In the News
Coding change may explain half of reduction in readmissions seen under the HRRP
Either Medicare's Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP) had no effect on readmissions or it led to a systemwide reduction in readmissions, even in conditions and hospitals not targeted by the program, according to the authors of a new study.
Influenza vaccination administration during hospitalization appears to be safe
Compared with patients who were never vaccinated or were vaccinated at other times, those who received influenza vaccinations in the hospital had a lower risk of several outcomes, including readmissions, in the week after discharge.
ICU clinician education increased guideline compliance, decreased ICU brain dysfunction
A trial in the Netherlands required ICU nurses and physicians to complete two e-learning programs, one focused on delirium screening and the other focused on recommendations from the American College of Critical Care Medicine's 2013 guidelines on pain, agitation, and delirium.
Intervention reduced nighttime orders for vital signs, VTE prophylaxis
Two general-medicine units applied physician education and default order changes to improve patient sleep, but additional benefits were seen on the one unit that also targeted nursing staff, the single-center study found.
January issue is online and in the mail
This month's main story focuses on debates in sepsis care and ACP Hospitalist will hold a Twitter chat on the subject on Tuesday, Jan. 29, at 5 p.m. Eastern.
And the winner is …
ACP Hospitalist Weekly 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.