Highlighted Resource for September 15, 2023:
Impact of the Youth Behavioral Health Crisis in North Carolina

While children's mental health has become a very pressing issue in a post-pandemic world, the significant shortage of pediatric behavioral health providers in North Carolina makes this challenge greater.

A recent article in the NC Medical Journal discusses these problems, showing data on the issue and highlighting some health systems' attempted solutions.

To learn more, check out the ADL's September 15 Highlighted Article: Impact of the Youth Behavioral Health Crisis in North Carolina

For further reading on pediatric mental health, the NCMJ has an additional article: Reflecting on Infant/Toddler Mental Health and the Early Care and Education Workforce in North Carolina

Highlighted Resource for September 1, 2023:
Emerging Tick Bite-Associated Meat Allergy Potentially Affects Thousands

A recent CDC release highlights a little-known condition spread by tick bites called alpha-gal syndrome, which causes a serious allergic reaction to meat.

While evidence on this condition is still limited, many cases are in the south and midwest, including North Carolina.

To learn more, check out the ADL's September 1 Highlighted Resource:
Emerging Tick Bite-Associated Meat Allergy Potentially Affects Thousands

You can also review the CDC's guidance on preventing tick bites here:
Preventing tick bites

Highlighted Resource for August 15, 2023:
Protecting Vulnerable Patient Populations from Climate Hazards: A Referral Guide for Health Professionals

In the midst of a brutally hot summer, vulnerable patient populations are at greater risk of heat-related harm.

A guide from the US Dept. of Health and Human Services recommends a variety of methods healthcare professionals can use to support their at-risk patients during heat events, suggesting different referral options to mitigate heat impact.

To learn more, check out the ADL's August 15 Highlighted Resource:
Protecting Vulnerable Patient Populations from Climate Hazards: A Referral Guide for Health Professionals

Highlighted Resource for August 1, 2023:
NC Medicaid Continuous Coverage Unwinding Dashboard

With the end of the COVID public health emergency's freeze on Medicaid renewals, restarting the verification of Medicaid participant enrollment has brought many challenges.

Medicaid disenrollment, including those for people who should qualify, has been greater than expected, according to both the NC Medicaid Continuous Coverage Unwinding Dashboard and the related article in NC Health News.

To learn more, check out the ADL's August 1, 2023 Highlighted Resources:
NC Medicaid Continuous Coverage Unwinding Dashboard
New DHHS numbers show thousands of people lost Medicaid in June

Highlighted Resource for July 15, 2023:
Actionable Steps for Preventing Firearm Suicides among Adolescents and Young Adults

With suicides among young North Carolinians ages 15-24 on the rise, particularly in firearm-related deaths, people at all levels of the healthcare system need effective strategies to reverse this trend.

A recent article in the NC Medical Journal discusses actions that healthcare providers, policy-makers, and the general public can take to reduce the risk of firearm-related suicides for this at-risk age group.

This article is part of the NC Medical Journal's issue on firearm injuries in NC, which also covers highlights on other at-risk groups, examples of community programs from across the state, and data about the issue.

To learn more, check out the ADL's July 15 Highlighted Article:
Actionable Steps for Preventing Firearm Suicides among Adolescents and Young Adults

To see other articles on firearms in NC, check out the July/August NC Medical Journal issue:
Reducing Firearm Injury & Death in North Carolina

Highlighted Resource for July 1, 2023:
Physician and Biomedical Scientist Harassment on Social Media During the COVID-19 Pandemic

What are the risks for healthcare professionals speaking out on public health advocacy issues on social media?

A recent research letter in JAMA discusses the types of online harrassment that physicians and scientists faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, analyzing likelihood of harassment by race, gender, sexual orientation, and other factors.

To learn more, check out the ADL's July 1 Highlighted Article:
Physician and Biomedical Scientist Harassment on Social Media During the COVID-19 Pandemic

For additional discussion of the impact of online harrassment of healthcare professionals, including guides on how to respond, look at the related news piece by one of the research letter's authors:
From Doxxing to Doctor Death Threats — Online harassment of physicians and scientists goes beyond trolling

Highlighted Resource for June 15, 2023:
Association of Extreme Heat With All-Cause Mortality in the Contiguous US, 2008-2017

With rising temperatures worldwide, extreme heat is becoming an increasingly important factor in healthcare.

An article in JAMA discusses the impact of extreme heat on mortality, showing how greater numbers of increased heat events meant higher mortality rates.

To learn more, check out the ADL's June 15 highlighted article:
Association of Extreme Heat With All-Cause Mortality in the Contiguous US, 2008-2017

Highlighted Resource for June 1, 2023:
ABPN - Article-Based Continuing Certification (ABCC) Pathway

Did you know that the ADL can help you find the articles you need for American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) specialty and subspecialty certifications?

Our guide to ABPN topic categories and article lists includes direct links to free or open access content, links to abstracts for articles not freely available, and methods to request articles that are only available for purchase.

To learn more, check out the ADL's June 1 Highlighted Resource:
ABPN - Article-Based Continuing Certification (ABCC) Pathway

Highlighted Resource for May 15, 2023:
What Will It Take to Reduce Suicide Among Transgender North Carolinians by 2030?

Transgender people face many significant mental health challenges, and one of the most critical is the high risk of suicide among transgender youth.

An article in the NC Medical Journal discusses several interventions that can support these individuals and reduce suicide disparities, such as family acceptance therapy or trauma-informed schools.

To learn more, check out the ADL's May 15 Highlighted Article:
What Will It Take to Reduce Suicide Among Transgender North Carolinians by 2030?

For more on this topic, try one of our previous highlighted articles:
Mental Health Outcomes in Transgender and Nonbinary Youths Receiving Gender-Affirming Care

Highlighted Resource for May 1, 2023:
Crippling health workforce shortages mean hospitals can’t admit mental health patients — even if beds are empty

How has the behavioral health workforce shortage impacted North Carolina's inpatient psychiatric facilities?

A recent NC Health News article discusses this issue, highlighting the painfully limited staffing available and the factors contributing to this critical need.

To learn more, check out the ADL's May 1 Highlighted Article:
Crippling health workforce shortages mean hospitals can’t admit mental health patients — even if beds are empty

Highlighted Resource for April 15, 2023:
Mothers Face Broken Addiction Treatment System:
Lack of comprehensive care puts pregnant, postpartum people with substance use disorder at risk

What does treatment for opioid use disorder look like for people who are pregnant?

A recent news article in MedpageToday discusses this question in light of the ongoing opioid epidemic, highlighting the difficulties of finding addiction treatment during pregnancy.

To learn more, check out the ADL's April 15 Highlighted Resource:
Mothers Face Broken Addiction Treatment System: Lack of comprehensive care puts pregnant, postpartum people with substance use disorder at risk

You can also follow up with the JAMA studies cited in the news article:
Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome and Maternal Opioid-Related Diagnoses in the US, 2010-2017
Association of Pregnancy and Insurance Status With Treatment Access for Opioid Use Disorder

Highlighted Resource for April 1, 2023:
Healthy Aging in North Carolina: How NC’s Population is Changing and Why It Matters

What will North Carolina's population look like in coming years?

A recent article in the NC Medical Journal uses demographic data to show changes from aging and increased lifespan, and their potential socioeconomic impact.

To learn more, check out the April 1, 2023 Highlighted Article:
Healthy Aging in North Carolina: How NC’s Population is Changing and Why It Matters

For more on this topic, read the rest of this issue of the NC Medical Journal:
Healthy Aging in North Carolina

Highlighted Resource for March 15, 2023:
Why Does Insulin Cost So Much?

How can the United States make insulin more affordable for patients, when there are multiple points at which players in the drug industry raise the price?

This debate is highlighted in a recent news article in Kaiser Health News, discussing attempts to decrease patients' out-of-pocket costs and their potential impact.

To learn more, check out the ADL's March 15, 2023 Highlighted Article:
Why Does Insulin Cost So Much? Big Pharma Isn’t the Only Player Driving Prices

You can find the journal articles cited in this news item here:
Insulin in America: A Right or a Privilege?
Association of Drug Rebates and Competition With Out-of-Pocket Coinsurance in Medicare Part D, 2014 to 2018

Highlighted Resource for March 1, 2023:
According to Medical Guidelines, Your Doctor Needs a 27-Hour Workday

How many guidelines should we expect doctors to follow, when the amount of time required becomes unreasonable?

