March 2008


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A different kind of competency

Juan Lopez, a Hispanic man with limited English proficiency, is admitted to your hospital with severe abdominal pain. You think he needs surgery, but he insists that the pain is the result of a hex, and requests treatment from a witch doctor. How do you respond?.

Letter from the Editor

This month, we look at another trend rooted in patient-centered care: cultural competency.

In the News

HHS: Doctor-owned hospitals fall short on emergency care.

Paying by numbers

CMS's new MS-DRG codes require more precise diagnostic reporting.

Guiding perioperative care for bariatric surgery

Sleep apnea, diabetes among special concerns.

Listening in lieu of lecturing

Docs try motivational interviewing to change health behaviors.

Success Story: Dedicated MRSA unit cuts hospital costs and length of stay

Dedicated MRSA unit cuts hospital costs and length of stay.

New end-of-life guidelines help physicians fill gap in patient care

Donald E. Casey Jr., FACP, discusses new end-of-life guidelines.

A leader of philanthropy and a woman in medicine

Risa J. Lavizzo-Mourey, MACP: A leader of philanthropy and a woman in medicine.

Committee work can help your career, but be sure to choose wisely

Committee work can help your career, but be sure to choose wisely.

Focus on: Diagnosing pulmonary embolism

Focus on: Diagnosing pulmonary embolism.

Journal Watch

Recent studies about sepsis treatment, UTI prevention efforts, and other topics.