PING – you look down at your phone and the words “URGENT – Meeting Today” stare back at you. The elevator door opens, and you step inside – 1 minute, the seemingly perfect amount of time for a quick inbox check.

As a hospitalist, chances are you have experienced this scenario, likely more than once. Email has become a double-edged sword, both a valuable communication tool and a source of stress and frustration.¹ A 2012 McKinsey analysis found that the average professional spends 28% of the day reading and answering emails.² Smartphone technology with email alerts and push notifications constantly diverts hospitalists’ attention away from important and nonurgent responsibilities such as manuscript writing, family time, and personal well-being.³

How can we break this cycle of compulsive connectivity? To keep email from controlling your life, we suggest the “Three Rs” (Resist, Reorganize, and Respond) of email effectiveness.
 

RESIST

The first key to take control of your inbox is to resist the urge to impulsively check and respond to emails. Consider these three solutions to bolster your ability to resist.

• Disable email push notifications. This will reduce the urge to continuously refresh your inbox on the wards.⁴ Excessively checking email can waste as much as 21 minutes per day.²
• Set an email budget.⁵ Schedule one to two appointments each day to handle email.⁶ Consider blocking 30 minutes after rounds and 30 minutes at the end of each day to address emails.
• Correspond at a computer. Limit email correspondence to your laptop or desktop. Access to a full keyboard and larger screen will maximize the efficiency of each email appointment.

REORGANIZE

After implementing these strategies to resist email temptations, reorganize your inbox with the following two-pronged approach.

• Focus your inbox: There are many options for reducing the volume of emails that flood your inbox. Try collaborative tools like Google Docs, Dropbox, Doodle polls, and Slack to shift communication away from email onto platforms optimized to your project’s specific needs. Additionally, email management tools like SaneBox and OtherInbox triage less important messages directly to folders, leaving only must-read-now messages in your inbox.² Lastly, activate spam filters and unsubscribe from mailing lists to eliminate email clutter.
• Commit to concise filing and finding: Archiving emails into a complex array of folders wastes as much as 14 minutes each day. Instead, limit your filing system to two folders: “Action” for email requiring further action and “Reading” for messages to reference at a later date.² Activating “Communication View” on Microsoft Outlook allows rapid review of messages that share the same subject heading.

RESPOND

Finally, once your inbox is reorganized, use the Four Ds for Decision Making model to optimize the way you respond to email.⁶ When you sit down for an email appointment, use the Four Ds, detailed below to avoid reading the same message repeatedly without taking action.

• Delete: Quickly delete any emails that do not directly require your attention or follow-up. Many emails can be immediately deleted without further thought.
• Do: If a task or response to an email will take less than 2 minutes, do it immediately. It will take at least the same amount to retrieve and reread an email as it will to handle it in real time.⁷ Often, this can be accomplished with a quick phone call or email reply.
• Defer: If an email response will take more than 2 minutes, use a system to take action at a later time. Move actionable items from your inbox to a to-do list or calendar appointment and file appropriate emails into the Action or Reading folders, detailed above. This method allows completion of important tasks in a timely manner outside of your fixed email budget. Delaying an email reply can also be advantageous by letting a problem mature, given that some of these issues will resolve without your specific intervention.
• Delegate: This can be difficult for many hospitalists who are accustomed to finishing each task themselves. If someone else can do the task as good as or better than you can, it is wise to delegate whenever possible.

Over the next few weeks, challenge yourself to resist email temptations, reorganize your inbox, and methodically respond to emails. This practice will help structure your day, maximize your efficiency, manage colleagues’ expectations, and create new time windows throughout your on-service weeks.

Dr. Nelson is a hospitalist at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans. Dr. Esquivel is a hospitalist and assistant professor at Weill Cornell Medicine, New York. Dr. Hall is a med-peds hospitalist and assistant professor at the University of Kentucky, Lexington.

References

1. MacKinnon R. How you manage your emails may be bad for your health. Science Daily. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/01/160104081249.htm. Published Jan 4, 2016.

2. Plummer M. How to spend way less time on email every day. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2019/01/how-to-spend-way-less-time-on-email-every-day. 2019 Jan 22.

3. Covey SR. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change. New York: Free Press, 2004.

4. Ericson C. 5 Ways to Take Control of Your Email Inbox. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/learnvest/2014/03/17/5-ways-to-take-control-of-your-email-inbox/#3711f5946342. 2014 Mar 17.

5. Limit the time you spend on email. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2014/02/limit-the-time-you-spend-on-email. 2014 Feb 6.

6. McGhee S. Empty your inbox: 4 ways to take control of your email. Internet and Telephone Blog. https://www.itllc.net/it-support-ma/empty-your-inbox-4-ways-to-take-control-of-your-email/.

7. Allen D. Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity. New York: Penguin Books, 2015.

PING – you look down at your phone and the words “URGENT – Meeting Today” stare back at you. The elevator door opens, and you step inside – 1 minute, the seemingly perfect amount of time for a quick inbox check.

As a hospitalist, chances are you have experienced this scenario, likely more than once. Email has become a double-edged sword, both a valuable communication tool and a source of stress and frustration.¹ A 2012 McKinsey analysis found that the average professional spends 28% of the day reading and answering emails.² Smartphone technology with email alerts and push notifications constantly diverts hospitalists’ attention away from important and nonurgent responsibilities such as manuscript writing, family time, and personal well-being.³

How can we break this cycle of compulsive connectivity? To keep email from controlling your life, we suggest the “Three Rs” (Resist, Reorganize, and Respond) of email effectiveness.
 

RESIST

The first key to take control of your inbox is to resist the urge to impulsively check and respond to emails. Consider these three solutions to bolster your ability to resist.

• Disable email push notifications. This will reduce the urge to continuously refresh your inbox on the wards.⁴ Excessively checking email can waste as much as 21 minutes per day.²
• Set an email budget.⁵ Schedule one to two appointments each day to handle email.⁶ Consider blocking 30 minutes after rounds and 30 minutes at the end of each day to address emails.
• Correspond at a computer. Limit email correspondence to your laptop or desktop. Access to a full keyboard and larger screen will maximize the efficiency of each email appointment.

REORGANIZE

After implementing these strategies to resist email temptations, reorganize your inbox with the following two-pronged approach.

• Focus your inbox: There are many options for reducing the volume of emails that flood your inbox. Try collaborative tools like Google Docs, Dropbox, Doodle polls, and Slack to shift communication away from email onto platforms optimized to your project’s specific needs. Additionally, email management tools like SaneBox and OtherInbox triage less important messages directly to folders, leaving only must-read-now messages in your inbox.² Lastly, activate spam filters and unsubscribe from mailing lists to eliminate email clutter.
• Commit to concise filing and finding: Archiving emails into a complex array of folders wastes as much as 14 minutes each day. Instead, limit your filing system to two folders: “Action” for email requiring further action and “Reading” for messages to reference at a later date.² Activating “Communication View” on Microsoft Outlook allows rapid review of messages that share the same subject heading.

RESPOND

Finally, once your inbox is reorganized, use the Four Ds for Decision Making model to optimize the way you respond to email.⁶ When you sit down for an email appointment, use the Four Ds, detailed below to avoid reading the same message repeatedly without taking action.

• Delete: Quickly delete any emails that do not directly require your attention or follow-up. Many emails can be immediately deleted without further thought.
• Do: If a task or response to an email will take less than 2 minutes, do it immediately. It will take at least the same amount to retrieve and reread an email as it will to handle it in real time.⁷ Often, this can be accomplished with a quick phone call or email reply.
• Defer: If an email response will take more than 2 minutes, use a system to take action at a later time. Move actionable items from your inbox to a to-do list or calendar appointment and file appropriate emails into the Action or Reading folders, detailed above. This method allows completion of important tasks in a timely manner outside of your fixed email budget. Delaying an email reply can also be advantageous by letting a problem mature, given that some of these issues will resolve without your specific intervention.
• Delegate: This can be difficult for many hospitalists who are accustomed to finishing each task themselves. If someone else can do the task as good as or better than you can, it is wise to delegate whenever possible.

Over the next few weeks, challenge yourself to resist email temptations, reorganize your inbox, and methodically respond to emails. This practice will help structure your day, maximize your efficiency, manage colleagues’ expectations, and create new time windows throughout your on-service weeks.

Dr. Nelson is a hospitalist at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans. Dr. Esquivel is a hospitalist and assistant professor at Weill Cornell Medicine, New York. Dr. Hall is a med-peds hospitalist and assistant professor at the University of Kentucky, Lexington.

References

1. MacKinnon R. How you manage your emails may be bad for your health. Science Daily. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/01/160104081249.htm. Published Jan 4, 2016.

2. Plummer M. How to spend way less time on email every day. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2019/01/how-to-spend-way-less-time-on-email-every-day. 2019 Jan 22.

3. Covey SR. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change. New York: Free Press, 2004.

4. Ericson C. 5 Ways to Take Control of Your Email Inbox. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/learnvest/2014/03/17/5-ways-to-take-control-of-your-email-inbox/#3711f5946342. 2014 Mar 17.

5. Limit the time you spend on email. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2014/02/limit-the-time-you-spend-on-email. 2014 Feb 6.

6. McGhee S. Empty your inbox: 4 ways to take control of your email. Internet and Telephone Blog. https://www.itllc.net/it-support-ma/empty-your-inbox-4-ways-to-take-control-of-your-email/.

