Journal of hospital medicine : an official publication of the Society of Hospital Medicine
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study
A comparison study of continuous insulin infusion protocols in the medical intensive care unit: computer-guided vs. standard column-based algorithms.
To compare the safety and efficacy of continuous insulin infusion (CII) via a computer-guided and a standard paper form protocol in a medical intensive care unit (ICU). ⋯ Both treatment algorithms resulted in significant improvement in glycemic control in critically ill patients in the medical ICU. The computer-based algorithm resulted in tighter glycemic control without an increased risk of hypoglycemic events compared to the standard paper protocol.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Patient readmissions, emergency visits, and adverse events after software-assisted discharge from hospital: cluster randomized trial.
One of the causes of postdischarge adverse events is poor discharge communication between hospital-based physicians, patients, and outpatient physicians. The value of hospital discharge software to improve communication and clinically relevant outcomes is unknown. ⋯ Discharge software with CPOE did not affect readmissions, emergency department visits, or adverse events after discharge. Future studies should assess other endpoints such as patient perceptions or physician perceptions to see if discharge software has value.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Patient and physician perceptions after software-assisted hospital discharge: cluster randomized trial.
Hospital discharge software potentially improves communication and clinical outcomes. ⋯ Discharge software with CPOE caused small improvements in discharge perceptions by patients and their outpatient physicians. These small improvements might balance the difficulty perceived by hospital physicians who used discharge software.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Reduction of 30-day postdischarge hospital readmission or emergency department (ED) visit rates in high-risk elderly medical patients through delivery of a targeted care bundle.
Care coordination has shown inconsistent results as a mechanism to reduce hospital readmission and postdischarge emergency department (ED) visit rates. ⋯ A targeted care bundle delivered to high-risk elderly inpatients decreased unplanned acute health care utilization up to 30 days following discharge. Dissipation of this effect by 60 days postdischarge defines reasonable expectations for analogous hospital-based educational interventions. Further research is needed regarding the impacts of similar care bundles in larger populations across a variety of inpatient settings.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effect of a hospitalist-care coordinator team on a nonteaching hospitalist service.
Although many hospitalists work with clinical coordinators, few studies have evaluated their impact. ⋯ Hospitalists working in a team approach with an HCC reported improved efficiency and job satisfaction compared with hospitalists working independently. These findings are important in light of growing concerns about hospitalist workload and job satisfaction.