Headache diagnosis and treatment: A pilot knowledge and needs assessment among physical therapists.

Objective: The objective of this pilot study was to assess physical therapists' (PTs) knowledge and needs regarding headache diagnosis and management.

Background: While there is significant research on physical therapy and cervicogenic headache, studies suggest that migraine is often under-recognized, misdiagnosed, and inadequately treated across society despite its high prevalence and burden. Because migraine commonly includes concurrent neck pain and/or vestibular symptoms, patients with migraine may present to PTs for treatment.

The role of patient inexperience in medication discontinuation: a retrospective analysis of medication nonpersistence in seven chronic illnesses.

Background: Previous studies have reported that patients who are medication naive in some medication classes have a higher risk of medication discontinuation during the first 30 days of treatment and shorter median times to discontinuation than do medication-experienced patients.

Objectives: This study compared the risk of discontinuation during the first 30 days after the index fill and the median time to discontinuation for medication-naive and medication-experienced patients who were prescribed drugs for asthma, diabetes mellitus, high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, breast cancer, glaucoma, or osteoporosis.

Methods: Deidentified outpatient pharmacy records from 4 large US retail chains were searched for patients who had obtained a prescription for one of the index medications between January 1, 2007, and January 31, 2007.

The hospital-based preferred provider organization and its potential impact on hospital pharmacy.

In response to competitive pressures in the marketplace, hospitals are becoming involved in the prepayment of services. This is exemplified by the hospital-based preferred provider organization (PPO). This article reviews the PPO concept, the economic forces behind its proliferation, and its potential impact on hospital pharmacy.