7. Allen D. Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity. New York: Penguin Books, 2015.

PING – you look down at your phone and the words “URGENT – Meeting Today” stare back at you. The elevator door opens, and you step inside – 1 minute, the seemingly perfect amount of time for a quick inbox check.

As a hospitalist, chances are you have experienced this scenario, likely more than once. Email has become a double-edged sword, both a valuable communication tool and a source of stress and frustration.¹ A 2012 McKinsey analysis found that the average professional spends 28% of the day reading and answering emails.² Smartphone technology with email alerts and push notifications constantly diverts hospitalists’ attention away from important and nonurgent responsibilities such as manuscript writing, family time, and personal well-being.³

How can we break this cycle of compulsive connectivity? To keep email from controlling your life, we suggest the “Three Rs” (Resist, Reorganize, and Respond) of email effectiveness.
 

RESIST

The first key to take control of your inbox is to resist the urge to impulsively check and respond to emails. Consider these three solutions to bolster your ability to resist.

• Disable email push notifications. This will reduce the urge to continuously refresh your inbox on the wards.⁴ Excessively checking email can waste as much as 21 minutes per day.²
• Set an email budget.⁵ Schedule one to two appointments each day to handle email.⁶ Consider blocking 30 minutes after rounds and 30 minutes at the end of each day to address emails.
• Correspond at a computer. Limit email correspondence to your laptop or desktop. Access to a full keyboard and larger screen will maximize the efficiency of each email appointment.

REORGANIZE

After implementing these strategies to resist email temptations, reorganize your inbox with the following two-pronged approach.

• Focus your inbox: There are many options for reducing the volume of emails that flood your inbox. Try collaborative tools like Google Docs, Dropbox, Doodle polls, and Slack to shift communication away from email onto platforms optimized to your project’s specific needs. Additionally, email management tools like SaneBox and OtherInbox triage less important messages directly to folders, leaving only must-read-now messages in your inbox.² Lastly, activate spam filters and unsubscribe from mailing lists to eliminate email clutter.
• Commit to concise filing and finding: Archiving emails into a complex array of folders wastes as much as 14 minutes each day. Instead, limit your filing system to two folders: “Action” for email requiring further action and “Reading” for messages to reference at a later date.² Activating “Communication View” on Microsoft Outlook allows rapid review of messages that share the same subject heading.

RESPOND

Finally, once your inbox is reorganized, use the Four Ds for Decision Making model to optimize the way you respond to email.⁶ When you sit down for an email appointment, use the Four Ds, detailed below to avoid reading the same message repeatedly without taking action.

• Delete: Quickly delete any emails that do not directly require your attention or follow-up. Many emails can be immediately deleted without further thought.
• Do: If a task or response to an email will take less than 2 minutes, do it immediately. It will take at least the same amount to retrieve and reread an email as it will to handle it in real time.⁷ Often, this can be accomplished with a quick phone call or email reply.
• Defer: If an email response will take more than 2 minutes, use a system to take action at a later time. Move actionable items from your inbox to a to-do list or calendar appointment and file appropriate emails into the Action or Reading folders, detailed above. This method allows completion of important tasks in a timely manner outside of your fixed email budget. Delaying an email reply can also be advantageous by letting a problem mature, given that some of these issues will resolve without your specific intervention.
• Delegate: This can be difficult for many hospitalists who are accustomed to finishing each task themselves. If someone else can do the task as good as or better than you can, it is wise to delegate whenever possible.

Over the next few weeks, challenge yourself to resist email temptations, reorganize your inbox, and methodically respond to emails. This practice will help structure your day, maximize your efficiency, manage colleagues’ expectations, and create new time windows throughout your on-service weeks.

Dr. Nelson is a hospitalist at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans. Dr. Esquivel is a hospitalist and assistant professor at Weill Cornell Medicine, New York. Dr. Hall is a med-peds hospitalist and assistant professor at the University of Kentucky, Lexington.

References

1. MacKinnon R. How you manage your emails may be bad for your health. Science Daily. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/01/160104081249.htm. Published Jan 4, 2016.

2. Plummer M. How to spend way less time on email every day. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2019/01/how-to-spend-way-less-time-on-email-every-day. 2019 Jan 22.

3. Covey SR. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change. New York: Free Press, 2004.

4. Ericson C. 5 Ways to Take Control of Your Email Inbox. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/learnvest/2014/03/17/5-ways-to-take-control-of-your-email-inbox/#3711f5946342. 2014 Mar 17.

5. Limit the time you spend on email. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2014/02/limit-the-time-you-spend-on-email. 2014 Feb 6.

6. McGhee S. Empty your inbox: 4 ways to take control of your email. Internet and Telephone Blog. https://www.itllc.net/it-support-ma/empty-your-inbox-4-ways-to-take-control-of-your-email/.

7. Allen D. Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity. New York: Penguin Books, 2015.

Internists spent an average of 18.5 hours per week on paperwork, according to the Medscape Internist Compensation Report 2020. That number was surpassed only by intensivists, who spent 19.1 hours on such tasks.

Again this year, internists’ income ranked near the bottom of the more than 30 specialties in the survey, with average pay of $251,000. Although that number was up $8,000 from last year, it was still less than half that of the top-earning specialists.

The top four specialties in terms of pay were the same this year as they were last year and ranked in the same order: orthopedists made the most, at $511,000, followed by plastic surgeons ($479,000), otolaryngologists ($455,000), and cardiologists ($438,000).

However, internists ranked in the middle of all physicians as to feeling fairly compensated. Just more than half (52%) reported they were fairly compensated, compared with 67% of oncologists, emergency medicine physicians, and radiologists, who were at the top of the ranking, and 44% of nephrologists, who were on the low end.

Also, just as last year, male internists earned 23% more than their female colleagues, which is a slightly smaller pay gap than the 31% gap seen overall.
 

COVID-19 reversing income gains

However, the compensation picture is changing for all physicians. This report reflects data gathered between Oct. 4, 2019, and Feb. 10, 2020. Since that time, the COVID-19 crisis has reversed income gains for physicians overall. A study from the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) indicates that more than half of medical practices reported a drop in revenue by early April of 55% and a drop in patient volume of 60%.

The MGMA noted, “Practices are struggling to stay afloat – and many fear that this is only the beginning.”
 

Specialty choice may vary

In the Medscape survey, internists were the physicians least likely to say they would choose their specialty again. Only 66% said they would choose it again, compared with the most enthusiastic specialists: orthopedists (97%), oncologists (96%), and ophthalmologists and dermatologists (both at 95%).

However, three-fourths of internists (75%) said they would choose medicine again, which was a larger proportion than that reported by family physicians (74%), neurologists (73%), and plastic surgeons (72%).

This year’s Medscape survey is the first to ask about incentive bonuses. More than half of all physicians (56%) reported receiving one. Bonuses for internists ranked near the bottom, at an average of $27,000. Orthopedists averaged $96,000 bonuses, and family physicians received the least, at an average of $24,000.

Most internists (63%) said their bonus had no effect on the number of hours worked, which was similar to physicians in other specialties.

In good news, internists lost less money on claims that were denied or that required resubmission than most of their colleagues in other specialties. By comparison, internists reported losing 15% on such claims, and plastic surgeons lost almost twice that percentage (28%).

The survey authors noted, “One study found that, on average, 63% of denied claims are recoverable, but healthcare professionals spend about $118 per claim on appeals.”
 

Relationships with patients most rewarding

When asked about the most rewarding part of their job, internists ranked “gratitude/relationships with patients” at the top. In this survey, internists spent about the same amount of time with patients that all physicians spent with patients on average, 37.9 hours per week.

“Making good money at a job I like” was the fourth-biggest driver of satisfaction (only 11% said that was the most rewarding part), behind “being very good at what I do/finding answers, diagnoses” and “knowing that I’m making the world a better place.”

Some questions on the survey pertained to the use of advanced practice providers. More than half of internists (54%) reported their practice included nurse practitioners (NPs), and 36% included physician assistants (PAs); 37% employed neither.

Half of the internists who employed NPs and PAs said they had no effect on profitability, 44% said they increased it, and 6% said they decreased it. Physicians overall were split (47% each) on whether NPs and PAs increased profitability or had no effect on it.

A version of this article originally appeared on Medscape.com.

Internists spent an average of 18.5 hours per week on paperwork, according to the Medscape Internist Compensation Report 2020. That number was surpassed only by intensivists, who spent 19.1 hours on such tasks.

Again this year, internists’ income ranked near the bottom of the more than 30 specialties in the survey, with average pay of $251,000. Although that number was up $8,000 from last year, it was still less than half that of the top-earning specialists.

The top four specialties in terms of pay were the same this year as they were last year and ranked in the same order: orthopedists made the most, at $511,000, followed by plastic surgeons ($479,000), otolaryngologists ($455,000), and cardiologists ($438,000).

However, internists ranked in the middle of all physicians as to feeling fairly compensated. Just more than half (52%) reported they were fairly compensated, compared with 67% of oncologists, emergency medicine physicians, and radiologists, who were at the top of the ranking, and 44% of nephrologists, who were on the low end.

Also, just as last year, male internists earned 23% more than their female colleagues, which is a slightly smaller pay gap than the 31% gap seen overall.
 

