Maggie is an editor for The American Journal of Managed Care® (AJMC®) and produces written, video, and podcast content covering several disease states. She joined AJMC® in 2019, and has been with AJMC®’s parent company, MJH Life Sciences®, since 2014, when she started as a copy editor.
She has a BA in English from Penn State University. You can connect with Maggie on LinkedIn.
Consensus Called for When Choosing Optimal Treatment for Breast Cancer–Related Lymphedema
May 7th 2020More than 20% of breast cancer survivors are severely affected by breast cancer–related lymphedema, with debilitating adverse effects that include depression, chronic pain, and recurrent skin infections—all affecting overall quality of life.
Read More
STD Testing Rates, Service Receipt Among HIV-Positive MSM Remain Low
May 5th 2020The CDC recommends regular testing for bacterial sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among all sexually active gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM). Chief among these STDs are gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, and hepatitis C.
Read More
Mortality From Heart Failure Increases 3-Fold From Having Just 1 SDOH
May 1st 2020There is a 15% to 20% greater chance of death in the 90 days following a hospitalization for heart failure among patients with Medicare compared with the general population. Social determinants of health (SDOH) are an influencing factor of this rate.
Read More
Motivations, Attitudes Distinguish Consistent Versus Inconsistent ART Adherence
May 1st 2020According to 2015 CDC data, current viral suppression rates from antiretroviral therapy (ART) leave room for improvement among both HIV-positive individuals who are aware of their disease status and those receiving care, at 40.0% and 81.5%, respectively.
Read More
Cardiovascular Disease Improvements Seen Among Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes, Study Shows
April 30th 2020The risk of both heart attack and stroke increases 2- to 3-fold among individuals with comorbid diabetes and cardiovascular issues; however, recent study results show improved odds of both not occurring, as well as less of a risk of hospitalization for heart failure or lower extremity amputation.
Read More
COVID-19 Increases Overall Risk of Death, Complications in Patients With Cancer, Study Shows
April 29th 2020Recent study results show that patients with cancer who develop coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are far more likely to die than those who develop COVID-10 but do not have cancer. Patients being treated with immunotherapy appear to be at particularly high risk.
Read More
Do Employee, Consumer, Financial Leader Concerns Align in a Post–COVID-19 Workplace?
April 27th 2020According to the most recent PwC Health Research Institute Consumer Survey results, the top consumer concerns for the post–coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) period are overall health and financial well-being, with 32% saying health-related spending adjustments have already occurred or are in the planning stages.
Read More
Does Posttreatment Weight Loss Equate to Improved Quality of Life Among Survivors of Breast Cancer?
April 27th 2020An international team of investigators recently tried to answer this question, focusing on women with diagnosed early-stage disease and considered obese, with a body mass index above 30 kg/m2.
Read More
We Must Bring Clinical Trials to Our Communities, Burris Says
April 25th 2020There's a way to boost participation in clinical trials and modernize the cumbersome process of patient accrual, noted current ASCO President Howard A. “Skip” Burris, MD, FACP, FASCO, on day 2 of Virtual COA 2020. It means shifting clinical trials out of hospitals and tertiary care centers and bringing them to the patients.
Read More
Is Anti-CMV Treatment Necessary to Reduce CMV Viral Replication in Patients With HIV?
April 24th 2020Following interim results presented at the 2017 Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, a team of investigators from Vall d’Hebron in Spain delivered their final results at this year’s virtual conference on cytomegalovirus (CMV) viral load response to antiretroviral therapy compared with anti-CMV treatment.
Read More
What Matters to Our Patients Matters to Us, and We Must Keep Up, Panel Notes
April 24th 2020Day 1 of Virtual COA 2020, this year’s Community Oncology Conference, kicked off with the panel discussion, “Top Oncology Issues Now & Looking Ahead,” led by Bo Gamble, director of Strategic Practice Initiatives at the Community Oncology Alliance. Topics covered ran the gamut: from Zoom being everyone’s new middle name to telehealth to caring for patients’ medical and social needs and beyond.
Read More
Do Caregivers for Patients With Heart Failure Benefit From Telehealth?
April 23rd 2020In the United States, heart failure affects a patient population of over 6.5 million. Through medication management, transportation, and emotional support, among the many tasks they assist with, these patients’ caregivers provide services valued at $7.9 billion annually.
