Implementation of a heart failure readmission reduction program: a role for medical residents.

Background: Congestive heart failure (CHF) is one of the leading causes of hospital readmissions within 30 days of discharge. Due to the substantial costs associated with these readmissions, several interventions to reduce CHF readmissions have been developed and implemented.

Methods: To reduce CHF readmissions at our community teaching hospital, the Smooth Transitions Equal Less Readmission (STELR) program was developed.

Practical approach to metabolic assessments in the pediatric human immunodeficiency virus outpatient clinic.

Background: Metabolic assessment is not a routine part of the care of pediatric HIV-positive patients in the outpatient setting, although research studies are demonstrating an increasing prevalence of metabolic abnormalities in this population. Addition of metabolic assessments to routine clinic care can be hindered by the perception that collection of the data needed for the assessments will need too much clinic time and too many clinic resources to be practical.

Methods: A method to provide metabolic assessments using minimal clinic resources while offering educational opportunities for university students was developed and implemented at the University of Florida Pediatric Immunology and Infectious Diseases weekly clinic.