Osteopathic Family Physician RSS feed: Current Issue. Osteopathic Family Physician , the official journal of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians, is a peer-reviewed publication whose purpose to deliver information that helps osteopathic family physicians care for their patients, improve their practices, and better understand the activities ACOFP is taking on their behalf. The content areas of the journal reflect the interests of Association members and other health professionals. These areas include such diverse topics as preventive medicine, managed care, osteopathic principles and practices, pain management, public health, medical education, and practice management. The journal?s particular emphases include an active forum for the presentation of family medicine research in diverse settings, involving medical students, residents, fellows, and practicing professionals. Osteopathic Family Physician provides a forum for careful systematic reviews of primary care. As the official journal of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians, Osteopathic Family Physician publishes policy statements, communications from the Board of Governors, and notices of important Committee and Special Interest Group projects.http://www.osteopathicfamilyphysician.org/?rss=yesElsevier Inc.en © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Osteopathic Family Physician1877-573X22March 2010 © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. healthpermissions@elsevier.comhttp://www.osteopathicfamilyphysician.org/article/PIIS1877573X1000002X/abstract?rss=yesI am constantly reminded of the importance of lifelong education. The practicing family physician must have a broad knowledge base to address the variety of problems that present themselves each and every day. Family medical journals help to keep me abreast of not only those topics that I am already comfortable with but also with those topics on which I can use a refresher. Today there are so many ways to get information, yet little time to integrate it. Sources include medical journals, live courses such as the Annual Meeting and Scientific Sessions of the ACOFP, and online learning including podcasts.Editor's messageJay Shubrook10.1016/j.osfp.2010.01.001Osteopathic Family Physician 2, 2 (2010)2010-03-01Osteopathic Family Physician2010-03-0122S1877-573X(10)X0002-8Editor's Message3535http://www.osteopathicfamilyphysician.org/article/PIIS1877573X09001178/abstract?rss=yesObjectives: Diabetes mellitus is a significant risk factor for morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the treatment of diabetic patients with regard to glucose control.Methods: A retrospective inpatient chart review was performed on a sample of 209 patients. Those patients admitted to the hospital who had at least one fasting blood sugar greater than 110 mg/dL during the month of April 2008 were included. This study was approved by the Ohio University and Firelands Regional Medical Center Institutional Review Boards.Results: Fifty-three percent of hyperglycemic patients had no diagnosis of diabetes before admission. Of those found to be hyperglycemic, no glycemic treatment was offered in 51% of patients. Of the patients who received insulin therapy, almost half (45%) received sliding-scale insulin coverage, with no other treatment offered. Insulin was not titrated in 85% of patients throughout their stay. The mean glucose reading that triggered a change in treatment was 265 mg/dL. Mean average glucose excursion throughout the day was 87 mg/dL.Conclusion: Hyperglycemic management in the inpatient setting has significant room for improvement. Insulin use was titrated too infrequently and often too late to improve patient care. Despite its record of ineffectiveness, the majority of patients in our study received sliding scale insulin as their only insulin therapy. Further research is needed to explore morbidity and mortality associated with the use of sliding scale insulin versus basal-bolus insulin, with the goal of achieving improved postprandial glucose control.Glucose management in a community hospitalAllison Petznick, Sara Snyder, Godwin Dogbey10.1016/j.osfp.2009.12.001Osteopathic Family Physician 2, 2 (2010)2010-03-01Osteopathic Family Physician2010-03-0122S1877-573X(10)X0002-8Original Research3640http://www.osteopathicfamilyphysician.org/article/PIIS1877573X09001415/abstract?rss=yesMajor risk factors for addiction include those of the environment, more likely to affect initiation of use, and of the individual, where genetic factors are more likely to affect progression from use to dependence. An understanding