Mobile PCR-based surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 to reduce visiting restrictions in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic: a pilot study.

Purpose: Residents in nursing homes for the elderly (NH) are at high risk for death from COVID-19. We investigated whether repeated non-mandatory RT-PCR SARS-CoV-2 surveillance of NH staff and visitors reduces COVID-19 incidence rates in NH residents and allows to reduce visiting restrictions.

Methods: This pilot study at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic compared a surveillance approach of regular, twice-weekly voluntary PCR testing of health-care workers (HCW) and visitors in interventional NH (INH) with a setting without regular testing in control NH (CNH).

Revenue-based cost assignment: a potent but hidden threat to the survival of the multispecialty medical practice.

Purpose: To demonstrate detrimental effects of revenue-based cost assignment (RBCA) in clinical practice and to compare that system with activity-based costing (ABC).

Method: Four cost-allocation methods including RBCA were applied to a comprehensive ophthalmology practice using typical accounting methods. Data were obtained by a survey of practitioners or practices and/or extracted from decision support and practice management systems.

RBRVS costing: the inaccurate wolf in expensive sheep's clothing.

Resource-Based Relative Value Scale (RBRVS) costing has been promoted as an accurate cost allocation methodology and has gained popularity in recent years as a way to support many aspects of medical practice management. In this article, we demonstrate that RBRVS (also known as relative value unit (RVU) costing), is simply an overly complex form of revenue-based cost assignment and is identical to ratio of cost to charges (RCC) and percent revenue cost assignment approaches. However, this equivalence can be easily obfuscated by routine numerical manipulations used in financial analysis for many aspects of practice management.

Histologic, ultrastructural, and immunofluorescent evaluation of human laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis corneal wounds.

Objective: To evaluate human corneas after laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis at different postoperative intervals.

Methods: Thirty-eight postmortem corneas from 20 patients with postoperative intervals from 2 months to 6.5 years after laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis surgery were collected from eye banks.

2,4-Dinitrophenol pharmacologically promotes retinal detachment in rabbits.

Purpose: The most difficult and unpredictable step of macular translocation surgery is creating the retinal detachment. The authors evaluated the efficacy of 2,4-dinitrophenol (2,4-DNP) to promote retinal detachment in the rabbit.

Methods: A vitrectomy was performed in each eye of a Dutch-belted rabbit.

Pathologic findings in postmortem corneas after successful laser in situ keratomileusis.

Purpose: To examine the histologic and ultrastructural features of human corneas after successful laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK).

Methods: Corneas from 48 eyes of 25 postmortem patients were processed for histology and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The 25 patients had LASIK between 3 months and 7 years prior to death.

Histiocytoid variant of eccrine sweat gland carcinoma of the eyelid and orbit: report of five cases.

Objective: To study the clinicopathologic features of the histiocytoid variant of adenocarcinoma of the eccrine sweat gland of the eye and orbit.

Design: Retrospective case series.

Participants: Five patients undergoing orbital and eyelid biopsy as a diagnostic procedure.