Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Urticarial Rash In A Patient With Alpha-Gal Syndrome Caused By Subcutaneous Heparin At Prophylactic Dosing: A Case Report, Russell G. Behmer, Randolph S. Thomas, Hani T. Jarawan

Journal of Maine Medical Center

Introduction: We report a patient with a history of red meat allergy, or alpha-gal syndrome, who had an urticarial rash after exposure to unfractionated heparin at a dose typically used for prophylaxis of deep venous thrombosis. Although anaphylactic reactions have been reported with systemic intravenous heparin, we believe this case is the first report of an immunoglobulin E–mediated reaction to subcutaneous heparin at prophylactic dosing.

Clinical Findings: An 85-year-old male had a 3-year history of red meat allergy and was intolerant of pork and beef. He developed an immunoglobulin E–mediated allergic reaction to subcutaneous heparin at a dose of 5000 …

Focused Hospital Medicine Cme On Pulmonary Point-Of-Care Ultrasound Through Just-In-Time Training During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Matthew Buttarazzi, Kristen Bartlett, Katherine Stebbins, Monica Thim

Journal of Maine Medical Center

Introduction: We describe the use of focused CME with just-in-time training in pulmonary point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) for hospitalists as part of our response to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This training served as a pilot for developing a longitudinal training program for our inpatient adult medicine providers.

Methods: In mid-March 2020, ultrasound education and image review were deployed within hospital medicine at a large academic medical center. Faculty were provided (1) a small-group lecture focused on ultrasound findings in pneumonia, (2) weekly review of imaging, and (3) a monthly review conference of ultrasound imaging.

Results: Use of POCUS for pulmonary pathology …

Effectiveness Of Two Frequently Used Screening Tools In Identifying Depression And Anxiety In Collegiate Athletes, Adriana C. Isacke Do, Amy Haskins Phd, Christina Holt Md, Msc, Williams Dexter Md, Facsm

Journal of Maine Medical Center

Introduction: To determine whether the Electronic Pre-participation Physical Examination (EPPE), a proprietary and frequently used tool, is an effective method for depression and anxiety screening in the collegiate athlete population as compared to the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4).

Methods: College athletes at a Division III university completed PHQ-4 questionnaires and a proprietary EPPE. Positive reponse rates to depression and/or anxiety for both questionnaires were collected and analyzed with a kappa (κ) statistic.

Results: Among 420 students, we found that 9 (2%) reported depression and/or anxiety via the EPPE. Of the 26 students (6%) who answered positively on the PHQ-4, we …

Institutional Experience With Primary Interventional Radiology Sclerotherapy For Lymphatic Malformation, Obiyo Osuchukwu, Brenton Reading, Charlene Dekonenko, Wendy Jo Svetanoff, Jeff Thekkekara, Douglas C. Rivard, Charles L. Snyder, Tolulope A. Oyetunji

Costas T. Lambrew Research Retreat 2021

Interventional Radiology Sclerotherapy is effective for treatment of primary and recurrent lymphatic malformations

Phq 9 Utilization In Maine Health, Steven Gerrish, Kerri Barton, Neil Korsen

Costas T. Lambrew Research Retreat 2021

The PHQ is a brief patient survey for diagnosing depression and monitoring response to treatment.

Leveraging Spiritual Care Resources To Reduce The Number Of Behavioral Events On An Acute And Intermediate Medical-Surgical Unit, Natasha Bartlett, Tia Jamir, Sally Langerak, Heather Weidemann

Costas T. Lambrew Research Retreat 2021

In 2018, R4/AVU an acute and intermediate care medical unit at Maine Medical Center (MMC), had a high level of distressing behavioral events (Code Grays) and staff stress.

A Fatal Rectus Sheath Hematoma After A Myasthenia Crisis Case Report, Robert G. Michaud, Lesley B. Gordon

Journal of Maine Medical Center

Introduction: Rectus sheath hematomas (RSH) generally occur due to damage to the inferior epigastric artery. They are rare causes of abdominal pain or acute blood loss anemia, but are an important diagnostic consideration because they can be cryptic and are potentially fatal.

Clinical Findings: An 85-year-old female who had been admitted to the hospital for 10 days with a myasthenia crisis was found to be abruptly hypotensive with a tender abdominal mass in the left lower quadrant subtly crossing midline. She was on prophylactic anticoagulation during her hospitalization.

Main diagnosis, therapeutics, interventions, and outcomes: The patient was initially stabilized with …

Is Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever Transmitted In Maine?, Eric J. Ray

Journal of Maine Medical Center

Introduction:

Tickborne disease occurs worldwide with recent recognition of changes in tick vector distributions. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) is already widespread across the United States; however, it is being monitored for introduction to non-endemic areas.

Clinical Findings:

A 65-year-old male with a history of psoriatic arthritis on adalimumab and local tick exposures but no known recent bites presented to the emergency department with fevers, myalgias, arthralgias, and a maculopapular rash of unclear etiology. Initial testing showed transaminitis, worsened chronic thrombocytopenia, and slight neutropenia with absolute neutrophil count 2,330 (reference value: 2,400-7,600 cells per µL); however, he was stable …

A Phantom Of The Past: Withdrawal From Meprobamate Presenting With Focal Seizures., Thomas M. Zink, John E. Erickson

Journal of Maine Medical Center

Introduction: Meprobamate (Miltown, Equinil) is a sedative-hypnotic medication that first gained popularity as an anxiolytic and later as a muscle relaxant. It is a major metabolite of the more commonly used muscle relaxant carisoprodol (Soma). In vitro and electroencephalogram studies demonstrated that meprobamate modulates gama-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors, similar to barbiturates. Withdrawal from meprobamate manifests in symptoms ranging from mild anxiety to severe autonomic instability and death. Meprobamate is rarely prescribed, but is still given to a small subset of elderly patients.

