Monthly Archives: May 2012

I particularly enjoyed this article from the WSJ last weekend.  It is a piece you finish and satisfactorily conclude your time was not wasted.  You have gained a new perspective in reexamining a deed, in this case lying, that we all engage in periodically—that we rationalize, trivialize, or justify—for unwelcome reasons we sidestep to achieve […]

In this large multi center study of patients with septic shock, activated protein C (Drotrecogin alpha) did not reduce mortality at 28 or 90 days, compared to placebo (abstract)

In this large multi center study, patients with an unprovoked VTE who had already completed 6-18 months of anticoagulation were randomized to ASA 100mg/day or placebo for 2 years. The risk of recurrent VTE was 11% in the placebo group and 7% in the ASA group (hazard ratio 0.58, CI 0.36 to 0.93), with no […]

In this large single center analysis, the risk of mortality in those discharged AMA was twice as high as those non-AMA, as was the risk of 30 day readmission. When considering the risk of AMA discharges, all efforts should be used to dissuade patients from prematurely leaving (abstract)

This large analysis of claims against US physicians found about half resulted in litigation, most of which for internal medicine were dismissed by the court, and only 3% of which underwent a trial verdict. Of those with a trial verdict, 80% were judged in favor of the physician. Internal medicine physicians fair well in litigation […]

A simple 3 step pathway (early mobilization, criteria for switching to oral antibiotic, and criteria for hospital discharge) in patients with CAP reduced LOS by 2 days, reduced IV antibiotics by 2 days, and reduced the incidence of adverse drug reactions by 11%, with no change in readmission, mortality, or patient satisfaction scores (abstract)