Chest
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The concept of the accountable care organization (ACO) offers the opportunity to better integrate the health system into a value proposition aligned toward improved care, more efficient delivery, and higher patient satisfaction. As a significant component of health reform, the ACO has many implications for physicians. Physicians interested in joining ACOs have a variety of options, including forming their own, integrating (virtual or otherwise) with larger health systems, or joining multiple, existing ACOs. ⋯ Physicians will also need to embrace the "era of persuasion" with its underlying assumption that engaging patients and other physicians are as necessary as a proper diagnosis and treatment plan. As there is a wide array of options in the marketplace, providers must have a clear understanding of patient attribution, financial incentives, and quality metrics within any ACO agreement. Finally, the health-care system must acknowledge the difficulties associated with the pace of change itself and invest in resources to aid in the adaptive reserve of all components of the health-care system.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Sex, race, and the development of acute lung injury.
Prior studies suggest that mortality differs by sex and race in patients who develop acute lung injury (ALI). Whether differences in presentation account for these disparities remains unclear. We sought to determine whether sexual and racial differences exist in the rate of ALI development and ALI-related mortality after accounting for differences in clinical presentations. ⋯ Sex and race differences exist in the clinical presentation of patients at risk of developing ALI. After accounting for differences in presentation, there was no sex difference in ALI development and outcome. Black patients were less likely to develop ALI despite increased severity of illness on presentation.
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In 2008, lung cancer replaced liver cancer as the number one cause of death among people with malignant tumors in China. The registered lung cancer mortality rate increased by 464.84% in the past 3 decades, which imposes an enormous burden on patients, health-care professionals, and society. We performed a systematic review of the published data on lung cancer in China between 1990 and 2011 to analyze the incidence and mortality rates, economic burden, and risk factors of cancer and the effectiveness of interventions. ⋯ Continuous efforts should be concentrated on education of the general public regarding lung cancer to increase prevention and early detection. Specific interventions need to be implemented to reduce smoking rates and environmental risk factors. Standardized treatment protocols should be adapted in China.