Clin Med
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Multicenter Study
Deciding when physicians are unfit to practise: an analysis of responsibilities, policy and practice in 11 European Union member states.
In 1974, the European Economic Community established mutual recognition of medical qualifications obtained in any of its member states. Subsequently, a series of directives has elaborated on the initial provisions, with the most recent enacted in 2013. However, greater movement of physicians across borders and some high-profile scandals have raised questions about how to prevent a physician sanctioned in one country from simply moving to another, without undermining the principle of free movement. ⋯ However, some key features, such as the involvement of professional peers in disciplinary panels and the involvement of courts in criminal cases, are similar in most member states studied. Given the variation in the regulatory context, individuals and processes involved that is illustrated by our findings, a common understanding of definitions of what constitutes competence to practise, its impairment and its potential impact on patient safety becomes particularly important. Public disclosure of disciplinary outcomes is already applied by some member states, but additional measures should be considered to protect medical professionals from undue consequences.
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The cost of intravenous insulin infusion to the NHS is unknown. The aim of this study was to estimate the direct cost of insulin infusions to the NHS in England and Wales in the first 24-hour period of infusion. ⋯ In this study, the direct costs of intravenous insulin infusions to the NHS in England and Wales have been estimated to vary from £6.4-8.5 million in the first 24-hour period on infusion. More appropriate use of these infusions could result in substantial cost savings.
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Multicenter Study
Surveillance for hepatocellular carcinoma in a mixed-aetiology UK cohort with cirrhosis: does α-fetoprotein still have a role?
Mortality from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in people with cirrhosis is increasing whereas mortality from other causes is declining. Surveillance appears to reduce mortality but the optimal strategy is uncertain. Current guidelines differ by recommending ultrasonography alone or with α-fetoprotein (αFP). ⋯ Given that αFP use is associated with identifying smaller HCCs and that several diagnoses would have been delayed without αFP in this real-life cohort, these data support ongoing αFP use. However, further work is necessary with regard to whether αFP translates into improved clinical outcome and overall cost effects. In our area, stopping αFP use would also represent a significant change in practice.
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Multicenter Study
Obesity: a window of opportunity to intervene? Characteristics and management of morbidly obese adult inpatients in three trusts in Southern England.
Obesity affects 22% of men and 24% of women over the age of 16 years in the general population of the UK and is associated with multiple comorbidities. Little is known about the magnitude of the obesity problem among hospitalised adults and, although significant focus has been given to the identification and treatment of the malnourished inpatient, it is not known to what extent obese inpatients are equally -targeted. National guidelines for consideration of bariatric surgery exist, but it is not known to what extent potentially eligible individuals are referred. ⋯ This was more marked among orthopaedic patients and all-comers to intensive care units than on medical or surgical wards. Of those with BMI ≥35 kg/m(2), only 21% had been reviewed by dietetics and only 10% of patients who were potentially eligible for bariatric surgery had been referred to bariatric services. This study shows that there is an opportunity to recognise obesity and intervene in its management during hospital admission.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Getting the basics right: delays in phlebotomy and intravenous cannulation: a survey of foundation year 1 doctors.
Junior doctors frequently experience delays in routine ward-based procedures. There is little published data on this subject, but it is clear that such delays can have implications in terms of costs, efficiency, length of patient stay, team working and patient safety and experience. We formulated an anonymous online survey to quantify the experiences of foundation year 1 (FY1) doctors with respect to phlebotomy services and intravenous (IV) cannulation. ⋯ For IV cannulation, 21% of doctors reported equipment availability as 'very good', but only 3% said that they were able to find all of the pieces of equipment they needed close to each other ('essentially in the same place'). Similar results were obtained for phlebotomy. Nevertheless, there appears to be significant room for improvement and we offer recommendations to address delays.