by Paul Rega, MD — published on January 11th, 2012
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/03/nyregion/nowhere-to-go-patients-linger-in-hospitals-at-a-high-cost.html?_r=1&nl=nyregion&emc=ura1
NYT
January 2, 2012
Nowhere to Go, Patients Linger in Hospitals, at a High Cost
“Hundreds of patients have been languishing for months or even years in New York City hospitals, despite being well enough to be sent home or to nursing centers for less-expensive care, because they are illegal immigrants or lack sufficient insurance or appropriate housing.
As a result, hospitals are absorbing the bill for millions of dollars in unreimbursed expenses annually while the patients, trapped in bureaucratic limbo, are sometimes deprived of services that could be provided elsewhere at a small fraction of the cost…..”
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by Paul Rega, MD — published on January 9th, 2012
http://www.ems1.com/ems-news/1211731-man-steals-ambulance-to-drive-himself-to-fla-hospital/
EMS1
13News, 1/1/12
TAMPA, Fla. — “The suspect who allegedly stole an ambulance in Tampa on Thursday night told officers he had been attacked and was driving himself to the hospital…..”
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by Paul Rega, MD — published on January 7th, 2012
by Paul Rega, MD — published on January 6th, 2012
http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm283520.htm
FDA NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: Dec. 13, 2011
Media Inquiries: Erica Jefferson, 301-796-4988, erica.jefferson@fda.hhs.gov �
Consumer Inquiries: 888-INFO-FDA
FDA permits marketing of the first hand-held device to aid in the detection of bleeding in the skull
Helps to determine if immediate CT scan is needed
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today allowed marketing of the first hand-held device intended to aid in the detection of life-threatening bleeding in the skull called intracranial hematomas, using near-infrared spectroscopy.
The device, called the Infrascanner Model 1000, can help health care providers identify patients with critical head injuries who need an immediate brain imaging study.
Intracranial hematomas occur when blood from a ruptured blood vessel collects within the brain or between the skull and the brain. As blood expands within the brain or in the narrow…
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by Paul Rega, MD — published on January 6th, 2012
Simultaneous T-Wave Inversions in Anterior and Inferior Leads: An Uncommon Sign
of Pulmonary Embolism
Published online: 06 December 2011
Michael D. Witting, Amal Mattu, Robert Rogers, Christian Halvorson
DOI: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2011.07.026
Journal of Emergency Medicine, The, http://www.jem-journal.com/article/S0736-4679%2811%2900903-6/abstract
Simultaneous T-wave inversions in anterior and inferior leads were associated with PE but are seen in only 4–11% of cases.
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by Paul Rega, MD — published on December 31st, 2011
Massive Pulmonary Embolism with Acute Coronary Syndrome-like Electrocardiogram
Mimicking Acute Left Main Coronary Artery Obstruction
Published online: 06 December 2011
Paolo Ciliberti, Claudio Rapezzi, Caterina Villani, Giuseppe Boriani
DOI: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2011.03.037
Journal of Emergency Medicine, The,
http://www.jem-journal.com/article/S0736-4679%2811%2900891-2/abstract
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by Paul Rega, MD — published on December 22nd, 2011
Weinberger DM, Simonsen L, Jordan R, et al. Impact of the 2009 influenza pandemic on pneumococcal pneumonia hospitalizations in the United States. J Infect Dis 2011 Dec 7
http://jid.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2011/12/07/infdis.jir749.abstract
The 2009 influenza pandemic had a significant impact on the rate of pneumococcal pneumonia hospitalizations, with the magnitude of this effect varying between age groups and states, mirroring observed variations in influenza activity.
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by Paul Rega, MD — published on December 18th, 2011
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/239274.php
MNT
Magnetic Stimulation Of Brain For Stroke Recovery
“…..The study, published in Neurology……explains the use of transcranial magnetic stimulation, a treatment that involves placing large electromagnetic coils against the scalp. It creates electrical currents that stimulate nerve cells….The research so far has only involved 20 people, with…..hemispatial neglect…….
10 patients were treated for two weeks, while the other 10 received a placebo treatment. Tests on those who did not receive the real treatment showed little improvement, while those who underwent the real magnetic stimulation had a 16% improvement at the end of the two weeks and a 22% improvement two weeks later……”
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by Paul Rega, MD — published on December 15th, 2011
http://www.healthleadersmedia.com/page-1/QUA-274180/Immediate-Jeopardy-14-CA-Hospitals-Fined-850000##
Immediate Jeopardy: 14 CA Hospitals Fined $850,000
Cheryl Clark, for HealthLeaders Media, December 12, 2011
Another 14 California hospitals have been ordered to pay fines totaling $850,000 in the latest round of medical errors involving immediate jeopardy to patients………
These incidents include seven retained foreign objects, including a 2.5 cm temporary pin used in a woman’s spine surgery……..
