Capturing Original Preanesthetic Comprehensive History and Physical Assessments with the use of Video Telehealth: A Quality Improvement Project for Student Nurse Anesthetists.

PURPOSE: Beginning January 1, 2022, the Council on Accreditation is requiring student registered nurse anesthetists (SRNAs) matriculating into nurse anesthesia programs to track preanesthetic comprehensive history and physical (H&P) assessment completion numbers. This quality improvement (QI) project aimed to create a new clinical rotation for SRNAs to practice their preanesthetic H&P assessment skills through video telehealth. DESIGN: A quality improvement project. METHODS: Likert-style and free-text surveys were administered to both the SRNA students and the expert provider to assess for improvements, viability, and effectiveness of the clinical rotation. SRNAs used a curated library of evidence-based resources and instructions for conducting their assessments. Expert guidance was provided through a single experienced provider. FINDINGS: Eight SRNAs performed one preanesthetic telehealth H&P assessment and four of the eight performed a second assessment. Pre-QI surveys indicated 75% were not comfortable with their ability in performing a competent assessment. Initial post-QI surveys indicated 88% were more comfortable with their abilities and 100% of those who completed a second-time post-QI survey 100% were more comfortable. Provider feedback indicated full-day clinical rotations were feasible and important. CONCLUSIONS: Results revealed SRNAs desire and need for more preanesthetic comprehensive H&P appointments. Expansion into full-scale, full-day, and in-person assessments was also indicated. QI projects at other clinical sites can determine if similar rotations can also create similar clinical rotations.

Comprehensive History and Physicals are Common Before Low-Risk Surgery and Associated With Preoperative Test Overuse.

INTRODUCTION: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently eliminated the requirement for preoperative history and physicals (H&Ps) prior to ambulatory surgery. We sought to assess variations in separately billed preoperative H&P utilization prior to low-risk ambulatory surgery, describe any relationship with preoperative testing, and identify independent predictors of these consultations prior to this policy change to help characterize the potential unnecessary utilization of these consultations and potential unnecessary preoperative testing prior to low-risk surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed using claims data from a hospital value collaborative in Michigan from January 2015 to June 2019 and included patients undergoing one of three ambulatory procedures: breast lumpectomy, laparoscopic cholecystectomy, and laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair. Rates of preoperative H&P visits within 30 d of surgical procedure were determined. H&P and preoperative testing associations were explored, and patient-level, practice-level, and hospital-level determinants of utilization were assessed with regression models. Risk and reliability-adjusted caterpillar plots were generated to demonstrate hospital-level variations in utilization. RESULTS: 50,775 patients were included with 50.5% having a preoperative H&P visit, with these visits being more common for patients with increased comorbidities (1.9 ± 2.2 vs 1.4 ± 1.9; P < 0.0001). Preoperative testing was associated with H&P visits (57.2% vs 41.4%; P < 0.0001). After adjusting for patient case-mix and interhospital and intrahospital variations in H&P visits, utilization remained with significant associations in patients with increased comorbidities. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative H&P visits were common before three low-risk ambulatory surgical procedures across Michigan and were associated with higher rates of low-value preoperative testing, suggesting that preoperative H&P visits may create clinical momentum leading to unnecessary testing. These findings will inform strategies to tailor preoperative care before low-risk surgical procedures and may lead to reduced utilization of low-value preoperative testing.

