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New Studies Find RIPC Ineffective
November 4, 2015
NEW YORK - The theory that heart surgery can be made safer by periodically cutting off blood flow to an arm has been called into serious question. Two large randomized studies, published online by the New England Journal of Medicine and presented on Oct.
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Canada Develops Core Competencies for Hospitalists
November 4, 2015
The Canadian Society of Hospital Medicine is spearheading an initiative called the Core Competencies in Hospitalist Medicine Document Project, which could be used to clarify what the field is, update certification processes, and define its future growth. Neither the Royal College of Physicians an
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iPad Apps Help Inpatients Bridge Information Gaps
November 3, 2015
A study in the Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association found that giving hospitalized patients iPads with basic information about their care helped them engage more with physicians. The patient portal application helped inpatients remember their doctors’ names, the study noted, bu
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Joint Commission Unveils Online Resource to Promote High-Reliability Healthcare
November 3, 2015
Zero preventable harm is the goal of every healthcare organization, and a new online application from the Joint Commission Center for Transforming Healthcare can help groups reach that goal.
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Lymphedema Patients Benefit from Pneumatic Compression Devices
November 3, 2015
NEW YORK - Patients with lymphedema may reduce their risk of cellulitis, as well as the number of outpatient visits, by using an advanced pneumatic compression device (APCD), according to a new study. "Our study demonstrates, for the first time, that receipt of an advanced pneumatic compression d
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Chemotherapy Does Not Improve Quality of Life with End-Stage Cancer
November 3, 2015
Clinical question: Does palliative chemotherapy improve quality of life (QOL) in patients with end-stage cancer, regardless of performance status? Background: There is continued debate about the benefit of palliative chemotherapy at the end of life.
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Sliding-Scale Insulin Does Not Improve Blood Glucose Control in Hospitalized Patients
November 2, 2015
Clinical question: Does the use of sliding-scale insulin improve blood glucose control in hospitalized patients? Bottom line: Sliding-scale insulin is commonly used to manage hyperglycemia in hospitalized patients.
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Subclavian Central Lines Have Fewer Infections, Clots; Increased Risk of Pneumothorax
November 2, 2015
Clinical question: Which insertion site for central venous catheterization results in fewer complications? Bottom line: Central venous catheterization via a subclavian insertion site, as compared with femoral and jugular sites, decreases the risk of bloodstream infections and symptomatic deep vei
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CMS Releases Updated Two-Midnight Rule for 2016
November 2, 2015
On November 13, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is scheduled to publish its final OPPS rule for 2016. One of the biggest impacts for hospitalists is the update to the two-midnight rule. Here are six areas of interest to hospitalists: 1.
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Prognostic Disclosures Benefit Cancer Patients
November 2, 2015
When doctors discuss prognosis with advanced cancer patients, those patients have more realistic views of their life expectancy and don't seem to experience a decrease in emotional wellbeing, according to a new study. "That the vast majority of cancer patients who are dying say that they want to