Background: Management of the hospitalized cancer patient represents unique challenges: delivery of complex, specialized medical management to a growing population, compounded by intense scrutiny of patient preference and goals of care. Historically, these patients have been admitted to a subspecialist’s service, but many institutions have now transitioned to a hospitalist-driven care model. Limited research suggests […]

Background: Hyponatremia (HN), the most common electrolyte disorder of hospitalized patients, occurs in up to 14.5% of inpatients and is more frequent in the elderly and in patients with multiple comorbidities. HN is associated with a 1.47‐fold increased risk of in‐hospital death and with significantly higher mortality risk following discharge. Readmissions and utilization of health […]

Background: After discharge from an acute care hospitalization, cancer patients may choose to pursue rehabilitative care in a skilled nursing facility (SNF). Our objective was to examine receipt of anti-cancer therapy, death, readmission, and hospice use of cancer patients who discharge to a SNF compared to those who discharge home or home with home health […]

Background: At this 328‐bed hospital there were 8 hospitalists rounding on up to 9 units per day. This prevented efficient and effective communication with nurses, patients, and families. Physicians spent more than 30 minutes of travel time per day. Length of stay and census per physician were high; patient satisfaction was low. With a deadline […]

Background: Hospitalists, rather than primary oncologists, are increasingly caring for hospitalized patients with cancer. High medical acuity, complex psycho-social issues, rapidly evolving cancer treatments, advanced care planning, and end-of-life care make management of this patient population especially challenging. The impact of the oncology hospitalist model of care delivery on clinical quality and oncologists’ work satisfaction […]

Case Presentation: A 41‐year‐old white woman was evaluated in an outpatient clinic 4 hours after her friend observed that she had slurred speech and facial droop for 30–40 seconds that spontaneously resolved. She denied any other focal motor or sensory symptoms, headache, visual changes, loss of consciousness, or fall. She did not have any medical […]

Case Presentation: A 47‐year‐old man with a history of stroke presented after a fall without loss of consciousness. He reported increased thirst and urination as well as headaches without vision changes. Vital signs including orthostatics were normal, and physical exam was unremarkable. Visual fields were intact and there was no thyromegaly or skin abnormalities. Laboratory […]

Background: Patients with advanced cancer have high readmission rates, up to 27% in some studies, and represent unique challenges related to transitions of care, complex disease management, and care coordination. Recent efforts have focused on better identification of potentially avoidable readmissions (PARs). One study found that primary reasons for PARs in cancer patients included pre-mature […]

Case Presentation: We report a case of non‐syndromic familial thoracic aortic aneurysm and aortic dissection (FTAAD) discovered in a 31‐year‐old man presenting with heart failure secondary to a 9.5cm ascending aortic aneurysm. He underwent urgent aortic root and valve replacement. Surgery was successful and he has been recovering very well with physical therapy and cardiac […]

Case Presentation: Patient is a 64 male with a past medical history of coronary artery disease who was experiencing two months of syncopal episodes with increasing frequency. Associated with these episodes were instances where he would wake up at night, face flushed and diaphoretic. He would also note bradycardia to the 30’s. He had an […]