Other incidents that placed patients in immediate jeopardy of harm or death included a “Code Pink,” in which a newborn was abducted from a labor and delivery unit despite the use of a bracelet designed to signal an alarm if an infant is taken from the area; a morphine overdose which resulted in a patient’s death; and the administration of “compromised” medications and vaccines, which were incorrectly refrigerated to freezing temperatures,…
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by Paul Rega, MD — published on December 15th, 2011
http://www.medpagetoday.com/Gastroenterology/ColonCancer/30182?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=WC&eun=g380841d0r&userid=380841&email=ndmsmd@aol.com&mu_id=
By Shalmali Pal, Contributing Editor, MedPage Today
Published: December 12, 2011
“The incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) among adults younger than 50 has increased by 2.1% in the past decade, according to results from a study of the National Cancer Database.
“The median age for young-onset CRCs was 44 years, with most (75.2%) occurring between ages 40 and 49 years…..”
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by Paul Rega, MD — published on December 15th, 2011
IV Access Difficulty: Incidence and Delays in an Urban Emergency Department
Published online: 05 December 2011
Michael D. Witting
DOI: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2011.07.030
Journal of Emergency Medicine, The, http://www.jem-journal.com/article/S0736-4679%2811%2900907-3/abstract
In an urban, tertiary care ED, mild and moderate IVAD (Intravenous access difficulty) was common and led to mild delays, but severe IVAD, requiring a physician, caused substantial delays.
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by Paul Rega, MD — published on December 13th, 2011
Acute Meningitis Prognosis Using Cerebrospinal Fluid Interleukin-6 Levels
Published online: 06 December 2011
Vázquez Jorge Alejandro, Adducci Maria del Carmen, Coll Carlos, Godoy Monzón
Daniel, Kenneth V. Iserson
DOI: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2011.07.029
Journal of Emergency Medicine
http://www.jem-journal.com/article/S0736-4679%2811%2900906-1/abstract
In patients with acute bacterial meningitis, CSF cytokine concentrations are elevated. Measuring CSF inflammatory cytokine levels in patients with acute meningitis could be a valuable ED diagnostic tool. Using this tool could improve the prognosis of patients with bacterial meningitis by allowing more rapid initiation of antibiotic treatment.
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by Paul Rega, MD — published on December 12th, 2011
http://yourlife.usatoday.com/health/healthcare/story/2011-12-07/Crowded-ERs-help-urgent-care-centers-thrive/51721010/1
Crowded ERs help urgent care centers thrive
By Phil Galewitz, Kaiser Health News
“….Across the U.S., an estimated 3 million patients visit these centers each week, according to the Urgent Care Association of America, a trade group based in Chicago. To meet demand, the number of facilities has increased from 8,000 in 2008 to more than 9,200 this year, the association said. About 600 urgent centers opened this year……Urgent care centers’ fees are at least half those charged at a hospital emergency department for the same condition, although they are similar to what physicians charge for office visits……
About half of the facilities are owned by doctors, according to the urgent care association and 28% are hospital-owned, the American Hospital Association reports…….”
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by Paul Rega, MD — published on December 9th, 2011
http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/ASHP/30046
ASHP: Pharm Residency Improves Care, Cuts Costs
Weant K, Baker S “Effect of residency training on clinical activities in an emergency department” ASHP 2011; Abstract 3-094.
By Nancy Walsh, Staff Writer, MedPage Today
Published: December 07, 2011
At the 2011 American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP):
“…..The society recommended in 2008 that pharmacy services should be available to all emergency departments, and the Institute of Medicine and the Joint Commission also have weighed in on the importance of having clinical pharmacists integrated into ED care…….”
“…….[There was] a retrospective analysis of clinical pharmacists’ activities among patients admitted to the University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center from October 2008 to October 2010.
The hospital is a level 1 trauma center with a 65-bed emergency department that treats some 65,000 patients each year.
Two pharmacists are assigned…
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by Paul Rega, MD — published on December 4th, 2011
http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/ct-x-1130-rush-tour-20111130,0,6874154.story
Chicago Tribune
New Rush hospital designed to treat infectious threats
Tower has features to address bioterrorism, deadly pandemic
By Bonnie Miller Rubin, Chicago Tribune reporter
November 30, 2011
“‘……The ambulance bays can convert into a large decontamination room. A surveillance system can track disease as it spreads across the city. Pillars in the gleaming new lobby look plain enough, but they’re equipped with hidden panels for easy access to oxygen and other gases.
Before patients can be moved there in January, hundreds of staff must be trained on all-new equipment — from a state-of-the-art patient lift to a trash chute that travels at 60 mph…..Still, it was the new ability to potentially handle a pandemic that was the most compelling aspect of the tour — and something that couldn’t have been…
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