March 8, 2023
Earning what you're worth
Median hospitalist compensation is up by nearly 8% since the end of 2020, even if it feels like inflation is negating those gains. Experts offered tips on making more without burning out.
E/M coding changes for hospitalists
In 2023, history and physical examination are no longer an element in selection of the level of service for evaluation and management (E/M).
Acute chest pain in women vs. men treated differently across the care spectrum
A cohort study in Australia found that women with acute chest pain were less likely than men to receive guideline-directed care across most measures, including transport to the hospital, prehospital administration of aspirin or analgesia, and 12-lead electrocardiogram.
Hydrochlorothiazide no better than placebo for preventing kidney stone recurrence
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in Switzerland found that patients with a history of recurring kidney stones were no less likely to experience symptomatic or radiologic recurrence with hydrochlorothiazide versus placebo.
Opt-out tobacco cessation treatment before discharge was well-received, study finds
Hospital patients who were randomized to automatically receive nicotine replacement therapy and postdischarge medication and counseling calls unless they opted out were more likely to participate and abstain from tobacco than those who had to opt in to these interventions.
Water purifier tied to nosocomial infections in cardiac surgery patients
A water purifier that removed chlorine from municipal water probably caused colonization of ice and water machines with Mycobacterium abscessus in part of an academic hospital, likely contributing to the deaths of three cardiac surgery patients.