Endoscopic Olecranon Bursectomy in the Treatment of Recalcitrant Olecranon Bursitis: Patient Selection and Operative Technique.

Olecranon bursitis is the most common form of bursitis. While it can commonly be treated using noninvasive measures, a surgical approach is indicated for cases of recalcitrant olecranon bursitis, which fail such treatment options. Traditionally, recalcitrant olecranon bursitis has been treated with an open bursectomy. Recently, arthroscopy has been proposed as an alternative method. Contraindications for this approach are cases where the bursa is massively enlarged and contains copious amounts of gouty tophi. While a unanimous consensus regarding which surgical approach is optimal has yet to be made, the endoscopic approach could potentially reduce issues inherent to open bursectomies such as improper wound healing and recurrence. This would reduce patient discomfort and allow them to return to activity sooner. We present a technique for treating recalcitrant olecranon bursitis using endoscopic resection.

An exploratory investigation of hospice marketing: How are palliative care providers marketing their services?

Hospice and palliative care is a recent, but fast growing, industry in healthcare. Demographics suggest that hospice care will only increase. The purpose of this article is to examine strategic marketing initiatives hospice organizations currently employ. Data were collected at a hospice regional conference, capturing opinions from hospice organizations located in North and South Carolina. The results show that many hospice organizations do not have a dedicated marketing staff person, have a limited marketing budget, do not fully utilize all strategic planning tools, and have yet to differentiate themselves via branding. Implications of these findings for hospice providers are discussed.

An investigation of factors that influence the consumption of dietary supplements.

This study finds that consumers take dietary supplements to improve their physical health and gain peace of mind. Several factors influence the consumption of dietary supplements, but the advice of a physician underlies most consumer behavior. Few dietary supplement users over-consume these types of products, but those who do could be partaking in potentially dangerous consumption practices. More importantly, those who consume multivitamins, concentrates, and herbs/flowers/ roots express different consumer behaviors from those who only take multivitamins and concentrates. Conclusions are drawn in light of the media's impact on the behaviors of dietary supplement consumers.