In the News

New analyses differ on whether dabigatran raises MI risk

Two analyses published in the past week compared rates of myocardial infarction (MI) in patients taking dabigatran or warfarin and came to differing results.

In-hospital death rates paint different quality picture than 30-day death rates

Using in-hospital mortality rates to gauge hospital performance favors hospitals with shorter lengths of stay and provides a different picture than 30-day mortality rates, a new study found.

Chlorhexidine sponges save money in the ICU, analysis finds

Use of chlorhexidine-impregnated sponges for central venous and arterial catheters saves hospitals money by preventing infections, according to a new cost analysis.

Care improves for MI patients with COPD, but gaps in treatment remain

Care has improved for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who are hospitalized for acute myocardial infarction (MI), but they are still less likely to receive certain therapies than acute MI patients without COPD, according to a new study.

Cardiac complications are common in community-acquired pneumonia, study finds

Cardiac complications are frequently seen in patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and may increase short-term mortality, according to a new study.

The next issue of ACP Internist is online

The January issue of ACP Internist includes stories on politics and medicine and antidepressants in primary care, as well as a new column on framing risk and benefits of treatments.

ACP releases updated Ethics Manual

ACP has released the sixth edition of the Ethics Manual, published as a supplement with the Jan. 3 Annals of Internal Medicine.

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.