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Troponin Leak Portends Poorer Outcomes in Congestive Heart Disease Hospitalizations
June 6, 2016
Clinical question: What is the association between detectable cardiac troponin (cTn) levels and outcomes in persons hospitalized with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF)? Background: There are millions of ADHF hospitalizations per year, and all-cause mortality and readmission rates are high.
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New Guidelines for Cardiovascular Imaging in Chest Pain
June 6, 2016
Clinical question: Which cardiovascular imaging modalities can augment triage of ED patients with chest pain? Background: Because absolute event rates for patients with chest pain and normal initial ECG findings are not low enough to drive discharge triage decisions, and findings that patients wi
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Hospitalist Quality Improvement Initiative Reduces Inpatient Laboratory Costs
June 5, 2016
Clinical question: Will a multifaceted quality improvement initiative targeted at hospitalists reduce inpatient laboratory costs? Background: Routine inpatient laboratory testing is a well-recognized area of healthcare waste and was highlighted by the American Board of Internal Medicine Choosing
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Discharge Planning Reduces Length of Stay in Elderly Patients Admitted with Medical Illnesses
June 5, 2016
Clinical question: Does discharge planning improve length of stay and reduce readmission rates compared to usual care? Background: Discharge planning is accomplished to varying degrees for patients admitted to an acute-care hospital.
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Enhancing Mobility Reduces Length of Stay
June 3, 2016
Clinical question: Can a nurse-driven early ambulation program aimed at all hospitalized adults increase patient mobility and decrease length of stay? Background: Many adults experience decline of functional abilities during their hospitalization.
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Can Sepsis Be Better Defined?
June 3, 2016
Clinical question: Given advances in the understanding and treatment of sepsis, can sepsis be better defined? Background: Definitions of sepsis and septic shock were last revised in 2001.
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Disinfection Caps Reduce CLABSI, BCC in Hematology-Oncology Patients
May 30, 2016
Clinical question: Does the use of disinfection caps on catheter hubs on central venous catheters (CVCs) reduce central-line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) and blood culture contamination (BCC) in hematology-oncology patients? Background: CVCs have facilitated the administration of che
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Isopropyl Alcohol Nasal Inhalation Effective Treatment for ED Nausea
May 30, 2016
Clinical question: Does inhaled isopropyl alcohol alleviate nausea as compared to inhaled saline solution among patients presenting to the ED with a chief complaint of nausea? Background: Nausea and vomiting account for 4.8 million ED visits each year; however, antiemetics have not shown superior
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Chronic Kidney Disease Risk with Proton Pump Inhibitors
May 27, 2016
Clinical question: What is the association between proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use and incident chronic kidney disease (CKD)? Background: Medication use may play a potential role in the increasing prevalence of CKD.
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Risk Factors for Pseudomonas, MRSA in Healthcare-Associated Pneumonia
May 27, 2016
Clinical question: What risk factors could predict the likelihood of Pseudomonas and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in patients hospitalized with healthcare-associated pneumonia (HCAP)? Background: Patients identified with HCAP have an increased risk for multi-drug-resistant p