Patient and process factors associated with all-cause 30-day readmission among patients with heart failure.

Purpose: To explore the patient and process factors associated with all-cause 30-day readmission after heart failure (HF) hospitalization and develop recommendations to reduce readmissions of patients with HF.

Data Sources: A retrospective, cohort study of 239 patients ages 18 years and older was performed using electronic medical chart review. All patients were discharged from the medical center between July 1, 2009 and June 30, 2010 with a principal diagnosis of HF.

Breast cancer in limited-resource countries: diagnosis and pathology.

In 2002 the Breast Health Global Initiative (BHGI) convened a panel of breast cancer experts and patient advocates to develop consensus recommendations for diagnosing breast cancer in countries with limited resources. The panel agreed on the need for a pathologic diagnosis, based on microscopic evaluation of tissue specimens, before initiating breast cancer treatment. The panel discussed options for pathologic diagnosis (fine-needle aspiration biopsy, core needle biopsy, and surgical biopsy) and concluded that the choice among these methods should be based on available tools and expertise.

Experiences of breast cancer survivor-advocates and advocates in countries with limited resources: a shared journey in breast cancer advocacy.

The last decade has been marked by rapid growth in the breast cancer advocacy movement around the world. Today such movements are well established in North America and western Europe, and are emerging and gaining momentum in regions of the world with limited resources--Africa, Asia, eastern Europe, and Latin America. Internationally breast cancer advocates have faced the challenges of dealing with many languages, cultures, countries, and health systems.