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Six Strategies to Help Hospitalists Improve Communication
February 8, 2016
As Karen Smith, MD, SFHM, chief of hospital medicine at Children’s National Health System in Washington, D.C., sees it, communication problems often arise at the first possible opportunity, when she’s trying to find out whom to call when she needs to inform a primary care physician or specialist abo
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An Early Invasive Strategy for Elderly with Myocardial Infraction is Promising
February 8, 2016
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - An early invasive strategy provides better outcomes than a conservative strategy in octogenarians with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) or unstable angina, according to the After Eighty clinical trial. "Management of the very elderly with myocardial infar
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20-Year Rate for Kidney Stones Increased in Children, Adolescents, Females, Blacks
February 5, 2016
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Rates of kidney stones have increased substantially over the past 20 years, particularly among children, adolescents, females, and blacks, according to a population-based study in South Carolina. Historically, the highest rates of kidney stone disease have been in midd
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Adoption of Choosing Wisely Recommendations Slow to Catch On
February 1, 2016
Clinical question: Have the Choosing Wisely campaign recommendations led to changes in practice? Background: The Choosing Wisely campaign aims to reduce the incidence of low-value care by providing evidence-based recommendations for common clinical situations.
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What Are Best Practices for Patients Discharged against Medical Advice?
January 27, 2016
Case No. 1 A 41-year-old woman with a history of asthma presents to the emergency department (ED) with shortness of breath and wheezing. She is diagnosed with a mild asthma exacerbation.
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Defining Patient Experience: ‘Everything We Say and Do’
January 26, 2016
Editor’s note: “Everything We Say and Do” is an informational series developed by SHM’s Patient Experience Committee to provide readers with thoughtful and actionable communication tactics that have great potential to positively impact patients’ experience of care.
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Overall Patient Satisfaction Better on Hospitalist Teams Compared with Teaching Teams
January 25, 2016
Ethan Cumbler, MD, FHM, Erinn Ayres, MD, Carmella Nogar, PA, Kinsey Wray, PA, and Julia Clemons, MD, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver
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Caprini Score Accurately Predicts Risk of Venous Thromboembolism in Critically Ill Surgical Patients
January 22, 2016
Clinical question: Is the Caprini risk assessment model (RAM) a valid tool to predict venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk in critically ill surgical patients? Background: VTE is a major source of morbidity and mortality among hospitalized patients; prevention is critical to reduce morbidity and
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Total Knee Replacement Superior to Non-Surgical Intervention
January 22, 2016
Clinical question: Does total knee replacement followed by a 12-week non-surgical treatment program provide greater pain relief and improvement in function and quality of life than non-surgical treatment alone? Background: The number of total knee replacements in the U.S.
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Patients with Postoperative Myocardial Infarction May Benefit from Higher Transfusion Threshold
January 18, 2016
Clinical question: Is there an improved 30-day mortality rate if patients receive blood transfusion at higher hematocrit values after postoperative myocardial infarction (MI)? Background: Prior studies evaluating patients with a history of coronary artery disease (CAD) who undergo non-cardiac
