I n the long journey toward becoming a doctor in the United States, the first day of medical school often is considered the starting point. The fact is that medical education begins long before that epochal event. Indeed, the first dedicated steps take place in college, with enrollment and successful…
Hurricane Matthew (Fig. 1) made landfall in the United States on October 8, 2016 near McClellanville, South Carolina, located just north of Charleston. The storm caused nearly $10 to $15 billion in damages along the southeast coastline, representing the 22nd most damaging storm in US history.1 The uncertainty regarding the…
Individuals with special healthcare needs have some of the highest morbidity and mortality rates during disasters. Efforts to triage, transport, shelter, or treat vulnerable populations often fail to take into consideration disabilities and social situations, including caregiver availability. Communication, medical care, independence, supervision, and transportation needs should be considered in…
As I write this introduction to the special series on disaster medicine in this issue of the Southern Medical Journal, I am struck by the fact that nearly 16 years have passed since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001—16 years! For those of us in the academic community who…
Objectives: Women with rare intrauterine contraception (IUC) failures are advised to have their IUC removed because of the risk of poor obstetric outcomes with a retained IUC. Specifics regarding IUC removal in early pregnancy including techniques for removal, rates of success, and immediate pregnancy outcomes following removal are not well…
Objectives: The Radiation Injury Treatment Network (RITN) comprises >50 centers across the United States that are poised to care for victims of a radiation emergency. The network is organized around bone marrow transplant centers because these facilities excel in both radiation medicine and the care of patients with severe bone…
The Southern Medical Journal extends its appreciation to guest editor Lancer A. Scott, MD, and his colleagues for the development of the special series on disaster medicine in this issue of the Journal. Dr Scott continues to be a strong advocate for the importance of continued assessment of and preparation…
Objectives: Polypharmacy is common among older patients and is linked to increased risk of adverse health outcomes. This study aimed to explore the association of polypharmacy and self-perceived health status (SPHS) among geriatric patients. Methods: This cross-sectional analysis of longitudinal observational research used national survey data from 2005–2008. Multivariate logistic…
Objectives: Training in disaster medicine and preparedness is minimal or absent in the curricula of many medical schools in the United States. Despite a 2003 joint recommendation by the Association of American Medical Colleges and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, few medical schools require disaster training for medical…
Objectives: Little is known about the personal readiness of hospital staff for disasters. As many as 30% of hospital staff say that they plan not to report for work during a large-scale disaster. We sought to understand the personal disaster preparedness for hospital staff. Methods: Surveys were distributed to the…
Objectives: Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality and is the most common nosocomial infection in the United States, with associated annual costs of approximately $3 billion. The epidemiology of CDI has changed with the identification of novel risk factors for incident and recurrent CDI….
Field disaster response typically is strenuous, difficult work, both physically and mentally.1–3 Although hard evidence is lacking, it may be inferred that responders lacking appropriate physical fitness are at increased risk of injury or compromising safety operations during a deployment.
Recognition of the acute coagulopathy of trauma and the limits of reconstituting whole blood with conventional blood components has led to a radical change in the way trauma patients with severe injuries are resuscitated. Massive transfusion protocols (MTP) have evolved toward the administration of conventional blood components in fixed ratios….
Objective: Children’s summer camps are at risk for multiple pediatric casualties during a disaster. The degree to which summer camps have instituted disaster preparedness is unknown. We assessed disaster preparedness among selected camps nationally for a range of disasters. Methods: We partnered with a national, web-based electronic health records system…
Objectives: Bedside rounds/rounding (BDR) is an important tool for patient-centered care and trainee education. This study aimed at understanding the attitudes toward BDR among residents and attending physicians. Methods: A survey was conducted using the Qualtrics survey tool. Responses were measured using a five-point Likert scale. Results: The survey was…
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