of these risk factors will help the physician to counsel those at risk to avoid the initial use of or slow or stop substance use before it progresses to addiction. Further, the physician will be better equipped to make the often difficult decision of when to prescribe opioids for at-risk patients with chronic nonmalignant pain.Risk factors for addictionSteven W. Clay10.1016/j.osfp.2009.12.002Osteopathic Family Physician 2, 2 (2010)2010-03-01Osteopathic Family Physician2010-03-0122S1877-573X(10)X0002-8Review Article4145http://www.osteopathicfamilyphysician.org/article/PIIS1877573X09000793/abstract?rss=yesA 58-year-old African-American female presented to the ophthalmology clinic from the local emergency department with a history of sudden visual loss in her right eye.The patient originally presented to the emergency department with the complaint of sudden painless monocular visual loss in her right eye. The ophthalmology clinic was notified of the patient's complaint and she was sent to the clinic for evaluation. Upon arrival the patient was subsequently diagnosed with a branch retinal artery occlusion. The patient was admitted to the hospital for a systemic work up by her primary care physician.Sudden painless monocular visual lossSam Multack, Lindsey Multack, Justin Coco, Theresa Nguyen, Richard F. Multack10.1016/j.osfp.2009.09.005Osteopathic Family Physician 2, 2 (2010)2010-03-01Osteopathic Family Physician2010-03-0122S1877-573X(10)X0002-8Case Reports4649http://www.osteopathicfamilyphysician.org/article/PIIS1877573X09000367/abstract?rss=yesThe preparticipation physical examination in the athlete is commonly encountered and performed in Family Practice. The primary care physician needs to take care during this examination to be alert to the various risks and warning signs that may signal a risk for sudden cardiac death. This case involves a 17-year-old athlete and a single coronary artery passing between the great vessels.A high school athlete with a single coronary artery passing between the great vesselsMark Abraham10.1016/j.osfp.2009.07.001Osteopathic Family Physician 2, 2 (2010)2010-03-01Osteopathic Family Physician2010-03-0122S1877-573X(10)X0002-8Case Reports5052http://www.osteopathicfamilyphysician.org/article/PIIS1877573X09000768/abstract?rss=yesIf “a picture is worth a thousand words,” how can we capture this concept to enhance physician and patient communication and improve the overall relationship? How can medical educators help medical students and residents put their patient education points into more memorable language? The answer may lie in the use of word pictures. A word picture is a communication tool that uses a story or an experience to activate both the intellect and the emotions and, in so doing, allows the person to relate to the words, not just hear them. Using word pictures and concrete images improves perception and comprehension.Word Pictures as a teaching tool for residents and medical studentsDonald R. Furci, Jeri A. O'Donnell10.1016/j.osfp.2009.09.002Osteopathic Family Physician 2, 2 (2010)2010-03-01Osteopathic Family Physician2010-03-0122S1877-573X(10)X0002-8Brief Report5354http://www.osteopathicfamilyphysician.org/article/PIIS1877573X09001464/abstract?rss=yesSummary: This is an update from Washington, DC, on the Practicing Physicians Advisory Council, Health Information Technology, and the Food and Drug Administration.Washington, D.C. updateKeith Studdard, Marcelino Oliva10.1016/j.osfp.2009.12.003Osteopathic Family Physician 2, 2 (2010)2010-03-01Osteopathic Family Physician2010-03-0122S1877-573X(10)X0002-85557http://www.osteopathicfamilyphysician.org/article/PIIS1877573X10000195/abstract?rss=yesCalendar of Events10.1016/S1877-573X(10)00019-5Osteopathic Family Physician 2, 2 (2010)2010-03-01Osteopathic Family Physician2010-03-0122S1877-573X(10)X0002-85858http://www.osteopathicfamilyphysician.org/article/PIIS1877573X10000055/abstract?rss=yesGuide for Readers10.1016/S1877-573X(10)00005-5Osteopathic Family Physician 2, 2 (2010)2010-03-01Osteopathic Family Physician2010-03-0122S1877-573X(10)X0002-8FrontmatterA1A1http://www.osteopathicfamilyphysician.org/article/PIIS1877573X10000067/abstract?rss=yesMasthead/Editorial Board10.1016/S1877-573X(10)00006-7Osteopathic Family Physician 2, 2 (2010)2010-03-01Osteopathic Family Physician2010-03-0122S1877-573X(10)X0002-8FrontmatterA2A2http://www.osteopathicfamilyphysician.org/article/PIIS1877573X10000079/abstract?rss=yesTable of Contents10.1016/S1877-573X(10)00007-9Osteopathic Family Physician 2, 2 (2010)2010-03-01Osteopathic Family Physician2010-03-0122S1877-573X(10)X0002-8FrontmatterA3A3