Article
CMS Update to the Two-midnight Rule
August 1, 2024
Many are familiar with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) two-midnight rule, which was created in 2013 and distinguished between observation-appropriate and inpatient-appropriate...
Article
The Art and Science of Hospitalist Workloads: Designing and Implementing Evidence-Informed Strategies for Optimal Patient, Workforce, and Organizational Outcomes
July 1, 2024
This engaging strategy session was led by two passionate speakers committed to optimizing hospital operations while prioritizing the well-being of hospitalists. They delved into various challenges,...
Article
Coding Corner: Billing by Time
June 3, 2024
A 66-year-old man with a history of hypertension was admitted to the hospital with chest pain and shortness of breath. He was found to have an acute pulmonary embolism on CT pulmonary angiography...
Article
Coding Corner: Dazed and Confused
May 1, 2024
An 84-year-old woman with a history of dementia was admitted for worsening confusion over the last two days. Her initial workup in the emergency department is unremarkable including a normal...
Article
Tricky Transitions: How SNF Challenges Affect Hospitalists
May 1, 2024
With skilled nursing facing thin margins and high costs, many hospitalists are also struggling to transfer patients for the care they need from these types of facilities. This becomes a big...
Article
Demystifying Performance Measures for Hospitalists: HCAHPS
May 1, 2024
The Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey was first implemented by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to assess and compare performance on...
Article
Coding Corner: A Critical Opportunity
April 1, 2024
A 17-year-old with a history of major depressive disorder who is new to the hospitalist service is being transferred out of the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) after an intentional Benadryl...
Article
Main Causes of Costly Inappropriate Hospital Admissions are Premature Admission and the Potential for Outpatient Management
March 1, 2024
Clinical question: How prevalent and costly are inappropriate hospital admissions and are patients’ intrinsic risk factors (IRFs) or comorbidities associated with inappropriate hospital...
Article
Hospitalists Play a Leading Role in Responding to Mass-Casualty Incidents
March 1, 2024
Mass shootings. Bioterror attacks. Natural disasters. Wars. There’s seemingly no shortage of potential mass-casualty incidents (MCIs) that can lead health care professionals, including...
Article
How to Handle Medical Board Complaints and Investigations
February 1, 2024
First, a disclaimer: I am not an attorney, and this is not intended to be legal advice. Any specific questions or concerns you may have should be directed to your legal counsel. The recommendations...