Background: Consultation among providers is a foundation of modern health care and a very frequent means of interdisciplinary communication. Classifying consultation requests can facilitate clear communication between providers and across medical specialties, improve workflow, provider satisfaction and ultimately patient care. We previously proposed an organizing framework of 7 specific consultation types: ideal, obligatory, procedural, S.O.S., […]

Background: The importance of accurate patient care records for effective communication and medical education is well documented. However, medical documentation as a tool for financial compensation is not emphasized in graduate medical education. We performed a review and analysis of resident charting errors during inpatient rotations to determine the potential revenue loss and economic impact. […]

Background: The division of the hospital medicine at the University of Florida has 52 attending hospitalist physicians with an average daily census of 200 patients. On any given day, one physician carries 16 patients and practices direct care services. This includes chart review, placing orders, answering pages, coordinating with case managers, requesting consultations, rounding on […]

Background: It is universal practice to restrain incarcerated patients – regardless of age, illness, mobility, or pretrial status – with metal shackles during hospital stays without consideration for less restrictive alternatives. Globally, human rights and legal groups have voiced opposition to this shackling, citing numerous justice, ethics, and medical concerns relating to the practice. Healthcare […]