The incidence of potential interactions between dietary supplements and prescription medications in cancer patients at a Veterans Administration Hospital.

Objective: The concurrent use of dietary supplements and prescription medications is common among patients with cancer. This study examines potential interactions between dietary supplements and prescription medications in a Veteran Hospital cancer population.

Methods: Eligible patients seen at the Hematology/Oncology clinic at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Cincinnati, OH, were administered a survey to determine their use of dietary supplements.

Improving the utilization of medical crisis teams (Condition C) at an urban tertiary care hospital.

Purpose: Serious clinical deterioration precedes most cardiopulmonary arrests, and there is evidence that organized responses to this deterioration may prevent a substantial proportion of in-hospital deaths. We aimed to increase the utilization of our medical crisis response team (Condition C) to impact this source of mortality.

Methods: We have examined the change in numbers of Condition Cs and the main alternative response strategy (sequential stat pages) after the implementation of 4 strategies to increase Condition C utilization: (1) immediate reviews of all sequential STAT pages, (2) feedback to caregivers responsible for delays in Condition C activation, (3) creation of objective criteria for invoking a crisis response, and (4) dissemination of objective criteria through posting in units, e-mail, and in-service oral presentations.