Automated electronic health record-based application for sedation triage in routine colonoscopy.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Nearly all routine endoscopy procedures are performed using moderate sedation (MS) or monitored anesthesia care (MAC). In this article, we describe how we improved decision-making and decreased practitioners' cognitive burden for choosing between MAC and MS by using patient data in an automated application within the electronic health record (EHR). METHODS: In our practice, we choose between MS or MAC for routine GI procedures according to written anesthesia-use guidelines and practitioner preferences. To expedite our decision-making for MS versus MAC, we developed an Excel (Microsoft Corp, Redmond, Wash, USA)-based tool from patient demographic characteristics, comorbid conditions, and medication use extracted from the EHR. The data points from Excel were then implemented in the automated application in the EHR to predict the type of sedation for GI procedures. RESULTS: Before use of the new application, nurses spent an average of 4 minutes and gastroenterology practitioners spent 5 minutes reviewing the EHR to determine the appropriate sedation (MS or MAC). After the application was implemented, the use of MS substantially increased. Time spent reviewing the EHR was reduced to 2 minutes. The rate of adverse events for MS (.5%) versus MAC (.6%) was comparable and low overall. CONCLUSIONS: The EHR-based application, which automates and standardizes determination of sedation type, is a highly beneficial tool that eliminates subjectivity in decision-making, thus allowing for appropriate use of MAC. Adverse event rates and sedation failure did not increase with use of the application. With the increased use of MS over MAC, healthcare costs for the more-expensive MAC sedation should also decrease.

Linear relationship between absorbed radiation dose and pulse rate during fluoroscopy.

PURPOSE: To identify the relationship between fluoroscopy pulse rate and absorbed radiation dose. We compared absorbed radiation dose with common proxy measurements such as fluoroscopy time and C-arm reported dose. METHODS: Using a simulated patient model, 60 s fluoroscopy exposures were performed using pulse rates of 30, 8, 4, 2, and 1 pulse(s) per second. Each experiment was performed with both standard and low-dose settings using a GE OEC 9800 plus C-arm. Landauer nanoDot™ OSL dosimeters were used to measure the absorbed radiation dose. RESULTS: Fluoroscopy pulse rate and absorbed radiation dose demonstrated a linear correlation for both standard (R2 = 0.995, p < 0.001) and low-dose (R2 = 0.998, p < 0.001) settings. For any given pulse rate, using the low-dose setting reduced absorbed radiation dose by 58 ± 2.8%. Fluoroscopy time demonstrated a linear relationship with absorbed radiation dose for both standard (R2 = 0.996, p < 0.001) and low-dose (R2 = 0.991, p < 0.001) settings, but did not change with use of the low-dose setting. C-arm reported radiation dose correlated linearly with absorbed dose (R2 = 0.999) but consistently under-estimated measured values by an average of 49 ± 3.5%. Using a combination of 1 pulse-per-second and low-dose fluoroscopy, absorbed dose was reduced by 97.7 ± 0.1% compared to standard dose and 30 pulse-per-second settings. CONCLUSION: Absorbed radiation dose decreases linearly with fluoroscopy pulse rate during equivalent exposure times. Adjusting fluoroscopy pulse rate and utilizing low-dose settings significantly reduces overall absorbed radiation exposure by up to 98%.

Salvage Surgery Rates for Pediatric Testicular Torsion: Comparison of the Pre- and Post-Quality Metric Eras.

PURPOSE: Pediatric testicular torsion is a urological emergency that requires timely intervention. In 2015, quality metrics for testicular torsion were implemented in the U.S. News & World Report "Best Children's Hospitals" rankings. Our study examines and compares testicular salvage surgery rates before and after the institution of national quality metrics from a multi-institutional database. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Pediatric Health Information System® was surveyed for all testicular torsion encounters using ICD (International Classification of Diseases), Ninth and Tenth Revisions coding from 52 hospitals between January 2010 and December 2019. Patients <1 year and ≥18 years of age were excluded. Only hospitals that reported outcomes before and after quality scoring were included. Testicular salvage surgery was defined as patients having undergone orchiopexy without concomitant orchiectomy. Age, race, distance from hospital, household income and insurance status were compared. RESULTS: A total of 890 patients (551 pre-metric and 339 post-metric) from 38 hospitals were included. The testicular salvage surgery rate was 12.5% higher in the post-metric cohort (70.9% versus 58.4%). Hospital compliance to testicular torsion quality metrics increased from 62% in 2015 to 98% in 2019. Mean age, race, distance to hospital, household income, insurance status and use of ultrasound were not statistically different between pre- and post-metric cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: Since the implementation of quality metrics, salvage surgery rates for testicular torsion increased to 70.9%, an improvement of 12.5% when compared to pre-metric outcomes. Patient factors were similar between the 2 groups. Multi-institutional prospective data are needed to validate this database study and evaluate overall testicular salvage rate.

