Acute hospital admissions of hospice patients.

Background And Methods: Research into acute hospital admissions (AHAs) of hospice patients is relatively underdeveloped. The goal of this study, based on the electronic health records (EHR) of a large Midwestern hospice service over a 3-year period, was to identify characteristics of new hospice patients that are associated with an increased risk of later AHAs.

Results: Our study of a large and undifferentiated hospice population revealed several important new findings regarding AHA.

Imaging for suspected appendicitis.

Acute appendicitis is the most common reason for emergency abdominal surgery and must be distinguished from other causes of abdominal pain. Family physicians play a valuable role in the early diagnosis and management of this condition. However, the overall diagnostic accuracy achieved by traditional history, physical examination, and laboratory tests has been approximately 80 percent.

Vertebral compression fractures in the elderly.

Compression fracture of the vertebral body is common, especially in older adults. Vertebral compression fractures usually are caused by osteoporosis, and range from mild to severe. More severe fractures can cause significant pain, leading to inability to perform activities of daily living, and life-threatening decline in the elderly patient who already has decreased reserves.