A recent New York Times article addresses this question, pointing out the impossibility of following all recommended guidelines for all patients as currently expected.

To learn more, check out the March 1 Highlighted Resource:
According to Medical Guidelines, Your Doctor Needs a 27-Hour Workday

You can also find more info in the research studies that the article cites:
Revisiting the Time Needed to Provide Adult Primary Care
Estimation of the Time Needed to Deliver the 2020 USPSTF Preventive Care Recommendations in Primary Care

Highlighted Resource for February 15, 2023:
STEPPS: Study to Examine Physicians’ Pandemic Stress

While the COVID-19 pandemic put an unprecedented amount of stress on healthcare providers, many of the factors involved are part of the entire US healthcare system.

The Study to Examine Physicians' Pandemic Stress (STEPPS) research project is looking into the causes of clinician stress, and developing recommendations for healthcare leaders to promote physicians' physical, mental, and moral wellbeing.

To learn more, check out the ADL's February 15 Highlighted Resource:
STEPPS Project Summary and Key Recommendations
STEPPS Project Website

Highlighted Resource for February 1, 2023:
Clinical Practice Guideline for the Evaluation and Treatment of Children and Adolescents With Obesity

With increasing recognition that childhood obesity can have a lifelong health impact, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has updated their guidelines on pediatric obesity treatment.

AAP's new evidence-based guidelines promote a "whole child" approach, with recommendations for early treatment using different age-specific options.

To learn more, check out the ADL's February 1 Highlighted Resource:
Clinical Practice Guideline for the Evaluation and Treatment of Children and Adolescents With Obesity
AAP website with additional information and resources about the guideline

Highlighted Resource for January 15, 2023:
Food Insecurity: You Can’t Know It’s a Problem Unless You Ask

While access to food is an important factor in a patient's health, it can be difficult to understand when it is affecting their patients.

A recent case study from the Institute for Healthcare Improvement describes a health system's efforts to integrate food security screenings into their clinics, explaining the processes and best practices they learned.

To learn more, check out the ADL's January 15 Highlighted Resource:
Food Insecurity: You Can’t Know It’s a Problem Unless You Ask

Highlighted Resource for January 1, 2023:
Trends in Clinician Burnout During the COVID-19 Pandemic

What are the most important factors that have increased or decreased burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic?

A recent JAMA study and corresponding Advisory Board article discuss this question, reporting on survey results that clinicians shared regarding factors such as chaos, work control, EHRs, feeling valued, and others.

To learn more, check out the full study in JAMA:
Trends in Clinician Burnout With Associated Mitigating and Aggravating Factors During the COVID-19 Pandemic

For an overview, check out the Advisory Board's Daily Briefing:
What's burning out your clinicians? The answer, charted.

Highlighted Resource for December 1, 2022:
Stress, Depression and the Holidays: Tips for Coping

The winter holiday season can be a stressful time of year for those who celebrate, piling additional mental health challenges onto the struggles of everyday life.

A fact sheet from the Mayo Clinic acknowledges these challenges, and offers tips to make your holiday season less overwhelming and more enjoyable.

To learn more, check out the ADL's December 1, 2022 Highlighted Resource:
Stress, Depression and the Holidays: Tips for Coping

If you or a loved one is feeling stressed during this holiday season, you can also refer to this list of local and national support options in NC Health News:
Mental Health Resources

Highlighted Resource for November 15, 2022:
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection (RSV)

Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection (RSV) rates are increasing earlier and more quickly than usual in 2022, leading to higher risks for infants and young children, older adults, and adults with chronic conditions.

The November 15, 2022 ADL highlighted resources address RSV topics for different care groups.

Healthcare providers can review the CDC's recommendations for RSV treatment:
RSV for Healthcare Providers

Patients and parents can get an overview from the AAP:
RSV: When It's More Than Just a Cold

People interested in tracking RSV rates in North Carolina can use the CDC's surveillance site:
RSV State Trends: NC

Highlighted Resource for November 1, 2022:
Meet the Latest Fact-Checker — Your Doctor

How does medical misinformation impact the relationship between doctors and patients, and how can healthcare workers rebuild that trust?

A recent Kaiser Health News interview with AMA President Dr. Jack Resneck discusses these questions in light of current issues, such as vaccines, abortion, and the public health system.

To learn more, check out the ADL's November 1, 2022 Highlighted Resource:
Meet the Latest Fact-Checker — Your Doctor

Highlighted Resource for October 15, 2022:
Long COVID Symptom Clusters Persisting After Symptomatic COVID-19

How many people infected by COVID-19 go on to experience symptoms of Long COVID after 3 months or more?

A recent study in JAMA pools results from 54 studies of people worldwide who had symptomatic COVID, investigating those who experienced Long COVID for symptoms and duration.

To learn more, check out the ADL's October 15 Highlighted Resource:
Estimated Global Proportions of Individuals With Persistent Fatigue, Cognitive, and Respiratory Symptom Clusters Following Symptomatic COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021

You can also read a news item about the study in MedPageToday, summarizing the information and including commentary from the study's main author:
Long COVID Persists in People With Symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Highlighted Resource for October 1, 2022:
The Vaccine-Hesitant Moment

Vaccine hesitancy, which refers to a moment of indecision about whether to get a vaccination, is a period of both vulnerability and opportunity.

A recent article in the New England Journal of Medicine discusses multiple times of cultural vaccine hesitancy in the last ten years, culminating in the latest debates over the COVID-19 vaccines.

To learn more, check out the October 1 highlighted resource:
The Vaccine-Hesitant Moment

Highlighted Resource for September 15, 2022:
We Must Do Better: Addressing High Mortality After Release from Incarceration

Mortality rates for people who have been incarcerated are alarmingly high, due to a variety of factors including both physical and behavioral health concerns.

A recent article in the NC Medical Journal discusses this trend, addressing data about different mortality factors, the state of health care in prisons, and NC organizations that suppport people with community reentry.

To learn more, check out the September 15 ADL Highlighted Resource:
We Must Do Better: Addressing High Mortality After Release from Incarceration

For more articles on life expectancy in NC, check out the latest issue of the NC Medical Journal:
Improving Life Expectancy in North Carolina

Highlighted Resource for September 1, 2022:
Helping Young Children and Parents Transition Back to School

As a new school year starts, mental health for children and adolescents becomes a more important concern.

To support children, families, and care providers, the CDC has collected information and resources for healthy transitions back to school in times of stress.

To learn more, check out the September 1 Highlighted Resource:
Helping Young Children and Parents Transition Back to School

Highlighted Resource for August 15, 2022:
Monkeypox Resources

Monkeypox has now been declared a national public health emergency in the US, with more than 8,900 cases nationwide and more than 100 cases in North Carolina.

The UNC Health Sciences Library has created a guide to reliable health resources on monkeypox, including a page targeted towards health care providers that addresses diagnosis, treatment, talking to patients, and more.

To learn more, check out the ADL's Highlighted Resource for August 15, 2022:
Monkeypox Resources

Highlighted Resource for August 1, 2022:
Why are so many pregnant women heading to the emergency department?

The number of pregnant women in North Carolina who seek care at emergency departments is greatly increasing, a trend made even more concerning due to North Carolina's high rates of infant and maternal mortality.

A recent article in NC Health News discusses the issue of emergency department pregnancy care, examining related questions of access to prenatal care, racial disparities, and potential causes.

To learn more, check out the August 1 ADL Highlighted Resource:
Why are so many pregnant women heading to the emergency department?

Highlighted Resource for July 15, 2022:
Putting Health Behaviors in Context in North Carolina:
Shifting Loci of Responsibility Upstream to Advance Healthy Behavior and Equity

While behavior is an important component of health, promoting healthy behaviors requires going beyond individual choices to address context and background.

The latest issue of the NC Medical Journal discusses the ways that our organizations and communities create contexts for health-related behaviors, using health behavior indicators such as drug and tobacco use, sugary beverage consumption, teen birth rates, and more.

To learn more, check out the issue brief in the ADL's July 15, 2022 highlighted resource:
Shifting Loci of Responsibility Upstream to Advance Healthy Behavior and Equity

You can also read the rest of the July/August NC Medical Journal issue here:
Putting Health Behaviors in Context in North Carolina

Highlighted Resource for July 1, 2022:
Carolina Abortion Fund helps patients sort out logistics and pay for their procedure

After the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v Wade and leave abortion decision-making to state governments, healthcare regulations regarding abortion will change significantly.

