Management of Gallstone Disease.

Gallstone disease has plagued humanity since antiquity. Its recognition and treatment has been refined through decades as surgical technique and imaging capabilities have advanced. With the rise of the obesity epidemic and metabolic syndrome, its prevalence is also increasing.

Robotic availability, not payor status, determines access to robotic emergency general surgery hernia repair in California and Florida.

Background: Previous studies have demonstrated that access to robotic surgery is influenced by socioeconomic factors, including insurance status. The 2010 Affordable Care Act established an avenue for states to expand Medicaid coverage, which has increased access to surgical care for many conditions. We hypothesized that socioeconomic disparities in access to robotic repair of non-elective emergency general surgery (EGS) hernias are less prevalent in California, a Medicaid expansion state, compared to Florida, which has not adopted Medicaid expansion.

Is state trauma funding associated with mortality among injured hospitalized patients?

Background: We sought to quantify the association between state trauma funding and (1) in-hospital mortality and (2) transfers of injured patients.

Methods: We conducted an observational cross-sectional study of states with publicly available trauma funding data. We analyzed in-hospital mortality using linked data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), American Hospital Association (AHA) Annual Survey, and these State Department of Public Health trauma funding data.

Simulation-Based Medical Education: Development of an Assessment Tool for Novice Use.

Background: Simulation-based medical education, an educational model in which students engage in simulated patient scenarios, improves performance. However, assessment tools including the Oxford Non-Technical Skills (NOTECHS) scale require expert assessors. We modified this tool for novice use.