Self-reported weight loss practices among African American and Hispanic adults in the United States.

Objective: To describe weight loss methods used and interactions with health care professionals on the issue of weight among African Americans and Hispanics.

Methods: Five hundred thirty-seven African American and 526 Hispanic adults who self-described as being overweight participated in a telephone interview.

Results: Exercise and healthy eating were the 2 most commonly used weight loss methods among both groups; prescription medications were the least-utilized weight loss aid.

Disparities by ethnicity and socioeconomic status in the use of weight loss treatments.

Background: Prior research suggests that ethnic minorities and individuals of low socioeconomic status (SES) may be more likely to attempt weight loss using unproven methods.

Methods: Data were from a national, random-digit-dial telephone survey of weight loss practices. Seven modalities of weight loss were examined.

Self-reported comorbidities among self-described overweight African-American and Hispanic adults in the United States: results of a national survey.

Objective: To examine the concordance between self-described weight status and BMI, the prevalence of self-reported comorbidities, and the association between comorbidities and self-rated health among overweight African-American and Hispanic US adults.

Methods And Procedures: A nationally representative sample of 537 African-American and 526 Hispanic adults who were identified using a combination of random digit dialing and listed household sampling and self-described as being slightly or very overweight participated in a telephone interview. Self-reported height and weight were used to calculate BMI.

Acute coronary syndrome critical pathway: chest PAIN caremap: a qualitative research study--provider-level intervention.

Recently published data on healthcare performance continue to show a substantial gap between evidence-based guidelines and management of patients in real-world settings. This article describes an operational model that will be used to test whether a critical pathway applied in a secondary care-level institution may improve the process of care related to acute coronary syndromes (ACS). We have developed the pathway for management of all patients who present to our emergency department with a chief complaint of acute chest pain.

Racial and ethnic differences in response to medicines: towards individualized pharmaceutical treatment.

It is now well documented that substantial disparities exist in the quality and quantity of medical care received by minority Americans, especially those of African, Asian and Hispanic heritage. In addition, the special needs and responses to pharmaceutical treatment of these groups have been undervalued or ignored. This article reviews the genetic factors that underlie varying responses to medicines observed among different ethnic and racial groups.

Addressing medical coding and billing part II: a strategy for achieving compliance. A risk management approach for reducing coding and billing errors.

Medical practice today, more than ever before, places greater demands on physicians to see more patients, provide more complex medical services and adhere to stricter regulatory rules, leaving little time for coding and billing. Yet, the need to adequately document medical records, appropriately apply billing codes and accurately charge insurers for medical services is essential to the medical practice's financial condition. Many physicians rely on office staff and billing companies to process their medical bills without ever reviewing the bills before they are submitted for payment.