Forensic Healthcare Online

Monday, pharmaceutical companies can start marketing a generic version of Plan B. I hope this will increase access to emergency contraception (EC), but I am skeptical. Part of the problem is a fundamental misunderstanding of how Plan B works (or doesn’t work, for that matter). Part of the problem is the regulatory issues which won’t change just because there’s a generic version.

I’d like to think that clinicians are better informed about EC today, but I’m not sure that’s true everywhere. However, I stumbled across a pretty cool tool that can assist you in putting together a high quality presentation on this topic, should you care to provide some training to staff or colleagues.

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It’s been a terrific week out here in the mountains, but it’s just about time to go home (and then turn right back around and head to Oregon). I confess, I tried to get a new clinical guide up this week, but the mountains beckoned and it didn’t happen. Next week, I promise. In the meantime, check out what’s happening over at the sustainability site:

• A newly-released webinar from Robert Wood Johnson on generating media coverage
• Some basic guidelines for successful planning, in anticipation of our next project bulletin
• A few resources on emergency contraception:choosing progestin-only pills over combined ones, single-dosing Plan B, and more

It’s my last day here, so I’m going to enjoy one last trail run. Have a great weekend everyone! See you back here next week from the Pacific Northwest.

Time once again for a run down of some of the new and noteworthy articles in the current literature. Most of these are from the May/June issues; I have included a couple articles electronically available now in anticipation of print publication, as well (all from the last 4 weeks). As always, please keep in mind this in no way a comprehensive list; simply items that have caught my attention from a selection of peer-reviewed journals. Most links lead to abstracts (unless otherwise indicated); from there you can choose what’s worth a.) paying for; b.) a pilgrimage to your nearest medical library;  or c.) downloading via the full-text access you possibly have at your disposal.

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The Association of Reproductive Health Professionals has an archived webinar on the efficacy of emergency contraception.  The webinar clocks in under 45 minutes and has 1.0 CMEs attached for physicians who complete pre- and post-tests. Access is free of charge and will be available through February 2010.

I’m a bit late to this story, but last week a federal court judge ordered the FDA to make Plan B available to 17 year olds without a prescription within the next 30 days and consider making it OTC for younger girls, as well. The judge  essentially ruled that the FDA had acted in bad faith and in response to political pressure. You can read the story here, here, or here. Or listen to it here.

(Hat tip to FVPF)

I have found that while people are pretty interested in the topic of emergency contraception, there’s not a lot of understanding about how it does (or doesn’t work). In fact, I continue to be surprised at how many SANE/SAFE trainings out there don’t really cover much about EC beyond the type of meds and doses to give. So I was happy to run across Contraception Online’s downloadable slides on the topic.

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I’m auditioning a new feature to the site: a monthly look at what’s new and notable in the literature. Obviously this won’t be a comprehensive review, since A.) there are hundreds of journals to comb through and who has that kind of time? and B.) my interests skew in a pretty specific direction so I’m sure there’s stuff out there that wouldn’t necessarily catch my attention but would be compelling and/or relevant to many of you.

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The Association of Reproductive Health Professionals offers a webinar on the effectiveness of emergency contraception.  Leading this webinar is Dr. James Trussel, Director of Population Research at Princeton University (you may be familiar already with their terrific website). This session requires both pre-and post-course evaluations, assuming you take the course for CE credit (you’re given a choice). The course lasts about 30 minutes plus questions and answers at the end.

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ReachMD is an XM Satelite Radio channel geared toward medical professionals. They discuss a wide variety of topics on their show and have a website where much of the radio content is archived. This podcast is an interview by a primary care physician with Dr. Robert Hatcher (of Contraceptive Technology fame) about emergency contraception.

If you are providing emergency contraception to sexual assault patients, this is a great overview. It includes an interesting discusion about the controversy surrounding how emergency contraceptives work. The podcast also touches some on abortion and safety issues (at ~11 minute mark).

Access to the podcast is free, but does require registration with the website. Total run time: 13 minutes.