COVID-19 reversing income gains

However, the compensation picture is changing for all physicians. This report reflects data gathered between Oct. 4, 2019, and Feb. 10, 2020. Since that time, the COVID-19 crisis has reversed income gains for physicians overall. A study from the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) indicates that more than half of medical practices reported a drop in revenue by early April of 55% and a drop in patient volume of 60%.

The MGMA noted, “Practices are struggling to stay afloat – and many fear that this is only the beginning.”
 

Specialty choice may vary

In the Medscape survey, internists were the physicians least likely to say they would choose their specialty again. Only 66% said they would choose it again, compared with the most enthusiastic specialists: orthopedists (97%), oncologists (96%), and ophthalmologists and dermatologists (both at 95%).

However, three-fourths of internists (75%) said they would choose medicine again, which was a larger proportion than that reported by family physicians (74%), neurologists (73%), and plastic surgeons (72%).

This year’s Medscape survey is the first to ask about incentive bonuses. More than half of all physicians (56%) reported receiving one. Bonuses for internists ranked near the bottom, at an average of $27,000. Orthopedists averaged $96,000 bonuses, and family physicians received the least, at an average of $24,000.

Most internists (63%) said their bonus had no effect on the number of hours worked, which was similar to physicians in other specialties.

In good news, internists lost less money on claims that were denied or that required resubmission than most of their colleagues in other specialties. By comparison, internists reported losing 15% on such claims, and plastic surgeons lost almost twice that percentage (28%).

The survey authors noted, “One study found that, on average, 63% of denied claims are recoverable, but healthcare professionals spend about $118 per claim on appeals.”
 

Relationships with patients most rewarding

When asked about the most rewarding part of their job, internists ranked “gratitude/relationships with patients” at the top. In this survey, internists spent about the same amount of time with patients that all physicians spent with patients on average, 37.9 hours per week.

“Making good money at a job I like” was the fourth-biggest driver of satisfaction (only 11% said that was the most rewarding part), behind “being very good at what I do/finding answers, diagnoses” and “knowing that I’m making the world a better place.”

Some questions on the survey pertained to the use of advanced practice providers. More than half of internists (54%) reported their practice included nurse practitioners (NPs), and 36% included physician assistants (PAs); 37% employed neither.

Half of the internists who employed NPs and PAs said they had no effect on profitability, 44% said they increased it, and 6% said they decreased it. Physicians overall were split (47% each) on whether NPs and PAs increased profitability or had no effect on it.

A version of this article originally appeared on Medscape.com.

Internists spent an average of 18.5 hours per week on paperwork, according to the Medscape Internist Compensation Report 2020. That number was surpassed only by intensivists, who spent 19.1 hours on such tasks.

Again this year, internists’ income ranked near the bottom of the more than 30 specialties in the survey, with average pay of $251,000. Although that number was up $8,000 from last year, it was still less than half that of the top-earning specialists.

The top four specialties in terms of pay were the same this year as they were last year and ranked in the same order: orthopedists made the most, at $511,000, followed by plastic surgeons ($479,000), otolaryngologists ($455,000), and cardiologists ($438,000).

However, internists ranked in the middle of all physicians as to feeling fairly compensated. Just more than half (52%) reported they were fairly compensated, compared with 67% of oncologists, emergency medicine physicians, and radiologists, who were at the top of the ranking, and 44% of nephrologists, who were on the low end.

Also, just as last year, male internists earned 23% more than their female colleagues, which is a slightly smaller pay gap than the 31% gap seen overall.
 

COVID-19 reversing income gains

However, the compensation picture is changing for all physicians. This report reflects data gathered between Oct. 4, 2019, and Feb. 10, 2020. Since that time, the COVID-19 crisis has reversed income gains for physicians overall. A study from the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) indicates that more than half of medical practices reported a drop in revenue by early April of 55% and a drop in patient volume of 60%.

The MGMA noted, “Practices are struggling to stay afloat – and many fear that this is only the beginning.”
 

Specialty choice may vary

In the Medscape survey, internists were the physicians least likely to say they would choose their specialty again. Only 66% said they would choose it again, compared with the most enthusiastic specialists: orthopedists (97%), oncologists (96%), and ophthalmologists and dermatologists (both at 95%).

However, three-fourths of internists (75%) said they would choose medicine again, which was a larger proportion than that reported by family physicians (74%), neurologists (73%), and plastic surgeons (72%).

This year’s Medscape survey is the first to ask about incentive bonuses. More than half of all physicians (56%) reported receiving one. Bonuses for internists ranked near the bottom, at an average of $27,000. Orthopedists averaged $96,000 bonuses, and family physicians received the least, at an average of $24,000.

Most internists (63%) said their bonus had no effect on the number of hours worked, which was similar to physicians in other specialties.

In good news, internists lost less money on claims that were denied or that required resubmission than most of their colleagues in other specialties. By comparison, internists reported losing 15% on such claims, and plastic surgeons lost almost twice that percentage (28%).

The survey authors noted, “One study found that, on average, 63% of denied claims are recoverable, but healthcare professionals spend about $118 per claim on appeals.”
 

Relationships with patients most rewarding

When asked about the most rewarding part of their job, internists ranked “gratitude/relationships with patients” at the top. In this survey, internists spent about the same amount of time with patients that all physicians spent with patients on average, 37.9 hours per week.

“Making good money at a job I like” was the fourth-biggest driver of satisfaction (only 11% said that was the most rewarding part), behind “being very good at what I do/finding answers, diagnoses” and “knowing that I’m making the world a better place.”

Some questions on the survey pertained to the use of advanced practice providers. More than half of internists (54%) reported their practice included nurse practitioners (NPs), and 36% included physician assistants (PAs); 37% employed neither.

Half of the internists who employed NPs and PAs said they had no effect on profitability, 44% said they increased it, and 6% said they decreased it. Physicians overall were split (47% each) on whether NPs and PAs increased profitability or had no effect on it.

A version of this article originally appeared on Medscape.com.

A 46-year-old man who lives in Tacoma, Wash., is seen for fatigue. He has a no significant past medical history. He is not taking any medications. His physical exam is unremarkable. His hemoglobin is 12 gm/dL, hematocrit is 37 gm/dL, mean corpuscular volume (MCV) is 103 fL, and thyroid-stimulating hormone level is 1.2 mU/L.

What workup do you recommend?

A) B₁₂, folate testing

B) Alcohol history, B₁₂, folate testing

C) Alcohol history, B₁₂ testing

I would choose doing a careful alcohol history and vitamin B₁₂ testing.

Dr. Seppä and colleagues looked at all outpatients who had a blood count done over an 8-month period.¹ A total of 9,527 blood counts were ordered, and 287 (3%) had macrocytosis.¹ Further workup was done for 113 of the patients. The most common cause found for macrocytosis was alcohol abuse, in 74 (65%) of the patients (80% of the men and 36% of the women). In several studies, vitamin B₁₂ deficiency was the cause of macrocytosis in 5%-7% of patients.^2,3

In 1978, a study by Davidson and Hamilton looked at 200 consecutive patients with MCVs over 100, and were able to find a cause in 80%.⁴ Sixteen of these patients had a low B₁₂ level and 10 had a low folate level.

In recent years, folate has become an extremely unlikely cause of macrocytic anemias. In 1998, the Food and Drug Administration required folic acid fortification of enriched grain products in the United States to help decrease the risk of neural tube defects. Similar fortification efforts were undertaken in Canada. Since 1998, anemia due to folate deficiency has essentially disappeared in individuals who have access to fortified grain products.

Joelson and colleagues looked at data on folate testing from the year prior to fortification of the grain supply (1997) and after (2004).⁵ They found that, in 1997, 4.8% of tests had a folate level less than 160 ng/mL compared with only 0.6% of tests in 2004.

When a more stringent cutoff for deficiency was used (94 ng/mL) 0.98% of tests were below that level in 1997, and 0.09% in 2004. The mean RBC folate level in 1997 was 420 ng/mL and rose to 697 ng/mL in 2004. Of the patients who did have low folate levels, only a minority had elevated MCVs.

Shojania et al. looked at folate testing in Canada after widespread fortification had started.⁶ They found that 0.5% of 2,154 serum folate levels were low and 0.7% of 560 red blood cell folate levels were low. Folate deficiency was not the cause of anemia in any of the patients with low folate levels.

Theisen-Toupal and colleagues did a retrospective study looking at folate testing over an 11-year period after fortification.⁷ The researchers examined the results of 84,187 assessments of folate levels. Forty-seven (0.056%) of the tests found patients with folate deficiency, 166 (0.197%), found patients with low-normal folate levels, 57,411 (68.195%) of tests yielded normal results, and 26,563 (31.552%) of tests found high folate levels. The opinion of the authors was that folate testing should be severely reduced or eliminated. Furthermore, the American Society for Clinical Pathology, as part of the Choosing Wisely campaign, states: “Do not order red blood cell folate levels at all.”⁸

So what does this all mean? We have been taught to have a reflex response to the evaluation of macrocytosis to test for B₁₂ and folate. Neither of these are particularly common causes of macrocytosis, and in countries where there is grain fortification, folate deficiency is exceedingly uncommon, and should not be tested for early in any diagnostic process.
 

Dr. Paauw is professor of medicine in the division of general internal medicine at the University of Washington, Seattle, and he serves as third-year medical student clerkship director at the University of Washington. He is a member of the editorial advisory board of Internal Medicine News. Dr. Paauw has no conflicts to disclose. Contact him at [email protected].

