SMJ // February 2018, Volume 111 - Issue 2

Original Article

Implementation of a New Guideline and Educational Sessions to Reduce Low-Value Continuous Pulse Oximetry Among Hospitalized Patients

Objectives: The use of continuous pulse oximetry (CPOX) is ubiquitous among hospitalized patients, despite limited evidence that it improves clinical outcomes. The objective of this study was to reduce the use of CPOX among hospitalized patients in the nonintensive care unit and nonprogressive care unit settings. Methods: This interventional trial…

Author Response

Authors’ Response

To the Editor: The letter to the editor from representatives of the American Association of Physician Assistants (AAPA) in response to our article ‘‘Improving Mental Health Services Through Physician Assistants: Legislation in Several Southern States’’ apparently argues that there are no significant financial risks associated with the utilization of physician…

Letter to the Editor

On “Improving Mental Health Services Through Physician Assistants: Legislation in Several Southern States”

To the Editor: The American Academy of Physician Assistants wishes to express concern regarding the article by Buchbinder and colleagues published in the April 2017 issue of the Southern Medical Journal.1

Original Article

Development and Implementation of an Inpatient Otolaryngology Consultation Service at an Academic Medical Center

Objectives: To design and implement a formal otolaryngology inpatient consultation service that improves satisfaction of consulting services, increases educational opportunities, improves the quality of patient care, and ensures sustainability after implementation. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study in a large academic medical center encompassing all inpatient otolaryngology service consultations…

Original Article

Hospital Readmission Rates Following AMI: Potential Interventions to Improve Efficiency

Objectives: Quality of care utilization measures for patients admitted to the hospital with an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) include length of stay (LOS) and 30-day readmission rates. Our aim was to test whether efforts resulting in reduced LOS in patients diagnosed as having AMI would result in a higher risk…

Review Article

History of Music Therapy and Its Contemporary Applications in Cardiovascular Diseases

Contrary to what is commonly believed, music therapy is an old cure, the use of which is lost in the mists of time. Music always has been perceived to have particular healing powers, and the entire history of civilization contains aspects that link music to physical and mental healing. It…

Invited Commentary

Commentary on “Development and Implementation of an Inpatient Otolaryngology Consultation Service at an Academic Medical Center”

Stewart and colleagues should be commended for their article in this issue of the Southern Medical Journal, which attempts to shed light on many unanswered questions regarding the roles of an inpatient consult service and advanced practice providers (APPs) in an academic institution.1

Original Article

Risk Factors for Failure in Complicated Intraabdominal Infections

Objectives: Approximately 20% of patients with complicated intraabdominal infections (cIAIs) fail therapy. The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors for clinical failure in patients with cIAIs. Methods: International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes for cIAIs were obtained to identify patients. Adult patients who received at least…

Original Article

Assessing Correlation of Residency Applicants’ Interview Dates With Likelihood of Matching

The timing of an interview in relation to the recruitment season does not appear to have an effect on the likelihood of an applicant matching into a particular program among 11 specialties.

Original Article

Vision Screening in Adults Across the Life Span

Vision screening is quick, inexpensive, and easily performed by ancillary staff, and it may provide the physician with useful additional information for treatment planning.

Review Article

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in the Treatment of Insomnia

Insomnia disorder is present in as much as 30% of the general adult population. Given the significant adverse effects of pharmacotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has been found to be an effective alternative in individuals with insomnia. CBT for insomnia (CBTi) encompasses sleep hygiene, stimulus control, sleep restriction, cognitive therapy,…

Original Article

Differences Between Snakebites with Concomitant Use of Alcohol or Drugs and Single Snakebites

Objectives: Published reports have suggested that the concurrent use of alcohol or drugs occurs among some snakebite victims, but no national assessment of such data exists. Methods: We used data from US poison control centers collected during telephone calls in calendar years 2000–2013 to compare snake envenomations with concomitant use…

Original Article

Association of Anemia with Outcomes of Acute Heart Failure

Objectives: Anemia is common in patients presenting with acute congestive heart failure (CHF); when hemoglobin (HGB) declines to low levels, it can result in worse outcomes. The aim of this study was to determine a level of HGB on admission or discharge that affects outcomes in patients with CHF and…

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