Allison is Associate Editorial Director for The American Journal of Managed Care® (AJMC®) and The Center for Biosimilars®. She joined AJMC® in 2017. She produces and oversees written, video, and podcast content across several disease states and issues surrounding value-based care and health policy.
She has an MPA from New York University. You can connect with Allison on LinkedIn.
Development of PsA Linked to Tenosynovitis in Patients With Arthralgia
November 27th 2019Researchers used ultrasound to investigate the anatomical basis for arthralgia symptoms and found that tenosynovitis was the only significant difference in patients who went on to develop psoriatic arthritis (PsA).
Providers Need to Heed Metabolic Syndrome's Complications for Women
November 15th 2019A recent study in the International Journal of Women’s Dermatology described the complex interplay of sex hormones in the pathways of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in pre- and postmenopausal women and how clinicians should be aware of the multiple factors of MetS.
The Impact of Sickle Cell Disease on Lifetime Earnings
November 15th 2019There are substantial reductions in income over a lifetime for patients with sickle cell disease owing to early mortality, according to a new study that seeks to provide a better understanding of the condition from both the patient point of view as well as a societal point of view.
MSK-IMPACT AI Study Yields New Findings to Diagnose Tumor Types of Unknown Origin
November 14th 2019A team of researchers led by Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Thursday published work describing how they used machine learning, a form of artificial intelligence (AI), to predict tumor type from targeted DNA sequence data to predict tissue of origin, in a finding that may have implications to improve diagnostic and clinical care.
Readouts of Renal Data From Game-Changing Diabetes Drugs Highlighted at Nephrology Meeting
November 13th 2019Secondary analyses of data from the landmark CREDENCE trial show that the protective renal benefits of the SGLT2 inhibitor canagliflozin are greatest among type 2 diabetes patients with lower kidney function.
Understanding More About Quality of Life Impact for Patients With CKD, Anemia
November 12th 2019A poster presented at the American Society of Nephrology's (ASN) Kidney Week 2019 sought to understand more about patient knowledge of anemia and its impact on patient quality of life, their understanding of the disease, as well as how their anemia is managed.
Early Warning Signs of CKD Going Unnoticed in Veterans, Especially Those With Hypertension
November 12th 2019The federal government wants to lower the rate of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and improve kidney care outcomes, but such efforts will require earlier identification of chronic kidney disease (CKD), especially in veterans. At the American Society of Nephrology's (ASN) Kidney Week 2019, one poster described the gaps in identifying CKD in this population.
Physicians, Patient Discuss Intentional Nonadherence in Hypertension Therapy
November 10th 2019What should providers do about intentional nonadherence, and what strategies should they try to get their patients to take their hypertension medicine? At a session at the American Society of Nephrology (ASN)’s Kidney Week 2019, physicians discussed direct observation therapy (DOT), drug monitoring, case studies, and other published work about patients who don’t take their medications. Then they heard from a directly from a patient who shared why she stopped taking her medication and the scary consequence that developed as a result.
Patients on Dialysis Have More Hospitalizations in Areas With More Black Residents
November 10th 2019Patients receiving dialysis living in communities with a high percentage of black residents are known to have worse morbidity and mortality outcomes, and a study presented Saturday at the American Society of Nephrology Kidney Week 2019 meeting found that patients receiving dialysis in those communities also had higher hospitalization rates.
Pooled Cardiovascular Data on Roxadustat Show No Increased Risk to Patients With CKD
November 9th 2019The risk of major adverse cardiovascular events was comparable with placebo in patients not treated with dialysis who received the investigational drug roxadustat, according to pooled cardiovascular safety data about the first-in-class oral therapy for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).
Researchers Develop Tool to Identify Those at Risk of Future CKD
November 9th 2019A simple risk-assessment tool that helps physicians with early identification of patients at increased risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) could lead to improved and targeted surveillance strategies, according to research published Friday.
Data From 3 Roxadustat Trials Lead Off Kidney Week Sessions Ahead of Efficacy, Safety News
November 8th 2019Investigators presented data about 3 phase 3 trials of roxadustat at a national nephrology meeting to a standing-room only crowd, but the information the audience is really waiting to hear will have to wait until early Friday afternoon. While the trials showed promising results, day 2 of American Society of Nephrology's (ASN) Kidney Week 2019 will see the release of highly anticipated efficacy and pooled cardiovascular safety data about the first-in-class oral drug to treat chronic kidney disease in patients with anemia.
Time to Focus on Increasing Organs for Patients With ESRD, Azar Says at Kidney Week
November 7th 2019HHS is taking additional steps to improve care for those with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), Secretary Alex Azar announced Thursday. Speaking at a tightly packed session during the American Society of Nephrology’s Kidney Week 2019, Azar said HHS is looking to speed organ transplants to those who need them as part of an overall shift away from dialysis in kidney care centers and as part of its overall desire to lower spending while improving outcomes.
Blood Condition That Precedes Myeloma Presents Improved Chance for Early Treatment
November 7th 2019Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, a precancerous blood condition that rarely progresses to myeloma, can be predicted by a pattern of frequent hospital visits, and finding it earlier could present an opportunity to begin myeloma treatment earlier, thus improving outcomes.
Sharpless Returns to NCI as Administration Moves to Nominate Hahn to Lead FDA
November 1st 2019The Trump administration is supporting Stephen Hahn, MD, FASTRO, the chief medical officer of MD Anderson Cancer Center, as the next FDA commissioner, and the current acting commissioner, Ned Sharpless, MD, is returning to his old job as head of the National Cancer Institute (NCI).
California Providers Describe Growing Crisis for Immigrant Families
October 31st 2019A report released this week by the Kaiser Family Foundation illustrates how immigration policy changes at the federal level are affecting an increasing number of families, some of whom are disenrolling themselves and their children from California’s Medicaid program and not renewing or not enrolling in other programs, even though they are eligible and not directly affected by the policy changes. Experts are worried about long-term health effects.
Quadruple Therapy for Newly Diagnosed Patients With MM Shows PFS Benefit Over Triple Therapy
October 29th 2019Quadruple therapy for newly diagnosed patients with multiple myeloma (MM) led to significantly longer progression-free survival (PFS), according to an abstract presented at the 17th International Myeloma Workshop 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts, last month.