Clinical Updates in Women's Health Care Summary: Ischemic Heart Disease: Primary and Preventive Care Review.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among women in the United States. Obstetrician-gynecologists often are the sole health care providers for otherwise healthy women. Therefore, they must be aware of risk factors, signs, and symptoms of cardiovascular disease and be prepared to recognize and treat this condition in patients as well as provide referrals when specialized care is indicated. Women with cardiac problems typically present with chest discomfort; however, they also are more likely than healthy women to present with other common symptoms, such as shortness of breath, back pain, jaw pain, or nausea and vomiting. This monograph, with a primary focus on ischemic heart disease (IHD), discusses the basic anatomy of the heart and coronary arteries; vascular biology; pathogenesis of atherosclerosis; and the screening, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of IHD as well as the multiple risk factors associated with the development of IHD that contribute to both increased morbidity and mortality.

Clinical Updates in Women's Health Care Summary: Arrhythmias: Primary and Preventive Care Review.

Obstetrician-gynecologists often are the sole providers of health care to female patients. Because cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women in the United States, obstetrician- gynecologists must be aware of the risk factors, symptoms, and signs of cardiovascular disease and arrhythmia. Furthermore, they must be prepared to identify and treat common types of arrhythmia in this population and refer patients to cardiology for specialized care. Understanding the role of pregnancy among women with arrhythmia is critically important to optimize both maternal and fetal outcomes. This monograph discusses the cardiac conduction system and addresses the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of both pregnant and nonpregnant patients with heart rhythm disorders.

Benefits of integrated behavioral health services: The physician perspective.

INTRODUCTION: There are benefits of integrating a behavioral health specialist in primary care; however, little is known about the physicians' perspectives. The purpose of this study was to explore primary care physicians' beliefs regarding the benefits of integrated care for both patients and themselves. METHOD: Fifteen senior staff physicians and 78 residents completed surveys regarding their opinions of referring to a psychologist in a patient-centered medical home. RESULTS: The top reasons that physicians believed their patients followed through with a visit with an integrated psychologist included that they recommended it (79.5%) and that patients can be seen in the same primary care clinic (76.9%). The overwhelming majority of physicians were satisfied with having access to an integrated psychologist (97.4%). Physicians believed that integrated care directly improves patient care (93.8%), is a needed service (90.3%), and helps provide better care to patients (80.9%). In addition, physicians reported that having an integrated psychologist reduces their personal stress level (90.1%). CONCLUSION: Primary care physicians may be motivated to integrate behavioral health services into their clinics knowing that other physicians believe that it directly and indirectly improves patient care and physician stress.