Background: Clinical decision making pathways (pathways) embedded within electronic medical record (EMR) systems are an innovative tool intended to assist providers in diagnosing and managing patient conditions. Pathways provide clinical decision trees with the ability access online risk score calculators and select orders for lab and imaging tests, medications, and consultations. Studies have shown that [...]

Background: Up to 18% of clinic patients are considered difficult by their providers. (1,2) Common characteristics of difficult outpatients are the presence of personality disorders, depression, anxiety, somatization and requesting pain medications. (1,2, 5) Two qualitative studies suggest that inpatient medicine providers also regularly experience hospitalized patients as difficult. (3,4) However, there have been no [...]