Articles tagged with Medical Facilities
An online reporting system facilitated identification of unprofessional behaviors toward trainees and increased awareness of the medical center's commitment to creating a safe learning environment. The study highlights the importance of proactive measures in preventing mistreatment and promoting a culture of respect and professionalism.
Researchers developed a spreadsheet tool to analyze large comment samples and identify themes within patient comments. The HCP Review Comment Analysis Tool allows providers to easily analyze patient comments and identify actionable measures of patient satisfaction, providing insights into specific actions by healthcare practitioners.
A new study by Rutgers researchers found that young people treated for sleep disorders with benzodiazepines like Xanax may be at a higher risk of overdose. The study examined over 90,000 newly prescribed benzodiazepine patients and found an increased risk of overdose compared to other prescription sleep medications.
The American College of Physicians recommends policies to improve healthcare access and quality for incarcerated patients, including adequate funding and timely access to necessary services. The organization also supports treating substance use disorders as an alternative to incarceration.
A retrospective study found that tumor hyaluronan levels are associated with improved time to progression in non-small cell lung cancer patients. HA-high tumors showed a trend towards improved clinical benefit, suggesting its potential as a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target.
The University of Missouri has earned an $8 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to expand its National Swine Resource and Research Center. The center will support research using genetically modified pigs to study human diseases, with a focus on therapies that can be translated from pig models to humans.
Only half of European hospitals have a policy in place to identify children who are being neglected or abused. Hospitals with such policies use effective strategies like screening tools and staff training. However, many staff lack the necessary tools and knowledge to spot maltreated children.
A new report from a joint task force recommends improved access to interventional radiologists in small and rural areas. The task force focused on strategies for recruitment and retention, including training opportunities, financial models, and community development.
The American College of Physicians recommends increasing funding for health services and prioritizing health promotion in Indigenous communities. Community-driven public policy is also necessary to address historical trauma, social determinants of health, and inadequate access to healthcare services.
A new study published in PLOS Medicine found that Medicare eligibility at age 65 is associated with significant improvements in health care access and financial strain for low-income adults. The study also found modest effects on higher-income adults, suggesting that lowering the age of Medicare eligibility could advance health equity ...
A new study found that certain pre-existing conditions have a more significant impact on COVID-19 outcomes than previously thought. Researchers developed a novel prediction model, PDeathDx, which outperformed conventional models and identified degenerative neurological diseases, dementia, and severe disabilities as major risk factors.
The TTUHSC team will provide no-cost colorectal cancer screening and colonoscopies to underinsured and uninsured people living in South Plains region counties. The FIT-STOP program aims to find signs of early-stage colorectal cancer to prevent treatment needs, leveraging existing relationships with partners.
The Leducq Foundation has awarded $7.5 million to UVA researchers, led by Mete Civelek, to investigate sex differences in atherosclerosis and $8 million to Coleen McNamara to advance immunotherapy for cardiovascular disease. These projects aim to improve understanding of heart disease and develop new treatments.
A new scoring tool prioritizes countries with higher vaccination rates and vulnerable populations, aiming to allocate Covid-19 vaccines more fairly. The tool considers a broader range of factors than current global COVAX facilities, which have been criticized for insufficient access.
A prospective study found that patient decision aids improve patients' self-perceived understanding of image-guided procedures and satisfaction with the consent conversation. Patients who received a PDA before their visit reported significantly greater understanding and felt more listened to by their clinician.
The contrast-enhanced in-phase Dixon sequence demonstrated higher sensitivity and reader confidence for detecting breast biopsy clips on MRI. The sequence also showed a higher contrast-to-noise ratio without affecting positive predictive value.
A new USC analysis found that the largest Medicare Advantage plans pay 27% more for outpatient dialysis treatment compared to traditional Medicare. This significant markup is attributed to the consolidation of the dialysis industry, with two large chains supplying over three-quarters of all dialysis services in the US.
A US study found that health facilities in metropolitan areas with a high proportion of Black citizens were less likely to administer COVID-19 vaccines, indicating potential vaccine access barriers. The study suggests disparities in vaccine distribution across the country.
A Dartmouth-led research team will assess the effectiveness of visit information provided to older adult patients and caregivers in improving quality of life. The CHRONICLE Trial aims to determine whether audio recordings or written summaries are more effective in sharing healthcare visit information.
A new study from Tel Aviv University found a promising treatment for long-term COVID-19 symptoms using Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT). Patients treated with HBOT showed significant improvement in cognitive function, attention, and executive functions.
