News
Treatment of Patients with Atrial Fibrillation, Low CHA2DS2-VASc Scores
June 8, 2015
Clinical question: Is anticoagulation beneficial for patients with atrial fibrillation (Afib) and low CHA2DS2-VASc score (0 for men, 1 for women) or for those with one additional stroke risk factor? Background: Guidelines nearly universally recommend anticoagulation for patients with a CHA2DS2-VA
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Research Review: Ticagrelor for Post-Myocardial Infarction
June 8, 2015
Clinical question: Is ticagrelor for secondary prevention indicated for more than one year after myocardial infarction (MI)? Background: The efficacy and safety of ticagrelor combined with low-dose aspirin more than one year after MI for secondary prevention has not previously been established.
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No Advantage to Routine Thrombectomy Prior to Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for STEMI
June 3, 2015
Clinical question: Does the use of routine thrombectomy for patients presenting with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction improve outcomes? Bottom line: For patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), the rout
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Temporary IVC Filter Added to Anticoagulation Does Not Decrease Pulmonary Embolism Recurrence Risk
June 3, 2015
Clinical question: Does the insertion of a retrievable inferior vena cava filter in addition to anticoagulation prevent the recurrence of pulmonary embolism in high-risk patients? Bottom line: For patients with pulmonary embolism (PE) who are at high risk of recurrence or who have poor cardiopulm
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Healthcare Industry Agents of Change Promote Responsible Spending
June 1, 2015
1 Caring Wisely Program http://healthvalue.ucsf.edu/caring-wisely Started in 2012 within the division of hospital medicine at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), the program sponsored or collaborated on six high-value care projects within its first year.
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Consider ACO Participation As Medicare Weighs Changes to Shared Savings Program
June 1, 2015
In December 2014, nearly three years since its launch, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the first proposed rule changes to the Shared Savings Program.
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Hospitals’ Uncompensated Costs Estimated at $27.3 Billion in 2014
June 1, 2015
The estimated total amount of uncompensated costs incurred by hospitals in 2014 was $27.3 billion, which is $7.4 billion, or 21 percent, less than uncompensated hospital care would have been in 2014 at 2013 levels, before Accountable Care Act Medicaid coverage provisions took effect.
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Quality Data Dashboards Provide Performance Feedback to Physicians
June 1, 2015
A best-of-research plenary presentation at HM15 in National Harbor, Md., described a project to link physicians’ schedules to the electronic health record (EHR) in order to provide real-time, individualized performance feedback on key quality improvement and value metrics. The abstract’s lead aut
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Why Physicians Override Best Practice Alerts
June 1, 2015
Research published earlier this year in the Journal of Hospital Medicine finds that rationales offered by physicians for overriding interruptive, computerized best practice alerts (BPAs) regarding whether or not to give blood transfusions vary widely, including specialty service protocolized behavio
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Hospitals with Hotel-Like Amenities Don’t Improve Satisfaction Scores
June 1, 2015
Hospital design may not contribute to patients’ satisfaction with the care given by their hospital professionals, according to new research from Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, published in the Journal of Hospital Medicine.