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Use of antibiotics in patients with heart failure exacerbation in the absence of compelling evidence of infection is unnecessary and potentially harmful

Harms From Unnecessary Abx Extend Beyond Resistance

Case highlights importance of carefully monitoring patients with prolonged QT interval
Patients treated with low-dose beta-blockers after myocardial infarction may fare better than those given the standard dose

Lower Beta-Blocker Dose May Boost Survival After MI

Dosage should be tailored to the needs of individual patients, researchers say
Many medical schools are integrating discussions of cost

Medical Schools Teaching Students About Costs of Care

Importance of understanding costs due to ACA, prevalence of high-deductible plans
For patients who receive successful resuscitation from in-hospital cardiac arrest

DNR Orders After In-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Tied to Survival

DNR orders generally associated with the likelihood of favorable neurological survival
Prolonged hospital length of stay is more likely among patients who are Medicaid enrollees with complex hospital stays who were not discharged home

Medicaid, Non-Home Discharge Tied to Longer Hospital Stays

Prolonged length of stay also more likely with MRSA, ICU stay, surgery
Physicians

Docs in Productivity Models Likely to Encounter Compensation Caps

Physicians, especially those working in a productivity model, must understand compensation caps
The consumption of energy drinks and alcohol mixed with energy drinks increases the odds of traumatic brain injury among adolescents

Energy Drinks Plus Alcohol Tied to Brain Injury in Teens

Sports-related incidents remain the most common cause of recent traumatic brain injury
Choosing preferred activities for a work break and taking a break earlier in the shift are linked to more resource recovery after a break

Mid-Morning May Be Best Time for Workday Break

Longer breaks, frequent short breaks linked to more resource recovery than infrequent short breaks
Physicians who volunteer their medical expertise should consider their legal risks

Volunteer Doctors Need to Check Liability Coverage

Immunity laws vary by state; liability policies vary coverage outside of regular practice
An expert panel has developed the Michigan Appropriateness Guide for Intravenous Catheters (MAGIC)

Panel Develops Criteria for Appropriate Use of PICCs

RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method used to rate scenarios related to PICC use