Invited Commentary

Commentary on “A Clinician’s Guide to Fecal Occult Blood Testing for Colorectal Cancer”

The 2015 Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database reports 132,700 new colon cancer cases in the United States, with 49,700 estimated deaths.1 Colon cancer is a potentially preventable disease as a result of its relatively indolent natural history, making it ideal for screening and intervention. According to the American College…

Original Article

Predictors of a Prolonged Length of Stay in Children with Perforated Appendicitis

Objectives: Little is known about the factors that affect the length of stay (LOS) of children hospitalized for perforated appendicitis. The objective of this study was to identify clinical and demographic factors associated with a prolonged LOS (PLOS) in children with perforated appendicitis. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted…

Review Article

A Clinician’s Guide to Fecal Occult Blood Testing for Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a significant healthcare issue, with substantial morbidity and mortality. Screening for CRC is essential in the prevention and treatment of this disease. The two most common CRC screening modalities are colonoscopy and the stoolbased occult blood test, with two types of stool-based occult blood tests: the…

Editorial

“I’m Dying, but I’m Not Dead Yet”: Patient Decisions About Dying and Death

Some years ago, my wife — an opthamologist with a large geriatric practice Y had a patient inform her that he had a terminal illness and not long to live. Being the empathetic physician she is, my wife inquired about his end-of-life planning. He indicated that he and his wife…

Original Article

Relation Between Physicians’ Work Lives and Happiness

Objectives: Although we know much about work-related physician burnout and the subsequent negative effects, we do not fully understand work-related physician wellness. Likewise, the relation of wellness and burnout to physician happiness is unclear. The purpose of this study was to examine how physician burnout and wellness contribute to happiness….

Original Article

Fingernail Carriage of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Possible Correlation with Soft Tissue Infections in Children

Objectives: Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a growing problem in the pediatric population, causing many soft tissue infections. This study was designed to examine fingernail carriage of MRSA in children and their caregivers as a possible link to community-associated MRSA soft tissue infections in children. Methods: We documented the…

Invited Commentary

Commentary on “Perceptions of Older Adults, Hematologists, and Medical Oncologists in Cancer Care”

Despite advancements in cancer care that have resulted in improved outcomes and improved quality of life, older cancer patients remain vulnerable. In particular, elderly cancer patients experience barriers to treatment decision making as a result of both physician-specific and patient-specific factors. From the perspective of perceptions of therapy, these factors…

Perspectives

A Systematic Evaluation of Factors Contributing to Overdiagnosis and Overtreatment

Overdiagnosis, in a true sense, is a type of misdiagnosis and occurs when an individual is told that he or she has a disease that he or she actually does not; it does not cause the person to experience symptoms or early death and may do more harm than benefit…

Original Article

Survey of Provider Transfusion Practices for Oncology Patients in an Academic Medical Center

Objectives: Hospitalized oncology patients receive care from a variety of professionals, each of whom plays a role in decisions related to blood transfusions. We sought to examine differences in transfusion practices based on professional role, years of experience, and patient clinical scenario. Methods: We surveyed general medicine residents, hospitalists, and…

Review Article

A Comprehensive Approach to the Patient at End of Life: Assessment of Multidimensional Suffering

Pain is a multidimensional, complex experience. There are many challenges in identifying and meeting the needs of patients experiencing pain. Evaluation of pain from a bio-psycho-social-spiritual framework is particularly germane for patients approaching the end of life. This review explores the relation between the psychospiritual dimensions of suffering and the…

Review Article

PROMISE of Coronary CT Angiography: Precise and Accurate Diagnosis and Prognosis in Coronary Artery Disease

Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is a rapidly growing and powerful diagnostic test that offers a great deal of precision with respect to diagnosing coronary artery disease (CAD). Guideline statements for patients with stable ischemic heart disease have recommended CCTA for only a limited portion of intermediaterisk patients who have…

Invited Commentary

Commentary on “Longitudinal Trends in the Prevalence of Diabetes Mellitus in an Urban Emergency Department”

As emergency medicine physicians, we often encounter patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). These patients present with a variety of continuing problems, including episodic hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia from medication errors (mostly oral agents), diabetic-related infections of the limbs, pain management problems caused by diabetic neuropathy, bladder dysfunction, blindness, and renal insufficiency.1,2 Diabetic…

Invited Commentary

Commentary on "Fingernail Carriage of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Possible Correlation with Soft Tissue Infections in Children"

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has received widespread attention both in the media and the medical literature in response to an escalating incidence of infections caused by this ‘‘superbug.’’ In the past MRSA infections were limited to patients in hospitals or other long-term care facilities (hospital-acquired MRSA); however, infections have been…

Original Article

Perceptions of Older Adults, Hematologists, and Medical Oncologists in Cancer Care

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess and compare the perceptions of hematologists, medical oncologists, cancer patients aged 65 years and older, and family members/caregivers regarding the value of a geriatric assessment (GA) in the management of older adults with cancer. Methods: Participants included adults with cancer aged…

Invited Commentary

Commentary on “Survival of Trauma Victims Transported by Helicopter Who Required CPR Within the First Hour of Hospital Arrival”

In early December 2015, a Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) flight crew was dispatched in California to transport a patient. The helicopter took off in inclement weather conditions–heavy rain and fog–and subsequently crashed. The pilot, paramedic, nurse, and patient aboard ultimately died. At this point we do not know the…

Original Article

Longitudinal Trends in the Prevalence of Diabetes Mellitus in an Urban Emergency Department

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the longitudinal trends in diabetes mellitus (DM) in emergency department (ED) patients and evaluate the factors associated with those trends. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of all patients who presented to the ED from 2006 to 2011. The presence of…

Original Article

Survival of Trauma Victims Transported by Helicopter Who Required Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Within the First Hour of Hospital Arrival

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to review the impact on survival of trauma victims who were transported via helicopter ambulance versus ground transportation and who received cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) within 1 hour of hospital arrival. Methods: A retrospective analysis of the trauma patients who underwent CPR within 1…

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