The Hospitalist

Audio File: ONLINE EXCLUSIVE: Listen to Martin Buser and Bryce Gartland discuss directors' impact on HM program success

HM directors are the most important predictor of group success; leaders should devote time and resources to coaching and mentoring their hospitalists

Audio File: ONLINE EXCLUSIVE: Listen to Lauren Doctoroff discuss BIDMC’s postdischarge clinic

Dr. Doctoroff discusses how BIDMC’s postdischarge clinic works and the patients who need it the most

Audio File: ONLINE EXCLUSIVE: Listen to CDC expert Carolyn Gould and Emory hospitalist Ketino Kobaidze discuss C. diff prevention

Dr. Gould outlines actions needed to prevent C. diff infections in your hospital; Dr. Kobaidze talks about why HM leaders should promote hand hygiene

Article: Gut Reaction

Clostridium difficile puts hospitalists to the test.

Article: Is a Post-Discharge Clinic in Your Hospital's Future?

A practice-changing perspective on hospitalized patients.

Article: The Buck Starts Here

High-performing HM groups have strong leaders; make sure you avoid programmatic pitfalls.

Article: She's Found Her Calling

The 2008 election and health-reform debate lead D.C. hospitalist to key federal position.

Key Clinical Question: What Are the Clinical Indications for Noninvasive Positive Pressure Ventilation?

NPPV is an effective method to decrease mortality, intubation rates, and duration of ICU stay in severe exacerbations of COPD, cardiogenic pulmonary edema, immunosuppressed patients with pulmonary infiltrates, and hypoxia, and as a bridge to extubation in COPD patients.

Letters: Medical Profession “Terrified” to Address Kernicterus Concerns

My son was born in 2001 with a bilirubin of 51, but receiving a diagnosis of kernicterus was difficult in coming because the medical profession is terrified to admit that this is happening.

Letters: Dr. Shen Responds to Kernicterus Letters

True rates of kernicterus have been difficult to calculate for a variety of reasons, yet we must get a handle on “who” gets kernicterus if we are to appropriately decide which infants receive phototherapy. The letters we received highlight a critical need to delve deeper into the epidemiology of kernicterus, a journey that must begin with accurate reporting of this disease.

Letters: Kernicterus Is Observable, Predictable, Curable

Doctors seem to take on a lackadaisical, roll-of-the-dice type of approach to the prevention of kernicterus. Since the numbers are so low, they are not providing the vigilant watch and, therefore, allowing newborns to slip from hyperbilirubinemia to actual kernicterus.

Letters: Medical Community Should Take Proactive Approach to Kernicterus Treatment, Reporting

Everyone in the medical community needs to take the proactive approach, as well as find a means of reporting kernicterus that is free of the liability concerns, or be willing to face them.

On the Move: Hospitalists on the Move

Paul B. Iannini, MD; David Handin, MD; David Bowman, MD; Mary Jo Gorman, MD, MBA, MHM.

Society Pages: Business Spotlight

HM mergers, acquisitions, and expansions.

Society Pages: Ready to Lead Hospital Medicine?

SHM committee nominations are due December 5.

Society Pages: Leadership Academy Adds ‘Women in HM Issues’ to Schedule

The February SHM Leadership Academy will include special programming specifically designed for women.

Innovations: Simple Interventions Save Lives

Relatively simple and inexpensive interventions can prevent hospital-acquired infections.

Society Pages: A Distinguished Visitor

Johns Hopkins surgeon, researcher named HM12 visiting professor.

Society Pages: Policy Corner: Are ACOs Back? Has CMS Listened to Provider Concerns?

The final rule on ACOs indicates that the government has taken comments from SHM and other organizations to heart.

Society Pages: Survey Insights: It's All Written in Code

The 2011 State of Hospital Medicine report provides details about hospitalist coding practices.

In the Literature: In the Literature: The latest research you need to know

Atelectasis and fever; heparin dosing frequency for VTE prophylaxis; perioperative cardiac risk calculator; diagnosing subarachnoid hemorrhage without an LP; model to predict risk of bleeding on warfarin; risk of death with tiotropium use in COPD; BNP to predict perioperative mortality; beta-blockers and COPD.

In the Literature: Fluid Boluses Might Not Benefit All Children in Shock

What is the effect of fluid resuscitation on mortality in children with shock in resource-limited settings?

Public Policy: Where’s the Stimulus?

Checking up on 2009’s $160 billion infusion into healthcare.

Career Development: Career Checkup

Routine assessments can improve your occupational health.

Innovations: Dartmouth Atlas: Little Progress Reducing Readmissions

The newest Dartmouth Atlas report documents little progress in decreasing 30-day readmissions, and identifies a link nationally between readmissions rates and the overall intensity of inpatient care.

Innovations: High-Tech Linens Could Reduce Bacteria in Hospital Settings

A company pitching bacteria-resistant hospital linens is studying just how effective their product can be in the hospital setting.

Innovations: You've Got (Post-Discharge) Mail

An automated email system that notifies both hospitalists and PCPs about post-discharge test results can help ensure results don’t fall through the cracks.

Pediatric Hospital Medicine: Release the Ritual

Instead of throwing spaghetti against the wall, practice less-is-more medicine.

Ask Dr. Hospitalist: Dr. Hospitalist: Multiple Variables Factor into HM Compensation

How should compensation be determined for the physicians to staff hospitals?

President’s Column: Lost in Transition

It’s time we invest in patient-centric systems for transitional care.

From the Editor’s Desk: Quality, Defined

What hospitalists can learn from Potter Stewart.

Practice Management: Holdout Hospitals

Few U.S. hospitals operate without an HM service, but they do exist—for now.