Delirium, a transient change in mental status often occurring in hospitalized patients, can be frustrating to the medical staff. Especially if they’re unfamiliar with their baseline state of function.

Here’s a pretty funny story that hospitalist Theresa Chan recounts, where she, along with the nurse and physical therapist, sings big band tunes to a 90-year old who recently underwent hip surgery.

Find out how the previously somnolent Read more »

When undergoing a procedure in the hospital, the last thing most patients suspect would be sustaining burns from medical equipment or carelessness of the medical staff.

Thankfully, such instances are rare, but they do occur. As the WSJ reports, the oxygen-rich environment of an operating room can increase the risk of flames, from say, a stray spark of an electrocautery device.

Furthermore, medication patches, like nicotine or Read more »

The bedside exam has become increasingly irrelevant, as technology and tests have largely supplanted physical diagnosis skills.

Pauline Chen interviews Stanford’s Abraham Verghese, who also wrote last year’s excellent NEJM piece on the demise of the physical exam, and he provides some provocative insight.

Dr. Verghese calls the physical exam “an important ritual” that still matters to patients. “If as a doctor you shortchange Read more »

That’s a question this case in the UK is trying the answer.

As Dr. Crippen, the crusty blogger who notes the inanities of the UK medical system, notes, extra-martial affairs are commonplace.

But should a physician be censured, effectively ending his medical career, for having a dangerous liaison?

“If every man and women in Britain who had an extra-marital affair were to be prevented from working,” writes Dr. Crippen, Read more »

Access has previously been limited to GPs, according to the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB).

Pilots are being considered in community pharmacies across England in a step towards government proposals for pharmacies to take on more clinical work.

David Pruce, RPSGB director of policy and communications, said: ‘Pharmacists already have access to care records in a variety of settings, including hospital Read more »

From April this year, all licensed providers of hip replacements, knee replacements, groin hernia surgery and varicose vein surgery, will be expected to invite patients undergoing one of theses procedures to complete a PROM questionnaire.

The guidance sets out the procedures for which PROMs data should be collected, details on the questionnaires, as well as the roles and responsibilities involved in delivering PROMs.

The Read more »

Caroline Petrie, 45, is a bank nurse and has been told by North Somerset PCT that she will not be employed again until the outcome of its investigation is known.

The patient in her 70s reportedly refused the prayer offer and informed the nurse’s manager.

A North Somerset PCT statement said: ‘The NMC code of conduct makes it clear that nurses ‘must not use (their) professional status to promote causes that Read more »

This shows some progress since 2004 but the Healthcare Commission says further improvement is needed.

59% believed A&E staff did everything they could to help control patient pain and 27% said they did to some extent.

Many patients said they did not receive enough information when they left A&E: 37% were given a complete explanation of possible medication side effects, 37% were told when they could resume activities like Read more »

Patients seem to have an uncanny ability to predict when they’re going to die.

In an excellent NY Times piece, Sandeep Jauhar (who is among the best physician-writers on the web, along with the Washington Post’s Manoj Jain and The New Yorker’s Atul Gawande) talks about how patients have a “sixth sense” about their own deaths.

We are in an era where tests and diagnostic studies often replace the time spent listening to patients, Read more »