A recent news article in NC Health News explains the current and future situation in North Carolina, highlighting resources such as the Carolina Abortion Fund that provide logistical and financial support to women in need of care.

To learn more, check out the July 1 Highlighted Resource:
Carolina Abortion Fund helps patients sort out logistics and pay for their procedure

Highlighted Resource for June 15, 2022:
2022 Monkeypox: Information for Healthcare Professionals

Current interest in monkeypox has risen as cases of it are reported outside of its typical geographic range, including the US.

Health care professionals can learn more about recognizing and treating this disease from the CDC and WHO, both to inform themselves and to share in response to patient questions.

To learn more, check out the ADL's June 15 Highlighted Resources:
2022 Monkeypox: Information for Healthcare Professionals from the CDC
Monkeypox Q&A from PAHO/WHO

Highlighted Resource for June 1, 2022:
Effect of Expansion of Abbreviations and Acronyms on Patient Comprehension of Their Health Records

As more patients gain access to their electronic health records, their ability to understand the information the records contain is becoming more important.

A recent health informatics research letter in JAMA Network Open examines patient understanding of health records, demonstrating that comprehension is better when acronyms and abbreviations are expanded.

To learn more, check out the June 1, 2022 Highlighted Resource:
Effect of Expansion of Abbreviations and Acronyms on Patient Comprehension of Their Health Records

Highlighted Resource for May 15, 2022:
NC Medical Journal May/June 2022 Issue:
Clinical Care in North Carolina

The most recent issue of the NC Medical Journal addresses questions of health care access, insurance, and equity in North Carolina through a variety of lenses.

The articles published in the issue cover topics such as language and geographic barriers to care, the impact of long COVID-19 on safety net primary care access, North Carolina's health insurance coverage gap, and more.

To learn more, check out the May 15 Highlighted Resource:
NC Medical Journal May/June 2022 Issue: Clinical Care in North Carolina

Highlighted Resource for May 1, 2022:
Rural Hospital Administrators’ Beliefs About Safety, Financial Viability, and Community Need for Offering Obstetric Care

What is the value of obstetric care in rural hospitals?

A recent article in JAMA Health Forum examines the views of rural hospital administrators on obstetric care, discussing issues such as rural maternity care needs and the financial viability of obstetric sservices in low-birth volume areas.

To learn more, check out the ADL's May 1 Highlighted Resource:
Rural Hospital Administrators’ Beliefs About Safety, Financial Viability, and Community Need for Offering Obstetric Care

Highlighted Resource for April 15, 2022:
Optimize Muslim Patient Health by Learning About Ramadan

How does the month of Ramadan, a Muslim holiday that includes 30 days of fasting each spring, impact Muslim patient health?

A recent piece in MedPageToday discusses the ways that Ramadan fasting can impact different facets of patient health, including effects on diabetes, medical procedures, medications, and other areas of health.

To learn more, check out the ADL's April 15 Highlighted Resource:
Optimize Muslim Patient Health by Learning About Ramadan

You can also review the following recommendations for care:
Diabetes and Ramadan: Practical Guidelines for Health Professionals (International Diabetes Federation)
Caring for Muslim Patients Who Fast During Ramadan (American Family Physician)

Highlighted Resource for April 1, 2022:
Mental Health Outcomes in Transgender and Nonbinary Youths Receiving Gender-Affirming Care

What impact does gender-affirming care have on the mental health outcomes of transgender and nonbinary youths?

A recent article on JAMA Network Open addresses this question, examining both short-term and long-term impact of gender-affirming care on mental health for transgender and nonbinary youths aged 13-20, including changes in depression, anxiety, and suicidality.

To learn more, check out the ADL's Highlighted Resource for April 1, 2022:
Mental Health Outcomes in Transgender and Nonbinary Youths Receiving Gender-Affirming Care

Highlighted Resource for March 15, 2022:
The Status and Impact of Severe Housing Problems and Evictions in North Carolina

What is the current state of housing problems in North Carolina, and how do these issues impact health?

A recent article in the North Carolina Medical Journal discusses these questions, addressing the housing crisis both before and after the COVID-19 pandemic made the problem even worse.

To learn more, check out the ADL's March 15 Highlighted Resource:
The Status and Impact of Severe Housing Problems and Evictions in North Carolina

To read more from the NC Medical Journal on similar questions, read their March/April issue:
Eat, Play, Move, & Stay

Highlighted Resource for March 1, 2022:
Nutritional Analysis of Foods and Beverages Posted in Social Media Accounts of Highly Followed Celebrities

How healthy are the foods that celebrities eat in images they share on social media?

A recent study in JAMA Network Open analyzes the nutritional quality of food and beverages shared by celebrities, as well as any impact of sponsorship.

To learn more, check out the March 1 Highlighted Resource:
Nutritional Analysis of Foods and Beverages Posted in Social Media Accounts of Highly Followed Celebrities

Highlighted Resource for February 15, 2022:
Structural Racism And Black Women’s Employment In The US Health Care Sector

How has a legacy of sexism and racism influenced the roles that Black women have in the health care system?

A new Health Affairs research article analyzes American Community Survey data about Black women's employment, discussing how this demographic came to be overrepresented in the lowest-wage and highest-risk health care sector jobs.

To learn more, check out the February 15 Highlighted Resource:
Structural Racism And Black Women’s Employment In The US Health Care Sector

You can also read the rest of the Health Affairs open access February journal issue here:
February 2022 | Racism & Health

Highlighted Resource for February 1, 2022:
Negative Patient Descriptors:
Documenting Racial Bias In The Electronic Health Record

How do negative descriptions of patients in electronic health records vary by patient race or ethnicity?

A recent Health Affairs article investigates this quesiton, analyzing history and notes to determine that Black patients are described with more than twice as many negative descriptors as White patients.

To read this article, check out the February 1 ADL Highlighted Resource:
Negative Patient Descriptors: Documenting Racial Bias In The Electronic Health Record

Highlighted Resource for January 15, 2022:
North Carolina Medical Journal:
Addressing the Social & Economic Factors of Health in North Carolina

The January-February 2022 issue of the NC Medical Journal is the first in a series of journal issues covering North Carolina's health goals.

The current issue covers social and economic factors of health in North Carolina, as relevant to the Healthy NC 2030 initiative.

The articles address topics such as the intersection of wealth and health, care for incarcerated pregnant people, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and more.

To read the issue, check out the January 15 ADL Highlighted Resource:
North Carolina Medical Journal: Addressing the Social & Economic Factors of Health in North Carolina

Highlighted Resource for January 1, 2022:
Essential Evidence Plus: Calculators

One of the useful tools included in Essential Evidence Plus is the collection of evidence-based calculators.

The collection includes three types of calculators to assist health care providers in practice: Decision Support Tools, Diagnostic Test Calculators, and History and Physical Exam Calculators.

NC AHEC provides access to Essential Evidence to all North Carolina health care workers, via the ADL. ADL members can check out the ADL's January 1 Highlighted Resource here:
Essential Evidence Plus: Calculators
After you've opened Essential Evidence Plus, use the menu to select "Calculators."

If you are a North Carolina health care worker and would like to access Essential Evidence Plus, you are welcome to request an ADL account.

Highlighted Resource for December 15, 2021:
Essential Evidence Plus: AFHS Drug Information Essentials

ADL users can access evidence-based drug information through AFHS Drug Information Essentials, part of Essential Evidence Plus.

AFHS DI Essentials summarizes evidence and guidance about drugs in a straightforward structured format, to support healthcare providers in safe and effective decisions.

NC AHEC provides access to Essential Evidence to all North Carolina health care workers, via the ADL. ADL members can check out the ADL's December 15 Highlighted Resource here:
Essential Evidence Plus: AFHS Drug Information Essentials
After you've opened Essential Evidence Plus, use the menu to select "AFHS DI Essentials."

If you are a North Carolina health care worker and would like to access Essential Evidence Plus, you are welcome torequest an ADL account.

Highlighted Resource for December 1, 2021:
Essential Evidence Plus: Daily POEMs ("Patient-Oriented Evidence that Matters")

ADL users can get regular updates of new evidence for patient care by using the Daily POEMs collection in Essential Evidence Plus.

