Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Critical Care for March 2017. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal articles, as well as the FDA approvals and regulatory changes that are the most likely to affect clinical practice.
Vertical Integration Insurance Products of Higher Quality
FRIDAY, March 31, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Insurance products offered by hospitals and health systems, known as vertical integration, are generally of higher quality than other contracts, according to a study published in the March issue of Health Affairs.
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90 Percent of U.S. Physicians Satisfied With Career Choice
FRIDAY, March 31, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Nine out of 10 American doctors are happy with their choice of profession, even though they have some challenges, according to an American Medical Association (AMA) survey of 1,200 doctors, residents, and medical students, conducted in February.
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TV Ads for ACA Enrollment Linked to Decline in Uninsured Rates
TUESDAY, March 28, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- The volume of insurance advertisements during the first Affordable Care Act enrollment period correlated with change in uninsurance rates, with a higher volume of television advertisements linked to declines in uninsurance, according to a study published online March 15 in Health Affairs.
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ACP Issues Challenge to Cut Task Burden and Put Patients First
TUESDAY, March 28, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- In a position paper published online March 28 in the Annals of Internal Medicine, recommendations are presented to address the impact of administrative tasks and reduce the administrative burden on clinicians.
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Paid Malpractice Claims Cut in Half From 1992 to 2014 in U.S.
MONDAY, March 27, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- From 1992 to 2014 there was a decrease in the rate of malpractice claims paid on behalf of physicians in the United States, but mean compensation amounts increased, according to a study published online March 27 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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30-Day Mortality Down During Joint Commission Survey Weeks
THURSDAY, March 23, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Patients admitted to the hospital during The Joint Commission on-site inspections (surveys) have reduced mortality compared to that seen during non-survey weeks, according to research published online March 20 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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Black, Asian Medical Students Less Likely to Be AΩA Members
TUESDAY, March 21, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Black and Asian medical students are less likely to be members of the Alpha Omega Alpha (AΩA) honor society than white students, according to a study published online March 6 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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Shorter Length of Stay Tied to Earlier Readmission for Seniors
FRIDAY, March 17, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- For older patients discharged from the hospital to post-acute care (PAC) facilities, shorter length of hospital stay is associated with earlier readmission, according to a study published online March 3 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
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Thiamine May Reduce Progression to Renal Replacement Therapy
THURSDAY, March 16, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- For patients in septic shock, thiamine is associated with a lower rate of progression to renal replacement therapy (RRT), according to research published online Feb. 16 in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society.
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Clinical Decision Support System Use Tied to Fewer VTE Events
THURSDAY, March 16, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Use of computerized clinical decision support systems (CCDSSs) among surgical patients is associated with an increase in the rate of appropriate ordering of venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis and a decrease in the risk of VTE events, according to a review published online March 15 in JAMA Surgery.
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Women Underrepresented Among Grand Rounds Speakers
WEDNESDAY, March 15, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Women seem to be underrepresented among academic grand rounds (GR) speakers, according to a research letter published online March 6 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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Support for Health Law Up to 48 Percent in February
TUESDAY, March 14, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Support for the health law is increasing, with most Americans feeling that Medicaid should continue as it is today, according to a report published by Kaiser Health News.
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Higher Spending by Physicians Not Tied to Better Outcomes
MONDAY, March 13, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Medicare patients treated by higher-spending physicians are just as likely to be readmitted or die within 30 days of being admitted to the hospital as patients treated by doctors who order fewer or less-expensive tests and treatments, according to a study published online March 13 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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Postcode Stress, PTSD Seen After Unsuccessful Resuscitation
MONDAY, March 13, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Critical care nurses who experience unsuccessful cardiopulmonary resuscitation may experience moderate levels of postcode stress and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, according to a study published in the March issue of the American Journal of Critical Care.
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Republicans Introduce Affordable Care Act Replacement
TUESDAY, March 7, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- An initial Republican replacement for the Affordable Care Act was formally introduced in the House of Representatives on Monday.
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Most Health Care Providers Can Offer Cost Estimate
MONDAY, March 6, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Most provider organizations can offer a cost estimate, although few patients request one, according to a report published by Becker's Hospital CFO.
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Index Predicts 10-, 14-Year Mortality in Older Adults
MONDAY, March 6, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- An 11-factor index predicts 10- and 14-year mortality with excellent calibration and discrimination among community-dwelling U.S. adults aged ≥65 years, according to a study published online Feb. 21 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
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Quality Improvement Project Can Reduce Pediatric Head CT Use
MONDAY, March 6, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- A quality improvement (QI) project can decrease use of computed tomography (CT) in the emergency department for children with head injury, according to a study published online March 2 in Pediatrics.
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Judgement Bias in Medical Device Recall Decisions
FRIDAY, March 3, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- The characteristics of the signal in user feedback of adverse events associated with medical devices and the situated context of decision makers correlate with judgement bias in reacting to these adverse events, according to research published online Jan. 29 in Production and Operations Management.
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Hospital Floors May Be Breeding Ground for Superbugs
FRIDAY, March 3, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Hospital room floors may be more of an infection threat than many hospital staffers realize, according to a study published in the March 1 issue of the American Journal of Infection Control.
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Overall, 8.8 Percent of U.S. Population Uninsured in 2016
THURSDAY, March 2, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Overall, 8.8 percent of individuals of all ages were uninsured in the first nine months of 2016, which marked a nonsignificant reduction from 2015, according to a Feb. 14 report from the National Center for Health Statistics.
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Subdural Hematomas Rising Alongside Antithrombotic Use
WEDNESDAY, March 1, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Antithrombotic drug use is associated with increased risk of subdural hematoma, according to a study published in the Feb. 28 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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