References

1. Seppä K et al. Evaluation of macrocytosis by general practitioners. J Stud Alcohol. 1996 Jan;57(1):97-100.

2. Seppä K et al. Blood count and hematologic morphology in nonanemic macrocytosis: Differences between alcohol abuse and pernicious anemia. Alcohol. 1993 Sep-Oct;10(5):343-7.

3. Wymer A, Becker DM. Recognition and evaluation of red blood cell macrocytosis in the primary care setting. J Gen Intern Med. 1990 May-Jun;5(3):192-7.

4. Davidson RJ, Hamilton PJ. High mean red cell volume: Its incidence and significance in routine haematology. J Clin Pathol. 1978 May;31[5]:493-8.

5. Joelson DW, Fiebig EW. Diminished need for folate measurements among indigent populations in the post folic acid supplementation era. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2007 Mar;131(3):477-80.

6. Shojania AM, von Kuster K. Ordering folate assays is no longer justified for investigation of anemias, in folic acid fortified countries. BMC Res Notes. 2010 Jan 25;3:22. doi: 10.1186/1756-0500-3-22.

7. Theisen-Toupal et al. Low yield of outpatient serum folate testing. JAMA Intern Med. 2014 Oct. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2014.3593.

8. Choosing Wisely: American Society for Clinical Pathology, Oct. 19, 2017. Recommendation.

A 46-year-old man who lives in Tacoma, Wash., is seen for fatigue. He has a no significant past medical history. He is not taking any medications. His physical exam is unremarkable. His hemoglobin is 12 gm/dL, hematocrit is 37 gm/dL, mean corpuscular volume (MCV) is 103 fL, and thyroid-stimulating hormone level is 1.2 mU/L.

What workup do you recommend?

A) B₁₂, folate testing

B) Alcohol history, B₁₂, folate testing

C) Alcohol history, B₁₂ testing

I would choose doing a careful alcohol history and vitamin B₁₂ testing.

Dr. Seppä and colleagues looked at all outpatients who had a blood count done over an 8-month period.¹ A total of 9,527 blood counts were ordered, and 287 (3%) had macrocytosis.¹ Further workup was done for 113 of the patients. The most common cause found for macrocytosis was alcohol abuse, in 74 (65%) of the patients (80% of the men and 36% of the women). In several studies, vitamin B₁₂ deficiency was the cause of macrocytosis in 5%-7% of patients.^2,3

In 1978, a study by Davidson and Hamilton looked at 200 consecutive patients with MCVs over 100, and were able to find a cause in 80%.⁴ Sixteen of these patients had a low B₁₂ level and 10 had a low folate level.

In recent years, folate has become an extremely unlikely cause of macrocytic anemias. In 1998, the Food and Drug Administration required folic acid fortification of enriched grain products in the United States to help decrease the risk of neural tube defects. Similar fortification efforts were undertaken in Canada. Since 1998, anemia due to folate deficiency has essentially disappeared in individuals who have access to fortified grain products.

Joelson and colleagues looked at data on folate testing from the year prior to fortification of the grain supply (1997) and after (2004).⁵ They found that, in 1997, 4.8% of tests had a folate level less than 160 ng/mL compared with only 0.6% of tests in 2004.

When a more stringent cutoff for deficiency was used (94 ng/mL) 0.98% of tests were below that level in 1997, and 0.09% in 2004. The mean RBC folate level in 1997 was 420 ng/mL and rose to 697 ng/mL in 2004. Of the patients who did have low folate levels, only a minority had elevated MCVs.

Shojania et al. looked at folate testing in Canada after widespread fortification had started.⁶ They found that 0.5% of 2,154 serum folate levels were low and 0.7% of 560 red blood cell folate levels were low. Folate deficiency was not the cause of anemia in any of the patients with low folate levels.

Theisen-Toupal and colleagues did a retrospective study looking at folate testing over an 11-year period after fortification.⁷ The researchers examined the results of 84,187 assessments of folate levels. Forty-seven (0.056%) of the tests found patients with folate deficiency, 166 (0.197%), found patients with low-normal folate levels, 57,411 (68.195%) of tests yielded normal results, and 26,563 (31.552%) of tests found high folate levels. The opinion of the authors was that folate testing should be severely reduced or eliminated. Furthermore, the American Society for Clinical Pathology, as part of the Choosing Wisely campaign, states: “Do not order red blood cell folate levels at all.”⁸

So what does this all mean? We have been taught to have a reflex response to the evaluation of macrocytosis to test for B₁₂ and folate. Neither of these are particularly common causes of macrocytosis, and in countries where there is grain fortification, folate deficiency is exceedingly uncommon, and should not be tested for early in any diagnostic process.
 

Dr. Paauw is professor of medicine in the division of general internal medicine at the University of Washington, Seattle, and he serves as third-year medical student clerkship director at the University of Washington. He is a member of the editorial advisory board of Internal Medicine News. Dr. Paauw has no conflicts to disclose. Contact him at [email protected].

References

1. Seppä K et al. Evaluation of macrocytosis by general practitioners. J Stud Alcohol. 1996 Jan;57(1):97-100.

2. Seppä K et al. Blood count and hematologic morphology in nonanemic macrocytosis: Differences between alcohol abuse and pernicious anemia. Alcohol. 1993 Sep-Oct;10(5):343-7.

3. Wymer A, Becker DM. Recognition and evaluation of red blood cell macrocytosis in the primary care setting. J Gen Intern Med. 1990 May-Jun;5(3):192-7.

4. Davidson RJ, Hamilton PJ. High mean red cell volume: Its incidence and significance in routine haematology. J Clin Pathol. 1978 May;31[5]:493-8.

5. Joelson DW, Fiebig EW. Diminished need for folate measurements among indigent populations in the post folic acid supplementation era. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2007 Mar;131(3):477-80.

6. Shojania AM, von Kuster K. Ordering folate assays is no longer justified for investigation of anemias, in folic acid fortified countries. BMC Res Notes. 2010 Jan 25;3:22. doi: 10.1186/1756-0500-3-22.

7. Theisen-Toupal et al. Low yield of outpatient serum folate testing. JAMA Intern Med. 2014 Oct. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2014.3593.

8. Choosing Wisely: American Society for Clinical Pathology, Oct. 19, 2017. Recommendation.

A 46-year-old man who lives in Tacoma, Wash., is seen for fatigue. He has a no significant past medical history. He is not taking any medications. His physical exam is unremarkable. His hemoglobin is 12 gm/dL, hematocrit is 37 gm/dL, mean corpuscular volume (MCV) is 103 fL, and thyroid-stimulating hormone level is 1.2 mU/L.

What workup do you recommend?

A) B₁₂, folate testing

B) Alcohol history, B₁₂, folate testing

C) Alcohol history, B₁₂ testing

I would choose doing a careful alcohol history and vitamin B₁₂ testing.

Dr. Seppä and colleagues looked at all outpatients who had a blood count done over an 8-month period.¹ A total of 9,527 blood counts were ordered, and 287 (3%) had macrocytosis.¹ Further workup was done for 113 of the patients. The most common cause found for macrocytosis was alcohol abuse, in 74 (65%) of the patients (80% of the men and 36% of the women). In several studies, vitamin B₁₂ deficiency was the cause of macrocytosis in 5%-7% of patients.^2,3

In 1978, a study by Davidson and Hamilton looked at 200 consecutive patients with MCVs over 100, and were able to find a cause in 80%.⁴ Sixteen of these patients had a low B₁₂ level and 10 had a low folate level.

In recent years, folate has become an extremely unlikely cause of macrocytic anemias. In 1998, the Food and Drug Administration required folic acid fortification of enriched grain products in the United States to help decrease the risk of neural tube defects. Similar fortification efforts were undertaken in Canada. Since 1998, anemia due to folate deficiency has essentially disappeared in individuals who have access to fortified grain products.

Joelson and colleagues looked at data on folate testing from the year prior to fortification of the grain supply (1997) and after (2004).⁵ They found that, in 1997, 4.8% of tests had a folate level less than 160 ng/mL compared with only 0.6% of tests in 2004.

When a more stringent cutoff for deficiency was used (94 ng/mL) 0.98% of tests were below that level in 1997, and 0.09% in 2004. The mean RBC folate level in 1997 was 420 ng/mL and rose to 697 ng/mL in 2004. Of the patients who did have low folate levels, only a minority had elevated MCVs.

Shojania et al. looked at folate testing in Canada after widespread fortification had started.⁶ They found that 0.5% of 2,154 serum folate levels were low and 0.7% of 560 red blood cell folate levels were low. Folate deficiency was not the cause of anemia in any of the patients with low folate levels.

Theisen-Toupal and colleagues did a retrospective study looking at folate testing over an 11-year period after fortification.⁷ The researchers examined the results of 84,187 assessments of folate levels. Forty-seven (0.056%) of the tests found patients with folate deficiency, 166 (0.197%), found patients with low-normal folate levels, 57,411 (68.195%) of tests yielded normal results, and 26,563 (31.552%) of tests found high folate levels. The opinion of the authors was that folate testing should be severely reduced or eliminated. Furthermore, the American Society for Clinical Pathology, as part of the Choosing Wisely campaign, states: “Do not order red blood cell folate levels at all.”⁸

So what does this all mean? We have been taught to have a reflex response to the evaluation of macrocytosis to test for B₁₂ and folate. Neither of these are particularly common causes of macrocytosis, and in countries where there is grain fortification, folate deficiency is exceedingly uncommon, and should not be tested for early in any diagnostic process.
 

