American Board of Family Medicine

Although GPT-4 demonstrated high accuracy as well as rapid reading and learning capabilities, a recent ABFM research study highlights the essential role of physicians’ critical thinking and lifelong learning skills. Learn more about the study now: https://bit.ly/4hNhITC

This #MLKDay, ABFM remembers and honors the impactful work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in his fight for justice and equality for all. In observation of the holiday, ABFM offices will be closed on Monday, January 20. • • • #MLKDay2025 #MLK #MartinLutherKingJr

The intention to participate in fellowship training is present in only about 19% of family medicine residents and a majority of family medicine residents do not favor an additional year of residency training. Read the article: https://bit.ly/3DTnpjt

The importance of family physicians’ potential role in providing integrated care of HIV & HCV among people with OUD should be highlighted & emphasized by the specialty as a way for family medicine to address a growing societal need. https://bit.ly/4fyLFFg

A 45-year-old presents to your office with concerns about a bump on his left elbow. He does not recall any injury. The bump is mildly painful to touch but causes no other symptoms. He is worried since it has been present for at least a month and never goes away. On examination the patient is afebrile. He has a 4-cm movable fluctuant mass at the tip of his left olecranon that is slightly tender to touch. There is no warmth or erythema and he has full range of motion of his elbow. There is no other joint involvement. Which one of the following would you recommend? A. No further evaluation B. Laboratory testing, including a CBC with differential C. Plain radiography D. MRI of elbow E. Aspiration

The driving force is often money, said Andrew Bazemore, a physician and a senior vice president at the American Board of Family Medicine. "Subspecialties tend to generate a lot of wealth, not only for the individual specialists, but for the whole system in the hospital," he said. Read the article now: https://bit.ly/425BZOT

A 17-year-old female comes to your office with an 8-month history of amenorrhea. Menarche occurred at age 12 and her menses were regular until the past year. On examination the patient’s vital signs are in the normal range for her age but she has a BMI of 16 kg/m2, which is below the third percentile for her age. Previously it was consistent with her height at the 25th percentile. She is a high school senior who dances with the local ballet company. She practices dance several hours a day and works out regularly. She tells you that she follows a strict 800-calorie/day diet to keep in shape for ballet. You order a CBC, a comprehensive metabolic panel, a urine β-hCG level, FSH and LH levels, and a TSH level. Which one of the following is also recommended as part of the workup? A. An EKG B. Pelvic ultrasonography C. Abdominal/pelvic CT D. A DXA scan E. A nuclear bone scan

ABFM Board Certification promotes evidence-based care through ongoing self-assessment and performance improvement. • Do you know about quarterly CKSAs? Let us know in the comments below!

Happy New Year from all of us at ABFM! ABFM offices will be closed today, January 1, and will reopen tomorrow at 8 AM EST.

A 54-year-old male comes to your office to establish care. He has a history of hypertension treated with lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril) 40mg daily, hydrochlorothiazide 25 mg daily, and amlodipine (Norvasc) 10 mg daily, but he has not taken his medications for the last 2 months. He does not have any symptoms, including chest pain, shortness of breath, visual changes or headache. Review of his medical record shows his blood pressure was previously controlled on these medications, and he has no other chronic conditions. On examination his blood pressure is 200/115 mm Hg on two separate readings taken 5 minutes apart. The remainder of the physical examination is normal. Which one of the following management options would be most appropriate? A. Institute out-of-office monitoring with an ambulatory device and follow up in 2 weeks B. Restart the patient’s previous antihypertensive medications and follow up within 1 week C. Administer a short-acting oral antihypertensive medication in the office to lower his blood pressure to <160/100 mm Hg D. Hospitalize for hypertensive emergency