Background: Rapid recognition of deteriorating patients and efficient physician – nursing communication is essential for patient safety and improved health outcomes (1,2).  We conducted a pilot study at a tertiary care academic hospital in September, 2024 with intervention to improve communication between night physicians (nocturnists) and nurses (RN). Methods: At the study site, night shifts last from 7pm-7am [...]

Background: In the United States (US), obesity is associated with a high burden of morbidity and mortality, and its prevalence is increasing. A higher prevalence of obesity disproportionately impacts rural (vs. urban) areas and the Midwest and South (vs. West and Northeast) regions (1-2). In addition, obesity is linked with greater healthcare costs compared to [...]

Background: Background: Rapid response (RR) is a system in place to intervene when hospitalized patients experience acute deterioration in medical conditions.Problem Definition: Residents at LSU Shreveport/Monroe Family Medicine program have reported facing decision-making challenges and increased stress when called to manage rapid responses.Aim Statement: Enhance the rapid response management skills and confidence among the residents [...]

Background: Rapid Response Teams (RRTs), also known as medical emergency or patient response teams, are widely implemented in hospitals to improve patient outcomes. Existing literature demonstrates that RRTs reduce in-hospital mortality, cardiac arrest, and unplanned ICU admissions. However, less is known about the outcomes of patients transferred to the ICU following an RRT activation. At [...]

Background: The American Society of Hematology (ASH) advises against routine thrombophilia testing in hospitalized patients with new venous thromboembolism (VTE) due to the potential for inaccurate results during the acute phase of the disease. Thrombophilia testing is generally reserved for outpatient follow-up, once the acute event has resolved. However, testing may be appropriate in specific [...]

Background: Managing clinical deterioration in hospitalized patients is a major component of patient care. When medical students transition to residency, they are expected to manage patients who acutely decompensate in rapid response scenarios, often without dedicated training or exposure on their clerkship rotations. Simulation center training (SIM) has been utilized to help trainees recognize and [...]

Case Presentation: A 77-year-old man with spondylolisthesis, status post L4-S1 fusion surgery, presented for wound dehiscence and surgical site infection. He underwent incision and drainage with cultures growing S Epidermidis.  Given the patient’s medication allergies and intolerances, infectious diseases (ID) was consulted with plan for a 6-week course of daptomycin. Thirteen days into the treatment, [...]

Case Presentation: An 82-year-old female with history of dementia, hypertension, and diabetes, presented with nausea, 2 episodes of nonbilious vomiting, and generalized weakness for 1 day. She was hypotensive (73/52 mmHg) and hypoxic, requiring 4L nasal cannula oxygen to maintain saturations, but without any respiratory distress. Influenza and COVID testing was negative, but chest imaging [...]

Case Presentation: A 22-year-old female with PMH of TBI with resultant hydrocephalus s/p VP shunt placement and borderline personality disorder presented with three weeks of progressively worsening abdominal pain. She also reported a new onset of vaginal bleeding for 3 days, which was different from her usual amenorrhea secondary to IUD placement. The exam was [...]

Case Presentation: A 55-year-old male from Brooklyn, NY with insulin-dependent diabetes and dental abscess (s/p I&D 9 days prior) presented to an outside hospital with 3 days of fevers, headaches, persistent mouth pain, and altered mental status. He was transferred to our hospital on day 3 for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS) consultation. The patient’s [...]