Dr. Paauw is professor of medicine in the division of general internal medicine at the University of Washington, Seattle, and he serves as third-year medical student clerkship director at the University of Washington. He is a member of the editorial advisory board of Internal Medicine News. Dr. Paauw has no conflicts to disclose. Contact him at [email protected].

References

1. Seppä K et al. Evaluation of macrocytosis by general practitioners. J Stud Alcohol. 1996 Jan;57(1):97-100.

2. Seppä K et al. Blood count and hematologic morphology in nonanemic macrocytosis: Differences between alcohol abuse and pernicious anemia. Alcohol. 1993 Sep-Oct;10(5):343-7.

3. Wymer A, Becker DM. Recognition and evaluation of red blood cell macrocytosis in the primary care setting. J Gen Intern Med. 1990 May-Jun;5(3):192-7.

4. Davidson RJ, Hamilton PJ. High mean red cell volume: Its incidence and significance in routine haematology. J Clin Pathol. 1978 May;31[5]:493-8.

5. Joelson DW, Fiebig EW. Diminished need for folate measurements among indigent populations in the post folic acid supplementation era. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2007 Mar;131(3):477-80.

6. Shojania AM, von Kuster K. Ordering folate assays is no longer justified for investigation of anemias, in folic acid fortified countries. BMC Res Notes. 2010 Jan 25;3:22. doi: 10.1186/1756-0500-3-22.

7. Theisen-Toupal et al. Low yield of outpatient serum folate testing. JAMA Intern Med. 2014 Oct. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2014.3593.

8. Choosing Wisely: American Society for Clinical Pathology, Oct. 19, 2017. Recommendation.

Chiesi Global Rare Diseases announced that the Food and Drug Administration has approved a new formulation of deferiprone (Ferriprox) for the treatment of patients with transfusional iron overload caused by thalassemia syndromes when current chelation therapy is inadequate. The new formulation of twice-a-day Ferriprox 1,000 mg oral tablets eliminates the midday dose, according to a company press release.

“A treatment option that reduces serum ferritin, cardiac iron, and liver iron with an established safety profile and now twice-a-day tablet dosing can represent a significant advantage for patients,” stated Thomas Coates, MD, in the press release. Dr. Coates is the section head of hematology at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

Deferiprone was originally approved by the FDA in 2011 for the treatment of transfusional iron overload caused by thalassemia syndromes. Ferriprox contains a label warning that it can cause agranulocytosis that can lead to serious infections and death. As neutropenia may precede the development of agranulocytosis, the warning advises measurement of the absolute neutrophil count before starting Ferriprox and monitoring the ANC weekly on therapy. In addition, Ferriprox should be interrupted if infection develops, and the ANC should be monitored more frequently.

As Ferriprox can cause fetal harm, women of reproductive potential should be advised to use an effective method of contraception during treatment and for at least 6 months after the last dose, according to the company release.

[email protected]

Chiesi Global Rare Diseases announced that the Food and Drug Administration has approved a new formulation of deferiprone (Ferriprox) for the treatment of patients with transfusional iron overload caused by thalassemia syndromes when current chelation therapy is inadequate. The new formulation of twice-a-day Ferriprox 1,000 mg oral tablets eliminates the midday dose, according to a company press release.

“A treatment option that reduces serum ferritin, cardiac iron, and liver iron with an established safety profile and now twice-a-day tablet dosing can represent a significant advantage for patients,” stated Thomas Coates, MD, in the press release. Dr. Coates is the section head of hematology at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

Deferiprone was originally approved by the FDA in 2011 for the treatment of transfusional iron overload caused by thalassemia syndromes. Ferriprox contains a label warning that it can cause agranulocytosis that can lead to serious infections and death. As neutropenia may precede the development of agranulocytosis, the warning advises measurement of the absolute neutrophil count before starting Ferriprox and monitoring the ANC weekly on therapy. In addition, Ferriprox should be interrupted if infection develops, and the ANC should be monitored more frequently.

As Ferriprox can cause fetal harm, women of reproductive potential should be advised to use an effective method of contraception during treatment and for at least 6 months after the last dose, according to the company release.

[email protected]

Chiesi Global Rare Diseases announced that the Food and Drug Administration has approved a new formulation of deferiprone (Ferriprox) for the treatment of patients with transfusional iron overload caused by thalassemia syndromes when current chelation therapy is inadequate. The new formulation of twice-a-day Ferriprox 1,000 mg oral tablets eliminates the midday dose, according to a company press release.

“A treatment option that reduces serum ferritin, cardiac iron, and liver iron with an established safety profile and now twice-a-day tablet dosing can represent a significant advantage for patients,” stated Thomas Coates, MD, in the press release. Dr. Coates is the section head of hematology at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

Deferiprone was originally approved by the FDA in 2011 for the treatment of transfusional iron overload caused by thalassemia syndromes. Ferriprox contains a label warning that it can cause agranulocytosis that can lead to serious infections and death. As neutropenia may precede the development of agranulocytosis, the warning advises measurement of the absolute neutrophil count before starting Ferriprox and monitoring the ANC weekly on therapy. In addition, Ferriprox should be interrupted if infection develops, and the ANC should be monitored more frequently.

As Ferriprox can cause fetal harm, women of reproductive potential should be advised to use an effective method of contraception during treatment and for at least 6 months after the last dose, according to the company release.

[email protected]

Key clinical point: Inner nuclear layer (INL) and outer nuclear layer (ONL) measures may be novel biomarkers of neurodegeneration in patients with progressive multiple sclerosis (PMS).

Major finding: Independent of age, PMS vs. relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) was associated with a faster thinning of peri-papillary retinal nerve fiber layer (β = −0.34%/year; P less than .001), ganglion cell+inner plexiform layer (β = −0.27%/year; P less than .001), INL (β = −0.10%/year; P = .01), and ONL (β = −0.13%/year; P = .01).

Study details: In all, 178 RRMS, 186 PMS, and 66 control participants were followed for a median of 3.7 years; retinal imaging was performed with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography.

Disclosures: This study was funded by the NIH/NINDS, National MS Society, Race to Erase MS, Walters Foundation, and ACTRIMS. The authors declared no conflict of interest.

Citation: Sotirchos ES et al. Ann Neurol. 2020 Apr 13. doi: 10.1002/ana.25738.

Key clinical point: Inner nuclear layer (INL) and outer nuclear layer (ONL) measures may be novel biomarkers of neurodegeneration in patients with progressive multiple sclerosis (PMS).

Major finding: Independent of age, PMS vs. relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) was associated with a faster thinning of peri-papillary retinal nerve fiber layer (β = −0.34%/year; P less than .001), ganglion cell+inner plexiform layer (β = −0.27%/year; P less than .001), INL (β = −0.10%/year; P = .01), and ONL (β = −0.13%/year; P = .01).

Study details: In all, 178 RRMS, 186 PMS, and 66 control participants were followed for a median of 3.7 years; retinal imaging was performed with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography.

Disclosures: This study was funded by the NIH/NINDS, National MS Society, Race to Erase MS, Walters Foundation, and ACTRIMS. The authors declared no conflict of interest.

Citation: Sotirchos ES et al. Ann Neurol. 2020 Apr 13. doi: 10.1002/ana.25738.

Key clinical point: Inner nuclear layer (INL) and outer nuclear layer (ONL) measures may be novel biomarkers of neurodegeneration in patients with progressive multiple sclerosis (PMS).

Major finding: Independent of age, PMS vs. relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) was associated with a faster thinning of peri-papillary retinal nerve fiber layer (β = −0.34%/year; P less than .001), ganglion cell+inner plexiform layer (β = −0.27%/year; P less than .001), INL (β = −0.10%/year; P = .01), and ONL (β = −0.13%/year; P = .01).

Study details: In all, 178 RRMS, 186 PMS, and 66 control participants were followed for a median of 3.7 years; retinal imaging was performed with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography.

Disclosures: This study was funded by the NIH/NINDS, National MS Society, Race to Erase MS, Walters Foundation, and ACTRIMS. The authors declared no conflict of interest.

Citation: Sotirchos ES et al. Ann Neurol. 2020 Apr 13. doi: 10.1002/ana.25738.

Key clinical point: Patients with newly diagnosed multiple sclerosis (MS) or clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) are more likely to have subtly impaired cognitive function irrespective of race/ethnicity.

Major finding: Mean oral Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) scores were lower in patients with MS/CIS vs. control participants (52.2 vs. 58.3; P less than .0001). Independent predictors of lower oral SDMT scores included being black (β = −5.97) or Hispanic (β = −3.06), having MS (β = −6.04), lower educational attainment (β = −5.02), and having a household income ≤$65,000 (β = −2.28). No significant interaction was found between race/ethnicity and having MS on SDMT scores (P = .41).

Study details: 1,174 adult patients (mean age, 40.7 years) from the MS Sunshine Study were included in this analysis (MS/CIS cases, n = 554; matched control participants, n = 620).

 Disclosures: This study was supported in part by the National Institute of Neurologic Disorders and Stroke. The presenting author received personal compensation or funding from Genzyme, Biogen, Serrono, MedDay, and Novartis, and grant support from the NIH, the National MS Society, California Community Foundation, and the Charitable Guthy-Jackson Foundation.

