Prospective evaluation of the use and outcome of admission stool guaiac testing: the Digital Rectal Examination on Admission to the Medical Service (DREAMS) Study.

Background: Although physicians often perform fecal occult blood testing at the time of hospital admission, the practice of admission stool guaiac (ASG) testing has not been evaluated prospectively. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and outcomes of digital rectal examination (DRE) and ASG testing in patients admitted to the hospital.

Methods: We prospectively evaluated 2143 patients admitted to the medical service at our hospital over a 1-year period.

Impact of gastroenterology consultation on the outcomes of patients admitted to the hospital with decompensated cirrhosis.

Managed care has strongly discouraged generalists from referring patients to specialists in an effort to reduce the costs of health care. The aim of this study was to compare patient outcomes when generalists work together with gastroenterologists or alone in the management of patients admitted to the hospital with decompensated cirrhosis. Consecutive patients admitted to the hospital with decompensated cirrhosis over a 1-year period were identified.