Sociotechnical Intervention for Improved Delivery of Preventive Cardiovascular Care to Rural Communities: Participatory Design Approach.

BACKGROUND: Clinical practice guidelines recommend antiplatelet and statin therapies as well as blood pressure control and tobacco cessation for secondary prevention in patients with established atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVDs). However, these strategies for risk modification are underused, especially in rural communities. Moreover, resources to support the delivery of preventive care to rural patients are fewer than those for their urban counterparts. Transformative interventions for the delivery of tailored preventive cardiovascular care to rural patients are needed. OBJECTIVE: A multidisciplinary team developed a rural-specific, team-based model of care intervention assisted by clinical decision support (CDS) technology using participatory design in a sociotechnical conceptual framework. The model of care intervention included redesigned workflows and a novel CDS technology for the coordination and delivery of guideline recommendations by primary care teams in a rural clinic. METHODS: The design of the model of care intervention comprised 3 phases: problem identification, experimentation, and testing. Input from team members (n=35) required 150 hours, including observations of clinical encounters, provider workshops, and interviews with patients and health care professionals. The intervention was prototyped, iteratively refined, and tested with user feedback. In a 3-month pilot trial, 369 patients with ASCVDs were randomized into the control or intervention arm. RESULTS: New workflows and a novel CDS tool were created to identify patients with ASCVDs who had gaps in preventive care and assign the right care team member for delivery of tailored recommendations. During the pilot, the intervention prototype was iteratively refined and tested. The pilot demonstrated feasibility for successful implementation of the sociotechnical intervention as the proportion of patients who had encounters with advanced practice providers (nurse practitioners and physician assistants), pharmacists, or tobacco cessation coaches for the delivery of guideline recommendations in the intervention arm was greater than that in the control arm. CONCLUSIONS: Participatory design and a sociotechnical conceptual framework enabled the development of a rural-specific, team-based model of care intervention assisted by CDS technology for the transformation of preventive health care delivery for ASCVDs.

Government Mandated Consent Dramatically Reduces Pediatric Urologist Opioid Utilization for Outpatient and Minor Emergency Surgeries.

PURPOSE: Postoperative opioids are overprescribed in the United States. In November 2016 the State of Pennsylvania required an opioid consent for minors. Our hypothesis is that this mandate decreased postoperative opioid prescriptions in our division. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients who received a urological outpatient or minor emergency procedure from August 2015 to August 2019 were identified. Surgeries performed within 6 months after mandate implementation were excluded to account for the transition period. Perioperative data including case type were extracted by a clinical data warehouse from preexisting fields within the health record. The frequencies of postoperative prescriptions, delayed prescriptions and emergency department encounters were assessed. A multivariable logistic regression to identify predictors of opioid prescription at discharge was performed. RESULTS: A total of 4,349 patients were analyzed. The frequency of postsurgical opioid prescriptions decreased from 45.3% to 2.6% (p <0.001). The median morphine milligram equivalent decreased by 22.5 among children prescribed an opioid (p <0.001). Rates of an emergency department visits (3% vs 2.7%) or delayed nonopioid prescriptions (0.8% vs 1.2%) within 30 days of discharge were unchanged (p >0.05). Fewer patients received a delayed opioid prescription after mandate implementation (0.03% vs 0.5%, p <0.001). Female patients were less likely (OR 0.309, 95% CI 0.195-0.491; p <0.001) to receive opioids prior to but not after the mandate (OR 0.309, 95% CI 0.544-2.035; p=0.122). Increasing age was predictive of receiving an opioid before (OR 1.187, 95% CI 1.157-1.218; p <0.001) and after (OR 1.241, 95% CI 1.186-1.299; p <0.001) the mandate. CONCLUSIONS: A state mandated opioid consent for minors greatly reduced post-urological surgery opioid prescription rates without increasing rates of readmission or delayed prescriptions.

Variation in Patient Experience Across the Clinic Day: a Multilevel Assessment of Four Primary Care Practices.

