Quality and Safety Analysis of 2,999 Telemedicine Encounters During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Objective: To examine whether telemedicine remains safe and of high quality despite rapid expansion of services by comparing telemedicine encounters before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: Pre-post study investigating 2,999 telemedicine encounters: February 1, 2020-May 15, 2020, was performed. A total of 2,919 completed visits before and after strict social distancing implementation were analyzed for patient and provider characteristics, encounter characteristics (e.

Risk Stratification of Fetal Cardiac Anomalies in an Underserved Population Using Telecardiology.

Objective: To evaluate a fetal telecardiology program in a medically underserved area.

Methods: We conducted a prospective case series of pregnant women at 18-38 weeks of gestation with risk factors for fetal congenital heart disease. Obstetric ultrasonographers performed fetal echocardiograms (local site) that were read in real time.

CoYoT1 Clinic: Innovative Telemedicine Care Model for Young Adults with Type 1 Diabetes.

Background: Young adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D) face many challenges in managing their diabetes, resulting in suboptimal glycemic control and often loss to follow-up. Comprehensive strategies are needed to engage this population in diabetes care and improve outcomes. This pilot study investigated the feasibility and acceptability of the Colorado Young Adults with Type 1 Diabetes (CoYoT1) Clinic-an innovative clinical care model for young adults with T1D, incorporating telemedicine and peer interactions.

Clinician feedback on using episode groupers with Medicare claims data.

CMS is investigating techniques that might help identify costly physician practice patterns. One method presently under evaluation is to compare resource use for certain episodes of care using commercially available episode grouping software. Although this software has been used by the private sector to classify insured individuals' medical claims into episodes of care, it has never been used with fee-for-service Medicare claims except in the studies by the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) and CMS.

Yttrium-90 microsphere induced gastrointestinal tract ulceration.

Background: Radiomicrosphere therapy (RT) utilizing yttrium-90 (90Y) microspheres has been shown to be an effective regional treatment for primary and secondary hepatic malignancies. We sought to determine a large academic institution's experience regarding the extent and frequency of gastrointestinal complications.

Methods: Between 2004 and 2007, 27 patients underwent RT for primary or secondary hepatic malignancies.

Thalidomide-induced severe hepatotoxicity.

Thalidomide is a relatively safe and efficacious form of therapy in the treatment of advanced, refractory multiple myeloma. Hepatotoxicity is listed as an extremely rare adverse effect associated with its use. We describe a 76-year-old woman with multiple myeloma who was treated with dexamethasone and thalidomide.