Vomiting, Pyloric Mass, and Point-of-Care Ultrasound: Diagnostic Test Accuracy for Hypertrophic Pyloric Stenosis-A Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis is a common cause of nonbilious vomiting in infants younger than 6 months. Its history, physical examination, and point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) have not been compared for their diagnostic test accuracy. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this systematic review was to quantify and compare the diagnostic test accuracy of a history of vomiting, a pyloric mass on palpation, and POCUS. METHODS: We performed three searches of the literature from 1977 to March 2022. We evaluated bias using the QUADAS-2 (Quality Assessment Tool for Diagnostic Accuracy-2) tool. We performed a bivariate analysis. RESULTS: From 5369 citations, we identified 14 studies meeting our inclusion criteria. We quantified three diagnostic elements: POCUS, a pyloric mass on palpation, and vomiting. We identified five studies that analyzed POCUS, which included 329 patients. POCUS had a sensitivity of 97.7% (95% confidence interval (CI) 93.1-99.3%) and a specificity of 94.1% (95% CI 88.7-97.1%) for detecting pyloric stenosis. We identified six studies that analyzed the presence of a pyloric mass, which included 628 patients. The palpation of a pyloric mass had a sensitivity of 73.5% (95% CI 62.6-82.1%) and a specificity of 97.5% (95% CI 93.8-99.0%). We identified four studies that analyzed vomiting, which included 355 patients. Vomiting had a sensitivity of 91.3% (95% CI 82.1-96.0) and a specificity of 60.8% (95% CI 8.5-96.3). Both POCUS and palpation of a pyloric mass had a high positive likelihood ratio (LR+: 17 and 33, respectively). The LR+ for vomiting was 5.0. CONCLUSIONS: Both POCUS and palpable mass had high specificity and positive LR, whereas vomiting provided the lowest diagnostic test measures.

Perceived Barriers to the De-implementation of Routine Preoperative History & Physicals Preceding Low-Risk Ambulatory Procedures: A Qualitative Study of Surgeon Perspectives.

BACKGROUND: For patients undergoing surgery at an Ambulatory Surgical Center, recent changes to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services policy allow for the omission of a 30-day preoperative History and Physical (H&P). Preoperative H&Ps for low-risk surgery may contribute to health care waste and lead to unnecessary preoperative testing and treatment cascades. METHODS: In this qualitative study, we conducted 30 semi-structured interviews with surgeons who frequently perform low-risk surgeries. We aimed to evaluate surgeon perspectives on the continued use of the 30-day preoperative H&P and specifically the potential risks and benefits associated with the elimination of a preoperative H&P requirement from institutional practice. We used an interpretive description approach to generate a thematic description. RESULTS: Most participants felt that the 30-day preoperative H&P was low value and frequently described it as "unnecessary," "redundant," or "just checking a box." Many viewed the 30-day requirement as arbitrary and felt that new H&P findings were rare and unlikely to influence surgical care. The participants who favored the preoperative H&P felt it was a safeguard to ensure "nothing was missed" and were less likely to be burdened by the requirement than participants who felt it was low value. CONCLUSIONS: Surgeons performing low-risk procedures question the utility and value of conducting a preoperative H&P within 30 days of surgery. De-implementation of the 30-day preoperative H&P for low-risk patients may increase convenience for patients and providers. Furthermore, it may improve value in surgery by increasing access to services for patients with greater need for preoperative assessment.

Selective use of the electrocardiogram in pediatric preparticipation athletic examinations among pediatric primary care providers.

OBJECTIVES: Recent literature examining insurance administrative data suggests that a selective approach, with concurrent history and physical exam (H&P), for obtaining an electrocardiogram (ECG) as a part of a preparticipation examination (PPE) for pediatric athletes is commonly used in the primary care setting demonstrating a high rate of disease detection. We sought to understand practice patterns of providers with regard to usage of ECG as a part of PPE. METHODS: Utilizing an online survey, we queried primary care providers regarding their practice patterns, rationale, and concerns regarding use of ECGs as a part of the PPE. RESULTS: A total of 125 pediatricians completed the survey; 73.7% selectively use the ECG, 24.6% never use the ECG, and only 1.7% always obtain an ECG as part of the PPE. The most common rationale for selectively or never using the ECG is the belief that the H&P is sufficient to identify cardiac disease (70%). The most common H&P findings that lead to ECG screening include chest pain or syncope with exertion, family history of sudden cardiac death, an irregular heart rate, and a diastolic murmur. Among the diseases associated with sudden cardiac death, most pediatricians fear missing hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. CONCLUSION: Based on a survey of primary care providers, most practitioners are utilizing a selective approach of obtaining an ECG as a part of a PPE for athletic participation, which is in agreement with the current American Heart Association guidelines. Significant practice variation continues to exist, and may represent an area for future resource optimization.

Lingua patientis: new words for patient communication and history taking.

