Primary care in crisis; updating asbestos research; inspiring others – Morning Medical Update

A local view of the primary care crisis

Primary care is in crisis across the country. Check out this regional analysis to see how that translates on the ground for actual physicians and patients. “The dearth of primary care physicians in Massachusetts is no longer a looming public health threat. It is here and represents a major public health crisis that requires urgent and sustainable financial investment and actions aimed at recruiting and retaining primary care physicians,” one doctor said.

Best research on asbestos

Asbestos is extremely fire-resistant for buildings and extremely carcinogenic for human lungs. But were epidemiological studies about it entirely accurate and unbiased? There is sufficient evidence to support asbestos as a carcinogen. But there are different types of asbestos and past research may not be entirely reliable about all their effects, according to this review and accompanying news release.

Nurse, patient, inspiration

Obesity is a growing concern for physicians and patients around the nation and world. The new GLP-1RA drugs are at the top of the news, but patients may respond better to other methods to treat obesity. Here is a report about a nurse who became a bariatric surgery patient, then an inspiration to other patients.