POEMs ("Patient-Oriented Evidence that Matters") provide summaries of relevant and essential evidence-based research that are presented in an easy-to-understand format.

ADL users can either access the POEMs collection directly through the Essential Evidence Plus link, or set up email alerts for new POEMs releases.

NC AHEC provides access to Essential Evidence to all North Carolina health care workers, via the ADL. ADL members can check out the ADL's December 1 Highlighted Resource here:
Essential Evidence Plus: Daily POEMs
After you've opened Essential Evidence Plus, use the menu to select "POEMs ('Patient-Oriented Evidence that Matters')."

If you are a North Carolina health care worker and would like to access Essential Evidence Plus, you are welcome torequest an ADL account.

Highlighted Resource for November 15, 2021:
Essential Evidence Plus: Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews

One of the useful tools included in Essential Evidence Plus is their summaries of materials in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.

The Cochrane Reviews section of Essential Evidence offers summarized evaluations of the world's best literature on the effectiveness of therapy for 3,300+ clinical problems.

NC AHEC provides access to Essential Evidence to all North Carolina health care workers, via the ADL. ADL members can check out the ADL's November 15 Highlighted Resource here:
Essential Evidence Plus: Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
After you've opened Essential Evidence Plus, use the menu to select "Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews."

If you are a North Carolina health care worker and would like to access Essential Evidence, you are welcome torequest an ADL account.

Highlighted Resource for November 1, 2021:
The Black Feminist Revolution That Medicine Needs

How does the treatment of healthcare learners intersect with the problem of race in medicine?

A recent opinion piece from MedPage Today tackles these questions, discussing a viewpoint for the challenging topics.

To learn more, check out the November 1 ADL Higlighted Article:
The Black Feminist Revolution That Medicine Needs

Highlighted Resource for October 15, 2021:
The Implications of COVID-19 for Mental Health and Substance Use

The COVID-19 pandemic's effects reach beyond the disease, affecting the mental health of many people.

A recent study by the Kaiser Family Foundation compares mental health and substance abuse symptoms from January 2019 and January 2021, discussing the marked increase in factors such as isolation and depression.

To learn more, check out the ADL's October 15 Highlighted Article:
The Implications of COVID-19 for Mental Health and Substance Use

Or use these mental health resources about coping with the COVID-19 pandemic:
Coping with Stress from COVID-19 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
COVID-19 Resource and Information Guide (National Alliance on Mental Illness)

Highlighted Resource for October 1, 2021:
Bridging Boundaries: Defining Frontline Essential Health Care Workers

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought much-needed attention to the workforce challenges of frontline essential health care workers.

The September/October 2021 issue of the NC Medical Journal focuses on the many types of these workers, discussing issues such as nursing home caregivers, paid and unpaid caregiving work, possible policy solutions, and more.

For an overview of the September/October issue, check out the ADL's October 1 Highlighted Article: Bridging Boundaries: Defining Frontline Essential Health Care Workers

For links to all the articles in this journal issue, check out September/October 2021 Table of Contents: NC Medical Journal September/October 2021 Table of Contents: Bridging Health & Community

Highlighted Resource for September 15, 2021:
Inequities in COVID-19 Vaccination Rates in the 9 Largest US Cities

The COVID-19 pandemic highlights difficult issues of health equity, especially on the topic of vaccine distribution.

A recent JAMA article delves into this area, looking at racial inequities in COVID-19 vaccination in the 9 largest US cities.

To learn more, check out the ADL's September 15 Highlighted Article:
Inequities in COVID-19 Vaccination Rates in the 9 Largest US Cities

Highlighted Resource for August 15, 2021:
Health Care Workers Deserve Solidarity, Not Just Gratitude

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the healthcare workforce deeply, and our organizations will need to cope with the resulting trauma and burnout.

A recent Health Affairs blog post discuseses this difficult problem, highlighting concerns that should be addressed for healthcare professionals to reach a place of wellness.

To learn more, check out the ADL's August 15 Highlighted Article:
Health Care Workers Deserve Solidarity, Not Just Gratitude

Highlighted Resource for August 1, 2021:
AAMC Principles of Trustworthiness

How can health care providers develop trust-based relationships with their communities in support of health, justice, and equity?

The Association of American Medical Colleges worked with community stakeholders to craft a framework of principles for health care providers to keep in mind while doing their work.

To learn more, check out the ADL's August 1 Highlighted Article:
AAMC Principles of Trustworthiness

Highlighted Resource for July 15, 2021:
Fitbit readings highlight lingering physiological, behavioral changes after COVID-19 infection

What are the long-term impacts of COVID-19 in daily life?

A recent JAMA article investigates this question using data from Fitbits of COVID-19 patients, studying the changes in heart rate, sleep quantity, and other outcomes.

To learn more, check out the ADL's July 15 Highlighted Resource:
Fierce Healthcare Summary: Fitbit readings highlight lingering physiological, behavioral changes after COVID-19 infection
Full JAMA Article: Assessment of Prolonged Physiological and Behavioral Changes Associated With COVID-19 Infection

Highlighted Resource for July 1, 2021:
As They Take On Food Insecurity, Community-Based Health Care Organizations Have Found Four Strategies That Work

How can health care clinics and hospitals work with food distribution organizations to help their patients address food insecurity issues?

A recent Health Affairs blog post describes four successful examples, explaining the different models of partnership and the potential roles for health care professionals.

To learn more, check out the ADL's July 1 Highlighted Article:
As They Take On Food Insecurity, Community-Based Health Care Organizations Have Found Four Strategies That Work

Highlighted Resource for June 15, 2021:
The Future of Nursing 2020-2030: Charting a Path to Achieve Health Equity

How might nurses' roles change in the US over the next ten years?

A recent report from the National Academy of Medicine discusses this question, with particular focus on the ways that nurses can work towards health equity.

The report can be read online for free, but physical copies are only available by purchase.

To learn more, check out the ADL's June 15 Highlighted Resource:
The Future of Nursing 2020-2030: Charting a Path to Achieve Health Equity

Highlighted Resource for June 1, 2021:
Surveys of Trust in the U.S. Health Care System

How much trust does the U.S. public and clinical workforce have in the health care system after the COVID-19 pandemic?

A recent study by the American Board of Medicine and NORC at the University of Chicago addresses this question, reporting on a survey of both the public and physicians.

To learn more, check out the ADL's June 1 Highlighted Resource:
Surveys of Trust in the U.S. Health Care System

Highlighted Resource for May 15, 2021:
“All Hands On Deck”: The COVID-19 Pandemic Through Nurses’ Eyes

How have nurses experienced the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic?

A recent episode of The Commonwealth Fund's "The Dose" podcast addresses this question, focusing on rural and underserved areas.

This podcast episode can be listened to online or read as a transcript.

To learn more, check out the May 15 Highlighted Resource:
“All Hands On Deck”: The COVID-19 Pandemic Through Nurses’ Eyes

Highlighted Article for April 15, 2021:
Measuring Mortality In The Pandemics Of 1918–19 And 2020–21

How do deaths caused by the current COVID-19 pandemic compare to deaths caused by the 1918-19 Spanish Flu?

A recent Health Affairs blog post discusses this question, considering data available on both pandemics and analyzing the different impacts of public health responses on mortality.

To learn more, check out the April 15 Highlighted Article:
Measuring Mortality In The Pandemics Of 1918–19 And 2020–21

Highlighted Article for April 1, 2021:
A Nurse Is Not Just a Nurse:
The Challenges of Nursing During a Pandemic and Beyond

How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the already-strained nursing workforce?

NEJM Catalyst addresses this question in a recent interview with Kathleen Sanford, DBA, RN, Executive Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer for CommonSpirit Health.

To learn more about everything in nursing that is changing, and even more that is staying the same, check out the April 1 Highlighted Article:
A Nurse Is Not Just a Nurse: The Challenges of Nursing During a Pandemic and Beyond

Highlighted Resource for March 15, 2021:
Monitoring the Health of Populations by Tracking Disease Outbreaks:
Saving Humanity From the Next Plague

When predicting and preparing for pandemics, leaders can use a statistics-based public health approach described in the ADL’s March 15 highlighted resource.

This book is part of the ADL's new collection of 200 ebooks, purchased with funding from the SECU Foundation.

