Background: The low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) might be protective in patients with sepsis. We sought to characterize potential association of hyperlipidemia (HLP) vs no HLP with all-cause mortality among patients hospitalized for pneumonia. Methods: This is a retrospective observational study. The initial cohort consisted of consecutive 8,553 adults hospitalized at a large academic center with [...]

Background: The substantial increase in medical knowledge along with the pursuit of enhanced outcomes and quality of care has led to significant subdivision of medical and surgical specialties. Physicians, regardless of level of training or scope of practice, should be able to efficiently and safely approach and manage a patient that is facing a medical [...]

Case Presentation: Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma (SSEH) is a hematoma that happens without an insult. Although a rare entity, it can result in spinal cord compression. Etiologies include anticoagulant therapies, coagulopathies, blood dyscrasias, pregnancy, and vascular malformations (1). We present a case of SSEH in the setting of heparin and clopidogrel use during a vascular [...]

Background: Rapid response teams play an important role in the care of clinically deteriorating patients. Variability in team members, setting, and activation criteria creates unique challenges to studying these teams. The complexities and inefficiencies of rapid responses due to their heterogeneity are poorly understood. Here, we explore opportunities for improved rapid response team efficiency using [...]

Background: Hospital medicine (HM) continues to be primarily composed of junior faculty and research has highlighted a paucity of mentors and academic output. Faculty advancement programs have been identified as a means to support junior faculty in their career trajectories and to advance the field. The optimal approach to supporting faculty development (FD) efforts is [...]

Background: With the widespread implementation of rapid response system aimed at improving patient outcomes, providers are expected to perform the early detection, manage clinically deteriorating patients, and communicate effectively with rapid response teams (RRTs). Prior literature has reported that users of RRT described uncomfortable interactions, reduced clinical autonomy, role ambiguity, and a desire for improved [...]

Background: There is evidence that significantly disruptive health events, such as hospitalizations, may increase patients’ receptiveness to interventions that lead to healthier lifestyle choices and medication adherence. For example, research has shown that hospitalizations are particularly effective settings for delivering some interventions aimed at preventing chronic disease morbidity, such as intervening on tobacco use. Additional [...]

Background: A Rapid Response (RR) Team is activated when there is an acute change in a patient’s condition. Rapid responses are called when certain criteria are met. A delay in activation of the rapid response or non-activation of the rapid response can be associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Goal 16 of the Joint Commission’s [...]

Background: As hospitalists often serve marginalized patients and have system-wide influence, hospital medicine is well positioned for promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ). While representational diversity may be tracked, inclusion can be harder to assess. As hospitalists engage in DEIJ efforts, it is important to understand what ‘success’ in inclusion looks like. We sought [...]

Background: Patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) are at significantly increased risk for both thrombosis and bleeding relative to those with normal renal function, which makes anticoagulation particularly challenging. Evidence suggests that rivaroxaban and dabigatran are associated with a higher risk of bleeding in ESRD patients. To date, no large national cohort studies have [...]