Citation: Amezcua L et al. Neurology. 2020 Mar 9. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000009210.

Key clinical point: Patients with newly diagnosed multiple sclerosis (MS) or clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) are more likely to have subtly impaired cognitive function irrespective of race/ethnicity.

Major finding: Mean oral Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) scores were lower in patients with MS/CIS vs. control participants (52.2 vs. 58.3; P less than .0001). Independent predictors of lower oral SDMT scores included being black (β = −5.97) or Hispanic (β = −3.06), having MS (β = −6.04), lower educational attainment (β = −5.02), and having a household income ≤$65,000 (β = −2.28). No significant interaction was found between race/ethnicity and having MS on SDMT scores (P = .41).

Study details: 1,174 adult patients (mean age, 40.7 years) from the MS Sunshine Study were included in this analysis (MS/CIS cases, n = 554; matched control participants, n = 620).

 Disclosures: This study was supported in part by the National Institute of Neurologic Disorders and Stroke. The presenting author received personal compensation or funding from Genzyme, Biogen, Serrono, MedDay, and Novartis, and grant support from the NIH, the National MS Society, California Community Foundation, and the Charitable Guthy-Jackson Foundation.

Citation: Amezcua L et al. Neurology. 2020 Mar 9. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000009210.

Key clinical point: Patients with newly diagnosed multiple sclerosis (MS) or clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) are more likely to have subtly impaired cognitive function irrespective of race/ethnicity.

Major finding: Mean oral Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) scores were lower in patients with MS/CIS vs. control participants (52.2 vs. 58.3; P less than .0001). Independent predictors of lower oral SDMT scores included being black (β = −5.97) or Hispanic (β = −3.06), having MS (β = −6.04), lower educational attainment (β = −5.02), and having a household income ≤$65,000 (β = −2.28). No significant interaction was found between race/ethnicity and having MS on SDMT scores (P = .41).

Study details: 1,174 adult patients (mean age, 40.7 years) from the MS Sunshine Study were included in this analysis (MS/CIS cases, n = 554; matched control participants, n = 620).

 Disclosures: This study was supported in part by the National Institute of Neurologic Disorders and Stroke. The presenting author received personal compensation or funding from Genzyme, Biogen, Serrono, MedDay, and Novartis, and grant support from the NIH, the National MS Society, California Community Foundation, and the Charitable Guthy-Jackson Foundation.

Citation: Amezcua L et al. Neurology. 2020 Mar 9. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000009210.

Key clinical point: The number of T1-hypointense areas (T1-count), corrected for T2-fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR)-hyperintense lesion volume, reflects the disease severity and activity in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Major finding: T1-count (Spearman’s correlation coefficient [rho] = 0.51, P less than .001), gray-matter atrophy (rho = 0.40; P less than .01), and white-matter atrophy (rho = 0.49; P less than .001) significantly correlated with the expanded disability status scale. T1-count divided by FLAIR lesion volume correlated with the MS severity score (rho = 0.60; P less than .001).

Study details: This study included 42 patients with MS who were treated in a single university hospital in Japan; each patient underwent brain volumetry and was followed-up for more than 3 years until 2017.

Disclosures: Ichiro Nakashima was funded by JSPS KAKENHI. The authors declared no conflict of interest.

Citation: Akaishi T et al. PLoS One. 2020 Apr 3. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0231225.

Key clinical point: The number of T1-hypointense areas (T1-count), corrected for T2-fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR)-hyperintense lesion volume, reflects the disease severity and activity in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Major finding: T1-count (Spearman’s correlation coefficient [rho] = 0.51, P less than .001), gray-matter atrophy (rho = 0.40; P less than .01), and white-matter atrophy (rho = 0.49; P less than .001) significantly correlated with the expanded disability status scale. T1-count divided by FLAIR lesion volume correlated with the MS severity score (rho = 0.60; P less than .001).

Study details: This study included 42 patients with MS who were treated in a single university hospital in Japan; each patient underwent brain volumetry and was followed-up for more than 3 years until 2017.

Disclosures: Ichiro Nakashima was funded by JSPS KAKENHI. The authors declared no conflict of interest.

Citation: Akaishi T et al. PLoS One. 2020 Apr 3. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0231225.

Key clinical point: The number of T1-hypointense areas (T1-count), corrected for T2-fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR)-hyperintense lesion volume, reflects the disease severity and activity in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Major finding: T1-count (Spearman’s correlation coefficient [rho] = 0.51, P less than .001), gray-matter atrophy (rho = 0.40; P less than .01), and white-matter atrophy (rho = 0.49; P less than .001) significantly correlated with the expanded disability status scale. T1-count divided by FLAIR lesion volume correlated with the MS severity score (rho = 0.60; P less than .001).

Study details: This study included 42 patients with MS who were treated in a single university hospital in Japan; each patient underwent brain volumetry and was followed-up for more than 3 years until 2017.

Disclosures: Ichiro Nakashima was funded by JSPS KAKENHI. The authors declared no conflict of interest.

Citation: Akaishi T et al. PLoS One. 2020 Apr 3. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0231225.

Key clinical point: Most women diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) can have children without incurring an increased risk of relapses and should be encouraged to breastfeed exclusively as this lowers the risk of postpartum relapses.

Major finding: The annualized relapse rates (ARRs) declined from 0.37 before pregnancy to 0.14 during pregnancy (P less than .0001), with no rebound disease activity in the postpartum period. ARR was found to be 0.27 at 3 months postpartum and 0.37 at 4-6 months, matching prepregnancy rates. Exclusive breastfeeding for at least 2 months after delivery reduced the risk of relapse in the first 6 months postpartum (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.37; P = .0093).

Study details: This study evaluated the electronic health records of 466 pregnancies among 375 women with MS and their infants at the Kaiser Permanente Southern and Northern California between 2008 and 2016.

Disclosures: This study was supported by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Annette Langer-Gould has received grant support and awards from the NIH, the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, and the National MS Society; and currently serves as a voting member on the California Technology Assessment Forum, a core program of the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER). She has received sponsored and reimbursed travel from the ICER. The remaining authors declared no conflict of interest.

Citation: Langer-Gould A et al. Neurology. 2020 Apr 13. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000009374.

Key clinical point: Most women diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) can have children without incurring an increased risk of relapses and should be encouraged to breastfeed exclusively as this lowers the risk of postpartum relapses.

Major finding: The annualized relapse rates (ARRs) declined from 0.37 before pregnancy to 0.14 during pregnancy (P less than .0001), with no rebound disease activity in the postpartum period. ARR was found to be 0.27 at 3 months postpartum and 0.37 at 4-6 months, matching prepregnancy rates. Exclusive breastfeeding for at least 2 months after delivery reduced the risk of relapse in the first 6 months postpartum (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.37; P = .0093).

Study details: This study evaluated the electronic health records of 466 pregnancies among 375 women with MS and their infants at the Kaiser Permanente Southern and Northern California between 2008 and 2016.

Disclosures: This study was supported by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Annette Langer-Gould has received grant support and awards from the NIH, the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, and the National MS Society; and currently serves as a voting member on the California Technology Assessment Forum, a core program of the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER). She has received sponsored and reimbursed travel from the ICER. The remaining authors declared no conflict of interest.

Citation: Langer-Gould A et al. Neurology. 2020 Apr 13. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000009374.

Key clinical point: Most women diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) can have children without incurring an increased risk of relapses and should be encouraged to breastfeed exclusively as this lowers the risk of postpartum relapses.

Major finding: The annualized relapse rates (ARRs) declined from 0.37 before pregnancy to 0.14 during pregnancy (P less than .0001), with no rebound disease activity in the postpartum period. ARR was found to be 0.27 at 3 months postpartum and 0.37 at 4-6 months, matching prepregnancy rates. Exclusive breastfeeding for at least 2 months after delivery reduced the risk of relapse in the first 6 months postpartum (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.37; P = .0093).

Study details: This study evaluated the electronic health records of 466 pregnancies among 375 women with MS and their infants at the Kaiser Permanente Southern and Northern California between 2008 and 2016.

Disclosures: This study was supported by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Annette Langer-Gould has received grant support and awards from the NIH, the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, and the National MS Society; and currently serves as a voting member on the California Technology Assessment Forum, a core program of the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER). She has received sponsored and reimbursed travel from the ICER. The remaining authors declared no conflict of interest.

Citation: Langer-Gould A et al. Neurology. 2020 Apr 13. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000009374.

Health care providers fail to ask one in five prenatal patients and one in eight postpartum patients about depression, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Although the prevalence of screening has risen in recent years, many women could be suffering in silence.

“[U]ndetected and untreated perinatal depression can have negative health consequences for the mothers and their babies,” said coauthor Jean Y. Ko, PhD, from the division of reproductive health at the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.

Dr. Ko and colleagues reported their findings in an article published in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

The researchers analyzed self-reported data on postpartum depressive symptoms (PDS) collected in 2018 by the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS). Participants were stratified on the basis of location and maternal and infant characteristics, including age, race/ethnicity, and education level. Women who had recently given birth to one or more live infants answered questions about whether they had been screened by health care providers for depression during perinatal visits.

