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Novel Rapid Response Team Can Decrease Non-ICU Cardiopulmonary Arrests, Mortality
July 1, 2015
Clinical question: Can novel configured rapid response teams (RRTs) improve non-ICU cardiopulmonary arrest (CPA) and overall hospital mortality rate? Background: RRTs are primarily executed in hospital settings to avert non-ICU CPA through early detection and intervention.
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Stroke Centers More Common Where Laws Encourage Them
June 26, 2015
State laws have played a big part in boosting the number of hospitals where specialized stroke care is available, a new study shows. During the study, the increase in the number of hospitals certified as primary stroke centers was more than twice as high in states with stroke legislation as in st
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New Tool Improves Harm Detection for Pediatric Inpatients
June 18, 2015
The newly developed Pediatric All-Cause Harm Measurement Tool (PACHMT) improved detection of harms in pediatric inpatients in a recent pilot study. Using the tool, researchers found a rate of 40 harms per 100 patients admitted, and at least one harm in nearly a quarter of the children in the stud
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Risk Stratification Insufficient for Predicting DVT in Hospitalized Patients: JAMA Internal Medicine Study
June 17, 2015
The Wells score is only slightly better than a coin toss for predicting deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in hospitalized patients, researchers have found. "The Wells score risk stratification is not sufficient to rule out DVT or influence management decisions in the inpatient setting," Dr. Patricia C.
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Startup Pharmacy Takes Mail-Order to Next Level, Could Solve Medication Management Issue for Millions
June 10, 2015
It only takes one idea to help change the face of medicine and, recently, Forbes posted an article outlining a small startup pharmacy that could change the way we get our medication.
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SIRS Criteria Could Identify More Patients with Severe Sepsis
June 8, 2015
Clinical question: Does inclusion of two or more SIRS criteria in the definition of severe sepsis accurately identify patients with higher mortality risk, as compared with patients with infection and organ failure but with fewer than two SIRS criteria? Background: SIRS describes dysregulation of
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Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole Use in Older Patients Taking Spironolactone
June 8, 2015
Clinical question: Does trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) increase the risk of sudden death in older patients taking spironolactone? Background: TMP-SMX increases the risk of hyperkalemia when used with spironolactone; however, previous studies have not examined whether the drug interaction
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Medicare Nonpayment for Hospital-Acquired Conditions May Have Reduced Infection Rates
June 8, 2015
Clinical question: What was the effect of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) nonpayment for hospital-acquired conditions? Background: In 2008, CMS implemented the Hospital-Acquired Conditions (HAC) initiative, denying incremental payment to hospitals for complications of hospit
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Peri-Operative Phlebotomy Might Cause Significant Blood Loss in Cardiac Surgery Patients
June 8, 2015
Clinical question: What are the frequency of laboratory testing, the average total blood volume drawn per patient, and the resulting transfusion utilization in patients undergoing cardiac surgery? Background: Healthcare providers seldom recognize the amount of phlebotomy, and, therefore, its cons
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Clostridium Difficile Infection Rates in the U.S. in 2011
June 8, 2015
Clinical question: What are the incidence, recurrence rate, and mortality rate of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in the U.S.