Home Critical Care June 2018 Briefing – Critical Care

June 2018 Briefing – Critical Care

Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Critical Care for June 2018. 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.

Practice Management Can Improve Efficiency

FRIDAY, June 29, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Providers can take practical steps to improve practice efficiency and increase insurance reimbursement, according to an article published in Dermatology Times.

Nitric Oxide Cuts Kidney Injury After Long Cardiac Surgery

FRIDAY, June 29, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Nitric oxide gas may lead to a reduction in the incidence of acute kidney injury and an improvement in long-term kidney function in patients undergoing multiple valve replacement and prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass, according to a study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

Initial Outcomes No Worse for Surgical ICU Patients With CA

FRIDAY, June 29, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Surgical patients who are admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and have cancer do not have worse initial outcomes than those without cancer, according to a study published online June 27 in JAMA Surgery.

AMA Calls for Electronic Health Record Training

FRIDAY, June 29, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The American Medical Association (AMA) is calling on medical schools and residency programs to incorporate electronic health record (EHR) training into their curricula.

Penicillin Allergy Linked to MRSA, C. Difficile Risk

THURSDAY, June 28, 2018 (HealthDay News) — There is a correlation for documented penicillin allergy with increased risk of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Clostridium difficile, which is mediated by increased use of β-lactam alternative antibiotics, according to a study published online June 27 in the BMJ.

Health Care Technology Impacts Younger Patient Satisfaction

THURSDAY, June 28, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Health care communication technology is a determinant of patient satisfaction in younger patients, according to a report published by Black Book Market Research LLC.

Azithromycin Cuts Pulmonary Exacerbation in CF With Early Pa

WEDNESDAY, June 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For children with cystic fibrosis (CF) and early Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pa) infection, the risk of pulmonary exacerbation is significantly reduced with the addition of azithromycin to tobramycin inhalation solution (TIS), according to a study published online June 11 in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

Decline in Medicare Patients Who Die in Acute Care Hospitals

WEDNESDAY, June 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries were less likely to die in acute care hospitals in 2015 than in 2000, according to a study published online June 25 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

AMA Adopts Ethical Guidance on Medical Tourism

TUESDAY, June 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The American Medical Association (AMA) recently adopted new ethical guidelines on medical tourism to help physicians understand their responsibilities when interacting with patients who seek or have received medical care outside the United States.

For Pediatric Patients, Wearable Cardioverter Defibrillator Safe

TUESDAY, June 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For pediatric patients with ventricular arrhythmias at risk for sudden cardiac death (SCD), a wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) seems safe and effective, according to a review published online June 26 in Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology.

AMA: Docs Declare Drug Shortages Public Health Emergency

MONDAY, June 25, 2018 (HealthDay News) — At the annual meeting of the American Medical Association (AMA), physicians adopted policy declaring drug shortages an urgent public health crisis.

Considerable Costs Associated With Switching EHR

TUESDAY, June 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Switching electronic health record (EHR) systems can result in increased efficiency and productivity gains, but there are significant costs associated with the switch, according to an article published in Medical Economics.

Increased Risk of MI, Ischemic Stroke After COPD Exacerbation

TUESDAY, June 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), acute exacerbations are associated with increased risk of myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke, according to a study published online May 3 in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society.

Algorithm Predicts Very Low Blood Pressure During Surgery

TUESDAY, June 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A machine-learning algorithm can predict hypotension during surgery based on high-fidelity arterial pressure waveform analysis, according to a study published online June 11 in Anesthesiology.

Pharmacologic Tx Should Be Used Sparingly for Reflux in Preemies

TUESDAY, June 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Conservative measures to control reflux have limited effect on signs of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) in preterm infants, and pharmacologic treatments should be used sparingly, according to a clinical report published online June 18 in Pediatrics.

AMA Vows to Improve Access for Docs Seeking Mental Health Care

MONDAY, June 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The American Medical Association (AMA) recently adopted a policy aimed at improving physician access to mental health care in response to physician depression, burnout, and suicide.

ICU Telemedicine Reduces Interhospital Transfers in VHA

MONDAY, June 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Intensive care unit (ICU) telemedicine is associated with a reduction in ICU patient interhospital transfers, according to a study published online June 15 in CHEST.

Walk Test IDs Risk of Cognitive Dysfunction Post Cardiac Surgery

FRIDAY, June 15, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The six-minute walk distance (6MWD) test is useful in identifying patients with a higher likelihood of developing postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) following cardiac surgery, according to a study published online May 9 in the Annals of Thoracic Surgery.

AMA President Calls Physicians to Lead in Addressing Gun Violence

THURSDAY, June 14, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The issue of gun violence must be addressed by the physician leadership scientifically, in an evidence-based manner, according to remarks issued by the president of the American Medical Association (AMA) at the organization’s annual meeting.

CDC: Preterm Births Increased in United States During 2014-2016

WEDNESDAY, June 13, 2018 (HealthDay News) — During 2014 to 2016, the rate of preterm births in the United States increased, according to a June data brief published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).

Older Age, ICU, Poor Renal Fcn Up Risk of Opioid OD in Hospital

TUESDAY, June 12, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Risk factors for opioid overdose among hospitalized patients include being age 65 years or older, being in an intensive care unit (ICU), and having renal impairment, according to a study published online May 23 in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics.

How Do Business Partner Data Breaches Affect Your Practice?

TUESDAY, June 12, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Data breaches affecting health care systems or their partners need to be addressed quickly, according to an article published in Medical Economics.

Active Failures Seen in Proper Use of Personal Protective Equipment

TUESDAY, June 12, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Active failures frequently occur in infectious agent transmission-based precautions, including personal protective equipment (PPE) use, according to a study published online June 11 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

Medicaid Expansion Ups Access to Rehab in Young Adults With Injury

FRIDAY, June 8, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For young adults hospitalized for injury, the first year of implementation of Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act correlated with significant increases in Medicaid coverage, reductions in lack of insurance, and increases in discharge to rehabilitation, according to a study published online June 6 in JAMA Surgery.

Case Volume Affects Mortality for Immunosuppressed With Sepsis

FRIDAY, June 8, 2018 (HealthDay News) — At hospitals with the lowest volume of immunosuppressed patients with sepsis, the risk of death from sepsis due to a suppressed immune state is highest, according to a study published online June 1 in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society.

Respiratory Pathogens May Up Treatment Failure Risk in Asthma

THURSDAY, June 7, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Respiratory pathogens are associated with increased risk of treatment failure in children with asthma exacerbations, according to a study published online June 4 in Pediatrics.

Online Consumer Ratings of Physicians Tend to Be Skewed

WEDNESDAY, June 6, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Online physician reviews tend to be skewed positively, according to a study published in the May issue of the Journal of Medical Internet Research.

CDC: Prevalence of No Insurance Varies by Occupational Groups

WEDNESDAY, June 6, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The prevalence of being uninsured varies by occupational groups, according to research published in the June 1 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Similar Primary Outcome for Lower O2 Sat in Extreme Preterm

TUESDAY, June 5, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Different target ranges for oxygen saturation as measured by pulse oximetry (SpO2) do not affect the composite primary outcome of death or major disability for extremely preterm infants, according to research published in the June 5 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Post-Hurricane Deaths in Puerto Rico Underestimated

TUESDAY, June 5, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The actual number of deaths related to Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico in 2016 is likely more than 70 times the official government estimate of 64, according to a study published online May 29 in the New England Journal of Medicine.

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