EurekAlert! News by Subject: Medicine & Health

Medicine & Health

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 25-Jun-2026 23:16 ET (26-Jun-2026 03:16 GMT/UTC)

26-May-2026

Shorter primary care wait times and stronger patient-physician continuity linked to advanced access model for scheduling

American Academy of Family Physicians
Peer-Reviewed Publication

This systematic review examined 29 studies on advanced access, a scheduling model that involves keeping a substantial proportion of appointment slots open each day to accommodate same-day demand.

Journal: The Annals of Family Medicine

26-May-2026

Automated EHR alert improved hepatitis B monitoring rates at a primary care clinic

American Academy of Family Physicians
Peer-Reviewed Publication

In May 2024, the health system and clinic noted the appearance of a new “care gap” alert in their Epic electronic health record (EHR) system that flagged patients with hepatitis B who were overdue for one blood test, the hepatitis B DNA test. As part of the existing workflow to address care gaps at every visit, the alert prompted clinic staff to discuss the test during whatever appointment the patient was already attending.

Journal: The Annals of Family Medicine

26-May-2026

Study finds colorectal cancer screening intervention had similar effects across race/ethnicity at federally qualified health centers

American Academy of Family Physicians
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Racially and ethnically minoritized patients are underscreened for colorectal cancer, resulting in racial/ethnic disparities. This study examined an intervention consisting of a mailed fecal immunochemical test (FIT) to patients due for screening, plus patient navigation for positive tests, at two federally qualified health centers (FQHC) systems in North Carolina.

Journal: The Annals of Family Medicine

26-May-2026

Researchers in China examine use of AI-assisted ultrasound by general practitioners to detect carotid artery plaque

American Academy of Family Physicians
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Carotid plaque is a buildup in the walls of the arteries of the neck that is associated with the onset of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. This study examined whether general practitioners (GPs) in China could reliably detect carotid plaque using AI-enhanced point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) following structured training.

Journal: The Annals of Family Medicine

26-May-2026

Primary Care Engaged Research for Cancer Survivorship Care (PERCS) initiative promotes comprehensive care for cancer survivors

American Academy of Family Physicians
Peer-Reviewed Publication

This special report describes the Primary Care Engaged Research for Cancer Survivorship Care (PERCS) initiative, a National Cancer Institute-funded umbrella of four system-level randomized controlled trials designed to improve how primary care clinicians deliver survivorship care to more than 18 million cancer survivors in the US.

Journal: The Annals of Family Medicine

26-May-2026

"School of Caring" program eases burden and improves well-being for informal dementia caregivers

American Academy of Family Physicians
Peer-Reviewed Publication

This study in rural Spain evaluated the effectiveness of a program called the School of Caring, a nine-session weekly group program for informal caregivers of people with dementia. The program combined dementia education, psychological support, and guidance on community resources for 132 informal caregivers.

Journal: The Annals of Family Medicine

26-May-2026

Mayo Clinic study details set of options family medicine physicians may consider to treat ME/CFS and long covid

American Academy of Family Physicians
Peer-Reviewed Publication

U.S. prevalence of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), a multisystem neurologic disease and debilitating chronic condition, averaged 1 million to 2.5 million before the COVID-19 pandemic. Incidence rates are now reported to be 15 times greater, related at least in part to long COVID. This retrospective chart review analyzed records of medications and supplements tried before specialty consultation from 571 adults with ME/CFS seen at a Mayo Clinic specialty clinic from 2018 to 2022.

Journal: The Annals of Family Medicine

26-May-2026

Monell Center announces inaugural awardees of the Stephen Manheimer Scholarship in Flavor Science

Monell Chemical Senses Center
Grant and Award Announcement

The Monell Chemical Senses Center proudly announced the inaugural awardees of the Stephen Manheimer Scholarship in Flavor Science. The two graduate student awardees are tackling distinct challenges in flavor science: one investigating how saliva influences the lingering taste of sugar alternatives, the other using computational modelling to identify "primary odors" that could simplify flavor design.

26-May-2026

Whole organ 3D imaging reveals remaining insulin producing cells in type 1 diabetes

Umea University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Researchers at Umeå University have conducted a unique three-dimensional mapping of an entire human pancreas. The study shows that insulin-producing cells can remain long after the onset of type 1 diabetes – a finding that suggests the disease progression is more complex than previously assumed.

Journal: Science Advances