News
Inpatient Navigators Reduce Length of Stay without Increasing Readmissions
December 1, 2015
Clinical question: Does a patient navigator (PN) who facilitates communication between patients and providers impact hospital length of stay (LOS) and readmissions? Background: Increasing complexity of hospitalization challenges the safety of care transitions.
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News
Dexamethasone Potential Therapy for Asthma Exacerbations in Pediatric Inpatients
December 1, 2015
Clinical question: In children hospitalized in a non-ICU setting with asthma exacerbation, how effective is dexamethasone compared to prednisone/prednisolone? Background: Asthma is the second most common reason for hospital admission in childhood.1 National guidelines recommend treatment with sys
News
What Are the Strategies for Secondary Stroke Prevention after Transient Ischemic Attack?
December 1, 2015
Case Mr. G is an 80-year-old man with a pacemaker, peripheral artery disease, atrial fibrillation (AF) on warfarin, and tachy-brady syndrome. He presented after experiencing episodes in which he was unable to speak and had weakness on his right side.
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Elderly Patients with Pneumonia Benefit from ICU Care
November 18, 2015
NEW YORK - Elderly patients with pneumonia whose need for intensive care unit (ICU) admission is uncertain actually fare better in the ICU than on the general medical ward, a new study suggests. "Although our results should be confirmed with a randomized trial, clinicians should be aware that man
News
Younger Type 2 Diabetics Face Greater Mortality Risks
November 11, 2015
NEW YORK - People with type 2 diabetes are 15 percent more likely to die from any cause and 14 percent more likely to die from a cardiovascular cause than non-diabetics at any given time, according to data from several Swedish registries. The rates are significantly lower than previous estimates.
News
Differences in Care, Outcomes for In-Hospital Versus Community-Onset Stroke
November 4, 2015
Clinical question: Are there any differences in care and outcomes for in-hospital versus community-onset stroke? Background: In-hospital stroke accounts for 4%-17% of all strokes. Hospitalists and other non-neurological services have to identify and treat subsequent stroke in their patients.
News
Oral Steroids Not Inferior to Intravenous Steroids in Multiple Sclerosis Relapses
November 4, 2015
Clinical question: Is there any difference between oral and intravenous methylprednisolone for multiple sclerosis relapses? Background: When relapses of multiple sclerosis occur, studies have shown that intravenous steroids are the treatment of choice.
News
ED Lung Ultrasound Useful for Differentiating Cardiogenic from Noncardiogenic Dyspnea
November 4, 2015
Clinical question: Is lung ultrasound a useful tool for helping to diagnose acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF)? Background: Lung ultrasound is an emerging bedside tool that has been promoted to help evaluate lung water content to help clinicians differentiate ADHF from other causes of dyspn
News
When Should Hospitalists Order Continuous Cardiac Monitoring?
November 4, 2015
Case Two patients on continuous cardiac monitoring (CCM) are admitted to the hospital. One is a 56-year-old man with hemodynamically stable sepsis secondary to pneumonia. There is no sign of arrhythmia on initial evaluation.
News
Clinical Care Pathway for Cellulitis Can Help Reduce Antibiotic Use, Cost
November 4, 2015
Clinical question: How would an evidence-based clinical pathway for cellulitis affect process metrics, patient outcomes, and clinical cost? Background: Cellulitis is a common hospital problem, but its evaluation and treatment vary widely.
