From COVID-19 to prenatal diagnostics and precision medicine, genomics has slowly but surely moved into the clinic, and forever altered medicine. But many new frontiers lie ahead. Medscape Medical News
Author: Medscape
Can a Healthcare Worker Refuse the COVID-19 Vaccine?
Some healthcare workers have claimed that they will not take a COVD-19 vaccine. What are the consequences of refusal? Medscape Infectious Diseases
Advancing Healthcare During the Pandemic and Beyond
Healthcare has benefited from the pandemic in three ways, say Kaiser Permanente’s CEO and WebMD’s CMO. Medscape Public Health
Diabetic Retinopathy May Predict Greater Risk of COVID-19 Severity
‘Our study reports the first description of diabetic retinopathy as a potential risk factor for poor COVID-19 outcomes,’ say the authors of a new study. Medscape Medical News
6 Big Changes Coming for Office-Visit Coding
Next year, physicians may have an easier time coding for office visits — and could even earn more money from them. Medscape Business of Medicine
Medicare Payments Could Get Tougher for Docs
Despite the new alternative payment models, costs have not declined, and Medicare may not have sufficient funds to cover benefit costs after 2024. Physicians could suffer a huge blow to their income. Medscape Business of Medicine
Blood Vessels in the Eye May Diagnose Parkinson’s Disease
With the help of machine-learning algorithms, images of the vasculature of the eye may open a window to a new way of diagnosing neurological disease. Medscape Medical News
Amyloid in the Retina Correlates With Alzheimer’s Brain Changes
Researchers have identified amyloid in the retina of living patients with cognitive decline and correlated this with brain changes. Medscape Medical News
Extended-Release Glaucoma Drugs Eagerly Anticipated
Extended-release implants that deliver glaucoma drugs over months or years are just the ticket for patients who have trouble with eyedrops. One has already received FDA approval and five more are in the pipeline. Medscape Medical News
Pilocarpine Promising as Presbyopia Treatment
A new formulation of pilocarpine has shown promise as a treatment for presbyopia. The treatment works through dynamic pupil modulation. Medscape Medical News
Fluocinolone Implant Real-World Experience Matches DME Trials
Patients who had not benefited from anti-VEGF intravitreal injections experienced improved vision and sustained it for 3 years. Medscape Medical News
EMA Panel Backs Roclanda Eyedrops, New Option for Glaucoma
The fixed-dose combination of latanoprost and netarsudil is for adults with primary open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension for whom monotherapy fails. International Approvals
Collagen Crosslinking Shows Promise for Keratitis
Collagen crosslinking, a procedure developed for keratoconus, offers new hope in treating difficult cases of keratitis. Medscape Medical News
Useful Wet AMD Images Obtained With Home OCT
Images obtained with a home OCT device matched standard OCT scans in detecting retinal fluid. Medscape Medical News
AAO 2020
Read clinically focused news coverage of key developments from AAO 2020 Medscape Ophthalmology
How Face Masks May Be Hurting Doctors’ Bedside Manner
Face masks are changing doctor-patient interactions, possibly for the worse. Current and future doctors must consider how to prevent further straining this important relationship. Medscape Med Students
Drug Use-Induced Endophthalmitis Rises Exponentially in US
Drug use-induced endophthalmitis increased four-fold in the US between 2013-2016, and clinicians should maintain a ‘high index of suspicion’ for the condition, researchers say. Reuters Health Information
Twelve Medical Groups Oppose UHC Copay Accumulator Program
In an Oct. 7 letter to UHC, the 12 groups acknowledged that the drugs targeted by the accumulator policy are expensive. "However, they are also vitally important for our patients," the groups wrote. Medscape Medical News
Industry Payments Go Mostly to KOLs — Does It Matter?
Recent studies show that key opinion leaders receive half of all industry payments given to physicians. Are they being bought, or could there be another explanation? Medscape
Could You Be Earning More With a Different Incentive Bonus Plan?
Incentive bonus plans can be structured in different ways, and some will pay more than others. Is your plan helping you to earn the most? Medscape Medical News