The prevalence of PDS among women from 31 PRAMS sites was 13.2%. States with lower prevalences included Illinois (9.7%), Massachusetts (10.3%), and Wisconsin (10.5%); states with higher prevalences included Mississippi (23.5%), West Virginia (19.4%), and Michigan (16.4%).

Some groups were at higher risk for PDS than others. The prevalence was greater than 20% among women who were aged 19 years or younger, were of American Indian or Alaska Native ethnicity, smoked during the perinatal period, experienced perinatal depression, or whose infant died after birth.

Depressive symptoms were also more common among women who received assistance from the Women, Infants, and Children program; were Medicaid beneficiaries at the time of delivery; smoked cigarettes during the last trimester of pregnancy; breastfed their infants for fewer than 8 weeks; or had experienced intimate partner violence while pregnant or before.
 

Small rise in screening

Overall, 79.1% of women said a health care provider had inquired about depression during the prenatal period. Prenatal screening for depression was lowest in Puerto Rico (50.7%), Mississippi (69.4%), Utah (69.5%), and Kentucky (69.5%) and was highest in Alaska (90.7%), Minnesota (90.6%), and Maine (90.5%).

Among 22 continuously reporting sites, the prevalence of prenatal depression screening rose significantly from 76.2% in 2016 to 79.3% in 2018 (P < .05) .

“It is unclear what might account for this small increase,” Dr. Ko said. “There may be additional factors, such as women may be becoming more comfortable reporting symptoms of depression. With continued awareness about the need to screen every pregnant and postpartum woman for depression, we can expect things to continue to improve.”

Overall, 90.1% of respondents reported a postpartum visit; of those, 87.4% said a health care provider had asked about depression during that visit.

Screening during the postpartum period was highest in Vermont (96.2%), Minnesota (95.9%), and Maine (95.5%) and was lowest in Puerto Rico (50.7%), New York City (73.1%), and Louisiana (75.0%).

Among the 22 sites that reported continuously, the prevalence of screening for postpartum depression rose significantly from 84.1% to 88.0% (P < .05), “with an average annual percentage point increase of 1.8%,” the authors wrote.
 

‘Missed opportunities’

“PRAMS responses are reported an average of 4 months postpartum, which suggests persistence of [depressive] symptoms,” the authors wrote.

Dr. Ko said that mental health conditions play a role in approximately 9% of pregnancy-related deaths and that not asking about depression represents “missed opportunities to potentially identify and treat women with depression.” The United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening all adults for depression, including women during pregnancy and the postpartum period, she added.

When asked what can be done to improve screening that has not already been tried, Dr. Ko said the CDC is currently evaluating a study called the Program in Support of Moms (PRISM), which “is designed to help obstetrics and gynecology practices address the significant public health issue of depression during and after pregnancy. PRISM aims to close gaps in health care delivery to ensure that women with depression during and after pregnancy receive the best treatment, which can result in improvement in their symptoms.”

Dr. Ko added that the Health Resources and Services Administration has funded seven states to begin “programs to support providers to screen, assess, refer, and treat pregnant and postpartum women for depression and other behavioral health conditions. States can use initiatives like Healthy Start, home visiting, and Title V Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant programs as levers to improve screening and address maternal depression.

“Screening is just one part of addressing perinatal depression. Health care providers need to refer women to appropriate resources in order to get the proper diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up care for management of depression,” Dr. Ko concluded.

The authors disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

A version of this article originally appeared on Medscape.com.

Health care providers fail to ask one in five prenatal patients and one in eight postpartum patients about depression, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Although the prevalence of screening has risen in recent years, many women could be suffering in silence.

“[U]ndetected and untreated perinatal depression can have negative health consequences for the mothers and their babies,” said coauthor Jean Y. Ko, PhD, from the division of reproductive health at the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.

Dr. Ko and colleagues reported their findings in an article published in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

The researchers analyzed self-reported data on postpartum depressive symptoms (PDS) collected in 2018 by the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS). Participants were stratified on the basis of location and maternal and infant characteristics, including age, race/ethnicity, and education level. Women who had recently given birth to one or more live infants answered questions about whether they had been screened by health care providers for depression during perinatal visits.

The prevalence of PDS among women from 31 PRAMS sites was 13.2%. States with lower prevalences included Illinois (9.7%), Massachusetts (10.3%), and Wisconsin (10.5%); states with higher prevalences included Mississippi (23.5%), West Virginia (19.4%), and Michigan (16.4%).

Some groups were at higher risk for PDS than others. The prevalence was greater than 20% among women who were aged 19 years or younger, were of American Indian or Alaska Native ethnicity, smoked during the perinatal period, experienced perinatal depression, or whose infant died after birth.

Depressive symptoms were also more common among women who received assistance from the Women, Infants, and Children program; were Medicaid beneficiaries at the time of delivery; smoked cigarettes during the last trimester of pregnancy; breastfed their infants for fewer than 8 weeks; or had experienced intimate partner violence while pregnant or before.
 

Small rise in screening

Overall, 79.1% of women said a health care provider had inquired about depression during the prenatal period. Prenatal screening for depression was lowest in Puerto Rico (50.7%), Mississippi (69.4%), Utah (69.5%), and Kentucky (69.5%) and was highest in Alaska (90.7%), Minnesota (90.6%), and Maine (90.5%).

Among 22 continuously reporting sites, the prevalence of prenatal depression screening rose significantly from 76.2% in 2016 to 79.3% in 2018 (P < .05) .

“It is unclear what might account for this small increase,” Dr. Ko said. “There may be additional factors, such as women may be becoming more comfortable reporting symptoms of depression. With continued awareness about the need to screen every pregnant and postpartum woman for depression, we can expect things to continue to improve.”

Overall, 90.1% of respondents reported a postpartum visit; of those, 87.4% said a health care provider had asked about depression during that visit.

Screening during the postpartum period was highest in Vermont (96.2%), Minnesota (95.9%), and Maine (95.5%) and was lowest in Puerto Rico (50.7%), New York City (73.1%), and Louisiana (75.0%).

Among the 22 sites that reported continuously, the prevalence of screening for postpartum depression rose significantly from 84.1% to 88.0% (P < .05), “with an average annual percentage point increase of 1.8%,” the authors wrote.
 

‘Missed opportunities’

“PRAMS responses are reported an average of 4 months postpartum, which suggests persistence of [depressive] symptoms,” the authors wrote.

Dr. Ko said that mental health conditions play a role in approximately 9% of pregnancy-related deaths and that not asking about depression represents “missed opportunities to potentially identify and treat women with depression.” The United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening all adults for depression, including women during pregnancy and the postpartum period, she added.

When asked what can be done to improve screening that has not already been tried, Dr. Ko said the CDC is currently evaluating a study called the Program in Support of Moms (PRISM), which “is designed to help obstetrics and gynecology practices address the significant public health issue of depression during and after pregnancy. PRISM aims to close gaps in health care delivery to ensure that women with depression during and after pregnancy receive the best treatment, which can result in improvement in their symptoms.”

Dr. Ko added that the Health Resources and Services Administration has funded seven states to begin “programs to support providers to screen, assess, refer, and treat pregnant and postpartum women for depression and other behavioral health conditions. States can use initiatives like Healthy Start, home visiting, and Title V Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant programs as levers to improve screening and address maternal depression.

“Screening is just one part of addressing perinatal depression. Health care providers need to refer women to appropriate resources in order to get the proper diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up care for management of depression,” Dr. Ko concluded.

The authors disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

A version of this article originally appeared on Medscape.com.

Health care providers fail to ask one in five prenatal patients and one in eight postpartum patients about depression, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Although the prevalence of screening has risen in recent years, many women could be suffering in silence.

“[U]ndetected and untreated perinatal depression can have negative health consequences for the mothers and their babies,” said coauthor Jean Y. Ko, PhD, from the division of reproductive health at the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.

Dr. Ko and colleagues reported their findings in an article published in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

The researchers analyzed self-reported data on postpartum depressive symptoms (PDS) collected in 2018 by the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS). Participants were stratified on the basis of location and maternal and infant characteristics, including age, race/ethnicity, and education level. Women who had recently given birth to one or more live infants answered questions about whether they had been screened by health care providers for depression during perinatal visits.

The prevalence of PDS among women from 31 PRAMS sites was 13.2%. States with lower prevalences included Illinois (9.7%), Massachusetts (10.3%), and Wisconsin (10.5%); states with higher prevalences included Mississippi (23.5%), West Virginia (19.4%), and Michigan (16.4%).

Some groups were at higher risk for PDS than others. The prevalence was greater than 20% among women who were aged 19 years or younger, were of American Indian or Alaska Native ethnicity, smoked during the perinatal period, experienced perinatal depression, or whose infant died after birth.

Depressive symptoms were also more common among women who received assistance from the Women, Infants, and Children program; were Medicaid beneficiaries at the time of delivery; smoked cigarettes during the last trimester of pregnancy; breastfed their infants for fewer than 8 weeks; or had experienced intimate partner violence while pregnant or before.
 

Small rise in screening

Overall, 79.1% of women said a health care provider had inquired about depression during the prenatal period. Prenatal screening for depression was lowest in Puerto Rico (50.7%), Mississippi (69.4%), Utah (69.5%), and Kentucky (69.5%) and was highest in Alaska (90.7%), Minnesota (90.6%), and Maine (90.5%).

Among 22 continuously reporting sites, the prevalence of prenatal depression screening rose significantly from 76.2% in 2016 to 79.3% in 2018 (P < .05) .

