Background: Prior research in the field of academic hospital medicine has described unique challenges to achieving promotion for academic hospitalists.  A consensus conference identified challenges for academic hospitalist success including alignment of hospitalists with clinical priorities that may not be recognized for academic advancement, inadequate infrastructure to promote success, and lack of national funding for [...]

Background: In the 2016 United States general election, only 58.6% of eligible voters cast ballots. Particularly among poor and elderly voters, poor health impedes electoral participation: nearly 42% of eligible voters over 65 years and 20% with an annual income below $50,000 cited illness or disability as reasons for not voting. Within 5 days of [...]

Background: Contrast-induced Nephropathy (CIN) is a major cause of mortality and morbidity among elderly patients. Its occurrence increases with the patient’s age. Elderly patients who suffer from impaired renal function constitute a large percentage of individuals at an increased risk of developing CIN. Several studies have shown the independent risk factors and prevalence of CIN [...]

Background: Moral distress, the inability to act in accordance with one’s ethical beliefs due to hierarchical or institutional constraints, has been associated with burnout and poorer well-being.  Significant moral distress amongst American physician trainees might occur when they feel obligated to provide treatments at the end of life that they believe to be futile or [...]

Background: Cirrhosis-related complications and resulting decompensation are associated with poor prognosis. Reducing the risk of cirrhosis-related complications is an important goal when managing patients with cirrhosis. Bacterial-derived endotoxins are hypothesized to be a major contributor to the development of many of these complications. Rifaximin, a nonsystemic antibiotic, is currently indicated as secondary prophylaxis for reducing [...]

Background: Clinical images are photographs that serve as succinct and memorable lessons. Importantly, patient right to privacy dictates appropriate consent be obtained prior to publication. Significant disagreement exists surrounding what makes a photograph identifiable, and thus, when consent is required. Variability in consent requirements makes preparation, submission and successful publication more difficult for authors.  We [...]

Background: One key factor cited in physician burnout discussion is the rigid block scheduling that has become ubiquitous for Hospital Medicine. For years, nursing has allowed self-scheduling to improve work life balance and abate burnout with good success per the literature. Recent commentary by leaders in Hospital Medicine has piqued the interest in further evaluation [...]

Background: New onset third degree or complete heart block (CHB) is a medical emergency and usually requires permanent pacemaker. CHB can be caused by cardiac ischemia or non-ischemic conditions such as infiltrative diseases or fibrosis. The purpose of this study was to analyze the clinical characteristics associated with ischemic versus non ischemic causes of complete [...]

Background: Studies have shown a direct relationship between patient satisfaction and patients following their physician’s recommendations which leads to favorable patient outcomes. While several physician and patient-specific characteristics have been found to be associated with patient satisfaction, the effect of patient’s spirituality on patient satisfaction with hospitalization has not been examined.  Methods: Hospitalized patients older [...]

Background: For most people, music serves as a calming influence or as a pleasurable stimulus that lifts their spirits. Hospitalized patients may experience boredom, fear, and unease while in the hospital, away from the comforts of home during their acute illness. In an attempt to both distract and cheer up hospitalized patients, we designed a [...]