The English language sometimes fails in its ability to describe the severity or complexity of medical symptoms and complaints. In frustration, patients (or families) occasionally create new words to convey the subtleties of their medical history. Although medicine has created a comprehensive technical lexicon for physicians, we have failed to develop a corresponding patient-centric vocabulary (lingua patientis) that provides more accurate symptom description. The social networking of lingua patientis words might enhance history taking and afford improved appreciation of disease impact on individual patients. The English language is renowned for its capacity for flexibility and adaptability - we need to exploit this capacity for the benefit of our patients.

Clinically relevant exaggerated pharmacodynamic response to dual antiplatelet therapy detected by Thromboelastogram(®) Platelet Mapping™.

Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) is the standard of care for primary and secondary prevention strategies in patients with coronary artery disease after stenting. Current guidelines recommend that DAPT be continued for 12 months in patients after receiving drug eluting stents. Approximately 5% of these patients will present within this 12-month period for noncardiac surgery. This case report describes a clinically relevant exaggerated pharmacodynamic response to DAPT detected by preoperative assessment of platelet function. Based on the clinical history and physical exam and subsequent lab results, a general anesthetic was performed rather than a spinal anesthetic and the surgical procedure was changed. An exaggerated pharmacodynamic response to DAPT poses its own set of risks (unexpected uncontrolled bleeding, epidural hematoma following neuraxial block placement) that point-of-care aggregation testing may decrease or mitigate by altering clinical decision making. If the clinical history and physical exam reveal possible platelet dysfunction in patients receiving DAPT, preoperative platelet function testing should be considered.

Assessing the Ability of a Large Language Model to Score Free-Text Medical Student Clinical Notes: Quantitative Study.

Background: Teaching medical students the skills required to acquire, interpret, apply, and communicate clinical information is an integral part of medical education. A crucial aspect of this process involves providing students with feedback regarding the quality of their free-text clinical notes. Objective: The goal of this study was to assess the ability of ChatGPT 3.5, a large language model, to score medical students' free-text history and physical notes. Methods: This is a single-institution, retrospective study. Standardized patients learned a prespecified clinical case and, acting as the patient, interacted with medical students. Each student wrote a free-text history and physical note of their interaction. The students' notes were scored independently by the standardized patients and ChatGPT using a prespecified scoring rubric that consisted of 85 case elements. The measure of accuracy was percent correct. Results: The study population consisted of 168 first-year medical students. There was a total of 14,280 scores. The ChatGPT incorrect scoring rate was 1.0%, and the standardized patient incorrect scoring rate was 7.2%. The ChatGPT error rate was 86%, lower than the standardized patient error rate. The ChatGPT mean incorrect scoring rate of 12 (SD 11) was significantly lower than the standardized patient mean incorrect scoring rate of 85 (SD 74; P=.002). Conclusions: ChatGPT demonstrated a significantly lower error rate compared to standardized patients. This is the first study to assess the ability of a generative pretrained transformer (GPT) program to score medical students' standardized patient-based free-text clinical notes. It is expected that, in the near future, large language models will provide real-time feedback to practicing physicians regarding their free-text notes. GPT artificial intelligence programs represent an important advance in medical education and medical practice.

Castration-resistant prostate cancer: AUA Guideline.

PURPOSE: This Guideline is intended to provide a rational basis for the management of patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer based on currently available published data. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the published literature was conducted using controlled vocabulary supplemented with keywords relating to the relevant concepts of prostate cancer and castration resistance. The search strategy was developed and executed by reference librarians and methodologists to create an evidence report limited to English-language, published peer-reviewed literature. This review yielded 303 articles published from 1996 through 2013 that were used to form a majority of the guideline statements. Clinical Principles and Expert Opinions were used for guideline statements lacking sufficient evidence-based data. RESULTS: Guideline statements were created to inform clinicians on the appropriate use of observation, androgen-deprivation and antiandrogen therapy, androgen synthesis inhibitors, immunotherapy, radionuclide therapy, systemic chemotherapy, palliative care and bone health. These were based on six index patients developed to represent the most common scenarios encountered in clinical practice. CONCLUSIONS: As a direct result of the significant increase in FDA-approved therapeutic agents for use in patients with metastatic CRPC, clinicians are challenged with a multitude of treatment options and potential sequencing of these agents that, consequently, make clinical decision-making more complex. Given the rapidly evolving nature of this field, this guideline should be used in conjunction with recent systematic literature reviews and an understanding of the individual patient's treatment goals. In all cases, patients' preferences and personal goals should be considered when choosing management strategies.

