Advancing health equity through social care interventions.

Objective: To use evidence on addressing racism in social care intervention research to create a framework for advancing health equity for all populations with marginalized social identities (e.g., race, gender, and sexual orientation).

Introduction to .

Since the initial publication of in 2008, the prevention of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) has continued to be a national priority. Progress in healthcare epidemiology, infection prevention, antimicrobial stewardship, and implementation science research has led to improvements in our understanding of effective strategies for HAI prevention. Despite these advances, HAIs continue to affect ∼1 of every 31 hospitalized patients, leading to substantial morbidity, mortality, and excess healthcare expenditures, and persistent gaps remain between what is recommended and what is practiced.

The Emmaus Project: Aging, Illness, and Dying Among Older Christians-A Qualitative Study.

Older patients have an increased risk of depression, neglect, and abuse. Studies demonstrate that spiritual and religious coping is important at times of personal crisis, but few studies explore the impact of religion on older persons' experiences of aging, illness, and impending death. This study set out to identify recurring spiritual and clinical themes shared by retirement home residents in the context of a Christian faith-based processing group.

Do-Not-Resuscitate Orders by COVID-19 Status Throughout the First Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, whether performing CPR on patients with COVID-19 would be effective or increase COVID-19 transmission to health care workers was unclear.

Research Question: Did the prevalence of do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders by COVID-19 status change over the first year of the pandemic as risks such as COVID-19 transmission to health care workers improved?

Study Design And Methods: This cross-sectional study assessed DNR orders for all adult patients admitted to ICUs at two academic medical centers in Chicago, IL, between April 2020 and April 2021. DNR orders by COVID-19 status were assessed using risk-adjusted mixed-effects logistic regression and propensity score matching by patient severity of illness.

Development, Feasibility, and Acceptability of an Oncologist Group Peer Support Program From ASCO's Clinician Well-Being Task Force.

Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic has had deleterious effects on oncologist professional and personal well-being, the optimal delivery of quality cancer care, and the future cancer care workforce, with many departing the field. Hence, the identification of evidence-based approaches to sustain oncologists is essential to promote well-being.

Materials And Methods: We developed a brief, oncologist-centered, virtual group peer support program and tested its feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary impact on well-being.

Association of high-priority exceptions with waitlist mortality among heart transplant candidates.

Background: The US heart allocation system ranks candidates using six categorical status levels. Transplant programs can request exceptions to increase a candidate's status level if they believe their candidate has the same medical urgency as candidates who meet the standard criteria for that level. We aimed to determine if exception candidates have the same medical urgency as standard candidates.

Refusals of the Determination of Death by Neurologic Criteria: A Mixed Methods Study of Physician Perspectives on Refusals Cases.

Objectives: Refusals to allow examination for determination of death by neurologic criteria (DNC) challenge pediatric physicians and create distress for medical teams and families of patients suspected to meet criteria for DNC. The objective of this study was to inquire about and assess experiences with such refusals from the perspective of physicians.

Design: We conducted a mixed-methods survey and interview-based study to understand physicians' experiences with refusals.

Cultivating Anti-Racism Allies in Academic Medicine.

Racial microaggressions, racially based remarks, or actions that negatively impact marginalized physicians of color (Black, Latino/a/x, and American Indian/Alaskan Natives) often go unaddressed. This article provides four strategies for how individuals and institutions can engage in anti-racism allyship: (1) be an upstander during microaggressions, (2) be a sponsor and advocate for physicians of color, (3) acknowledge academic titles and accomplishments, and (4) challenge the idea of a "standard fit" for academic faculty and research. Skills in academic allyship should be taught to physicians throughout the educational continuum to mitigate feelings of isolation that racialized minority physicians frequently experience.

Ethical Considerations of Genome Sequencing for Pediatric Patients.

Advancements in genetic testing in the healthcare setting, most recently genomic sequencing, has enhanced our ability to diagnose genetic conditions. These advances include increased accessibility and affordability of genomic technologies. With expanded use comes the potential for significant ethical challenges for clinicians, particularly considering the implications of testing a child for one condition and incidentally finding a different condition or health risk.

Disparities in Unilateral Do Not Resuscitate Order Use During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Objectives: A unilateral do-not-resuscitate (UDNR) order is a do-not-resuscitate order placed using clinician judgment which does not require consent from a patient or surrogate. This study assessed how UDNR orders were used during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design: We analyzed a retrospective cross-sectional study of UDNR use at two academic medical centers between April 2020 and April 2021.

A prospective assessment of the medic autologous blood transfusion skills for field transfusion preparation.

Background: Data demonstrate the benefit of blood product administration near point-of-injury (POI). Fresh whole blood transfusion from a pre-screened donor provides a source of blood at the POI when resources are constrained. We captured transfusion skills data for medics performing autologous blood transfusion training.