April 2010


Maria Ranin-Lay MD Diane S Pine ACP Member and Adrian Paraschiv MD of Hudson Valley Hospital Physicians Photo courtesy of Orange Regional Medical Center

Pay now, profit later

Initial training, whether it lasts a few days or a few weeks, can make a crucial difference in a hospitalist's long-term productivity and career satisfaction.

Q&A: Answering before the surgeon calls

Did seeing high-risk surgical patients early reduce complications and length of stay?.

Baffled by beta-blockers

For hospitalists weighing whether to prescribe a beta-blocker perioperatively, recent updated guidelines provide some helpful indications, but significant questions remain.

A matter of respect

Disruptive behavior is common in U.S. hospitals, according to a recent survey.

Telemetry unit initiative reduces ED crowding, smooths patient flow

Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta standardized admission and transfer criteria for its telemetry unit.

Seeing the whole picture

An internist sidesteps anchoring and availability to arrive at the correct diagnosis.

Letter from the Editor

For some hospitalist employers, letting a recruit jump right into a new job seems like the best way to learn. Others have found, however, that taking the time to orient new hospitalist colleagues to their work environment reaps dividends down the line.

Shorter physician work week reflects changes in activities

A shorter physician work week reflects changes in activities, one reader writes.

Ruppy: Teaching old dogs new tricks

By focusing on teamwork, communication, and strong relationships, successful collaboration between clinicians and other providers can be achieved.

Clear expectations make better doctors

It would be impossible to tell medical students all the things they need to know to succeed, but our columnist can think of a few easy signs to follow.

Noninvasive cardiac output monitoring

Our columnist describes the strengths and weaknesses of currently available minimally invasive monitors.

Respiratory failure in COPD patients

In some cases of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, it may be appropriate to assign a principal or secondary diagnosis of acute respiratory failure.

Test yourself: Preoperative evaluation

The following cases and commentary, which address preoperative evaluation, are excerpted from ACP's Medical Knowledge Self-Assessment Program (MKSAP14).

In the News

Physician errors, managing STEMI, and more.