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Computer-Based Reminders Have Small to Modest Effect on Care Processes
October 27, 2014
Clinical question: Do on-screen, computer-based clinical reminders improve adherence to target processes of care or clinical outcomes? Background: Gaps between practice guidelines and routine care are caused, in part, by the inability of clinicians to access or recall information at the point of
News
Patient Participation in Medication Reconciliation at Discharge Helps Detect Prescribing Discrepancies
October 27, 2014
Clinical question: Does the inclusion of a medication adherence counseling session during a hospital discharge reconciliation process reduce discrepancies in the final medication regimen? Background: Inadvertent medication prescribing errors are an important cause of preventable adverse drug even
News
Negative D-Dimer Test Can Safely Exclude Pulmonary Embolism in Patients at Low To Intermediate Clinical Risk
October 27, 2014
Clinical question: In patients with symptoms consistent with pulmonary embolism (PE), can evaluation with a clinical risk assessment tool and D-dimer assay identify patients who do not require CT angiography to exclude PE? Background: D-dimer is a highly sensitive but nonspecific marker of VTE, a
News
Patient Signout Is Not Uniformly Comprehensive and Often Lacks Critical Information
October 27, 2014
Clinical question: Do signouts vary in the quality and quantity of information, and what are the various factors affecting signout quality? Background: Miscommunication during transfers of responsibility for hospitalized patients is common and can result in harm.
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Emergency Department Signout via Voicemail Yields Mixed Reviews
October 27, 2014
Clinical question: How does traditional, oral signout from emergency providers to inpatient medicine physicians compare to dictated, voicemail signout? Background: Communication failures contribute to errors in care transition from ED to inpatient medicine units.
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Emergency Department “Boarding” Results in Undesirable Events
October 27, 2014
Clinical question: What is the frequency and nature of undesirable events experienced by patients who “board” in the ED? Background: Hospital crowding results in patients spending extended amounts of time—also known as “boarding”—in the ED as they wait for an inpatient bed.
News
Decreased ICU Duty Hours Does Not Affect Patient Mortality
October 27, 2014
Clinical question: Does the reduction in work hours for residents affect mortality in medical and surgical ICUs? Background: A reduction in work hours for residents was enforced in July 2003.
News
Once-Weekly Antibiotic Might Be Effective for Treatment of Acute Bacterial Skin Infections
October 15, 2014
Research suggests intravenous dalbavancin similarly efficacious to intravenous vancomycin
News
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Outperforms Noctural Oxygen for Blood Pressure Reduction
October 15, 2014
CPAP better at decreasing 24-hour mean arterial pressure in patients with obstructive sleep apnea, coronary artery disease, cardiac risk factors
News
Lactate Clearance Portends Better Outcomes after Cardiac Arrest
October 13, 2014
Lower lactate levels, greater clearance associated with better survival, neurological outcomes