The Power of a Simple Question.

The Prevalence of Hepatitis B Markers in Anesthesia Personnel. By Berry AJ, Isaacson IJ, Hunt D, Kane MA. Anesthesiology 1984; 60:6-9 The prevalence of hepatitis B viral markers has increased in some groups of medical workers who are exposed to blood from patients carrying the virus, but this has not been studied critically in physicians and others who administer anesthesia.

What Is Implementation Science and What Forces Are Driving a Change in Medical Education?

Evidence-based interventions to improve health care and medical education face multiple complex barriers to adoption and success. Implementation science focuses on the period following research dissemination, which is necessary but insufficient to address important gaps in clinician performance and patient outcomes. This article describes the forces on health care institutions, medical schools, physician clinicians, and trainees that have created the imperative to design educational interventions to address the gap between evidence and practice.

The Emory University Perioperative Algorithm for the Management of Hyperglycemia and Diabetes in Non-cardiac Surgery Patients.

Hyperglycemia is a frequent manifestation of critical and surgical illness, resulting from the acute metabolic and hormonal changes associated with the response to injury and stress (Umpierrez and Kitabchi, Curr Opin Endocrinol. 11:75-81, 2004; McCowen et al., Crit Care Clin.

United States anesthesiologists over 50: retirement decision making and workforce implications.

Background: Anesthesiology is among the medical specialties expected to have physician shortage. With little known about older anesthesiologists' work effort and retirement decision making, the American Society of Anesthesiologists participated in a 2006 national survey of physicians aged 50-79 yr.

Methods: Samples of anesthesiologists and other specialists completed a survey of work activities, professional satisfaction, self-defined health and financial status, retirement plans and perspectives, and demographics.

Needle stick and other safety issues.

Percutaneous injuries such as accidental needle sticks are associated with the greatest risk for occupational transmission of blood-borne pathogens such as hepatitis B and C viruses and HIV. This article presents data on the risk of transmission of these viruses after needle sticks, offers strategies for prevention of injuries from sharp objects, and discusses postexposure prophylaxis recommendations.