BACKGROUND: Patient satisfaction with healthcare is associated with clinical outcomes, provider satisfaction, and success of healthcare organizations. As the clinic day progresses, provider fatigue, deterioration with communication within the care team, and appointment spillover may decrease patient experience. OBJECTIVE: To understand the relationship between likelihood to recommend a primary care practice and scheduled appointment time across multiple practice settings. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort. PARTICIPANTS: A retrospective cohort was created of all patients seen within four primary care practices between July 1, 2016, and September 30, 2017. MAIN MEASURES: We looked at scheduled appointment time against patient likelihood to recommend a practice as a measure of overall patient experience collected routinely for clinical practice improvement by the Press Ganey Medical Practice Survey®. Adjusted mixed effects logistic regression models were created to understand the relationship between progressing appointment time on patient likelihood to recommend a practice. We constructed locally weighted smoothing (LOESS) curves to understand how reported patient experience varied over the clinic day. RESULTS: We had a response rate of 14.0% (n = 3172), 80.2% of whom indicated they would recommend our practice to others. Appointment time scheduling during the last hour (4:00-4:59 PM) had a 45% lower odds of recommending our practice when compared to the first clinic hour (adjusted OR = 0.55, 95% CI 0.35-0.86) which is similar when controlling for patient-reported wait time (aOR = 0.59, 95% CI 0.37-0.95). LOESS plots demonstrated declining satisfaction with subsequent appointment times compared with the first session hour, with no effect just after the lunch hour break. CONCLUSIONS: In primary care, appointment time of day is associated with patient-reported experience.

Robotic Urologic Surgery in the Infant: a Review.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The goal of this article is to review the current role of robotic urologic surgery in the infant population across a spectrum of diseases and procedures. RECENT FINDINGS: Robotic urological surgery has been performed in the infant population across a variety of conditions including ureteropelvic junction obstruction, vesicoureteral reflux, and duplicated and nonfunctional renal moieties. However, most of the durable evidence showing safety and success remains in the repair of the obstructed ureteropelvic junction. Included in this review are also strategies to address the limitations imposed by the unique physiology and anatomy of the infant. Robotic urologic surgery remains an alternative to other surgical approaches in the properly selected infant in the hands of experienced surgeons. As additional larger studies are performed, the utility of the robotic platform in this population will be clearer.

Mining peripheral arterial disease cases from narrative clinical notes using natural language processing.

OBJECTIVE: Lower extremity peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is highly prevalent and affects millions of individuals worldwide. We developed a natural language processing (NLP) system for automated ascertainment of PAD cases from clinical narrative notes and compared the performance of the NLP algorithm with billing code algorithms, using ankle-brachial index test results as the gold standard. METHODS: We compared the performance of the NLP algorithm to (1) results of gold standard ankle-brachial index; (2) previously validated algorithms based on relevant International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision diagnostic codes (simple model); and (3) a combination of International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes with procedural codes (full model). A dataset of 1569 patients with PAD and controls was randomly divided into training (n = 935) and testing (n = 634) subsets. RESULTS: We iteratively refined the NLP algorithm in the training set including narrative note sections, note types, and service types, to maximize its accuracy. In the testing dataset, when compared with both simple and full models, the NLP algorithm had better accuracy (NLP, 91.8%; full model, 81.8%; simple model, 83%; P < .001), positive predictive value (NLP, 92.9%; full model, 74.3%; simple model, 79.9%; P < .001), and specificity (NLP, 92.5%; full model, 64.2%; simple model, 75.9%; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: A knowledge-driven NLP algorithm for automatic ascertainment of PAD cases from clinical notes had greater accuracy than billing code algorithms. Our findings highlight the potential of NLP tools for rapid and efficient ascertainment of PAD cases from electronic health records to facilitate clinical investigation and eventually improve care by clinical decision support.

Robotic Ureteral Reimplant-the Current Role.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The goal of this article is to review the current role of robotic ureteral reimplant in pediatric patients, specifically in regard to indications, outcomes, and complications. RECENT FINDINGS: Robotic ureteral reimplant has become an increasingly popular alternative to open ureteral reimplant with overall published success rates between 77-100%. In recent years, larger, multi-institutional studies have been conducted revealing lower success rates and higher complications than previously reported, but the procedure still remains safe and effective in the hands of skilled surgeons. The robotic approach offers shorter hospital stay, decreased post-operative pain, and improved cosmesis, but also results in higher healthcare costs. Robotic ureteral reimplant serves as a minimally invasive alternative to open ureteral reimplant for the properly selected patient in the hands of experience surgeons.