A University of Ottawa-led team has developed an AI-based deep learning model to identify cystic hygroma, a rare and life-threatening disorder, from first-trimester ultrasound scans with high sensitivity and specificity. The approach may be applied to other fetal anomalies identified by ultrasonography.
A study of 1,300 patients found most thyroid cancers are discovered in asymptomatic individuals, supporting the hypothesis of ongoing subclinical disease detection. The findings contradict the notion of a rising incidence of thyroid cancer.
A retrospective study found an AI algorithm for detecting incidental pulmonary embolus (iPE) on contrast-enhanced chest CT examinations had high NPV and moderate PPV, even identifying iPEs missed by radiologists. The tool's diagnostic performance did not show significant variation across study subgroups.
A study from the University of Kansas found that social support was crucial in predicting good sleep quality among individuals with multiple sclerosis. The research, conducted during the pandemic, revealed that tangible and positive social interaction support significantly predicted better sleep quality.
Researchers found that despite a powerful brain response to sound during sleep, the level of alpha-beta waves associated with attention and expectation is significantly reduced. This means the brain can analyze auditory input but fails to focus on it, resulting in no conscious awareness.
A study found that pharmacogenomic testing can help providers avoid prescribing antidepressants with undesirable outcomes. The test, which analyzes genes related to drug metabolism, resulted in a significant improvement in depression symptoms compared to usual care.
Using nearly two decades of research and ultrabright X-ray beams, scientists have created a detailed structural map of the nuclear pore complex (NPC), a key regulator of cellular operations. The results provide significant implications for understanding disease mechanisms and developing new treatments.
A cross-sectional study of 885 surgical residents revealed that trainees perceived as white received similar autonomy, while those perceived as African American, Black, Hispanic, or Latinx experienced disparities. Autonomy differences were negligible by the end of residency.
A third dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine significantly lowers the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, COVID-19 hospitalizations, severe disease, and related deaths during the Delta variant surge. The study involved 18,000 residents of long-term care facilities in Israel.
The American College of Radiology has issued risk mitigation guidance to help healthcare institutions conserve contrast media supplies amid a global shortage. Two healthcare systems, Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the University of North Carolina, have implemented strategies that reduced their contrast use by at least 50%.
A fourth dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine provided high protection against severe outcomes from Omicron infection among elderly residents in Israeli long-term care facilities. The vaccine also offered modest protection against COVID-19 infections among this population during a surge in Omicron variant cases.
The article provides guidance on alternative imaging methods for interventional radiology procedures, including the use of intravascular ultrasound, alternative contrast agents such as gadolinium and carbon dioxide, and case prioritization strategies to optimize available supplies. The authors recommend creating a priority matrix and h...
The WVU program trains next generation of toxicologists to collect, analyze air samples from mining, fracking sites, using the university's Inhalation Facility. Students will work with preceptors from various fields to investigate health effects of inhaling toxicants.
A new study reveals that COVID-19 variants are formed in chronic patients with weakened immune systems, who experience prolonged infections. This leads to the accumulation of mutations, similar to those found in severe illness variants.
A study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention found that diagnostic mammogram accuracy differed across racial and ethnic groups. Asian/Pacific Islander women were more likely to receive false-positive reports, while non-Hispanic Black women were more likely to receive false-negative reports.
A study by Washington State University researchers found that Native Americans have to travel up to 103 miles farther than non-Hispanic whites to reach the nearest radiation therapy facility. This significant burden can lead to delayed or foregone treatment, resulting in poorer cancer outcomes.
Adding diffusion-weighted MRI to conventional MRI enhances the differentiation of locally recurrent tumor and post-surgical fibrosis in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma resection. The study found higher sensitivity with DWI, facilitating earlier detection of recurrences.
A cohort study of healthcare workers and community participants found that fully vaccinated individuals had significantly less secondary transmission and shorter viable virus duration than partially vaccinated or unvaccinated individuals. The study suggests that vaccination status affects SARS-CoV-2 shedding and transmission.
A study of 856 individuals found that those living over 50 miles from an abortion facility were still seeking or planning an abortion four weeks later. The research suggests that online abortion services may not adequately address rural access issues, resulting in delayed or foregone care.
Scientists at Ural Federal University have developed a simpler and more effective method for synthesizing titanium-based nanocomposite coatings. The new approach allows for the production of wear-resistant coatings with controlled properties, suitable for various applications such as aircraft and biomedicine.