To learn more, check out the ADL's March 15 Highlighted Resource:
Monitoring the Health of Populations by Tracking Disease Outbreaks: Saving Humanity From the Next Plague

Highlighted Article for March 1, 2021:
North Carolina Child Health Report Card

The NC Institute of Medicine and NC Child recently collaborated on the 2021 NC Child Health Report Card, evaluating the wellbeing of North Carolina children.

The report covers factors related to children's health both before and after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, including areas such as secure homes, access to care, healthy births, and health risk factors.

To learn more, check out the March 1 Highlighted Resource:
North Carolina Child Health Report Card

Highlighted Article for February 15, 2021:
Farmworker Camps to Urban Tent Cities:
Tailoring Vaccine Info to Where It’s Most Needed

What does it take to get good health information about the COVID-19 vaccine out to a local community?

A recent Kaiser Health News article describes the efforts being made by western North Carolina citizens to answer their communities' vaccine questions and share critical facts.

To learn more, check out the 2/15 Highlighted Article:
Farmworker Camps to Urban Tent Cities: Tailoring Vaccine Info to Where It’s Most Needed

Highlighted Article for February 1, 2021:
Four Steps To Help Achieve COVID-19 Vaccine Adoption:
How Health Professionals Can Embrace Their Role As Messengers

How should health care providers talk to patients about the COVID-19 vaccine?

A recent Health Affairs blog post discusses this question, suggesting message approaches and explaining the important dos and don'ts of the conversation.

To learn more, check out the February 1 Highlighted Article!
Four Steps To Help Achieve COVID-19 Vaccine Adoption: How Health Professionals Can Embrace Their Role As Messengers

Highlighted Article for January 15, 2021:
Health Care Providers Can Help Combat Harmful Misinformation About the Pandemic

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the risks of patients basing health decisions on unreliable information become even greater.

A recent NC Medical Journal article describes ways that health care providers can guide their patients towards trustworthy, evidence-based resources.

To learn more, check out the January 15 Highlighted Article:
Health Care Providers Can Help Combat Harmful Misinformation About the Pandemic

Highlighted Article for January 1, 2021:
A Guide to Promoting Health Care Workforce Well-Being During and After the COVID-19 Pandemic

COVID-19 has had a serious impact on the health and wellbeing of all health care professionals, which has increased the existing levels of stress and burnout throughout the health care system.

A recent guide from the Institute for Healthcare addresses this problem, discussing strategies and solutions for individuals and organizations to support the health care workforce during and after the pandemic.

To learn more, check out the January 1 Highlighted Resource:
A Guide to Promoting Health Care Workforce Well-Being During and After the COVID-19 Pandemic*
*Note that users will need a free IHI account to download the full guide

Highlighted Article for December 15, 2020:
Supporting Children and Teens During This Holiday Season

What can parents, caregivers, and family members do to support children and teens during the 2020 holiday season?

A recent fact sheet from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) provides strategies and suggestions for helping children and adults through the holidays.

To learn more, check out the December 15 Highlighted Resource:
Supporting Children and Teens During This Holiday Season

Highlighted Article for December 1, 2020:
Nurses Suffer Heavy Toll from COVID-19:
Two Reports Highlight the Latest Numbers

How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected the nurse workforce?

A recent MedPage Today article discusses two new reports about this question, discussing the high risks that nurses face while working with patients and the resulting deaths.

To learn more, check out the December 1 Highlighted Article: Nurses Suffer Heavy Toll from COVID-19: Two Reports Highlight the Latest Numbers

Highlighted Article for November 15, 2020:
Getting Our Knees Off Black People’s Necks:
An Anti-Racist Approach to Medical Care

How can health care providers oppose racism within the medical system and ensure all their patients receive the support and care they need?

A recent Health Affairs blog article addresses this question, suggesting five steps that providers can take toward building a health care system that opposes racism.

To learn more, check out the November 15 Highlighted Article:
Getting Our Knees Off Black People’s Necks: An Anti-Racist Approach to Medical Care

Highlighted Article for November 1, 2020:
How to Identify, Understand, and Unlearn Implicit Bias in Patient Care

How can health care providers recognize, understand, and avoid unconscious assumptions about their patients?

An article in Health Affairs addresses this question, exploring the idea of implicit bias and suggesting approaches that health care providers can use to unlearn it.

To learn more, check out the November 1 Highlighted Article:
How to Identify, Understand, and Unlearn Implicit Bias in Patient Care

Highlighted Article for October 15, 2020:
Racial And Ethnic Inequities In Children’s Neighborhoods:
Evidence From The New Child Opportunity Index 2.0

What impact are neighborhood conditions having on children of different racial and ethnic backgrounds?

A recent Health Affairs research article examines this question, using the Child Opportunity Index 2.0 to compare factors influencing health outcomes across the national neighborhood distribution.

To learn more, check out the October 15 Highlighted Article:
Racial And Ethnic Inequities In Children’s Neighborhoods: Evidence From The New Child Opportunity Index 2.0

Highlighted Article for October 1, 2020:
Prevalence of Depression Symptoms in US Adults Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic

How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the mental health of US adults?

A recent JAMA Network Open article examines this question, comparing depressive symptoms in the US before and after the pandemic.

To learn more, check out the October 1 highlighted article!
Prevalence of Depression Symptoms in US Adults Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Highlighted Article for September 15, 2020:
Health Care in a Changing North Carolina Climate

How will the changing climate impact North Carolina's health care systems?

A recent article in the North Carolina Medical Journal addresses this question, examinining the potential changes in disease outcomes or health risks and suggesting actions that health care providers can take in response.

To learn more, check out the September 15 highlighted article!
Health Care in a Changing North Carolina Climate

Highlighted Article for September 1, 2020:
The First COVID Surge Weakened NC's Cash-Strapped Rural Hospitals.
A Second Wave May Devastate Them.

How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted North Carolina's struggling rural hospitals?

A recent North Carolina Health News article addresses this question, discussing the different aspects of the crisis, the impact of relief payments, and what to expect going forward.

To learn more, check out the September 1 Highlighted Article!
The First COVID Surge Weakened NC's Cash-Strapped Rural Hospitals. A Second Wave May Devastate Them.

Highlighted Article for August 15, 2020:
How To Increase Flu Vaccination During The COVID-19 Pandemic

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, flu vaccinations are taking on additional importance.

A recent Health Affairs blog post addresses this topic, discussing barriers that the public might encounter to getting vaccinated and possible ways to overcome them.

To learn more, check out the 8/15 highlighted article!
How To Increase Flu Vaccination During The COVID-19 Pandemic

Highlighted Article for August 1, 2020:
How to Avoid Bias in Patient Care

How can health care professionals work to avoid their own biases when caring for patients?

A recent blog post from the American Academy of Family Physicians addresses this question, explaining the idea of implicit bias and providing tips to address it.

To learn more, check of the August 1 Highlighted Article!
How to Avoid Bias in Patient Care

Highlighted Article for July 15, 2020:
Leaning In to Serious Illness Care Through Stories and Science

What do serious illness issues look like in North Carolina?

The most recent issue of the NC Medical Journal addresses this question, with a collection of articles on delivering different aspects of serious illness care.

The issue brief provides an introduction to the topic and summaries of the other articles in the journal.

To learn more, check out the July 15 highlighted article:
Leaning In to Serious Illness Care Through Stories and Science

Highlighted Article for July 1, 2020:
Isolation And Health

What are the health risks related to social isolation and loneliness?

A recent Health Policy Brief from Health Affairs discusses this question, including the impact of isolation on premature morbidity and various biomarkers of health.

To learn more, check out the July 1 highlighted article!
Isolation and Health

Highlighted Article for June 15, 2020:
It’s Time To Address The Role Of Implicit Bias Within Health Care Delivery

What does racial bias look like inside the health care system?

A Health Affairs blog article discusess this question, addressing both how the problem manifests and what individuals and organizations can do to counteract it.

To learn more, check out the June 15 highlighted article:
It’s Time To Address The Role Of Implicit Bias Within Health Care Delivery

Highlighted Article for June 1, 2020:
9 Dimensions of Wellness

How can health care providers care for their own wellness in stressful circumstances?

An article in American Nurse Today addresses this question by breaking down "wellness" into nine dimensions, including everything from physical to environmental to spiritual.