Exploring differences in the use of the statin choice decision aid and diabetes medication choice decision aid in primary care.

BACKGROUND: Shared decision making is essential to patient centered care, but can be difficult for busy clinicians to implement into practice. Tools have been developed to aid in shared decision making and embedded in electronic medical records (EMRs) to facilitate use. This study was undertaken to explore the patterns of use and barriers and facilitators to use of two decision aids, the Statin Choice Decision Aid (SCDA) and the Diabetes Medication Choice Decision Aid (DMCDA), in primary care practices where the decision aids are embedded in the EMR. METHODS: A survey exploring factors that influenced use of each decision aid was sent to eligible primary care clinicians affiliated with the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. Survey data was collected and clinician use of each decision aid via links from the EMR was tracked. RESULTS: The survey response rate was 40% (105/262). Log file data indicated 51% of clinicians used the SCDA and 9% of clinicians used the DMCDA. Reasons for lack of use included lack of knowledge of the EMR link, not finding the decision aids helpful, and time constraints. Survey responses indicated that use of the tool as intended was low, with many clinicians only discussing decision aid topics that they found relevant. CONCLUSION: Although guidelines for both the treatment of blood cholesterol with a statin and for the treatment of hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes recommend shared decision making, tools that facilitate shared decision making are not routinely used even when embedded in the EMR. Even when decision aids are used, their use may not reflect patient centered care.

Clinician time used for decision making: a best case workflow study using cardiovascular risk assessments and Ask Mayo Expert algorithmic care process models.

BACKGROUND: Risk calculation is increasingly used in lipid management, congestive heart failure, and atrial fibrillation. The risk scores are then used for decisions about statin use, anticoagulation, and implantable defibrillator use. Calculating risks for patients and making decisions based on these risks is often done at the point of care and is an additional time burden for clinicians that can be decreased by automating the tasks and using clinical decision-making support. METHODS: Using Morae Recorder software, we timed 30 healthcare providers tasked with calculating the overall risk of cardiovascular events, sudden death in heart failure, and thrombotic event risk in atrial fibrillation. Risk calculators used were the American College of Cardiology Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease risk calculator (AHA-ASCVD risk), Seattle Heart Failure Model (SHFM risk), and CHA2DS2VASc. We also timed the 30 providers using Ask Mayo Expert care process models for lipid management, heart failure management, and atrial fibrillation management based on the calculated risk scores. We used the Mayo Clinic primary care panel to estimate time for calculating an entire panel risk. RESULTS: Mean provider times to complete the CHA2DS2VASc, AHA-ASCVD risk, and SHFM were 36, 45, and 171 s respectively. For decision making about atrial fibrillation, lipids, and heart failure, the mean times (including risk calculations) were 85, 110, and 347 s respectively. CONCLUSION: Even under best case circumstances, providers take a significant amount of time to complete risk assessments. For a complete panel of patients this can lead to hours of time required to make decisions about prescribing statins, use of anticoagulation, and medications for heart failure. Informatics solutions are needed to capture data in the medical record and serve up automatically calculated risk assessments to physicians and other providers at the point of care.

Assessment and improvement of HIV screening rates in a Midwest primary care practice using an electronic clinical decision support system: a quality improvement study.

BACKGROUND: Universal human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) screening remains low in many clinical practices despite published guidelines recommending screening for all patients between ages 13-65. Electronic clinical decision support tools have improved screening rates for many chronic diseases. We designed a quality improvement project to improve the rate of universal HIV screening of adult patients in a Midwest primary care practice using a clinical decision support tool. METHODS: We conducted this quality improvement project in Rochester, Minnesota from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014. Baseline primary care practice HIV screening data were acquired from January 1, 2014 to April 30, 2014. We surveyed providers and educated them about current CDC recommended screening guidelines. We then added an HIV screening alert to an existing electronic clinical decision support tool and post-intervention HIV screening rates were obtained from May 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014. The primary quality outcome being assessed was change in universal HIV screening rates. RESULTS: Twelve thousand five hundred ninety-six unique patients were eligible for HIV screening in 2014; 327 were screened for HIV. 6,070 and 6,526 patients were seen before and after the intervention, respectively. 1.80 % of eligible patients and 3.34 % of eligible patients were screened prior to and after the intervention, respectively (difference of -1.54 % [-2.1 %, -0.99 %], p < 0.0001); OR 1.89 (1.50, 2.38). Prior to the intervention, African Americans were more likely to have been screened for HIV (OR 3.86 (2.22, 6.71; p < 0.001) than Whites, but this effect decreased significantly after the intervention (OR 1.90 (1.12, 3.21; p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: These data showed that an electronic alert almost doubled the rates of universal HIV screening by primary care providers in a Midwestern practice and reduced racial disparities, but there is still substantial room for improvement in universal screening practices. Opportunities for universal HIV screening remain abundant, as many providers either do not understand the importance of screening average risk patients or do not remember to discuss it. Alerts to remind providers of current guidelines and help identify screening opportunities can be helpful.