A low-cost ventilator prototype has been developed, making it accessible to all, including adults and children, with a potential price tag of USD $1500. The PVP1 project aims to provide a pressure-controlled ventilator research platform for compatible adult and pediatric uses.
The study compared lung perfusion scans during COVID-19 (April 2020 to July 2021) to pre-COVID V/Q scans (December 2018 to March 2020) in a large tertiary care teaching hospital. The results showed a 30% decline in overall lung scans performed during the pandemic.
A study of over 3.5 million Welsh citizens found that those who self-harmed during the COVID-19 pandemic were less likely to seek help and faced difficulties accessing in-patient treatment. The research used linked electronic health records to investigate healthcare contacts with self-harm during this period.
Experts at academic medical centers discussed barriers faced by Black faculty and trainees and suggested a comprehensive intervention to dismantle anti-Black racism in academia. The study highlights the need for increased diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
Researchers found that physicians working in physician-owned practices were significantly more satisfied with their EHRs, citing staff support for documentation and appropriate time spent on documentation. These differences partially explained the disparity in EHR satisfaction between solo and non-solo practices.
A new study assesses wastewater infrastructure in 129 countries to explore community-wide health indices using Wastewater-based Epidemiology (WBE). The technique detects factors influencing health, including disease biomarkers detectable in wastewater.
Researchers analyzed 61 COVID-specific chatbots in 30 countries, finding common uses such as risk assessment, symptom data collection, and appointment scheduling. They also discovered that anonymity of user interactions varies across cultures, affecting the effectiveness of follow-up services.
A survey study found that US academic medical centers have adopted COVID-19 management guidelines into practice, indicating a shift towards evidence-based care. The study's results suggest that hospitals are prioritizing the use of established guidelines to manage COVID-19 cases.
A retrospective case-control study found no significant difference in traumatic intracranial hemorrhage frequency between adult patients on antithrombotic therapy and those not on the therapy. However, hematoma expansion occurred more frequently in patients on antithrombotic therapy.
A multidisciplinary clinical pathway for functional neurological disorder (FND) patients has been successfully implemented at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital. The approach optimizes patient care through collaboration among healthcare professionals. This study aims to provide a roadmap for other institutions and encourage broader deve...
A nationwide survey of COVID-19 guidance for emergency medical services (EMS) reveals that nearly half of states lack online access to protocols, leaving frontline workers vulnerable. The study highlights the need for standardized guidance and improved resource allocation to mitigate the impact of future pandemics.
A new analysis found that healthcare workforce employment levels declined in mid-2020, with skilled nursing facilities experiencing a 13.6% decline compared to 2019. Healthcare sector wages also increased at a lower rate relative to the national average, with a 5% increase in 2020 and 1.5% in 2021.
A recent study identified specific RNA biomarkers linked to gastrointestinal symptoms in children with autism. The findings could lead to the development of personalized treatments to ease the pain of these individuals. The research has implications for precision medicine, enabling healthcare providers to track medication effectiveness...
A randomized study of over 1,000 people with PTSD and/or bipolar disorder shows that telehealth and integrated care models can improve treatment engagement and outcomes. Patients who received guidance from local clinic team members and in-person follow-up with nurses or social workers had better results.
A study by Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center analyzed years of life lost due to unintentional drug overdose among adolescents (13-19) and young adults (20-39) in the US. The findings suggest a significant burden of overdose-related mortality in this age group, highlighting the need for targeted interventions.
Researchers evaluated reimbursement fund distribution to healthcare professionals and facilities for uninsured patients with COVID-19, highlighting key disparities. The study found significant variations in funding allocation across different regions and provider types, affecting treatment access for vulnerable populations.
Researchers at the University of Missouri identified 46 specific mutations in the Omicron variant that enable it to evade pre-existing antibodies. These mutations are particularly prevalent in the region where antibodies bind to the virus, making them a key target for future antiviral treatments.
The WV Clinical and Translational Science Institute is leading a national study on post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) among adults. The study, funded by the National Institutes of Health, aims to better understand the long-term effects of COVID-19 and develop effective treatments for this disabling complication.
A recent study of Dutch citizens between ages 14 and 26 reveals that lower educational attainment is associated with higher rates of alcohol use, rather than the other way around. This finding challenges previous assumptions about the relationship between education level and substance abuse.
Dr. Mark S. Parker, MD, FACR, has been recognized as the 2022 ARRS Distinguished Educator for his outstanding contributions to radiological education. He will be formally recognized at the ARRS Annual Meeting in New Orleans, LA on May 1, 2022.