February 9, 2022
Dementia in the hospital
The pandemic added to the pre-existing systemic and legal challenges clinicians face managing hospitalized patients with dementia and behavioral disturbances.
Dementia
Distinguishing among the causes of dementia—including Alzheimer and Parkinson disease—is a clinical and coding imperative.
Hospitals vary in postdischarge info, care for patients with COVID-19
A survey found that 33 of 47 responding hospitals had created a postdischarge outpatient clinic specific to COVID-19. The clinics offered a range of testing and assessments for patients with post-acute sequelae of COVID-19.
Women hospitalists take more extended leave, but men adopt nontraditional schedules at similar rates
A survey of academic hospitalists found that 74.3% reported having made nontraditional work arrangements, with the most common reasons being birth or adoption of a child and burnout. More than a quarter had taken a leave of at least 30 days from their current job.
Rule developed for starting DOACs after stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation
Using a “1-2-3-4-day rule” to choose when to start direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs) based on stroke severity appeared to decrease risk for recurrent stroke or systemic embolism without increasing bleeding risk.
Computerized clinical decision support may help reduce unnecessary C. diff testing
A two-year cohort study of nine academic and six community hospitals in the U.S. found that testing for Clostridioides difficile decreased when the electronic health record stopped a clinician from proceeding with a test order if the patient had already been tested or had recently received laxatives.