Apple HealthKit and Health App: Patient Uptake and Barriers in Primary Care.

BACKGROUND: The Apple (Cupertino, CA) HealthKit is a new telemonitoring platform that promises to make it easier for patients and healthcare institutions to collect, transmit, and store data from devices that monitor common conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and asthma. To assess the potential use for this platform in primary care, we need to know how many Apple Healthkit users there are and if they have conditions that could benefit from telemonitoring. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We examined patients in the Mayo Clinic primary care practice in Rochester, MN, who registered to connect to their Mayo Clinic medical record with Apple HealthKit. We used the primary care registry to identify users with chronic conditions of diabetes, hypertension, asthma, and depression. We also examined users for recent measurements of blood pressure, glucose, hemoglobin A1C, and cholesterol. RESULTS: Of 98,151 patients there were 503 registrants of HealthKit. There were 95 (19%) who had hypertension, 37 (7.4%) who had diabetes, 125 (25%) who had depression, and 56 (11%) who had asthma. Overall, there were 245 (49%) who had readily telemonitorable conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Almost half of primary care Apple HealthKit registrants have conditions that could benefit from telemonitoring. This pre-installed telemonitoring platform, available on every new iPhone(®) (Apple), can be used to monitor a significant number of primary care patients. However, it also has continued provider and informatics barriers that need to be addressed.

Information Needs Assessment for a Medicine Ward-Focused Rounding Dashboard.

To identify the routine information needs of inpatient clinicians on the general wards for the development of an electronic dashboard. Survey of internal medicine and subspecialty clinicians from March 2014-July 2014 at Saint Marys Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota. An information needs assessment was generated from all unique data elements extracted from all handoff and rounding tools used by clinicians in our ICUs and general wards. An electronic survey was distributed to 104 inpatient medical providers. 89 unique data elements were identified from currently utilized handoff and rounding instruments. All data elements were present in our multipurpose ICU-based dashboard. 42 of 104 (40 %) surveys were returned. Data elements important (50/89, 56 %) and unimportant (24/89, 27 %) for routine use were identified. No significant differences in data element ranking were observed between supervisory and nonsupervisory roles. The routine information needs of general ward clinicians are a subset of data elements used routinely by ICU clinicians. Our findings suggest an electronic dashboard could be adapted from the critical care setting to the general wards with minimal modification.

Implementation of a new prenatal care model to reduce office visits and increase connectivity and continuity of care: protocol for a mixed-methods study.

