Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Critical Care for June 2017. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal articles, as well as the FDA approvals and regulatory changes that are the most likely to affect clinical practice.
Doctors Urged to Take Care With Electronic Communications
THURSDAY, June 29, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Care should be taken when conveying electronic messages to patients, according to a report published by the American Medical Association (AMA).
Health of the Nation Presented in 40th Annual CDC Report
THURSDAY, June 29, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The health of the United States is summarized in the 40th annual report published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
ACA Health Insurance Expansion Tied to Fewer Cardiac Arrests
THURSDAY, June 29, 2017 (HealthDay News) — A dramatic decrease in cardiac arrest has occurred among Oregon residents who gained access to health insurance through the Affordable Care Act (ACA), according to a study published online June 28 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
Shift Work May Affect the Body’s Ability to Repair DNA Damage
TUESDAY, June 27, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Capacity to repair everyday damage to cell DNA could be impaired in people who work the night shift, which may be due to melatonin suppression, according to a study published online June 26 in Occupational & Environmental Medicine.
More Racial Disparity With Medicare Advantage
MONDAY, June 26, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Medicare Advantage is associated with more racial disparity than traditional Medicare for hospital readmissions, according to a study published online June 21 in Health Affairs.
Protective Association Identified for Asthma Against Sepsis
THURSDAY, June 22, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For patients with infections, those with asthma have reduced risk of sepsis, according to a letter to the editor published online May 22 in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
1991-2014 Saw Minimal Change in Health Spending Per State
THURSDAY, June 22, 2017 (HealthDay News) — From 1991 to 2014 there was minimal change in health spending by state, according to a study published online June 14 in Health Affairs.
Head Positioning May Not Be Key to Acute Stroke Outcome
THURSDAY, June 22, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Head positioning does not appear to affect survival and recovery in acute ischemic stroke patients, according to a study published in the June 22 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Sharp Rise Among Women for Opioid-Related Hospitalizations
WEDNESDAY, June 21, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Opioid-related hospitalizations among women in the United States increased far faster than among men between 2005 and 2014, according to the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).
Early Loop Diuretic Tx Tied to Lower Mortality in Heart Failure
WEDNESDAY, June 21, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For patients with acute heart failure, early treatment with loop diuretics is associated with lower in-hospital mortality, according to a study published online June 19 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Diabetic Ketoacidosis Poses Fetal Risk During/After Event
WEDNESDAY, June 21, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) during pregnancy poses risk for the fetus during and after the event, according to research published online June 12 in Diabetes Care.
Support for Financial Penalties Up With Emphasis on Patient Harms
TUESDAY, June 20, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Physicians who receive information about patient harms are more likely to support financial penalties targeting inappropriate antibiotic prescribing, according to a research letter published online June 20 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
20 Percent of Hospital Patients Have Side Effects From Abx Rx
FRIDAY, June 16, 2017 (HealthDay News) — About 20 percent of U.S. hospital patients who receive antibiotics experience side effects from the drugs, according to research published online June 12 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Economic Burden of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Up Sharply
THURSDAY, June 15, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Rates of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) have risen dramatically in recent years — and so has the cost of treating it, according to a study published online June 14 in Addiction.
Limited Change With Hospital Value-Based Purchasing Program
WEDNESDAY, June 14, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The Hospital Value-Based Purchasing (HVBP) program, started in 2013, has not improved clinical-process and patient-experience measures, according to a study published in the June 15 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Case Report: Hyperammonemia to Be Considered in Cirrhosis Setting
TUESDAY, June 13, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Severe hyperammonemia, resulting from ammonia that accumulates in stored blood products, should be considered in the setting of cirrhosis, according to a case report published online June 13 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Medical Students Lacking Proficiency in BP Measurements
MONDAY, June 12, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Medical students frequently do not achieve mastery of the skills necessary for accurate measurement of blood pressure (BP), according to a study published online April 28 in the Journal of Clinical Hypertension.
Review: Depression Screening As Inpatient Important, Feasible
MONDAY, June 12, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Depression affects about one-third of hospital patients and could slow their recovery, according to research published recently in the Journal of Hospital Medicine.
Reporting Tool Shows Impact of Attacks on Health Care in Syria
FRIDAY, June 9, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Results from a real-time reporting tool have shown the impact of attacks on health care services in Syria, according to an article published online June 8 in The Lancet.
New Bill With Tort Reforms Will Protect Iowa Physicians
FRIDAY, June 9, 2017 (HealthDay News) — A new bill with tort reforms to protect Iowa physicians will take effect July 1, according to a report published by the American Medical Association (AMA).
Type of Hospital Doesn’t Impact Thrombolysis Outcomes in Stroke
FRIDAY, June 9, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For older adults with acute stroke, treatment with intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) is associated with similar outcomes, irrespective of hospital characteristics, according to a study published online June 2 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
U.S. Leads in Income-Based Health Care Inequalities
THURSDAY, June 8, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The United States has larger income-related differences in perceptions of health and health care than other middle- and high-income countries, according to a report published in the June issue of Health Affairs.
Drop in Admission for Aspiration Pneumonia From 2002 to 2012
THURSDAY, June 8, 2017 (HealthDay News) — From 2002 to 2012 there was a decrease in the incidence of admission for aspiration pneumonia, according to research published in the June 1 issue of the Annals of the American Thoracic Society.
CDC: Legionella Present in Hospital, Nursing Home Plumbing
WEDNESDAY, June 7, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Legionella has been found in the water systems of hospitals, nursing homes and long-term care facilities, putting the most vulnerable patients at risk, U.S. health officials said Tuesday.
Inpatient Progress Note Content Often Cut and Pasted
WEDNESDAY, June 7, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Less than 20 percent of progress note content is entered manually by medical students, residents, and direct care hospitalists, according to a research letter published online May 30 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Stroke Risk Elevated in Elderly Patients With Cirrhosis
TUESDAY, June 6, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Cirrhosis may raise older patients’ odds for a stroke, particularly hemorrhagic stroke, according to a study published online June 5 in JAMA Neurology.
CDC: 14 in California Poisoned by Amanita phalloides Mushrooms
MONDAY, June 5, 2017 (HealthDay News) — A bumper crop of Amanita phalloides (“death cap”) mushrooms in northern California is likely to blame for the poisonings of 14 people in December, according to research published in the June 2 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Costs Associated With U.S. Adult Bicycle Crashes Steadily Rising
FRIDAY, June 2, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Adult bike crashes cost an estimated $24.4 billion a year in the United States, with costs steadily rising by an average of $789 million per year, according to a study published online June 1 in Injury Prevention.
2011 to 2014 Saw Increase in Use of High-Intensity Statins After MI
FRIDAY, June 2, 2017 (HealthDay News) — From 2011 to 2014 there was an increase in the use of high-intensity statins following hospitalization for myocardial infarction (MI), according to a study published in the June 6 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Cool Water Works As Well As Hot for Ridding Hands of Germs
FRIDAY, June 2, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For effective hand hygiene, water temperature matters less than time, according to a study published in the June issue of the Journal of Food Protection.
β-Blocker Use Not Linked to Reduced Mortality After AMI
THURSDAY, June 1, 2017 (HealthDay News) — β-blocker use is not associated with reduced mortality after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) without heart failure or left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD), according to a study published in the June 6 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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