“It is unclear what might account for this small increase,” Dr. Ko said. “There may be additional factors, such as women may be becoming more comfortable reporting symptoms of depression. With continued awareness about the need to screen every pregnant and postpartum woman for depression, we can expect things to continue to improve.”

Overall, 90.1% of respondents reported a postpartum visit; of those, 87.4% said a health care provider had asked about depression during that visit.

Screening during the postpartum period was highest in Vermont (96.2%), Minnesota (95.9%), and Maine (95.5%) and was lowest in Puerto Rico (50.7%), New York City (73.1%), and Louisiana (75.0%).

Among the 22 sites that reported continuously, the prevalence of screening for postpartum depression rose significantly from 84.1% to 88.0% (P < .05), “with an average annual percentage point increase of 1.8%,” the authors wrote.
 

‘Missed opportunities’

“PRAMS responses are reported an average of 4 months postpartum, which suggests persistence of [depressive] symptoms,” the authors wrote.

Dr. Ko said that mental health conditions play a role in approximately 9% of pregnancy-related deaths and that not asking about depression represents “missed opportunities to potentially identify and treat women with depression.” The United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening all adults for depression, including women during pregnancy and the postpartum period, she added.

When asked what can be done to improve screening that has not already been tried, Dr. Ko said the CDC is currently evaluating a study called the Program in Support of Moms (PRISM), which “is designed to help obstetrics and gynecology practices address the significant public health issue of depression during and after pregnancy. PRISM aims to close gaps in health care delivery to ensure that women with depression during and after pregnancy receive the best treatment, which can result in improvement in their symptoms.”

Dr. Ko added that the Health Resources and Services Administration has funded seven states to begin “programs to support providers to screen, assess, refer, and treat pregnant and postpartum women for depression and other behavioral health conditions. States can use initiatives like Healthy Start, home visiting, and Title V Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant programs as levers to improve screening and address maternal depression.

“Screening is just one part of addressing perinatal depression. Health care providers need to refer women to appropriate resources in order to get the proper diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up care for management of depression,” Dr. Ko concluded.

The authors disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

A version of this article originally appeared on Medscape.com.

We are months into the COVID-19 crisis, and mental health issues are proving to be rampant. In every crisis, there is opportunity, and this one is no different. The opportunity is clear. For Mental Health Awareness Month and beyond, we must convey a powerful message that mental health is key to our well-being and must be actively addressed. Because almost everyone has felt excess anxiety these last months, we have a unique chance to engage a wider audience.

To address the urgent need, the Mental Health Coalition was formed with the understanding that the mental health crisis is fueled by a pervasive and devastating stigma, preventing millions of individuals from being able to seek the critical treatment they need. Spearheaded by social activist and fashion designer, Kenneth Cole, it is a coalition of leading mental health organizations, brands, celebrities, and advocates who have joined forces to end the stigma surrounding mental health and to change the way people talk about, and care for, mental illness. The group’s mission listed on its website states: “We must increase the conversation around mental health. We must act to end silence, reduce stigma, and engage our community to inspire hope at this essential moment.”

As most of the United States has been under stay-at-home orders, our traditional relationships have been radically disrupted. New types of relationships are forming as we are relying even more on technology to connect us. Social media seems to be on the only “social” we can now safely engage in.

The coalition’s campaign, “#howareyoureally?” is harnessing the power of social media and creating a storytelling platform to allow users to more genuinely share their feelings in these unprecedented times. Celebrities include Whoopi Goldberg, Kendall Jenner, Chris Cuomo, Deepak Chopra, Kesha, and many more have already shared their stories.

“How Are You, Really?” challenges people to answer this question using social media in an open and honest fashion while still providing hope.

The second component of the initiative is to increase access to care, and they have a long list of collaborators, including leading mental health organizations such as the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Anxiety and Depression Association of America, Child Mind Institute, Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services, National Alliance on Mental Illness, and many more.

We have a unique opportunity this Mental Health Awareness Month, and I hope we will see more and more people sharing their stories and reaching out for help. As a community, we must be prepared to meet the escalating needs of our population.
 

Dr. Ritvo, a psychiatrist with more than 25 years’ experience, practices in Miami Beach, Fla. She is the author of “Bekindr – The Transformative Power of Kindness” (Hellertown, Pa.: Momosa Publishing, 2018) and is the founder of the Bekindr Global Initiative, a movement aimed at cultivating kindness in the world. Dr. Ritvo also is the cofounder of the Bold Beauty Project, a nonprofit group that pairs women with disabilities with photographers who create art exhibitions to raise awareness.

We are months into the COVID-19 crisis, and mental health issues are proving to be rampant. In every crisis, there is opportunity, and this one is no different. The opportunity is clear. For Mental Health Awareness Month and beyond, we must convey a powerful message that mental health is key to our well-being and must be actively addressed. Because almost everyone has felt excess anxiety these last months, we have a unique chance to engage a wider audience.

To address the urgent need, the Mental Health Coalition was formed with the understanding that the mental health crisis is fueled by a pervasive and devastating stigma, preventing millions of individuals from being able to seek the critical treatment they need. Spearheaded by social activist and fashion designer, Kenneth Cole, it is a coalition of leading mental health organizations, brands, celebrities, and advocates who have joined forces to end the stigma surrounding mental health and to change the way people talk about, and care for, mental illness. The group’s mission listed on its website states: “We must increase the conversation around mental health. We must act to end silence, reduce stigma, and engage our community to inspire hope at this essential moment.”

As most of the United States has been under stay-at-home orders, our traditional relationships have been radically disrupted. New types of relationships are forming as we are relying even more on technology to connect us. Social media seems to be on the only “social” we can now safely engage in.

The coalition’s campaign, “#howareyoureally?” is harnessing the power of social media and creating a storytelling platform to allow users to more genuinely share their feelings in these unprecedented times. Celebrities include Whoopi Goldberg, Kendall Jenner, Chris Cuomo, Deepak Chopra, Kesha, and many more have already shared their stories.

“How Are You, Really?” challenges people to answer this question using social media in an open and honest fashion while still providing hope.

The second component of the initiative is to increase access to care, and they have a long list of collaborators, including leading mental health organizations such as the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Anxiety and Depression Association of America, Child Mind Institute, Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services, National Alliance on Mental Illness, and many more.

We have a unique opportunity this Mental Health Awareness Month, and I hope we will see more and more people sharing their stories and reaching out for help. As a community, we must be prepared to meet the escalating needs of our population.
 

Dr. Ritvo, a psychiatrist with more than 25 years’ experience, practices in Miami Beach, Fla. She is the author of “Bekindr – The Transformative Power of Kindness” (Hellertown, Pa.: Momosa Publishing, 2018) and is the founder of the Bekindr Global Initiative, a movement aimed at cultivating kindness in the world. Dr. Ritvo also is the cofounder of the Bold Beauty Project, a nonprofit group that pairs women with disabilities with photographers who create art exhibitions to raise awareness.

We are months into the COVID-19 crisis, and mental health issues are proving to be rampant. In every crisis, there is opportunity, and this one is no different. The opportunity is clear. For Mental Health Awareness Month and beyond, we must convey a powerful message that mental health is key to our well-being and must be actively addressed. Because almost everyone has felt excess anxiety these last months, we have a unique chance to engage a wider audience.

To address the urgent need, the Mental Health Coalition was formed with the understanding that the mental health crisis is fueled by a pervasive and devastating stigma, preventing millions of individuals from being able to seek the critical treatment they need. Spearheaded by social activist and fashion designer, Kenneth Cole, it is a coalition of leading mental health organizations, brands, celebrities, and advocates who have joined forces to end the stigma surrounding mental health and to change the way people talk about, and care for, mental illness. The group’s mission listed on its website states: “We must increase the conversation around mental health. We must act to end silence, reduce stigma, and engage our community to inspire hope at this essential moment.”

As most of the United States has been under stay-at-home orders, our traditional relationships have been radically disrupted. New types of relationships are forming as we are relying even more on technology to connect us. Social media seems to be on the only “social” we can now safely engage in.

The coalition’s campaign, “#howareyoureally?” is harnessing the power of social media and creating a storytelling platform to allow users to more genuinely share their feelings in these unprecedented times. Celebrities include Whoopi Goldberg, Kendall Jenner, Chris Cuomo, Deepak Chopra, Kesha, and many more have already shared their stories.

“How Are You, Really?” challenges people to answer this question using social media in an open and honest fashion while still providing hope.

The second component of the initiative is to increase access to care, and they have a long list of collaborators, including leading mental health organizations such as the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Anxiety and Depression Association of America, Child Mind Institute, Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services, National Alliance on Mental Illness, and many more.

We have a unique opportunity this Mental Health Awareness Month, and I hope we will see more and more people sharing their stories and reaching out for help. As a community, we must be prepared to meet the escalating needs of our population.
 

Dr. Ritvo, a psychiatrist with more than 25 years’ experience, practices in Miami Beach, Fla. She is the author of “Bekindr – The Transformative Power of Kindness” (Hellertown, Pa.: Momosa Publishing, 2018) and is the founder of the Bekindr Global Initiative, a movement aimed at cultivating kindness in the world. Dr. Ritvo also is the cofounder of the Bold Beauty Project, a nonprofit group that pairs women with disabilities with photographers who create art exhibitions to raise awareness.