Medical Economics (12/10, Littrell) reports that a study “takes a close look at a simple but increasingly popular idea in physician practices: setting aside protected time during the workday for electronic health record (EHR) tasks.” In the study, “one ambulatory network reserved a dedicated appointment slot each half day for activities such as patient messaging, prescription refills and prior authorizations. Researchers tracked what happened to productivity, after-hours work and message volume over nearly three years.” Study “results suggest that small scheduling changes can have an outsized impact on physician workload. After-hours and weekend EHR time dropped quickly after protected time was introduced, while productivity took only a modest short-term dip and then stabilized.” The study was published in JAMA Network Open.

Related Links:

— “Protected EHR time cuts after-hours work with little productivity loss, study finds,”Austin Littrell, Medical Economics, December 10, 2025

Healio (12/10, Herpen) reports, “Individuals with epilepsy and depression had a higher psychiatric comorbidity burden linked to shorter duration of initial therapy and a higher risk of treatment failure, data show.” According to the “results, patients with depression remained on [first-line epilepsy therapy] for a shorter time (median 145 days) than those who did not have depression (median 173 days), although durations across subsequent [lines of therapy] were similar between cohorts, featuring modest declines over time.” The findings were presented at the American Epilepsy Society annual meeting.

Related Links:

— “Depression in epilepsy linked to higher comorbidity burden, risk of treatment failure,”Robert Herpen, MA , Healio, December 10, 2025

Gastroenterology Advisor (12/9, Nye) reports, “Patients with Crohn disease (CD) experiencing post-traumatic stress (PTS) are more likely to have undergone multiple operations and to have experienced surgical complications, according to study findings.” The researchers said, “Surgery has posed both physical challenges and psychological stress for patients. Therefore, conducting thorough assessments and providing comprehensive care after surgery is crucial in reducing patients’ psychological maladjustment.” The findingswere published in Therapeutic Advances in Gastroenterology.

Related Links:

— “Multiple Surgeries and Complications Predict Post-Traumatic Stress in CD,”Jessica Nye, PhD, Gastroenterology Advisor, December 9, 2025

USA Today (12/9, Mitchell, Hale) reports, “Starting Dec. 10, Australia is the first country to ban social media for kids under 16.” It is “up to social media companies…to ensure children under 16 aren’t using their platforms, and companies who fail to block kids [from] their sites will face substantial fines.” Under the ban, “there are no penalties for kids who gain access to these platforms, or their parents or caregivers.” Although “the ban is controversial in some circles, many parents and mental health advocates are celebrating – and wondering if something similar could ever be enforced in the United States.” However, “Whitney Raglin Bignall, pediatric psychologist and associate clinical director at The Kids Mental Health Foundation, said she hasn’t seen movement toward a nationwide social media ban in the United States.”

Related Links:

— “Australia is first nation to ban social media for kids. Is the US next?,”Madeline Mitchell & Rachel Hale, USA TODAY, December 9, 2025

HealthDay (12/8, Gotkine) reports a study found that “for sexual minority youth, identity disclosure is associated with an increased risk for suicide intention, plan, and attempt.” Study results indicate that “identity disclosure to a family member was associated with a within-person increased risk for suicide intention, plan, and attempt (8, 10, and 6 percentage points, respectively). Increased risks for suicide intention, plan, and attempt were also seen in association with identity disclosure to a friend (10, 12, and 6 percentage points, respectively).” According to researchers, “these increases in suicide risk occurred around the timing of identity disclosure; in subsequent years, they increased in magnitude.” The study was published in Pediatrics.

Related Links:

— “‘Coming Out’ Linked to Increased Suicide Risk in Sexual Minority Youth,”Elana Gotkine , HealthDay, December 8, 2025