BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to observe the roles played by six hospice medical directors from two hospice programs during interdisciplinary team case reviews. METHODS The study analyzed videotapes of case reviews in two hospice agencies over a two year period. The results indicate that the roles and levels of participation vary. Medical Directors were observed reviewing and assis...

Preventable medical errors may be due to incorrect drug dosage based on poor weight estimation. This study was to examine the accuracy of patient weight estimations in an emergency medical setting. This prospective study enrolled a convenience sample of medically stable adults. The patient's attending physician, resident physician, nurse, a paramedic, and the patient estimated the patient's wei...

BACKGROUND Although effective role models are important in medical education, little is known about the characteristics of physicians who serve as excellent clinical role models. We therefore conducted a case-control study to identify attributes that distinguish such physicians from their colleagues. METHODS We asked members of the internal-medicine house staff at four teaching hospitals to n...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES A trend toward the lack of interest in academic careers has been observed in Medicine, including in the area of Anesthesiology. The objective of the present study was to research the interest of physicians specializing in Anesthesiology in following an academic career, as well as identify the determinant factors of this choice. METHOD The present was a prospective an...

One hundred currently practicing physicians were surveyed regarding screening and management of domestic violence to determine whether mandatory continuing medical education (CME) is likely to increase awareness of and response to domestic violence. The authors surveyed 25 family physicians and 25 obstetrician/gynecologists in each of two states, Florida and New Jersey. In addition, they polled...

BACKGROUND Colonoscopy requires training and experience to ensure accuracy and safety. Currently, no objective, validated process exists to determine when an endoscopist has attained technical competence. Kinematics data describing movements of laparoscopic instruments have been used in surgical skill assessment to define expert surgical technique. We have developed a novel system to record kin...

BACKGROUND Frequently attending patients to primary care (FA) are likely to cost more in primary care than their non-frequently attending counterparts. But how much is spent on specialist care of FAs? We describe the healthcare expenditures of frequently attending patients during 1, 2 or 3 years and test the hypothesis that additional costs can be explained by FAs' combined morbidity and primar...