In the News

Most community hospitals experience drug shortages, delay treatment as result

Nearly all community hospitals experienced a shortage of one or more drugs in the first six months of 2011, and most had to delay treatment as a result, a new survey found.

Most hospital-based specialists work longer hours than physicians in ambulatory settings

Specialists who care for more acutely ill patients work longer hours than those who care for more stable, chronically ill patients—though hospitalists are an exception, a new analysis found.

Nonacute coronary syndrome inpatients with elevated troponin have higher mortality than ACS counterparts

Hospitalized patients with an elevated troponin level more often have a primary diagnosis that is not an acute coronary syndrome (ACS), and have poorer long-term survival and undergo fewer cardiac imaging studies than those with an ACS, a new study found.

Procalcitonin testing saves two days of antibiotic use

Using procalcitonin testing to guide antibiotic therapy reduces health care costs without affecting clinical outcomes or length of stay, according to a new meta-analysis.

Antipsychotics still frequently prescribed for Parkinson patients

Despite FDA warnings, more than half of patients with Parkinson disease and psychosis were prescribed an antipsychotic, a new study found.

Concentration and dosing of Tamiflu changed

The concentration of oseltamivir phosphate (Tamiflu) oral suspension has been reduced, and labels and dosing have changed accordingly, the FDA announced last week.

And the winner is…

ACP HospitalistWeekly has tallied the voting from its latest cartoon contest, where readers are invited to match wits against their peers to provide the most original and amusing caption.