Deactivation of Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators in Heart Failure: A Systematic Review.

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator aids in the prevention of cardiac arrest by delivering an electrical shock in the presence of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias. Although implantable cardioverter-defibrillators are essential to sustain life in patients with end-stage heart failure, it is important to consider the option for prompt deactivation of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators to prevent inappropriate electrical shocks at the end of life where death is inevitable. In this systematic review, available literature was reviewed, using six electronic databases, to identify problems that may delay the deactivation of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators and address possible considerations for implantable cardioverter-defibrillator management to improve end-of-life care.

An oncology nurse navigator program designed to eliminate gaps in early cancer care.

Although the burden of a cancer diagnosis for patients is profound, healthcare systems often fail to address patients' and families' psychosocial, information, and care coordination needs. The authors of this article designed an oncology nurse navigator program to proactively address these care gaps and tested the program's effectiveness in providing high-quality cancer care through a randomized, controlled trial. The program's model was informed by research synthesizing the perspectives of patients, families, clinicians, and experts throughout the country.

Toward patient-centered cancer care: patient perceptions of problematic events, impact, and response.

Purpose: Cancer treatments are complex, involving multiple clinicians, toxic therapies, and uncertain outcomes. Consequently, patients are vulnerable when breakdowns in care occur. This study explored cancer patients' perceptions of preventable, harmful events; the impact of these events; and interactions with clinicians after such events.

Electronic consultations between primary and specialty care clinicians: early insights.

Electronic consultation (e-consultation) is an emerging tool that primary care clinicians can use to communicate with specialists about patients asynchronously--that is, at different times that are convenient for each physician. To conduct an e-consultation, clinicians use either a Web-based program or a shared electronic medical record. Early adopters of e-consultation describe positive experiences for patients, clinicians, and health systems, including improved continuity of care, access to specialists, convenience, and information transfer.

More than words: patients' views on apology and disclosure when things go wrong in cancer care.

Objective: Guidelines on apology and disclosure after adverse events and errors have been in place for over 5 years. This study examines whether patients consider recommended responses to be appropriate and desirable, and whether clinicians' actions after adverse events are consistent with recommendations.

Methods: Patients who believed that something had gone wrong during their cancer care were identified.

Systems of support to increase colorectal cancer screening and follow-up rates (SOS): design, challenges, and baseline characteristics of trial participants.

Background: Screening decreases colorectal cancer (CRC) morbidity and mortality, yet remains underutilized. Screening breakdowns arise from lack of uptake and failure to follow-up after a positive screening test.

Objectives: Systems of support to increase colorectal cancer screening and follow-up (SOS) is a randomized trial designed to increase: (1) CRC screening and (2) follow-up of positive screening tests.

Abuse and violence history of men and women in treatment for methamphetamine dependence.

The Methamphetamine Treatment Project offers the opportunity to examine the history of abuse and violence in a sample of 1016 methamphetamine users participating in a multisite study between 1999-2001. Reporting of abuse and violence was extensive, with 80% of women reporting abuse or violence from a partner. Men were more likely to report experiencing violence from friends and others.