News
Interdisciplinary Intervention Improves Medication Compliance, Not Blood Pressure or LDL-C Levels
October 27, 2014
Clinical question: Can intervention by pharmacists and physicians improve compliance to cardio-protective medications? Background: Adherence to cardio-protective medications in the year after hospitalization for acute coronary syndrome is poor. Study design: RCT. Setting: Four Department of
News
Colloids vs. Crystalloids for Critically Ill Patients Presenting with Hypovolemic Shock
October 27, 2014
Clinical question: In critically ill patients admitted to the ICU with hypovolemic shock, does the use of colloid for fluid resuscitation, compared with crystalloid, improve mortality? Background: The current Surviving Sepsis Campaign guidelines recommend crystalloids as the preferred fluid for r
News
“Triple Rule Outs” for Chest Pain: A Tool to Evaluate the Coronaries but Not Pulmonary Embolism or Aortic Dissection
October 27, 2014
Clinical question: How does “triple rule out” (TRO) computed tomographic (CT) angiography compare to other imaging modalities in evaluating coronary and other life-threatening etiologies of chest pain, such as pulmonary embolism (PE) and aortic dissection? Background: TRO CT angiography is a noni
News
Patients Prefer Inpatient Boarding to Emergency Department Boarding
October 27, 2014
Clinical question: Do patients who experience overcrowding and long waits in the emergency department (ED) prefer boarding within ED hallways or within inpatient medical unit hallways? Background: Boarding of admitted patients in EDs can be problematic, especially with regard to patient safety an
News
Benefit of Therapeutic Hypothermia after Cardiac Arrest Unclear
October 27, 2014
Clinical question: Does targeted hypothermia (33°C) after cardiac arrest confer benefits compared with targeted temperature management at 36°C? Background: Therapeutic hypothermia is a current recommendation in resuscitation guidelines after cardiac arrest.
News
Pre-Operative Beta Blockers May Benefit Some Cardiac Patients
October 27, 2014
Clinical question: In patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD) undergoing non-cardiac surgery, do pre-operative beta blockers reduce post-operative major cardiovascular events (MACE) or mortality at 30 days? Background: Peri-operative beta blocker use has become more restricted, as evidence abo
News
Facecards Improve Familiarity with Physician Names but Not Satisfaction
October 27, 2014
Clinical question: Do facecards improve patients’ familiarity with physicians and increase satisfaction, trust, and agreement with physicians? Background: Facecards can improve patients’ knowledge of names and roles of physicians, but their impact on other outcomes is unclear.
News
New Oral Anticoagulants Safe and Effective for Atrial Fibrillation Treatment
October 27, 2014
Clinical question: Is there a difference in efficacy and safety among new oral anticoagulants compared to warfarin in subgroups of patients with atrial fibrillation (Afib)? Background: Studies of new oral anticoagulants have demonstrated that these agents are at least as safe and effective as war
News
Sepsis Diagnoses Are Common in ED, but Many Septic Patients in the ED Do Not Receive Antibiotics
October 27, 2014
Clinical question: Has the frequency of sepsis rates, along with administration of antibiotics in U.S.
News
Multifaceted Discharge Interventions Reduce Rates of Pediatric Readmission and Post-Hospital ED Utilization
October 27, 2014
Clinical question: Do interventions at discharge reduce the rate of readmissions and post-hospitalization ED visits among pediatric patients? Background: Readmissions are a high-priority quality measure in both the adult and pediatric settings.