Publications by authors named "M Rifkin"

The effects of unanticipated crises on health care and first-responder systems are reflected in climate-fueled environmental emergencies, to which human resilience is diminished by our chronic disease epidemic. For example, people who depend on specialized medications, like refrigerated insulin for diabetes, will likely face additional challenges in receiving treatment and care during extreme heat, floods, disasters, and other adverse events. These circumstances may be compounded by staff and equipment shortages, lack of access to fresh food, and inadequate healthcare infrastructure in the wake of a disaster.

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Background And Objectives: Dentists have contributed greatly to the opioid epidemic, dispensing roughly 8.6% of opioids totaling over 18 million prescriptions in a 12-month period from July 2016 to June 2017 and report educational gaps regarding screening techniques for substance misuse and an unfamiliarity with available referral resources. The purpose of this study was to determine the knowledge and comfort level of residents in identifying, referring, and managing patients who are at risk for opioid use or substance use disorder in the dental setting before and after an online case-based training course.

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Background: Standardization of postoperative care has been shown to decrease postoperative length of stay.

Methods: In June 2009, we standardized postoperative care for all gastrectomies at our institution. Four years' worth of total gastrectomies (2 years prior to standardization and 2 years after standardization) were reviewed to determine the effect of standardization on postoperative care, length of stay, complications, and readmissions.

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The inclusion of the humanities in medical education may offer significant potential benefits to individual future physicians and to the medical community as a whole. Debate remains, however, about the definition and precise role of the humanities in medical education, whether at the premedical, medical school, or postgraduate level. Recent trends have revealed an increasing presence of the humanities in medical training.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study focused on health care preferences for typhoid fever symptoms among children in two Karachi slum communities, where the disease is common and often resistant to treatment.
  • Initial care was preferred from private practitioners, while hospitals were favored for ongoing symptoms, yet many still relied on their first choice despite worsening conditions.
  • Key factors influencing these choices included treatment costs, access to providers, past experiences, and the perceived quality of care, raising concerns about the adequacy of diagnosis and treatment for children facing severe multi-drug resistant typhoid.
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