Litigation Following Carpal Tunnel Release.

Background: Carpal tunnel release (CTR) is the most common hand surgery operation performed in the United States. While serious complications are rare, they can be life-altering to patients. In some cases, patients will pursue malpractice claims against the surgeon. This study aimed to understand the patient, procedure, and surgeon factors involved in CTR malpractice litigation. Methods: The Westlaw legal database was queried for all recorded CTR malpractice cases resulting in jury verdicts and settlements. Only cases directly related to injury after CTR were included in this study. Cases were reviewed to determine plaintiff demographics, defendant training, liability, injury, outcomes, and monetary awards. Results: Ninety-two unique cases were identified. Plaintiffs were predominantly female (n = 65, 71%). Most surgeons were orthopedic-trained (n = 37, 52%). Only 27% of defendants (n = 19) were hand fellowship-trained. Only 19% of cases resulting in a monetary award were against surgeons who had hand fellowship training. The majority of cases (n = 61, 66%) were found in favor of the defendant. Monetary awards averaged $305 923 (range = $12 000-1 338 147), while settlements averaged $266 250. Alleged liability was most for surgeon negligence (n = 69, 75%) with a third of cases resulting in monetary awards. Median nerve injury was claimed in 41 cases (45%), with 17 (41%) resulting in monetary awards. Conclusion: Although CTR is generally safe and effective, some patients will experience complications. Median nerve injury was the most common reason for successful litigation in this study. Adequate training and experience in hand surgery may lower the risk of injuries resulting in successful malpractice suits.

Trends in Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education Accreditation for Subspecialty Fellowship Training in Plastic Surgery.

BACKGROUND: The purposes of this study were to (1) determine the proportion of plastic surgery residents pursuing subspecialty training relative to other surgical specialties, and (2) analyze trends in Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education accreditation of plastic surgery subspecialty fellowship programs. METHODS: The American Medical Association provided data on career intentions of surgical chief residents graduating from 2014 to 2016. The percentage of residents pursuing fellowship training was compared by specialty. Trends in the proportion of accredited fellowship programs in craniofacial surgery, hand surgery, and microsurgery were analyzed. The percentage of accredited programs was compared between subspecialties with added-certification options (hand surgery) and subspecialties without added-certification options (craniofacial surgery and microsurgery). RESULTS: Most integrated and independent plastic surgery residents pursued fellowship training (61.8 percent versus 49.6 percent; p = 0.014). Differences existed by specialty from a high in orthopedic surgery (90.8 percent) to a low in colon and rectal surgery (3.2 percent). From 2005 to 2015, the percentage of accredited craniofacial fellowship programs increased, but was not significant (from 27.8 percent to 33.3 percent; p = 0.386). For hand surgery, the proportion of accredited programs that were plastic surgery (p = 0.755) and orthopedic surgery (p = 0.253) was stable, whereas general surgery decreased (p = 0.010). Subspecialty areas with added-certification options had more accredited fellowships than those without (100 percent versus 19.2 percent; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: There has been slow adoption of accreditation among plastic surgery subspecialty fellowships, but added-certification options appear to be highly correlated.

Final priority; National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research--Research Fellowships Program (also known as the Mary E. Switzer Research Fellowships). Final priority.

The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services announces a priority for the Research Fellowships Program administered by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR). Specifically, this notice announces a priority for a Distinguished Residential Disability and Rehabilitation Policy Fellowship. We take this action to focus attention on an area of national need. We intend the priority to build research capacity by providing support to highly qualified, experienced researchers, including those who are individuals with disabilities, to conduct policy research in the areas of disability and rehabilitation.

VA Health Professional Scholarship and Visual Impairment and Orientation and Mobility Professional Scholarship Programs. Final rule.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is amending its VA Health Professional Scholarship Program (HPSP) regulations. VA is also establishing regulations for a new program, the Visual Impairment and Orientation and Mobility Professional Scholarship Program (VIOMPSP). These regulations comply with and implement sections 302 and 603 of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 (the 2010 Act). Section 302 of the 2010 Act established the VIOMPSP, which authorizes VA to provide financial assistance to certain students seeking a degree in visual impairment or orientation or mobility, in order to increase the supply of qualified blind rehabilitation specialists for VA and the United States. Section 603 of the 2010 Act reauthorized and modified HPSP, a program that provides scholarships for education or training in certain health care occupations.

Desarrollo y validación de la becaD, un instrumento de evaluación basado en la clasificación internacional del funcionamiento, de la discapacidad y de la salud / Development and validation of BECAD. An Instrument derived from the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health

