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: Inpatient admissions for Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) represent a substantial economic burden within the US healthcare system with patients experiencing high rates of 30-day readmission and mortality. To more efficiently and effectively serve complex cardiovascular (CV) patients at a major cardiac care center, Intermountain Health created a dedicated CV hospitalist service which has expanded [...]

Background: The global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been profound, with significant disparities in infection and mortality rates, particularly in high-risk populations. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease that complicates patient management in the context of COVID-19, given the increased risk of infections and limited guidance on pharmacological management. Methods: This [...]

Background: One year all-cause mortality rates after a fragility fracture are as high as 24%. Treatment of osteoporosis following fracture reduces mortality, recurrent fractures rates, and healthcare costs. Without endocrinology involvement, clinicians often fail to recognize and treat osteoporosis. We aimed to assess the frequency of fragility hip fractures including recurrence rates at our academic [...]

Background: Mortality reviews are a cornerstone of patient safety and quality improvement efforts. Increasingly, electronic medical record and web-based tools are leveraged to identify gaps in quality of care through retrospective or real-time mortality reviews. However, studies have yet to compare results when utilizing both review methods in the same patient cohort. This study aims [...]

Background: Prolonged immobility during hospitalization is associated with development of hospital-associated disability (HAD) and physical deconditioning. Physical therapy (PT) is important for HAD treatment and prevention but is a constrained resource in most hospital settings and planned sessions can be difficult to complete. Missing planned PT sessions, known as “PT non-treatment”, may compromise patient’s functional [...]

Background: Kidney injury significantly reduces renal clearance, posing unique challenges for patients with type II diabetes, particularly those on insulin. This reduced clearance can lead to elevated insulin levels, increasing the risk of hypoglycemia and subsequent complications, which often extend the patient’s length of stay (LOS). Chronic kidney disease (CKD) itself is an independent risk [...]