March 2007


At Howard County General Hospital in Columbia Md one medical emergency team includes from left hospitalist Kendra K Kay ACP Member respiratory therapist Cynthia Lilley and ICU nurse Karen Gme

Hospitals put rapid response systems into play

When Kendra K. Kay, ACP Member, joined Howard County General Hospital in Columbia, Md., as the medical director of its hospitalist program, she didn't realize that she and the rest of her hospitalist team were just what the staff developing a rapid response system were waiting for.

Saving money by giving care for free

At most hospitals, paying for medical care means handing over proof of insurance or a credit card. At The Caring Place in Allentown, Pa., it can mean reading to children, baking cookies or translating for other patients.

Hospital expansion trend brings challenges, opportunities

In a bid to improve profitability and extend their reach into underserved areas, many urban hospitals are looking to grow outside city limits.

Tips to creating a successful hospitalist program

New hospitalist programs are being developed rapidly; 2,000 programs in the 10 years since the concept was born.

Primer: Acute renal failure

Acute renal failure (ARF) may develop in response to decreased renal perfusion (prerenal ARF), obstruction (postrenal ARF) or intrinsic renal parenchymal injury (intrarenal ARF).

Acute renal failure

A 62-year-old woman with type 2 diabetes mellitus, cerebrovascular disease and chronic kidney disease develops nonoliguric acute renal failure after a left femoral—popliteal bypass... and other cases.

Highlights from ACP Journal Club

MODS assay better at detecting TB but poses challenges in developing countries, et al.