Implementation of a point-of-care ultrasound skills practicum for hospitalists.

Introduction: Point-of-care ultrasound is recognized as a safe and valuable diagnostic tool for patient evaluation. Hospitalists are prime candidates for advancing the point-of-care ultrasound field given their crucial role in inpatient medicine. Despite this, there is a notable lack of evidence-based ultrasound training for hospitalists.

Relationship of Steroid Dosing and Duration of Mechanical Ventilation in Adult Patients With Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Background: The optimal steroid dose for patients who require mechanical ventilation (MV) for acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) is unknown.

Objective: The primary objective of the study is to describe the relationship between steroid doses prescribed and duration of MV.

Methods: This was a retrospective study of patients admitted between October 2013 and September 2014 who were prescribed steroids and received MV for ≥48 hours for AECOPD.

Impact of Evidence-Based Guidelines on Outcomes of Hospitalized Patients With Clostridium difficile Infection.

Objectives: Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is the most common healthcare-associated infection in the United States. Clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of CDI were updated in 2010 by the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America and the Infectious Diseases Society of America. An institutional guideline for the classification and management of CDI in accordance with the 2010 Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America/Infectious Diseases Society of America guideline was developed and provided to attending physicians and medical residents in multiple formats.