Southern medical journal
-
The incidence of esophageal cancer (EC) is on the rise. With the distinct subtypes of adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma comes specific risk factors, and as a result, people of certain regions of the world can be more prone to a subtype. ⋯ This makes early detection of the utmost importance, and certain patients have been shown to have the benefit of screening/surveillance endoscopies, including those with Barrett's esophagus, lye-induced/caustic strictures, tylosis, and Peutz-Jeghers syndrome. Until treatments significantly improve, identifying EC at the earliest stage will have the best success for patient outcomes, and further elucidation of its pathogenesis and risk factors may lead to identifying other high-risk groups that should be screened.
-
Bedside manner, a doctor's deportment with a patient, encompasses all aspects of the patient interaction, including all verbal and nonverbal communication strategies. Bedside manner can be a powerful adjunct for healing. ⋯ Eight best bedside practices were identified by reviewing the literature, collecting the personal experiences of the authors, and consulting a group of attendings whom the authors regarded as exemplary clinicians. This inventory is presented with the goal of expanding clinicians' repertoire of best practices and encouraging explicit teaching of these practices to optimize care.
-
Southern medical journal · Mar 2021
Observational StudyEpidemiology, Clinical Features, and Outcomes of Hospitalized Adults with COVID-19: Early Experience from an Academic Medical Center in Mississippi.
To describe the demographics, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of hospitalized adults with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in an academic medical center in the southern United States. ⋯ Our study adds evidence that Black patients appear to be overrepresented in those hospitalized with and those who die from COVID-19, likely a manifestation of adverse social determinants of health. These findings should help guide preventive interventions targeting groups at higher risk of acquiring and developing severe COVID-19 disease.
-
Southern medical journal · Mar 2021
Loss of Meaning at Work Associated with Burnout Risk in Academic Medicine.
Meaning at work has been proposed as one of the key drivers of professional burnout in healthcare, but few studies have simultaneously measured this relation. ⋯ Work-related burnout was inversely proportional to reported meaning at work in an academic medical center.
-
Frailty is a dynamic condition that results in increased vulnerability to health stressors. Often associated with older adults, frailty is not limited to the geriatric population, although aging and disease burden often go hand in hand. This syndrome is recognized increasingly as an important factor in healthcare costs, rate of adverse outcomes, and overall resource utilization. ⋯ Cirrhosis is currently the 12th leading cause of death in the United States, and its incidence is anticipated to markedly increase in the coming years with the aging of our population. With the anticipated surge in disease prevalence, liver disease care will likely shift from specialist-driven to a multidisciplinary approach between primary care physicians, internists, and hepatologists to adequately care for these patients. This review serves as a guide for clinicians to learn about frailty, its role in cirrhosis, and the current tools to educate patients and families about the importance of nutrition and physical exercise within this population.