May 2008


Kenneth Irons MD with the pharma items collected at SDMC Health System

Hospitals tighten rules on gifts, meals, education from pharma

Some institutions, mainly academic medical centers, are taking a newer, hard-line approach to physicians’ relationships with pharma. Our cover story looks at some of these new policies as well as the potential impact of this growing movement.

Letter from the Editor

Drug companies and physicians often have had an uneasy relationship.

In the News

Hospital Medicine 2008; new rules from CMS.

Hospitalists implement disease management strategies

Some hospitals are seeing fewer readmissions for CHF, stroke and other conditions.

Managing pain in orthopedic patients takes awareness, finesse

Tips on using analgesics, opioids and the latest delivery methods.

Becoming a better ward attending

Two experts discuss 10 modifiable behaviors.

No signouts? No problem

A hospitalist program uses an innovative scheduling system to reduce handoffs.

Raising the bar on health care ratings sites

Raising the bar on health care ratings sites.

Deciding about CPR when a DNR order is confusing

Deciding about CPR when a DNR order is confusing.

Plenary sessions, new research are highlights at 37th Critical Care Congress

Plenary sessions, new research are highlights at 37th Critical Care Congress.

Clinicians and the care of sexual minorities

An excerpt from “The Fenway Guide to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Health,”� new from ACP Press.

Test yourself: Diagnosing and managing pain

Test yourself: Diagnosing and managing pain.

Journal Watch: Recent studies of note

Recent studies about ventilator allocation in disasters, MRSA screening, and other topics.