March 29, 2010 |  1
Public Policy Contributor Brad Flansbaum writes… The health bill is now law.  What next for hospitalists? Most of the chatter these days concerns access, and to a lesser extent, system reform and cost control.  In HM circles however, bundling and episode-based payments have been de rigor for 2-3 years.  Conceptually, it is rather simple to […]
March 29, 2010 |  0
In this meta-analysis of 8 randomized trials involving 1726 patients, BNP-guided CHF management reduced overall mortality (compared to usual care), but did not reduce hospitalizations. Those in the BNP guided groups were more likely to achieve target doses of beta blockers and ACE inhibitors (which is likely causally related to the reduction in mortality). BNP guided CHF […]
March 26, 2010 |  5
The Blogosphere Rumor Factory is heating up with reports that Don Berwick, the world’s most prominent advocate for healthcare quality and safety, will be the next administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). (Take this with a grain of salt, because the same Rumor Factory blew it last time on Glenn Steele.) […]
March 23, 2010 |  0
Jack Percelay writes…. No, I haven’t been in a coma unaware of what is probably the most significant change for hospitalists for the decade, it’s just that I’m
March 22, 2010 |  0
In in this large database analysis of over 10,000 general medical discharges from 6 academic medical centers, seven factors emerged as significant predictors of early readmission. These included insurance status, marital status, having a regular physician, Charlson index, SF12 physical component score, 1+ admits in the last year, and current LOS >2 days. These 7 […]
March 21, 2010 |  0
The ACCP guidelines recommend mechanical prophylaxis of DVT for patients who can not take anti-thrombotic drugs, but do not state a preference for intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) versus graduated compression stockings (GCS). This systematic review of 10 studies (9 surgical) found slightly lower risk of DVT with the use of IPC (3% versus 6%). IPC […]