Hospital Medicine

MDNG editorial board member Larry Chu, MD will cover the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show live via this page on HCPLive.com. Sign up below for a reminder to come back after 11:00AM (EST) on January 7.

It looks like 2010 is starting off with some changes in healthcare on the horizon – from a number of angles.

Several recent studies have demonstrated that text messaging can produce measurable clinical benefits such as improved glucose test rates and a decrease in acute liver rejection episodes.

Cardiologists at the Montreal Heart Institute www.icm-mhi.org recently successfully implanted in several patients a new type of cardiac pacemaker, the Accent RF, which uses wireless technology to allow patients to be remotely monitored.

I became a blogger 4 months ago, a gig that I find fascinating and refreshing. A place for me to vent, pontificate, and generally hold forth with a jaundiced view of my profession and the industrial Goliaths that support it.

This CME activity was created to assist physicians who treat atrial fibrillation to appropriately use evidence-based algorithms and treatment recommendations in the formulation of optimal management strategies for their patients.

A new study has resulted in the finding that a naturally occurring human protein can help prevent infection not only by H1N1, but by other viruses like West Nile and dengue.

Recent surveys have found that average wait times in US emergency departments are increasing. Several recently published studies have also looked at the effect of long wait times and/or overcrowding on quality of care and patient satisfaction.

We spoke with Dr. Kent Willyard about his experience using Epocrates since it was introduced to healthcare professionals.

Antibiotic treatment of otitis media may not be indicated to prevent mastoiditis, according to the results of a retrospective cohort study.

Sen. Joe Lieberman is officially working to block health care reform in the Congress; he especially desires de-postponing any kind of "health care reform" until the economy has recovered.

The International Psychopharmacology Algorithm Project (IPAP) offers several Web-based algorithms for the systematic treatment of major Axis I psychiatric disorders.

The American Lung Association created this collection of in-depth educational resources for patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension and their families and caregivers.

This online CME activity is designed for family physicians and primary care physicians who "are on the front line of recognition, diagnosis, and treatment of depression in the US."

University of Michigan researchers found that several coxibs interfere with aspirin's ability to discourage blood clots, if the aspirin is taken in low doses. Celebrex (celecoxib) is the only coxib currently on the market.

The University of Michigan Health System issued guidelines for the clinical care of adults with coronary artery disease in March 2009.

I watched a student reading her text from a hand-held device not too long ago in class, and wondered how she could read print that it fit such a small screen. Soon I'll find out for myself I've just been informed by a family member that a Nook is coming my way after the holidays.

This CME activity provides a detailed overview of key topics in influenza prevention and management.

Researchers at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School have developed a method for quickly determining volume of blood loss that is more accurate than the visual estimates currently used by many emergency medical technicians.

Patients with heart disease should also be tested for COPD, according to new research, as more than one quarter of patients with heart disease may also have COPD and not yet know it.

In 1904, the Scottish author Sir James Matthew Barrie sent Peter Pan off to Never-Never Land to escape growing up and to enjoy many-many adventures. As children, we all hoped it really existed. In truth, many of us fantasized, one day, to make the trip ourselves. Well, good news for physicians - that day has arrived!

In addition to promulgating standards of care regarding glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, which were discussed in part 1 of this series, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) has also outlined blood pressure goals. This report will review these blood pressure goals and discuss important components of the physical examination for diabetic patients, including eye and renal evaluations.

A new nuclear medicine technique may allow physicians to diagnose pneumonia-like symptoms with a urine test.

With regard to S. aureus pneumonia, these authors aimed to determine if beta-cyclodextrin derivatives were an effective treatment.

Study authors aimed to determine whether serum and salivary anti-BPI autoantibodies also appear in the course of acute pneumonia in 24 otherwise healthy children.

These researchers found that ethnicity is an important factor in identifying specific COPD genes.

Differences between ventilator-associated pneumonia and healthcare-associated pneumonia that were presented at the 2008 CHEST meeting are discussed in this activity.

This educational activity discusses the results of an April 2009 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine about proton-pump inhibitors and asthma control.

Diagnosis, treatment, and combination therapy of COPD are all covered in this CME activity.

This clinical trial aims to provide information, such as risk factors and etiology, about CAP.