIENTS BACK. Guidelines for Safely Reopening Your Practice 059990064_PM.indd 1 11/24/20 2:21 PM All About Ortho: A New App R E SE A RC H WA S J U S T given a convenience update. If you are an orthopedic specialist who regularly checks in with orthobullets.com — a free, online learning and collaborative physician resource — you can now enjoy its key take-home messages using the Orthobullets app. Like the website, the free app includes information about a spectrum of orthopedic topics, including common sports-related injuries, rare tumors and management strategies. With the Orthobullets app, you can also access charts, core articles and references, embedded videos and lectures, graphics, question banks and tables. Plus, the app includes basic anatomy info for students up to attendings, detailed surgical information for orthopedic residents, and multimedia functions. n — Katy Mena-Berkley An Alternative to Opioids: Is Ibuprofen the Answer for Orthopedic Trauma Patients? A S T U DY P U BL I SHED in the Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma finds that intravenous ibuprofen provides effective pain relief in orthopedic trauma patients. Based on the results of the study, researchers concluded that some patients might not need to rely on opioid medications to manage pain. The study was a randomized controlled trial that was double-blind, parallel and placebo-controlled. It was set in a Level 1 Trauma Center and randomized 99 consecutive orthopedic trauma patients to receive either 800 milligrams of IV ibuprofen or placebo. Each option was administered every six hours for a total of eight doses within 48 hours of admission. The administration of IV ibuprofen significantly reduced and delayed the consumption of opioids compared to placebo. n — Katy Mena-Berkley M D N E W S . C O M /// M D N E W S C E N T R A l N E W Y O R K ■ 2 0 21 2 1