Evaluation of inter-observer variability regarding aortic and mitral valve findings on transesophageal echocardiograms ordered for suspected endocarditis.

Background: Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is the gold standard for the detection of valvular vegetations (VV). Differentiating small VV from degenerative changes is challenging and prone to inter-observer variability. We evaluated inter-observer agreement regarding aortic (AV) and mitral valve (MV) findings on TEEs ordered for suspected infective endocarditis (IE).

Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial to Reduce Readmission for Heart Failure Using Novel Tablet and Nurse Practitioner Education.

Background: Heart failure education programs are not standardized. The best form of education is unclear. We evaluated whether addition of a novel tablet application to nurse practitioner (NP) education was superior to NP education alone in reducing 30-day readmission after heart failure hospitalization.