Tao Xu, MD
![1]() - News- Rates, predictors, and variability of interhospital transfers- November 7, 2017- Clinical question: What is the national frequency of interhospital transfers, and are there any patient or hospital factors that predict these transfers? 
![1]() - News- Rib fracture diagnosis in the panscan era- November 6, 2017- Clinical question: Do rib fractures observed on chest CT carry the same morbidity and mortality risk as those observed in chest radiograph? 
![1]() - News- Mortality risks associated with emergency admission during weekends and public holidays- November 3, 2017- Clinical question: What factors contribute to increased mortality in weekend hospital admissions? 
- News- D-Dimer Not Reliable Marker to Stop Anticoagulation Therapy- May 5, 2015- Clinical question: In patients with a first unprovoked VTE, is it safe to use a normalized D-dimer test to stop anticoagulation therapy? Background: The risk of VTE recurrence after stopping anticoagulation is higher in patients who have elevated D-dimer levels after treatment. 
- News- Noninvasive Ventilation Improves Outcomes for COPD Inpatients- May 5, 2015- Clinical question: Do patients hospitalized with acute COPD exacerbations have improved outcomes with noninvasive ventilation (NIV) compared to those treated with invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV)? Background: Previous studies have shown that in select patients, NIV has a mortality benefit ov 
- News- Bova Risk Model Predicts 30-Day Pulmonary Embolism-Related Complications- May 5, 2015- Clinical question: Can the Bova risk model stratify patients with acute PE into stages of increasing risk for 30-day pulmonary embolism (PE)-related complications? Background: The Bova score is based on four variables assessed at the time of PE diagnosis: heart rate, systolic blood pressure, card 
- News- Intracranial Bleeding Risk for Head Injury Patients on Warfarin- May 5, 2015- High bleeding rates reported for patients taking warfarin after minor, minimal head injuries 
- News- Enriched Nutritional Formulas Help Heal Pressure Ulcers- May 5, 2015- Arginine, zinc, antioxidant-supplemented formulas improve healing in malnourished patients 
- News- High-Volume Hospitals Have Higher Readmission Rates- May 5, 2015- Clinical question: Is there an association between hospital volume and hospital readmission rates? Background: There is an established association between high patient volume and reduced complications or mortality after surgical procedures; however, readmission represents a different type of qual 
- News- Hospital Testing Overuse Done to Reassure Patients, Families- May 5, 2015- Clinical Question: What is the extent of, and factors associated with, testing overuse in U.S. 

