February 16, 2022
Racism in the record?
Two authors discuss their recent study finding that Black patients were twice as likely as White patients to be described with negative words in their history and physical notes, particularly in inpatient records.
There will be (less) blood
A new patient blood management program reduced transfusions, length of stay, and cost at one hospital.
Less than a quarter of patients hospitalized with CAP tested for influenza
Data gathered from 179 U.S. hospitals in 2010-2015 also indicated that hospitalized patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) who did get tested for flu and were positive were more likely to receive antiviral treatment and shorter courses of antibiotics.
AHA recommends five core elements to improve management of in-hospital stroke
A new scientific statement from the American Heart Association calls on hospitals to deliver stroke training to all staff, create rapid response teams, standardize evaluation, address treatment barriers, and conduct quality oversight.
New studies on combating COVID-19 clusters, conserving oxygen, and using telehealth
Enhanced precautions and daily testing helped one hospital stop omicron spreading through its units. A small Belgian trial found benefit from a double-trunk or surgical mask over low-flow nasal cannulas. Community hospitals varied in their use of telehealth for inpatients.
Metformin during hospitalization associated with improved outcomes in type 2 diabetes and sepsis
In a retrospective cohort study in Pennsylvania, adults with type 2 diabetes and sepsis who were exposed to metformin during hospitalization had lower 90-day mortality and better kidney outcomes than those who did not.