A Case of Chagas Disease in South Dakota: Diagnosis and Treatment.

Chagas disease is a chronic, systemic parasitic infection caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. The primary mode of transmission to humans is by the Reduviid insect, endemic to South America. Recent migration of the vector has led to increased cases in the southern United States and has prompted increased surveillance and blood donation screening.

Patient-Centered Home Model of Care and the Role of Patient Care Teams in the Treatment and Management of Chronic Disease.

Patient-centered medical home (PCMH) is a concept of a team of providers caring for a panel of patients with the goals to improve the quality of care while simultaneously decreasing the cost of that care. The clinical evidence that the PCMH approach achieves either goal is mixed. More studies are in progress that will provide more data.

Posting guidelines: a practical and effective way to promote appropriate hypertension treatment.

Background: Despite publication and periodic updating of treatment guidelines, hypertension remains undertreated in the United States, and physicians underuse recommended drugs.

Methods: Hypertension treatment guidelines were summarized and posted in five places in a hospital-based primary care clinic staffed by internists and internal medicine residents. Costs and recommended doses of five commonly used antihypertensive drugs were included.