Manage AF Risk Factors Aggressively
Aggressive risk factor management appears to improve the long-term success of atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation, according to results of an Australian study. When compared with controls, patients ......
View ArticleThe High Healthcare Costs of Smoking
Researchers in the United States estimate that nearly 9% of annual healthcare spending in 2010 could be attributed to cigarette smoking, amounting to as much as $170 ... Read More
View ArticleCME: The Burden of COPD & Symptom Severity
In 2000, the first “Confronting COPD International Survey” found that many patients with diagnosed COPD or symptoms consistent with chronic bronchitis underestimated their symptoms and severity of ......
View ArticleCME: The 2015 Immunization Schedule for Adults
Based on three changes in the area of adult immunizations that occurred recently, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has approved an updated schedule of ... Read More
View ArticleCME: Cardiometabolic Risk, Type 2 Diabetes, & Heart Disease
The term cardiometabolic risk refers to having a high 10-year and/or lifetime risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Specific causes that can increase cardiometabolic risk include hyperglycemia,...
View ArticleState Medical Boards' Questionable Behavior
A family physician was sanctioned by the Idaho Board of Medicine for prescribing an antibiotic over the telephone in 2012. The incident occurred while Dr. Ann DeJong ... Read More
View ArticleIs there a Nursing Shortage or Not?
Google “nursing shortage,” and the number of hits describing the current shortage will convince you that it is real. But the funny thing is, some recent graduates ... Read More
View ArticleSurgeon Scorecard Thoroughly Dismantled
Back in July, an organization called ProPublica released its Surgeon Scorecard, which attempted to give patients a way to compare surgeon performance. While the effort was well-intended, ... Read More
View ArticleTwo Ways to Deal with ED "Frequent Flyers"
A hospital in Maryland has come up with a novel solution for patients who are “frequent flyers,” politically correctly termed “super utilizers,” in its emergency room. After ... Read More
View ArticleMass. General Hospital on the Hot Seat
October was not a good month for Massachusetts General Hospital. A group of MGH anesthesiologists published a study showing that about half of the patients operated on ... Read More
View ArticleBaffling Deficiency of New ICD-10 Codes
Many years in the creation and tens of thousands more codes than ICD-9, yet the new ICD-10 list may be inadequate. An actor was hospitalized after his ... Read More
View ArticleThe Ultimate Resident Evaluation
It comes as no shock to me, and probably many other current and former program directors, that a recent study showed faculty overall performance evaluations of residents ... Read More
View ArticleWhy Hospital Rankings are Bogus
The Leapfrog Group has announced its annual list of America’s top hospitals for quality and safety with 98 hospitals receiving the honor. Unlike some other hospital rating ... Read More
View ArticleSurgeon Convicted of Manslaughter Wins Right to Appeal
Last month, a three-judge panel granted English surgeon David Sellu the right to appeal his conviction. He has already served 15 months in prison. In this space ... Read More
View ArticleIs Burnout Talk Causing More Burnout?
Almost every day for the last few years, someone is writing about physician burnout or depression. The problems begin in medical school. A recent paper featured drawings ... Read More
View ArticleFIRST Trial: Patients Not Harmed When Surgical Residents Work Flexible Hours
Patients had no greater risk of death or serious morbidity when cared for by surgical residents working flexible duty hours when compared to those working standard Accreditation ... Read More
View ArticleStudy: No patient harm with flexible surgical resident duty hours
Patients had no greater risk of death or serious morbidity when cared for by surgical residents working flexible duty hours compared to those working standard Accreditation Council ... Read More
View ArticleDoctor Operates on the Wrong Child
A newborn in Tennessee had an operation to correct a “tongue tie.” Except for the procedure being performed on the wrong baby, things went well. According to ... Read More
View ArticleFlorida teen impersonates a doctor…again
February’s Internet sensation, at least where I hang out, was Malachi Love-Robinson, the 18-year-old boy arrested in Florida for fraud and practicing medicine without a license. This ... Read More
View ArticleEMR notes: Copy and paste, done in haste, what a waste
An epidemic is sweeping the country, and no one is doing anything about it. No it’s not Zika virus. The epidemic I’m talking about is the widespread
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