To learn more, check out the June 1 highlighted article!
9 Dimensions of Wellness

Highlighted Article for May 15, 2020:
Doctors Without Patients:
‘Our Waiting Rooms Are Like Ghost Towns’

How is the COVID-19 pandemic impacting small physician practices?

A recent New York Times article addresses this question, discussing both the medical and economic implications for the health care workforce.

To learn more, check out the May 15 highlighted article!
Doctors Without Patients: ‘Our Waiting Rooms Are Like Ghost Towns’

Highlighted Article for May 1, 2020:
Protecting Healthcare’s Family Caregivers Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic

What impact is COVID-19 having on the community caregivers who look after family and friends outside of health care settings?

A recent Health Affairs blog post discusses this question, addressing the financial impact, lack of protective equipment, and emotional strain that caregivers face.

To learn more, check out the May 1 highlighted article:
Protecting Healthcare’s Family Caregivers Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic

Highlighted Article for April 15, 2020:
10 Communication Tips for Physician Phone Visits During COVID-19

How can you make virtual visits more effective for you and your patients?

A recent Family Practice Medicine blog post covers 10 easy tips for communicating in virtual visits.

To learn more, check of the April 15 highlighted article!
10 Communication Tips for Physician Phone Visits During COVID-19

Highlighted Article for April 1, 2020:
Custodial Staff Protect Us From The Novel Coronavirus, But Who Is Protecting Them?

How does the COVID-19 pandemic impact the health and wellbeing of custodial staff?

Since many custodial staff members are designated as essential employees, they may have both greater exposure to the disease and fewer opportunities for protection, training, and care.

To learn more, read this Health Affairs blog post!
Custodial Staff Protect Us From The Novel Coronavirus, But Who Is Protecting Them?

Highlighted Article for March 15, 2020:
Worried About That New Medical Study? Read This First

How do you know which scientific studies to trust?

A recent article in the New York Times explains some key principles of evaluating studies, translating evidence-based concepts into simpler terms.

To learn more, check out this month's highlighted article:
Worried About That New Medical Study? Read This First.

Highlighted Article for March 1, 2020:
Stress Is A Key To Understanding Many Social Determinants Of Health

How do stress, social factors, and physical environments work together to impact health?

A recent article in the Health Affairs blog discusses this question, examining the way that social determinants of health are connected to the role of stress in health outcomes.

To learn more, check out the March 1 Highlighted Article:
Stress Is A Key To Understanding Many Social Determinants Of Health

COVID-19 Resource Guide is a collaboration of the UNC-Chapel Hill Health Sciences Library and the North Carolina AHEC.

Please take a look at the COVID-19 guide.

Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19): What Healthcare Providers Need to Know (webinar)

Highlighted Article for February 15, 2020:
Beyond Burnout: Docs Decry 'Moral Injury' From Financial Pressures Of Health Care

How do system-level pressures and obstacles harm health care professionals?

A recent article in Kaiser Health News explains what it means to call these struggles a 'moral injury,' describing the cumulative impact of a financially-driven system on the people involved.

To learn more, check out the February 15 highlighted article:
Beyond Burnout: Docs Decry 'Moral Injury' From Financial Pressures Of Health Care

For more reading about burnout in health care, please see our collection on Behavioral Health Among Clinical Staff.

Highlighted Article for February 1, 2020:
2019 Novel Coronavirus Interim Guidance for Healthcare Professionals

What do health care providers need to know about the outbreak of 2019 Novel Coronavirus?

The CDC answered this question by providing guidance on screening, reporting, and treating patients who may be infected.

To learn more about this developing situation, check out the highlighted article of the month:
2019 Novel Coronavirus Interim Guidance for Healthcare Professionals

American Board of Neruology and Psychiatry Have Added a New Section to their Pilot MOC

Highlighted Article for January 15, 2020:
The State of North Carolina's Perinatal Health

The latest issue of the NC Medical Journal addresses the complex problem of mother and infant health in North Carolina.

The issue brief provides an overview of the current state of perinatal health, as well as explaining where the journal's other articles fit into the framework.

To learn more, check out this month's highlighted article!

The State of North Carolina's Perinatal Health
Kimple, K.S. (2020). The state of North Carolina's perinatal health. North Carolina Medical Journal January-February 2020 vol. 81 no. 1 24-27.

View the full January-February 2020 issue of the North Carolina Medical Journal here.

Highlighted Article for January 1, 2020:
To A New Nurse – You’ll Be Okay

In celebration of the WHO declaring 2020 the Year of the Nurse, this month's highlighted article showcases nurse and blogger Danielle LeVeck addressing new members of the profession.

LeVeck's letter welcomes new nurses welcomes to the profession, highlighting both the challenges and the rewards of a nurse's role and offering advice for the future.

A recent FierceHealthcare article named LeVeck one of the 2020 social media influencers in healthcare, citing this post as one of her best.

To learn more, check out the January 1 highlighted article of the month!
LeVeck, D. (2017, August 22). To a new nurse - you'll be okay. Nurse Abnormalities.
Renfrow, J. (2019, November 19). Danielle LeVeck: nursing storyteller. Fierce Healthcare.

Two Highlighted Articles for December 15, 2019:
"ICD-10 Codes for the Holidays" and Guidance for Vaping Associated Lung Injury

Enjoy two mid-month highlighted articles this December.

The CDC's interim guidance on suspected vaping-associated lung injuries provide a starting point for treating patients who use e-cigarettes.

And for a brighter moment, a Physicians Practice article shares a collection of holiday-themed ICD-10 codes.

To learn more, check out our highlighted articles!
Jatlaoui TC, Wiltz JL, Kabbani S, et al. Update: Interim Guidance for Health Care Providers for Managing Patients with Suspected E-cigarette, or Vaping, Product Use–Associated Lung Injury — United States, November 2019. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2019;68:1081-1086.
Shryock, T. (2019, November 25). 15 icd-10 codes for the holidays. Physicians Practice.

Highlighted Article for December 1, 2019:
Transgender Adolescents' Experiences in Primary Care

What kinds of experiences do transgender adolescents encounter in primary care?

A recent article in the Journal of Adolescent Health asked this question in a qualitative study, investigating the challenges and barriers to primary care, concluding with recommendations to provide better experiences with primary care for transgender adolescents.

To learn more, read the December 1 highlighted article!
Guss, C. E., Woolverton, G. A., Borus, J., Austin, S. B., Reisner, S. L., & Katz-Wise, S. L. (2019). Transgender adolescents' experiences in primary care: A qualitative study. Journal of Adolescent Health, 65(3), 344-349. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2019.03.009

Highlighted Article for National Rural Health Day:
What's Economic Development Got to Do With It?
The Economic Impact of Healthy Rural Communities

Supporting a healthy rural community takes more than great health care.

To celebrate National Rural Health Day on November 21, the ADL is highlighting an article that describes the economic, technological, and insurance challenges that face rural areas striving for health.

To learn more about this important topic, check out the November 15 highlighted article:
Woodie, P. (2018). What's economic development got to do with it? the economic impact of healthy rural communities. North Carolina Medical Journal, 79(6), 382-385. doi:10.18043/ncm.79.6.382

Highlighted Resource for November 1, 2019:
Behavioral Health Among Clinical Staff

When facing problems related to burnout and wellness, healthcare providers from all disciplines can turn to the AHEC Digital Library's guide about Behavioral Health Among Clinical Staff.

This collection will help you learn about different aspects of the problem, from coping with burnout to building resiliency.

The latest update to the guide features the National Academy of Medicine's report, "Taking Action Against Clinician Burnout," highlighting its focus on burnout as a system-level issue.

To learn more, check out the ADL's Behavioral Health Among Clinical Staff guide!

Highlighted Article for October 15, 2019:
HHS Guide for Clinicians on the Appropriate Dosage Reduction or Discontinuation of Long-Term Opioid Analgesics

What is the best method to help patients decrease their use of opioids?

The US Department of Health and Human Services has produced a guide to help health care providers answer this complex question.

The guide includes considerations prior to the decision to taper, recommendations on how to individualize plans according to unique patient needs, a decision-making flowchart, and information on additional options regarding withdrawal or behavioral health.

To learn more, check out October's highlighted article of the month!
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Working Group on Patient-Centered Reduction or Discontinuation of Long-term Opioid Analgesics. (2019). HHS guide for clinicians on the appropriate dosage reduction or discontinuation of long-term opioid analgesics. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

For a summary of the guide and context about its release, you can also read this FierceHealthcare article:
Finnegan, J. (2019, October 10). HHS offers guide to help clinicians taper patients off opioids. FierceHealthcare.