Preoperative history and physical update visits offer limited clinical value in colorectal surgery.

BACKGROUND: United States regulations require a history and physical (H&P) ≤30 days before planned procedures. We evaluated the impact of H&P update visits in colorectal surgery. METHODS: Preoperative H&P update visits conducted in colorectal clinics at our institution during 2019 were identified. Two independent reviewers assessed whether update visits identified interval changes to history, exam, or operative plan. Secondary outcomes included visit times, estimated travel times and distances. RESULTS: For 132 visits, interval changes were identified in 39% of histories, but only 4.2% of exams and 6.8% of operative plans. When plans changed, visit goals could have been accomplished via telehealth in 77.8%. Median clinic and round-trip driving time were 61.5 and 62.2 min, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: H&P update visits conducted to satisfy the 30-day regulation rarely result in clinically relevant changes yet impose time and travel burdens on patients. Regulations should be revised to provide flexibility in H&P update modalities.

The Value of History and Physical Examination to Optimize Outcomes of Cataract Surgery: A Systematic Review.

This systematic review was conducted to examine the value of the preoperative history and physical (H&P) examination and preoperative care prior to cataract extraction and the resulting outcomes of adverse events, patient experience, and cost. Four databases were searched using appropriate keywords from 2012 to 2022. Observational studies, randomized controlled trials, and quality improvement studies with data on the precataract H&P were included. Outcome measures were adverse events, cost, and patient experience. Of the 4,170 studies screened, 12 studies were included. Risk stratification of patients into a high-risk group with an H&P and a low-risk group without an H&P resulted in an increased incidence of minor adverse events in the low-risk group but did not increase the incidence of major adverse events or surgical adverse events. A short-term cost savings was reported, and patient experience was unchanged. In 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services removed the requirement for the precataract H&P within 30 days prior to ambulatory surgery, which has implications for surgery center policy. More research on the role of the preoperative H&P on patient experience, adverse events, cost, and outcomes should be conducted, given the methodological heterogeneity of this review.

Approach to the Patient with Non-cardiac Leg Swelling.

One of the most common reasons for patient visits in the outpatient practice is lower extremity swelling. Non-cardiac etiologies are the most frequent reason for these encounters. The approach to this patient population will focus on the 7 key questions to initiate the gathering of historical information on the etiology of leg swelling. Figures and tables will complement the text for diagnosing lower extremity swelling. In this article, the common non-cardiac etiologies will be reviewed which include medications, chronic venous insufficiency, lymphatic disease, lipedema, venous thrombosis, and musculoskeletal etiologies.

Medical Note Quality Audit at the Vascular Surgical Unit Compared With the British Medical Journal (BMJ) Guidelines.

Effective medical notes ensure comprehensive documentation in healthcare. This study evaluates medical note quality in the vascular unit at Mater Dei Hospital using British Medical Journal (BMJ) guidelines. Two cycles examine 17 parameters pre- and post-intervention, revealing notable, significant enhancements in patient identifiers, clinical summaries, examination, and planning. Future prospects involve digitizing note-taking, utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) for data organization, and simplifying entry methods. Implementation of electronic solutions is encouraged for improved accuracy, efficiency, and continuity of patient care.

The Role of the Otolaryngologist in the Evaluation and Management of Headache.

Headaches are a global health problem and are encountered by a variety of specialties, including otolaryngologists. These patients can present as a challenge, but an understanding of primary and secondary headache disorders and the accompanying broad differential diagnosis is critical. For secondary headache disorders, a differential diagnosis categorized by anatomic location can help organize the evaluation of these patients, which can then be narrowed by the history and examination findings. Additional ancillary tests such as laboratories and imaging can further aid in diagnosis but are not always necessary.

A Psychiatrist with Postoperative Anxiety After Hysterectomy: How Could This Be Fatal?