Clinical findings: In this case of meprobamate withdrawal, the patient initially displayed altered mental status and recurrent seizures …

A Case Report Of Water Hemlock Poisoning, Blue Butterfield, Alicia Bond Md, Dan Meyer, Gary Diperna, Tamas Peredy Md

Journal of Maine Medical Center

Introduction: Water hemlock poisoning is an uncommon cause of seizures, gastrointestinal upset, and renal failure. This poisoning occurs infrequency and is likely to go unrecognized without a proper history and consideration in the differential diagnosis.

Clinical Findings: A 23-year-old male with an unremarkable past medical history presented to the emergency department after being found unresponsive at a farm where he was employed. He had several tonic-clonic seizures en route. Initial evaluation was unremarkable and included toxicology screening, lumbar puncture, and brain imaging.

Main diagnoses, therapeutics, interventions, and outcomes: The patient was treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics and antivirals with a suspected …

Signs Of Psychosis Leading To A Diagnosis Of Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy: A Case Report, Bryan L. Walker, Christina Holt Md, Msc

Journal of Maine Medical Center

Introduction: Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a rare demyelinating process of the central nervous system that occurs in in the setting of severe immunocompromise. Patients with PML develop varying focal neurological deficits and mental status changes that have not been well-described previously.

Clinical findings: We present a patient who was found by security wandering the lobby of this hospital. He was oriented only to self and unable to state a reason for presentation. Medical records were limited and included a visit to an outside hospital that documented a past medical history of HIV infection. He exhibited multiple signs of psychosis …

Improving Safe Handoffs & Transitions From The Ed To Adult Inpatient: A Response To The Ahrq Hospital Patient Safety Culture Survey, Natalie Talbot, Joanne Chapman, Rhonda Diphilippo, Gail Savage, Michele Higgins, Nancijean Goudey, Lori Sweatt, Erin Graydon Baker, Joseph East, Stephen Tyzik, Suneela Nayak, Mark Parker, Ruth Hanselman, Amy Sparks

Operations Transformation

SAFE TRANSITIONS AND PATIENT HANDOFFS IN A LARGE ACUTE CARE HOSPITAL

It is well documented in the literature that ineffective patient handoffs and transitions continues to be an area that can lead to adverse patient safety events so it is an urgent opportunity for a performance improvement plan. At an academic tertiary care medical center, the lowest scoring domain from the FY2017 AHRQ Patient Safety Culture Survey was patient handoffs and transitions.

A team was established consisting of staff from the Emergency Department and a medical/surgical unit to develop a plan for implementing improvement interventions. Their goal was to attain …

Strategies To Improve Post-Procedural Safe Patient Handoffs, Marguerite Peggy Anderson, Tara Herman, Janice Nichols, Robyn Dixon, Elizabeth Van Der Linden, Bonnie Boivin, Stephen Tyzik

Operations Transformation

STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE SAFE PATIENT HANDOFFS AND POST PROCEDURAL FLOW

During patient transfers from one care unit to another, it is imperative for patient safety and satisfaction that timely and complete communication between staff occurs. In an academic tertiary care medical center, a team consisting of representatives from 6 patient care units used improvement methods of operational excellence to improve patient centered movement.

The goal of this project was to improve the percentages of two questions related to information sharing on the FY2018 AHRQ Culture of Patient Safety Survey. Using baseline metrics to reflect the current state of patient wait …

Strategies To Improve Timeliness For Cleaning Inpatient Rooms Following Patient Discharge, Lora Dixon, Mark Parker, Ruth Hanselman, Suneela Nayak, Amy Sparks

Operations Transformation

STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE THE TIME FRAME FOR CLEANING INPATIENT ROOMS BY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES

In an inpatient rehab hospital, it was noted that Environmental Services (EVS) was delayed in cleaning rooms between patient discharges and admissions. This resulted in the frequent use of a “stat clean” order that allows only 50% of the normal cleaning time , forcing patients to wait and impacting patient flow.

A root cause analysis demonstrated lack of communication between the rehab hospital and the contracted cleaning services. A number of counter measures were initiated with the goal that cleaning would be started within 20 minutes of …

Strategies To Improve Control Of Blood A1c In Diabetics, Jennifer Aronson, Leanne Bellino, Elizabeth Eisenhardt, Diane Bryant, Haley Pelletier, Internal Medicine Team, Adult Outpatient Clinic

MaineHealth Maine Medical Center

A1c monitoring is an important aspect of controlling the health of a diabetic patient. An adult internal medicine clinic noted that the percentage of their diabetic patients who had an A1c higher than 9 or no reading within the past year exceeded the national average. As a result, operational excellence methods were implemented with the overall goal to reduce their percentage to 18% or less.

A root cause analysis identified several deficiencies to includelack of essential equipment, variations in

staff education and the absence of daily reminders.

Post KPI implementations, an overall decrease in the percentage of patients with poorly …

Patient Fall Prevention, R9 West Cardiovascular, Cathy Palleschi, Suneela Nayak, Ruth Hanselman, Stephen Tyzik

MaineHealth Maine Medical Center

PATIENT FALL PREVENTION STRATEGIES IN AN ACUTE HOSPITAL

Every year in the United States, hundreds of thousands of patients fall resulting in injury. Injured patients often require prolonged hospital stays and a resultant increase in medical costs.

The purpose of this study was to identify the current state of fall prevention strategies on a hospital inpatient acute care cardiac unit. Through a root cause analysis, some deficiencies were identified and a process improvement plan was implemented.

Several positive outcomes were attained as a result of the countermeasures initiated. Patient falls per month and total waste in dollars saw a decline …