October's Highlighted Article:
Shifting the Burden?
Consequences Of Postacute Care Payment Reform On Informal Caregivers

How much of the burden of postacute care in the US has been taken on by the family and friends who provide patients with informal in-home support?

A recent Health Affairs blog post asks this question, discussing the impact that health policy efforts to reduce the cost of postacute care have had on the nation's informal caregivers.

The article also suggests alternative options that healthcare professionals and others can use to improve care and reduce costs without requiring families to take on the burden of postacute care.

To learn more, check out this month's highlighted article!
Chatterjee, P., Hoffman, A.K., & Werner, R.M. (2019, September 5). Shifting the burden? consequences of postacute care payment reform on informal caregivers. Health Affairs Blog.

Highlighted Article:
Driving the Future:
Assessment of the North Carolina Local Public Health Workforce

What do the people who work in North Carolina's local health departments look like?

This recent report from UNC's Gillings School of Public Health, in partnership with NC AHEC, addresses that question, sharing the results from their survey of the NC public health workforce.

The report describes the demographics, skills, and training needs of people currently working in public health in NC, as well as identifying possible next steps for the future.

To learn more, check out this month's highlighted article!
Gillings School of Global Public Health. (July 2019). Driving the future: assessment of the North Carolina local public health workforce. University of North Carolina.

September's Highlighted Article of the Month:
Returning to the Meaning of Medicine:
Three Pivots

How can the healthcare profession return to the roots of why people chose to practice medicine?

In a recent talk, Health Director Anna Roth proposes a moral recovery that would allow the profession to reform its belief systems.

The three pivots described in the video and accompanying article ask people to listen, question beliefs, and trust people.

To learn more, check out the September Article of the Month!
Roth, A. (2019). Returning to the meaning of medicine: three pivots. NEJM Catalyst.

Highlighted Opioid Article:
Opioid Settlements Spark Debate on How to Spend the Money

As large drug companies begin to make settlement payments in relation to the opioid crisis, how should that money be spent?

A recent NC Health News article discusses questions occurring in states that have been awarded settlements, such as how much money should be required to go towards opioid-related efforts.

By comparing the current opioid crisis to past settlements from tobacco companies regarding smoking, the article highlights the problems governments may face when spending this money.

To learn more, check out our highlighted article!
Vestal, C. (2019, August 19). Opioid settlements spark debate on how to spend the money. North Carolina Health News.

Hurricane Resources are now posted!

August ABOG Articles are Posted

Highlighted Article:
Why Health Care Needs More Women and Nurse Leaders

A recent blog post from the Institute of Healthcare Improvement (IHI) shares an interview with IHI President Emerita and Senior Fellow Maureen Bisognano addressing healthcare leadership by women and by nurses.

This interview discusses the changes happening to bring nurses and women into more healthcare leadership roles, including both the benefits and challenges of this shift.

To learn more, check out the highlighted article of the month!
Bisognano, M. (2019, August 6). Why healthcare needs more women and nurse leaders. Improvement Blog. Institute for Healthcare Improvement.

August Opioid Article of the Month:
Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated With Long-term Opioid Use After Injury Among Previously Opioid-Free Workers

What influences opioid-free workers to develop long-term opioid use after injuries?

A recent JAMA Network Open takes on this question, studying a cohort of injured workers to determine which factors carried the highest risk of long-term use.

The study identifies the number of days' supply in the initial opioid prescription as one of the key risk factors.

To learn more, check out the August Opioid Article of the Month!
Durand Z, Nechuta S, Krishnaswami S, Hurwitz EL, McPheeters M. Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated With Long-term Opioid Use After Injury Among Previously Opioid-Free Workers. JAMA Netw Open. Published online July 17, 20192(7):e197222. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.7222

See past Opioid Articles of the Month here.

Highlighted Article:
Care of the Transgender Patient

What do healthcare providers need to know in order to offer appropriate and culturally competent care to the transgender population?

A recent article in the Annals of Internal Medicine answers this question, discussing the health disparities faced by transgender persons, defining key terminology, and suggesting approaches and treatment options that healthcare providers can use when providing care to transgender patients.

To learn more, check out the highlighted article of the month!
Safer JD, Tangpricha V. Care of the Transgender Patient. Ann Intern Med. 2019;171:ITC1–ITC16. doi: 10.7326/AITC201907020!
Request the article via the ADL

Freely available FierceHealthcare summary of the article:
Finnegan, J. (2019, July 2). ACP issues guide to help primary care doctors care for transgender patients. FierceHealthcare.

July Opioid Article of the Month:
Leveraging Medicaid To Combat The Opioid Epidemic:
How Leader States And Health Plans Deliver Evidence-Based Treatment

The July Opioid Article of the Month looks at the different strategies states across the US have used in their efforts to reduce opioid use.

This Health Affairs blog post looks at the many aspects of reducing opioid use, looking beyond initial prescribing limits to describe support for medication-assisted treatment, methods of integrating treatment with payment structures, and clinic-level changes to make opioid treatment more accessible.

The article also reviews successful strategies to reduce opioid use in states that have transitioned to Medicaid Managed Care, combining the two initiatives for increased effectiveness.

To learn more, check out the July Opioid Article of the Month!

“Leveraging Medicaid To Combat The Opioid Epidemic: How Leader States And Health Plans Deliver Evidence-Based Treatment," Health Affairs Blog, June 24, 2019. DOI: 10.1377/hblog20190619.49397

See past Opioid Articles of the Month here.

Highlighted Resource:
Effective Communication For Healthcare Teams:
Addressing Health Literacy, Limited English Proficiency and Cultural Differences

How can healthcare providers communicate with patients about important information without understanding a patient’s comprehension?

This CDC online course takes on question, offering three CE-accredited modules on health literacy, cultural compentency, and patients with limited English proficiency.

To learn more about these topics, check out this CDC course!

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019). Effective Communication for Healthcare Teams. TRAIN.
Note: to access the course, registration for a free TRAIN account is required.

June Opioid Article of the Month:
Virtual Reality as Therapy for Pain

A recent article in the New York Times considers the possibilities offered by some non-opioid methods for treating pain.

The article describes how virtual reality therapies, in combination with other nonpharmacological treatments, are being tested with patients who have chronic pain.

To learn more, check out the June Opioid Article of the Month!

Virtual Reality as Therapy for Pain. New York Times (Online). New York: New York Times Company; 2019.

See past Opioid Articles of the Month here.

May Opioid Article of the Month:
News Media Reporting On Medication Treatment For Opioid Use Disorder Amid The Opioid Epidemic

The May Opioid Article of the Month delves into the question of how the US news media has presented stories about opioid use disorder (OUD) treatments.

This study from Health Affairs analyzes local news reporting about OUD treatments, tracking changes in news coverage against the geographic rate of high opioid overdoses and comparing positive versus negative perspectives.

To learn more, check out the May Opioid Article of the Month!

Kennedy-Hendricks, A., Levin, J., Stone, E., McGinty, E. E., Gollust, S. E., & Barry, C. L. (2019). News Media Reporting On Medication Treatment For Opioid Use Disorder Amid The Opioid Epidemic. Health Affairs, 38(4), 643-651.

If you would like to request a copy of this article, please contact your librarian.

See past Opioid Articles of the Month here.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

Highlighted Article:
Trends in Emergency Department Use by Rural and Urban Populations in the United States

Rural emergency departments have faced increasing utilization over the last decade, according to a recent article in JAMA Network Open.

This article analyzes visits in rural and urban areas, concluding that in spite of the US’s average decrease in ED visits, rural regions of the country have become more dependent on EDs as a source of healthcare.

To learn more about this trend, check out this JAMA article.

Greenwood-Ericksen MB, Kocher K. Trends in Emergency Department Use by Rural and Urban Populations in the United States. JAMA Network Open. 2019;2(4):e191919.

Highlight Resource: TRAIN Learning Network

Please explore -Effective Communication for Healthcare Teams."This interactive training course, aims to raise the quality of interactions between health care professionals and patients by providing an interactive guide to understanding health literacy, cultural competency and limited English proficiency."

