Who do you trust most?

Uncle Sam searches for best practices The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality will spend $15 million to find the best way to treat patients suffering from 10 diseases or conditions: arthritis and nontraumatic joint disorders, cancer, COPD/asthma, dementia (including Alzheimer's disease), depression/mood disorders, diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, peptic ulcer/dyspepsia, pneumonia, and stroke (including control of hypertension). The studies will run for 18 months, and results will be made public. According to the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, four out of five Americans polled want their doctors to follow guidelines for treatment and diagnosis, and more than two-thirds are likely to choose a doctor who uses them. In addition, about seven in 10 would favor health plan programs that reward physicians who have strong, proven records of using best-practice guidelines.

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