Hysterectomy is a common surgery and rarely fatal. Here, we present a case of hysterectomy with postoperative complications, leading to a fatal outcome. The autopsy revealed the cause of death and clinicopathologic correlation suggested multiple lessons for patient safety. Patient safety can be enhanced by appropriate boundaries in the care of physician-patients, proactive monitoring and prompt treatment of postoperative asthma, nasogastric suction for postoperative ileus associated with vomiting, and assessment of the patient situation by a good history and physical examination, going to see the patient in person.

The Enduring Value of the Physical Examination.

This article focuses exclusively on physical examination (PE) in the context of clinical medicine, that is, the interaction between a health care provider and patient. In essence, there is not only benefit (value) to PE but also that it will last (endure) for some time. Both "enduring" and "value" are explored in more depth with respect to the future integration of PE into the clinical assessment of a patient and how its value extends well beyond current diagnostic/cost-based metrics.

Self-Directed Rater Training for Pediatric History and Physical Exam Evaluation (P-HAPEE) Rubric, a Validated Written H&P Assessment Tool.

INTRODUCTION: We developed, revised, and implemented self-directed rater training materials in the course of a validity study for a written Pediatric History and Physical Exam Evaluation (P-HAPEE) rubric. METHODS: Core training materials consist of a single-page instruction sheet, sample written history and physical (H&P), and detailed answer key. We iteratively revised the materials based on reviewer comments and pilot testing. Eighteen attending physicians and five senior residents underwent self-directed training, scored 10 H&Ps, and completed a rubric utility survey in the course of the validity study. We have since implemented the P-HAPEE rubric and self-directed rater training in a pediatric clerkship. Based on input from reviewers, study raters, faculty members, and medical student users, we have also developed and implemented additional optional supplemental training materials. RESULTS: Pilot testing indicated that training takes approximately 1 hour. While reviewers endorsed the training format, several suggested having optional supplemental materials available. Nineteen out of 23 volunteer study raters completed the rubric utility survey. All described the rubric as good or very good and indicated strong to very strong interest in continued use. DISCUSSION: The P-HAPEE rubric offers a novel, practical, reliable, and valid method for supervising physicians to assess pediatric written H&Ps and can be implemented using brief, self-directed rater training.

The Value of the History and Physical for Patients with Newly Diagnosed Brain Metastases Considering Radiosurgery.

BACKGROUND: For patients with brain metastases, systemic disease burden has historically been accepted as a major determinant of overall survival (OS). However, less research has focused on specific history and physical findings made by clinicians and how such findings pertain to patient outcomes at a given time point. The aim of this study is to determine how the initial clinical assessment of patients with brain metastases, as part of the history and physical at the time of consultation, correlates to patient prognosis. METHODS: We evaluated a prospective, multi-institutional database of 1523 brain metastases in 507 patients who were treated with radiosurgery (Gamma Knife or CyberKnife) from 2001 to 2014. Relevant history of present illness (HPI) and past medical history (PMH) variables included comorbidities, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status, and seizure history. Physical exam findings included a sensory exam, motor exam, and cognitive function. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to identify predictors of OS. RESULTS: Two hundred ninety-four patients were included in the final analysis with a median OS of 10.8 months (95% CI, 7.8-13.7 months). On univariate analysis, significant HPI predictors of OS included age, primary diagnosis, performance status, extracranial metastases, systemic disease status, and history of surgery. Significant predictors of OS from the PMH included cardiac, vascular, and infectious comorbidities. On a physical exam, findings consistent with cognitive deficits were predictive of worse OS. However, motor deficits or changes in vision were not predictive of worse OS. In the multivariate Cox regression analysis, predictors of worse OS were primary diagnosis (p = 0.002), ECOG performance status (OR 1.73, p < 0.001), and presence of extracranial metastases (OR 1.22, p = 0.009). CONCLUSION: Neurological deficits and systemic comorbidities noted at presentation are not associated with worse overall prognosis for patients with brain metastases undergoing radiosurgery. When encountering new patients with brain metastases, the most informative patient-related characteristics that determine prognosis remain performance status, primary diagnosis, and extent of extracranial disease.