Winter Storm Avery to bring snow, ice to Pa. Nov. 15, 2018

So much for autumn. In parts of Pennsylvania, a wintry mix of snow and ice is already falling, with most of the state bracing for some accumulation and potentially hazardous conditions. The Pa. Department of Health has offered some tips for shoveling safely, and AAA has some helpful hints for driving in severe weather. Remember to check on your neighbors, too!

Nearly half of patients have been prescribed a medication for longer than necessary. Medscape reports a recent study in Annals of Family Medicine has discovered that "legacy prescribing" - the prescription of drugs for a longer period than is typically needed to treat a condition - is a major problem in the primary care setting, which is often the coordinating center and gatekeeper.

Chronic pain tops the list of conditions that Pennsylvania patients are using medical marijuana to treat. According to Philly.com, an informal survey has found up to 70 percent of patients are using the treatment for pain. Other common conditions include epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and autism, with dispensary officials claiming anecdotal evidence of success.

The Wolf Administration has announced a $10 million grant to the Department of Human Services' (DHS) Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services to better integrate primary care and mental health care services. According to DHS, the funding was awarded by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

I have had the pleasure of hearing from and speaking with a number of members about a resolution adopted at the AAFP’s recent Congress of Delegates meeting regarding “engaged neutrality” on the issue of medical aid in dying. Understandably, this position change has created concerns among some members. (Please click here to view the full PAFP statement.)