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July 2009
Featured Articles
Cover Story
Hospital medicine around the world
The field is catching on in several countries outside the U.S., Canada and Europe. Although the health care systems and situations may differ, supporters’ reasons for wanting hospital medicine to flourish there are often the same, and the barriers are often similar, as well.
Hospital Medicine 2009
On the front lines of aortic dissection
A leading cardiologist explains why hospitalists are key to improving long-term outcomes.
Caring for the pregnant patient
Every hospitalist is likely to encounter a pregnant patient during his or her career and needs to be versed in the diagnosis and treatment of hypertension, preeclampsia, asthma, venous thromboembolism and diabetes.
Improving handoffs through better communication
Research has shown that speakers systematically overestimate how well their messages are understood by listeners, and assume a listener has all the same knowledge they do. Verbal updates and read-backs can help.
Accurate coding improves payments, quality ratings
Accurate coding has a significant impact not only on a hospital or practice’s finances but also on quality ratings, as Medicare’s new coding system increasingly is being used to profile hospitals and physicians.
Web exclusive: Looking for a hospitalist? Be prepared, proactive
An expert explains his three cardinal rules of recruiting.
Mindful medicine
Start at the top to get to the bottom of a diagnosis
Our columnists explain the “top down” or “working forward” approach.
Perspectives
Letter from the editor
Hospital medicine is fairly well established in the U.S., Canada, and Europe, but in other countries the field is just getting started. These fledgling movements face familiar challenges, such as concerns about continuity of care, and unique obstacles, such as an income divide between physicians at public and private hospitals.
Newman’s notions
A leap forward
Life was fairly dull on Ganymede-13. I sat in my small bungalow on the edge of a vast forest of genetically engineered bamboo, looking at several foot-long segments of the plant.
Your Practice
Coding Corner
Coding cardiac conditions
Acute coronary syndrome is a very popular diagnosis frequently documented when a patient presents to the hospital with chest pain thought to be cardiac in origin. For accurate coding, physicians should document unstable angina or acute myocardial infarction.
Quality Corner
Measure of the month: Prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia
In accordance with a law passed by Congress late in 2006, physicians and other eligible professionals are able to receive bonus payments of a percentage (increased to 2%) of their total allowed Medicare charges, subject to a cap, by submitting information for defined quality measures.
Clinical Medicine
Test yourself
Acute kidney injury
The following cases and commentary, which address infectious diseases, are excerpted from ACP’s Medical Knowledge Self-Assessment Program (MKSAP14).
FDA update
Digoxin, Biosite Triage Cardiac Panel, insulin pumps recalled
Drug recalls, warnings, approvals.
Research news
Journal watch
Recent studies of note.
In the news
Behavior changes trigger drop in MRSA rates, and more.
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Hospitalist Archives
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ACP Hospitalist Weekly
From the September 1, 2010 edition
- Statin prescriptions at discharge increasing in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage
- Black and low-income patients more likely to leave hospital against medical advice, be readmitted
Cartoon Caption Contest
This issue's winning cartoon caption was submitted by Patricia J. Peterson, FACP, in practice in Longview, Wash., who will receive a $50 gift certificate good toward any ACP product, program or service. Thanks to all who voted!
"Did you say you were a little horse? Or a little hoarse?"
ACP Career Connection
Looking for a new hospitalist position?
ACP Career Connection can help you find your next job in hospital medicine. Search hospitalist positions nationwide that suit your criteria and preferences. Jobs are posted about two weeks before print publication of Annals of Internal Medicine, ACP Internist, and ACP Hospitalist. Exclusive “Online Direct” opportunities are updated weekly. Check us out online.
Register Now For Your ACP Fall Chapter Meeting
Attend your fall chapter meeting, earn CME credit, and find out what your local ACP Chapter has to offer! See the Chapter calendar or find out more, including the answers to frequently asked questions about ACP Chapters and regions.
Test Your Medical Knowledge on Your Mobile Device with ACP’s Doctor's Dilemma™ Game!
This new online game is based on the popular ACP Doctor's Dilemma™ Competition from ACP’s annual Internal Medicine meetings. The game is simple to play but challenging to master. Start now!