You will need to create a free account

April Opioid Article of the Month:
Denying Access to Medications to Treat Opioid Addiction is Denying Appropriate Medical Treatment

A recent report from the National Academy of Sciences tackles the problem of treatments for opioid use disorder.

This report explains both the value of the evidence-based treatments and the barriers people frequently encounter in accessing those treatments.

A news article about the report puts it into the current context of the opioid crisis.

To learn more, check out the April Opioid Articles of the Month!

Committee on Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder. (2019). Medications for opioid use disorder save lives. National Academies of Sciences Engineering and Medicine.

Reed, T. (2019, March 21). National academies: denying access to medications to treat opioid addiction is denying appropriate medical treatment. FierceHealthcare.

Highlighted Article:
Coordinating Community Planning for Transportation and Health

A recent article from the JAMA Forum highlights the way transportation challenges and mobility barriers affect healthcare.

The article describes the different approaches being taken to reduce these problems at the federal, state, and community levels.

To learn more, check out this JAMA article:

Koh, H.K. & Rosenberg, J.T. (2019, February 21). JAMA forum: coordinating community planning for transportation and health. The JAMA Forum.

March Opioid Article of the Month:
Opioid Prescribing Trends and the Physician’s Role in Responding to the Public Health Crisis

Several new articles in JAMA Internal Medicine examine the impact that physicians’ prescribing habits can have on the opioid crisis.

The first study looks at prescribing patterns across the demographic groups most affected by the opioid crisis, while the second study examines recent changes in opioid prescribing since 2015.

Both articles are highlighted in the a JAMA Internal Medicine commentary that describes how the data is connected in the opioid landscape.

To learn more, check out the March Opioid Article of the Month!

Adams, J. M., & Giroir, B. P. Opioid Prescribing Trends and the Physician’s Role in Responding to the Public Health Crisis. JAMA Internal Medicine.

Highlighted Article:
High-Need, High-Cost Patients Offer Solutions for Improving Their Care and Reducing Costs

A recent NEJM Catalyst article takes on the question of improving healthcare by asking patients directly.

The article reports the results of a survey of high-need, high-cost patients, sharing their views on how systems could keep them healthier and out of the ER.

To learn more, check out the NEJM article!

Das, L.T., Abranson, E.L., & Kaushal, R. (2019). High-need, high-cost patients offer solutions for improving their care and reducing costs. NEJM Catalyst.
https://catalyst.nejm.org/high-need-high-cost-patients-solutions/

February Opioid Articles of the Month
Five Highlighted Articles

With the expansion of opioid research, policies, and work, there have been many recent strong publications on the topic.

For a one-time event, your ADL librarians have expanded the Opioid Article of the month to include five articles for February.

These articles cover work being done in the Charlotte and Mountain regions, the validity of evidence used to determine opioid policy, differing trends in intentional and unintentional poisoning deaths, and treatments for opioid use in substance use treatment facilities.

To learn more, check out all five of February’s Opioid Articles of the Month!

See past Opioid Articles of the Month here.

January Opioid Article of the Month:
Consequences of the Opioid Epidemic:
Decade of Research Shows Spike in Drug Use-Associated Infective Endocarditis

The January Opioid Article of the Month highlights a newly published study investigating the impact of the opioid crisis on cases of infective endocarditis in North Carolina.

This serious heart condition can be caused by drug injections, and the article shows the connection between the spike in drug-use associated infective endocarditis and the opioid epidemic.

To learn more, check out the January Opioid Article of the Month!

Ward, A. (2018, December 4). Consequences of the opioid epidemic: decade of research shows spike in drug use-associated infective endocarditis. Contagion Live. Retrieved from https://www.contagionlive.com/news/consequences-of-the-opioid-epidemic-decade-of-research-shows-spike-in-drug-useassociated-infective-endocarditis

See past Opioid Articles of the Month here.

December Opioid Article of the Month:
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs):
An Important Element of a Comprehensive Approach to the Opioid Crisis

December’s opioid article of the month discusses the connection between the opioid crisis and childhood trauma.

Written by Dr. Betsey Tilson, the State Health Director of North Carolina, this article uses local data about Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and opioid addiction to identify both risk factors for substance abuse and points when intervention could be effective.

To learn more, check out the new opioid article of the month!

Tilson, E. C. (05/2018). Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs): An important element of a comprehensive approach to the opioid crisis.
North Carolina Medical Society http://www.ncmedicaljournal.com/content/79/3/166.full

See past Opioid Articles of the Month here.

ABPN Pilot Project Articles Now Available Through ADL

In October 2018 the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology released the reading list for the MOC III pilot project. This project will require the ABPN diplomates to read articles from a set list and answer questions.

We are pleased to announce that we are making these articles easily available through the AHEC Digital Library. American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology Pilot Project Articles

Why Opioid Addiction Will Persist Until Physicians Have a Panoramic View of Opioid Exposure

The November opioid article of the month puts the issue of hospital opioid use into the broader context of the addiction epidemic.

This blog post from Health Affairs uses research articles, statistics, and anecdotes to make the case for why hospital opioid use is a critical factor to consider.

To learn more, check out the new opioid article of the month!

Mehra, M. (2018, October 4). Why opioid addiction will persist until physicians have a panoramic view of opioid exposure.

October Article of the Month: Opportunities to Prevent Overdose Deaths Involving Prescription and Illicit Opioids, 11 States, July 2016–June 2017

October’s opioid article of the month highlights an attempt to figure out how people who fatally overdose on opioids are combining prescription and illegal drugs. This report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) uses medical examiner and coroner data to analyze specific drugs and other substances used by people who died of opioid overdoses. To learn more about the patterns shown in this data, check out the ADL’s opioid article of the month!

September Opioid Article of the Month

The September opioid article of the month highlights a New York Times news article about recently released opioid statistics. The article discusses the increase in deaths shown in the CDC’s data on opioid use and overdoses, pointing to potential reasons for the increase and showing the points for future success.

To learn more, check out the September opioid article of the month:

Sanger-Katz, M. (2018, August 15). Bleak new estimates in drug epidemic: a record 72,000 overdose deaths in 2017 https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/15/upshot/opioids-overdose-deaths-rising-fentanyl.html.

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Barriers rural physicians face prescribing buprenorphine for opioid use disorder

The August opioid article of the month addresses an issue of particular interest to rural communities – the question of why some physicians who are authorized to prescribe opioid addiction treatments still aren’t doing so.

The article describes a research study surveying this unique population of providers, discussing the barriers that these physicians report facing that make it difficult for them to prescribe addiction treatments.

To learn why these rural physicians aren’t prescribing addiction treatments, check out this month’s article:

Andrilla, C. H. A., Coulthard, C., & Larson, E. H. (2017). Barriers rural physicians face prescribing buprenorphine for opioid use disorder. The Annals of Family Medicine, 15(4), 359-362.

Retrieved from: http://www.annfammed.org/content/15/4/359.long

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Suicide: a silent contributor to opioid-overdose deaths.

This blog post draws attention to one of the most often overlooked aspects of the opioid crisis – the issue of suicide via deliberate overdose. The article explains why this is an important question that should not be ignored, discussing both the relevant statistics and the gaps in the research.

To learn more about how suicide and opioid addiction are interrelated, read the July opioid article of the month.

Meeting Opioid Users Where They Are A Service Referral Approach to Law Enforcement

The Other Opioid Crisis: Hospital Shortages Lead To Patient Pain, Medical Errors

NEJM's Controlling the Swing of the Opioid Pendulum: challenge chronic pain or opioid addiction

SAMHSA guide: Words that Matter, explains some simple ways to reduce substance abuse stigma by language choices.

In the March Opioid Article of the Month, a SAMHSA guide explains some simple ways to reduce substance abuse stigma by language choices. The words that healthcare providers use to discuss this condition with patients can have a significant impact on the patient-provider relationship and the patient’s health outcomes. Check out the full article to learn why words matter.

ADL Discontinuing Support For IE 10 and Older

New Resources Added to the Opioid Dependency Guide

New resource guide to the Zika Virus Disease and North Carolina's readiness

Please check out our guide for much important information about this virus and North Carolina's readiness

Average price of medical journals?

Ebsco Heads-Up! Beginning in July 2017 (yes folks 2017) Ebsco will no longer support IE 8.0 OR 9.0

The ADL now links to an Open Access diabetes journal, BMJ Open Diabetes Research and Care