Background: After Libby Zion died tragically in a teaching hospital, much attention from the medical community, public and government, was directed at resident training and the number of hours worked consecutively. This marked a new era heralded by close scrutiny of the time residents spent in the hospital. Two dramatic reductions were mandated nationally by [...]

Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) affects about 100,000 people in the US. The disease causes significant mortality, morbidity and frequent hospitalizations secondary to primary manifestations of the disease and its complications. We conducted a retrospective, single institution study in adult patients (pts), ≥ 18 years with SCD to assess factors associated with health care utilization [...]

Background: As of December 2015, 49 states initiated the CMS mandated legislation on “Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs.” Yet opiates continue to be commonly prescribed in older adults, despite their well-known risks. This study aims to determine patterns of opiate prescribing, specifically in hospitalized older adults and their impact on outcomes. Methods: This one year retrospective [...]

Background: Increased asthma and obesity prevalence are independently associated with health disparities.  This study sought to examine the relationship between these two conditions, particularly within the pediatric population at a major inner city teaching hospital. Methods: Patients aged 3 to 18 with a diagnosis of bronchial asthma and at least one hospital encounter for an [...]

Background: Cardiac readmissions are an ever expanding burden spanning from patients, to hospitals, all the way up to the national healthcare system. Currently, there is a lack of consensus regarding appropriate inpatient screening tests for identifying patients at high risk for readmission, as well as peri-hospitalization disease management regimens aiming to prevent readmissions. Our clinical [...]