BACKGROUND: Most low-risk pregnant women receive the standard model of prenatal care with frequent office visits. Research suggests that a reduced schedule of visits among low-risk women could be implemented without increasing adverse maternal or fetal outcomes, but patient satisfaction with these models varies. We aim to determine the effectiveness and feasibility of a new prenatal care model (OB Nest) that enhances a reduced visit model by adding virtual connections that improve continuity of care and patient-directed access to care. METHODS AND DESIGN: This mixed-methods study uses a hybrid effectiveness-implementation design in a single center randomized controlled trial (RCT). Embedding process evaluation in an experimental design like an RCT allows researchers to answer both "Did it work?" and "How or why did it work (or not work)?" when studying complex interventions, as well as providing knowledge for translation into practice after the study. The RE-AIM framework was used to ensure attention to evaluating program components in terms of sustainable adoption and implementation. Low-risk patients recruited from the Obstetrics Division at Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN) will be randomized to OB Nest or usual care. OB Nest patients will be assigned to a dedicated nursing team, scheduled for 8 pre-planned office visits with a physician or midwife and 6 telephone or online nurse visits (compared to 12 pre-planned physician or midwife office visits in the usual care group), and provided fetal heart rate and blood pressure home monitoring equipment and information on joining an online care community. Quantitative methods will include patient surveys and medical record abstraction. The primary quantitative outcome is patient-reported satisfaction. Other outcomes include fidelity to items on the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists standards of care list, health care utilization (e.g. numbers of antenatal office visits), and maternal and fetal outcomes (e.g. gestational age at delivery), as well as validated patient-reported measures of pregnancy-related stress and perceived quality of care. Quantitative analysis will be performed according to the intention to treat principle. Qualitative methods will include interviews and focus groups with providers, staff, and patients, and will explore satisfaction, intervention adoption, and implementation feasibility. We will use methods of qualitative thematic analysis at three stages. Mixed methods analysis will involve the use of qualitative data to lend insight to quantitative findings. DISCUSSION: This study will make important contributions to the literature on reduced visit models by evaluating a novel prenatal care model with components to increase patient connectedness (even with fewer pre-scheduled office visits), as demonstrated on a range of patient-important outcomes. The use of a hybrid effectiveness-implementation approach, as well as attention to patient and provider perspectives on program components and implementation, may uncover important information that can inform long-term feasibility and potentially speed future translation. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Trial registration identifier: NCT02082275 Submitted: March 6, 2014.

Inflammatory response to Escherichia coli urinary tract infection in the neurogenic bladder of the spinal cord injured host.

PURPOSE: Urinary tract infections cause significant morbidity in patients with spinal cord injury. An in vivo spinal cord injured rat model of experimental Escherichia coli urinary tract infection mimics human disease with enhanced susceptibility to urinary tract infection compared to controls. We hypothesized that a dysregulated inflammatory response contributes to enhanced susceptibility to urinary tract infection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Spinal cord injured and sham injured rats were inoculated transurethrally with E. coli. Transcript levels of 84 inflammatory pathway genes were measured in bladder tissue of each group before infection, 24 hours after infection and after 5 days of antibiotic therapy. RESULTS: Before infection quantitative polymerase chain reaction array revealed greater than twofold up-regulation in the proinflammatory factor transcripts slc11a1, ccl4 and il1ß, and down-regulation of the antimicrobial peptides lcn2 and mpo in spinal cord injured vs control bladders. At 24 hours after infection spinal cord injured bladders showed an attenuated innate immune response with decreased expression of il6, slc11a1, il1ß and lcn2, and decreased il10 and slpi expression compared to controls. Despite clearance of bacteriuria with antibiotics spinal cord injured rats had delayed induction of il6 transcription and a delayed anti-inflammatory response with decreased il10 and slpi transcript levels relative to controls. CONCLUSIONS: Spinal cord injured bladders fail to mount a characteristic inflammatory response to E. coli infection and cannot suppress inflammation after infection is eliminated. This may lead to increased susceptibility to urinary tract infection and persistent chronic inflammation through neural mediated pathways, which to our knowledge remain to be defined.

Impact of patient portal secure messages and electronic visits on adult primary care office visits.

INTRODUCTION: Secure messages and electronic visits ("e-visits") through patient portals provide patients with alternatives to face-to-face appointments, telephone contact, letters, and e-mails. Limited information exists on how portal messaging impacts face-to-face visits in primary care. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 2,357 primary care patients who used electronic messaging (both secure messages and e-visits) on a patient portal. Face-to-face appointment frequencies (visits/year) of each patient were calculated before and after the first message in a matched-pairs analysis. We analyzed visit frequencies with and without adjustments for a first message surge in visits, and we examined subgroups of high message utilizers and long-term users. RESULTS: Primary care patients who sent at least one message (secure message or e-visit) had a mean of 2.43 (standard deviation [SD] 2.3) annual face-to-face visits before the first message and 2.47 (SD 2.8) after, a nonsignificant difference (p=0.45). After adjustment for a first message surge in visits, no significant visit frequency differences were observed (mean, 2.35 annual visits per patient both before and after first message; p=0.93). Subgroup analysis also showed no significant change in visit frequency for patients with higher message utilization or for those who had used the messaging feature longer. CONCLUSIONS: No significant change in face-to-face visit frequency was observed following implementation of portal messaging. Secure messaging and e-visits through a patient portal may not result in a change of adult primary care face-to-face visits.

Use of a novel hemoadsorption device for cytokine removal as adjuvant therapy in a patient with septic shock with multi-organ dysfunction: A case study.

