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Rapid Immunoassays for Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia Offer Fast Screening Possibilities
June 10, 2016
Clinical question: How useful are rapid immunoassays (RIs) compared to other tests for heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT)? Background: HIT is a clinicopathologic diagnosis, which traditionally requires clinical criteria and laboratory confirmation through initial testing with enzyme-linked im
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Does U.S. Healthcare Need More Diverse Leadership?
June 9, 2016
Throughout its history, the United States has been a nation of immigrants. From the early colonial settlements to the mid-20th century, most immigrants came from Western European countries.
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Impact of Delayed Discharge Summary Completion on Hospital Readmission
June 8, 2016
Clinical question: Is a delay in completion of hospital discharge summary associated with hospital readmissions? Background: Inpatient discharge summaries serve as a communication tool to future care providers.
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Effects of Assigning Medical Teams to Nursing Units on Patient Care
June 8, 2016
Clinical question: Does assigning a single medical team to a nursing unit (regionalizing) improve communication and prevent adverse events? Background: Many factors impact communication in healthcare delivery. Failures in communication are a known source of adverse events in hospital care.
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News
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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News
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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News
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.
News
Clarifying the Roles of Hospitalist and PCP
May 31, 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.
