Background: A specialized team to perform nonemergent invasive procedures is desired within hospitals Hospitalists are the ideal candidates to meet such demands. Because of the recent de‐emphasis by ABIM on proving manual proficiency of bedside procedures as a requisite for certification, there has been a steady decline in the number of physicians trained. These procedures […]

Background: Medicare observation stays are increasing nationally. Beneficiaries frequently hospitalized under observation, as well as those needing post-acute care skilled nursing facility coverage, may face increased financial burdens from these services. Patients living in the most disadvantaged neighborhoods have increased risk of inpatient 30-day re-admissions. It is not known whether neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage increases 30-day […]

Case Presentation: A 27‐year‐old woman, initially admitted to the inpatient psychiatry service for psychosis, progressed to catatonia, autonomic dysfunction, and respiratory failure requiring tracheostomy. Her medical history was significant solely for polysubstance abuse including methamphetamines. Her current illness was preceded by a self‐reported “influenza” 2 months prior to developing progressive behavioral changes, movement disorders, and […]

Background: Migraine headache (MHA) is a common pediatric disorder, which frequently leads to hospital admission. Inpatient MHA treatment involves ever-increasingly complex treatment plans, including fluid resuscitation and a variety of medications. Severe Migraine headache may require more aggressive therapy such as dihydroergotamine (DHE) and sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) block that may prolong hospital stay and increase […]

Case Presentation: A young African American man with no medical history presented with 4 months of progressive mid–low back pain along with 1 week of right leg and foot pain, numbness, and weakness. He described the back pain as dull and constant, with only slight improvement with ibuprofen. Family noted he had been walking “funny.” […]

Background: The designation of a patient as outpatient versus inpatient status at time of discharge affects how hospitals bill Medicare for services because the center for Medicaid and Medicare services (CMS) reimburses hospitals at a higher rate for inpatient when compared to outpatient designation(1). Since the fiscal year of 2014, one of the major benchmarks […]

Background: Measures to reduce hospital readmissions help to improve the quality of care patients receive, as well as reduce healthcare costs. The Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s Triple Aim of improving the quality of care through standardization, decreasing the cost of care by reducing hospital utilization, and patient-centeredness around transitions of care, resonate strongly with readmission […]

Case Presentation: A 30‐year‐old man originally from New Guinea presented to the hospital with two hours of palpitations associated with lightheadedness and diaphoresis. He had a similar presentation 10 years prior and was told there was an “abnormal bump in his heart” which required treatment with antibiotics. Since that hospitalization, the patient experienced brief episodes […]