CytoSorb(®) (CytoSorbents Corporation, USA) is a novel sorbent hemoadsorption device for cytokine removal. The aim of this study was to examine the clinical use of CytoSorb(®) in the management of patient with septic shock. We used this device as an adjuvant to stabilize a young patient with multi-organ failure and severe sepsis with septic shock. A 36-year-old female patient was hospitalized with the complaints of malaise, general body ache, and breathing difficulty and had a medical history of diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, hypothyroidism and morbid obesity. She was diagnosed to have septic shock with multi-organ dysfunction (MODS) and a low perfusion state. CytoSorb(®) hemoadsorption column was used as an attempt at blood purification. Acute physiology and chronic health evaluation score, MODS score, and sequential organ failure assessment score were measured before and after the device application. CytoSorb application as an adjuvant therapy could be considered in septic shock.

Prospective assessment of entrance skin dose and targets for radiation reduction during abdominal plain films in pediatric urology patients.

INTRODUCTION: Abdominal radiographs are frequently used for evaluation of bowel and bladder dysfunction in pediatric urology. However, the dose of radiation delivered with each study is estimated from machine settings as opposed to measurement of the true entrance skin dose. In addition, the correlation of radiographic constipation with patient symptoms has been questioned. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the practices for obtaining abdominal radiographs and the true entrance skin dose of radiation for each examination in order to identify targets for radiation reduction. STUDY DESIGN: Pediatric urology patients were prospectively enrolled from June 2022 through June 2023. Dosimeters were attached to the navel to collect entrance skin doses from single view abdominal x-ray. Estimated doses were compared to measured entrance skin dose as well as patient characteristics. Exam parameters were evaluated to identify targets for radiation reduction. RESULTS: A total of 75 patients were recruited for this study with a median age of 10.0 years (IQR 6-14). Most evaluations were done to assess for bowel and bladder dysfunction (68 exams, 91%). The protocol for exams was not standardized resulting in 27% of patients undergoing a medium or high dose strength and 55% undergoing 1 or more image. The median estimated dose was 0.63 mGy (IQR 0.3-1.2 mGy). The median measured dose was 0.77 mGy (IQR 0.31-2.01 mGy) which was significantly different than the estimations (p < 0.001). The estimated dose, measured dose and estimate error were all found to be positively correlated with patient characteristics including age and body mass index (See Figure). Increasing age and body mass index also showed a higher likelihood of increased dose strength and image acquisition. DISCUSSION: The measured entrance skin dose of radiation is significantly higher than prior estimates. The measured dose but also the estimate error increased with patient age and size which is likely related to higher settings used for image acquisition as patients age. Standardized protocols using low dose settings and limiting image acquisition to the pelvis may reduce radiation exposure in children with bowel and bladder dysfunction while providing adequate diagnostic data. CONCLUSION: Radiation dose for abdominal radiographs is higher than previously estimated. Older and larger children received higher doses which may be mediated by increased dose strength and image acquisition. Standardization of protocols could lower radiation exposure.

Menopause in the workplace: Challenges, impact, and next steps.

INTRODUCTION: Menopause is a natural part of a woman's life that coincides with a time when many women play significant roles in the workforce. Menopause symptoms, such as hot flashes, fatigue, and difficulty with concentration and memory, can have a negative effect on work productivity and efficiency. OBJECTIVES: This paper summarizes the impact of menopause in the workplace, with an emphasis on the impact of symptoms on employed women and how the workplace influences their experiences. It highlights economic implications, promotes awareness, and suggests potential next steps. METHODS: A search for papers was conducted between August and November 2023 in the PubMed and Medline databases. Papers were selected based on personal experience and interpretation of the findings. Recommendations for managing menopause symptoms in the workplace and guidance on an optimal workplace intervention strategy were provided. RESULTS: Women experiencing severe menopause symptoms are more likely to report adverse work outcomes, including absenteeism and job-related decisions such as quitting, retiring early, or declining promotions than women experiencing few symptoms. Factors such as a lack of awareness about menopause, inflexible work conditions, and high-stress jobs can exacerbate the severity of these symptoms. Additionally, unaddressed menopause symptoms contribute to both direct and indirect economic costs, including medical resource utilization and lost work productivity, resulting in a substantial economic burden. CONCLUSION: Menopause symptoms impair women's work experiences and productivity. In addition to dismantling the stigma associated with menopause, it is critical to create and implement menopause workplace policies and interventions aimed at supporting women in this universal life stage.