Read More
Dr Anshu Jain: We Must Be Teachers, Researchers, and Caregivers
April 21st 2020In a preview interview for this year’s 2020 Community Oncology Conference, The American Journal of Managed Care® speaks with Anshu Jain, MD—radiation oncologist at Ashland Bellefonte Cancer Center in Ashland, Kentucky; assistant clinical professor at the Yale School of Medicine; and Community Oncology Alliance board member—on how important it is to always strive for excellence in medicine.
Read More
Does an STI Diagnosis Spur Subsequent HIV Testing Among Adolescents?
April 20th 2020Chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and trichomoniasis are 4 sexually transmitted infections (STI) that have seen sharp increases in occurrence over the past 10 years. Their combined overall rate rose 31% between 2013 and 2017 and correlate with a lower overall HIV testing rate among adolescents.
Read More
Kathy Oubre: Witnessing Growing Cancer Survivorship Is a Privilege
April 20th 2020In this preview interview for this year’s virtual 2020 Community Oncology Conference, The American Journal of Managed Care® speaks with Kathy Oubre, MS, chief operating officer of Pontchartrain Cancer Center in Louisiana, on why it is her privilege to work with patients who have cancer, as well as her thoughts on telehealth after the pandemic and why being in a hurricane-prone area necessitates healthcare that is flexible.
Read More
Part 2: Cheryl Larson on Balancing Employer Needs, Controlling Cancer Costs, and Future Goals
April 19th 2020In the second part of a 2-part preview interview in advance of this year’s virtual 2020 Community Oncology Conference, The American Journal of Managed Care® speaks with Cheryl Larson, president and chief executive officer of the Midwest Business Group on Health, about how she is helping employer organizations navigate their pharmacy benefits managers and manage employee expectations.
Read More
Part 1: Cheryl Larson on Balancing Employer Needs, Controlling Cancer Costs, and Future Goals
April 18th 2020In the first part of a 2-part preview interview in advance of this year’s virtual 2020 Community Oncology Conference, The American Journal of Managed Care® speaks with Cheryl Larson, president and chief executive officer of the Midwest Business Group on Health, about how she is helping employer organizations navigate their pharmacy benefits managers and manage employee expectations.
Read More
How Are Breast Cancer and Obesity Related? Possible New Link Discovered
April 18th 2020There is a greater risk of hormone receptor–positive breast cancer if a patient is obese. Researchers from the University of Louisville have discovered a possible new link between obesity and a greater risk for developing breast cancer: adipose fatty acid binding protein.
Read More
HIV, Hepatitis C Testing Rates Remain Dismal Among Injection Drug Users
April 17th 2020Despite being at an increased risk for HIV and hepatitis C, persons who inject drugs (PWID) are tested at dismal rates for both: just 8.6% and 7.7%, respectively, according to data from 2010 to 2017. PWID who live in rural communities are more likely to face barriers to adequate testing and care for both diseases.
Read More
Oncology Groups Issue Preliminary COVID-19 Triage Guidelines for Breast Cancer
April 16th 2020Several prominent oncology organizations, including the National Comprehensive Cancer Network and the Commission on Cancer, have joined forces to issue preliminary guidelines on how to treat patients with breast cancer during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
Read More
Are Current Blood Iron Levels Appropriate for Use in Patients With Heart Failure?
April 15th 2020The chemical symbol for iron is Fe, which stems from the Latin word for iron, Ferrum. Therefore, it is easy to see the connection on how ferritin is the protein responsible for iron storage and release in the body and transferrin is the protein responsible for transporting that iron.
Read More
Regular Exercise Confers a Significant Survival Benefit Among Patients With Breast Cancer
April 10th 2020Meeting HHS’ minimum requirements for daily and weekly exercise reduced breast cancer recurrence and mortality among patients with high-risk breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy. This benefit was even seen in patients who had not met these requirements before their diagnosis.
Read More
Minority, Female, and Older Patients Remain Underrepresented in ACS Clinical Trials
April 10th 2020Does patient representation in trials of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) correlate with epidemiologic studies of patients with the condition? According to recent results published in JAMA Cardiology, older patients, women, and black patients continue to be underrepresented in ACS trials.
Read More
Close to 100% of Active Duty Service Members Initiate ART and Achieve Viral Suppression, CDC Reports
April 9th 2020Between 2012 and 2018, 93.8% of HIV-positive active military service members were on continuous antiretroviral therapy (ART). Of this group, 99.0% were virally suppressed by the end of their first year on ART.
Read More