Feature
Telemedicine's Time Has Arrived
(from the September 2022 ACP Internist)
ACP Resident/Fellow Member David J. Savage, MD, PhD, was halfway through his residency at the Cleveland Clinic in March 2020 when, suddenly, it was time to learn telemedicine from scratch.
I.M. Internal Medicine
Spotlight: Grace Nassim, MD, MPH
Read Dr. Nassim's advice for women pursuing a career in medicine and why she enjoys being a hospitalist.
Council of Student Members (CSM) Spotlight
Getting Involved in Student Leadership
Like many medical students, I did not have a specialty in mind when applying to medical school. And when school started, I was just grateful to have made it and terrified by the information that came blasting my way as if out of a fire hose. The first semester of school passed in a blur. Before I knew it, officer applications for student organizations started to drop.
Medical Student Perspective
Just Say YES!
My heart began to pound as I listened to the nurse explain that my Dad was placed on a ventilator earlier that morning and would not be needing the charger for his phone at this time. I listened to her explain to my Mom what being on a ventilator meant, but I was fixated on the words “He won't be needing that.” Those words made me feel like I would never speak to my Dad again or hear his voice.
Advocacy Update
ACP: Passage of Inflation Reduction Act Improves Access to Health Care Services, Treatments
(from the September 9, 2022 ACP Advocate)
The recently passed Inflation Reduction Act includes several wins for the health care sector and climate change -- provisions that the American College of Physicians pushed hard for passage.
Read the full article in ACP Advocate.
The ACP Advocate is a bi-weekly e-newsletter that provides ACP members with news about public policy issues affecting internal medicine and patient care.
ACP Position Paper
ACP Calls for Supporting, Improving Long-Term Care and Services
(from the July 2022, Annals of Internal Medicine)
In a recent position paper, the College recommends universal catastrophic long-term care insurance, more support for the long-term care workforce and informal caregivers, and improvements in quality monitoring, among other reforms.
Read the full article in Annals of Internal Medicine.
ACP public policy papers summarize and dissect published research and discussion on current issues involving clinical practice, medical education, bioethics, and health care financing and delivery, and make specific recommendations for internists, patients, and policy makers. Read about ACP's public policy development process.
Analyzing Annals
Cannabis-Based Products for Chronic Pain. A Systematic Review; Cannabinoids for Chronic Pain: Translating Systematic Review Findings Into Clinical Action
Patients and physicians are interested in alternative treatments for chronic pain. Cannabis derivatives, or cannabinoids, including tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), may have analgesic properties. This systematic review investigated the benefits and harms of cannabinoids for treating chronic pain. The authors of the accompanying editorial discuss the limitations and strength of the available evidence and share their own advice for engaging with patients interested in using cannabis to treat chronic pain.
Annals of Internal Medicine is the premier internal medicine academic journal published by the American College of Physicians (ACP). It is one of the most widely cited and influential specialty medical journals in the world.
Winning Abstracts
Altered Mental Status in an Elderly Woman, Must Be the Urinary Tract Infection, or Is It?
The association between delirium and urinary tract infections (UTIs) in geriatric populations has been widely acknowledged by the healthcare community. However, alternative causes of cognitive deficits like hypercalcemia in elderly patients, may have been overlooked for conventional diagnoses.
Want to have your abstract featured here? ACP holds a National Abstracts Competition as part of the ACP Internal Medicine Meeting every year. Find out more at ACP Online.
Subspecialty and Combined Training Careers
Pulmonary Disease
Pulmonary medicine is the subspecialty of internal medicine that focuses on the diagnosis and management of disorders of the respiratory system, including the lungs, upper airways, thoracic cavity, and chest wall. Although most common respiratory problems are treated by general internists and other specialty physicians, internists practicing pulmonary medicine (often referred to as “pulmonologists”) are frequently called upon to help diagnose unknown disorders and assist in managing difficult, unusual, or complicated diseases of the respiratory system.
See all the career pathways open to internal medicine doctors and explore a “day-in-the-life” of an IM specialist/subspecialist at the bottom of our “Medical Student Career Path” page.
Eating Disorders
Eating disorders are common behavioral disorders associated with substantial psychological and physical morbidity and mortality. Persons with eating disorders frequently present to primary care providers, who may also be responsible for their general medical management. This article reviews the diagnosis, medical assessment, and treatment of the most common eating disorders.
Get Involved
Deadline Approaching: Apply for ACP's Health Policy Internship by October 31
The 2023 Health Policy Internship application cycle is open until October 31, 2022. The internship provides a multifaceted opportunity for trainees to learn about the legislative process, health policy, and advocacy in organized medicine. Learn more.
Deadline Approaching: CSM Call for Nominations Due November First
The Council of Student Members (CSM) is currently seeking candidates to fill vacant seats for 2023 to 2024. The CSM is responsible for responding to requests from the Board of Regents, committees, and staff for review of programs, products, and services, and advising the Board of Regents and Board of Governors. Nominations are due by November 1, 2022. Questions? Contact ACP staff. Learn more.
IMIG Event Inspiration
Oktoberfest Blood Drive
In addition to organizing educational events for its members, some internal medicine interest groups also volunteer for public health initiatives in their school's community. IMIG members at Midwestern University, Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine, in Glendale hosted a blood drive with Vitalant in a local neighborhood during their Octoberfest block party. They successfully met their blood donor goal and provided blood products to local hospitals for life-saving transfusions. See more event ideas.
Chapter Chatter
ACP Chapter Meeting Lineup Announced
Expand your network, strengthen your CV, and learn new clinical skills by attending a local ACP Chapter Meeting. Bonus: most meetings have FREE registration for medical student members! See when your local chapter is holding its annual meeting.
The membership of ACP is divided into 85 chapters and regions, each uniquely tailored to the needs and interests of its members. See what events are coming up in your local chapter.
“Quiz Me!” Question
Test your medical knowledge each month with questions from The Medical Knowledge Self-Assessment Program® (MKSAP).
A 32-year-old woman is evaluated for an asthma exacerbation. She previously had well-controlled asthma. She has increased the use of her maintenance inhaler and is using her rescue medication four times daily, but her symptoms persist. She reports no fever, chills, chest pain, or purulent sputum. She has no history of intubation, emergency department visits, or hospitalizations for asthma and has adhered to her medication regimen. She is a nonsmoker. Medications are inhaled budesonide and albuterol.
The Medical Knowledge Self-Assessment Program® (MKSAP) has been the “go-to” resource for board prep and lifelong learning since 1967. Learn more.
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