Background: Midlines are peripheral vascular devices inserted in the veins of the upper extremity with the tip located at or below the axillary vein. Greater appreciation of complications associated with peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC) and the diffusion of catheter appropriateness criteria has led to expanded use of these devices. However, single center studies comparing […]

Background: Urinary catheters, vascular catheters, and wounds such as pressure injuries are often hidden from view under gowns and sheets – out of sight, out of mind – contributing to prolonged catheter use, infections, delayed interventions, and diagnostic errors for symptoms (e.g., fever, delirium) related to catheters and wounds. We developed and pilot tested a […]

Background: Addressing the needs of the geriatric population is critical, as “baby boomers” comprise a larger proportion of hospitalized patients. Hospitalists increasingly care for these complex geriatric patients. The “BEERS Criteria” are evidence-based guidelines that encourage medication safety by describing potentially inappropriate and harmful medications (PIMS) among geriatric patients. BEERS guidelines recommend that with a […]

Background: Social isolation and loneliness (SI+L), two largely silent social determinants of health (SDOH), are associated with negative health outcomes such as the increased risk of cardiovascular disease, higher rates of depression, increased hospital readmissions, and increased use of healthcare services. SI+L are also common, with one in five US adults reporting feelings of SI […]

Background: Social isolation (SI) is a largely silent and unrecognized social determinant of health that has negative health outcomes, including increased mortality, depression, hospital readmissions, and emergency room visits. In addition, a recent study revealed that SI and loneliness (L) are self-reported as often as food and housing insecurity. While hospitals readily work on food […]

Case Presentation: A 63-year-old man with significant history of deceased donor transplant (18 months prior to presentation), hypertension, diabetes mellitus, who presented with two weeks of fevers and malaise. His other symptoms included drenching night sweats, shortness of breath, and diffuse pleuritic chest pain, however he denied cough. A recent exposure was a renovation of […]

Case Presentation: A 36-year old male with a history of paraplegia secondary to a motor vehicle accident and long-standing polysubstance abuse presents to the ED for worsening facial wounds that first appeared two years ago. The patient states the most recent lesion on the upper back appeared two months ago and was preceded by cocaine […]