Fundamentos: La Clasificación Internacional del Funcionamiento, de la Discapacidad y la Salud (CIF) proporciona un marco conceptual muy útil en la rehabilitación de personas con trastornos crónicos, con problemas complejos y atendidos por equipos interdisciplinares. El objetivo de este trabajo fue el desarrollo de una batería de escalas basadas en la CIF para la planificación de tratamientos y la evaluación de resultados. Métodos: Un grupo de expertos realizó una modificación de los elementos de las Actividades de la CIF. Se diseñaron preguntas y tareas que fueron sometidas a valoración por un segundo grupo. Se diseñó una aplicación informática en línea. La muestra estuvo formada por 116 participantes, 34 con daño cerebral adquirido, 38 con trastorno mental grave y 44 controles. La administración de las escalas la realizaron psicólogos entrenados y profesionales sanitarios. Se realizaron análisis factoriales exploratorios de tres escalas: “Aprendizaje, aplicación del conocimiento y tareas y demandas generales”, “Autocuidado y “Movilidad”, análisis de consistencia interna, MANCOVAs y análisis de regresión. Resultados: En Aprendizaje, aplicación del conocimiento y tareas y demandas generales se obtuvieron tres factores que explicaron el 52,58% de la varianza. En Movilidad se obtuvieron dos factores que explicaron el 76,91 % y en “Autocuidado” se obtuvieron otros dos, que explicaron el 77,60 %. Los test de MANCOVAs mostraron diferencias entre las tres muestras en todos los factores y los coeficientes de fiabilidad tuvieron valores entre 0,91 y 0,99. Conclusiones: Los resultados de este estudio indicaron adecuadas propiedades métricas de las nuevas escalas, cuyos factores discriminaron entre muestras y tuvieron alta fiabilidad(AU)

Background: The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) provides a useful theoretical framework for the rehabilitation of chronic diseases with complex problems that require interdisciplinary teams. The aim of this study was the development of a set of scales based on ICF for treatment planning and outcome assessment. Methods: A group of experts conducted several changes of the elements from the Activities and Participation ICF chapter. Tasks and questions were designed and then, submitted to review from another group of experts.An online application was designed. The sample consisted of 116 participants, 34 of them with brain injury, 38 with severe mental disorders and 44 controls. Trained psychologists and other health professionals administered the scales. Exploratory factor analysis of the scales “Learning and applying knowledge and general tasks and demands”, “Self-care” and “Mobility” besides reliability coefficients, MANCOVAs and regression analyses were performed. Results: In the scale “Learning and applying knowledge and general tasks and demands” three factors have been extracted, which explain 52,58% of variance. In the scale “Mobility” two factors have been extracted, explaining 76,91 % of variance; and in “Self-care”, another two factors were extracted, explaining 77,60%of variance.MANCOVAs showed significant differences between the three groups in all seven new factors. All factors presented coefficients between 0.91 and 0.99. Conclusions: These results showed appropriate metric properties of the newscales,whose factors discriminate between groups and have a high reliability(AU)

Parental leave for residents and pediatric training programs.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is committed to the development of rational, equitable, and effective parental leave policies that are sensitive to the needs of pediatric residents, families, and developing infants and that enable parents to spend adequate and good-quality time with their young children. It is important for each residency program to have a policy for parental leave that is written, that is accessible to residents, and that clearly delineates program practices regarding parental leave. At a minimum, a parental leave policy for residents and fellows should conform legally with the Family Medical Leave Act as well as with respective state laws and should meet institutional requirements of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education for accredited programs. Policies should be well formulated and communicated in a culturally sensitive manner. The AAP advocates for extension of benefits consistent with the Family Medical Leave Act to all residents and interns beginning at the time that pediatric residency training begins. The AAP recommends that regardless of gender, residents who become parents should be guaranteed 6 to 8 weeks, at a minimum, of parental leave with pay after the infant's birth. In addition, in conformance with federal law, the resident should be allowed to extend the leave time when necessary by using paid vacation time or leave without pay. Coparenting, adopting, or fostering of a child should entitle the resident, regardless of gender, to the same amount of paid leave (6-8 weeks) as a person who takes maternity/paternity leave. Flexibility, creativity, and advanced planning are necessary to arrange schedules that optimize resident education and experience, cultivate equity in sharing workloads, and protect pregnant residents from overly strenuous work experiences at critical times of their pregnancies.

Policy statement­Professional liability insurance and medicolegal education for pediatric residents and fellows.

The American Academy of Pediatrics believes that pediatric residents and fellows should be fully informed of the scope and limitations of their professional liability insurance coverage while in training. The academy states that residents and fellows should be educated by their training institutions on matters relating to medical liability and the importance of maintaining adequate and continuous professional liability insurance coverage throughout their careers in medicine.

Formación reglada en editorialismo médico: ¿por qué, quién, cuándo, cómo? / Formal training in medical journalism: why, who, when, how?

A pesar de la proliferación de revistas y de la responsabilidad que supone dirigirlas, existen muy pocos estándares claramente definidos para la formación en el campo editorial. El editor de una revista médica desempeña una tarea difícil. Debe tomar decisiones científicas y realizar valoraciones que requieren conocimientos de revisión crítica y de redacción de textos. Pero además, debe encargarse de otros asuntos como los aspectos éticos, las discrepancias dentro comité editorial y los conflictos con autores descontentos. El editor es también el encargado de planificar el futuro de la revista y de tomar decisiones teniendo en cuenta el interés estratégico de la revista y las necesidades de sus lectores. En este artículo revisaremos el papel del editor, la formación para los que están interesados en dedicarse al editorialismo médico y analizaremos también los principios y la estructura de los programas de formación en editorialismo médico (AU)

Despite the proliferation of journals and the demanding responsibilities of an editorship, there are very few clearly delineated standards for editorial education. The editor of a medical journal has a challenging role. He or she must deal with scientific decisions and appraisals that require skill in both writing and critical review. But the editor also has to cope with other concerns, including ethical issues, opposition within the editorial board, and conflict with disgruntled authors. The editor has also to design the journal's future, and make decisions considering the strategic interest of the journal and the needs of the journal's readers. In this paper, we examine the medical editor's role, review the topic of education for those interested in medical editorial work and discuss the tenets and structure of existing medical editorial training programs (AU)