Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Ventilator Management For The Non-Intensivist, David R. Manoff, Md, Christine Feldmeier, Msiv

The Medicine Forum

The management of the mechanical ventilator is one of the most complex and dynamic, yet ubiquitous issues to face the critical care physician. As we as a medical community have become more advanced, so too, have our ventilators, with new modes and variables having been added beyond more traditional modeslike Assist Control and Intermittent Mandatory Ventilation. This article is designed to give a very basic understanding of what the individual ventilatory modes do and how they are set.It is in no way meant to be a replacement for either a medical intensivist or a respiratory therapist.

Disruptive Innovation, Peregrine Dalziel, Mbbs, Tina Shah, Md

The Medicine Forum

Introduction

“Disruptive innovation” (DI) has recently been heralded as a tool to mitigate out of control health care spending in the UnitedStates,1,2,3 however few doctors are familiar with the concept. Overall, there is a tendency in medical culture to regard changes to established treatment and management models with some reticence, increasing the difficulty for reform. In this article we will introduce readers to the concept of DI as a means to reduce costs in the American health sector. We will illustrate current uses of DI in health care, using the particular example of the expanding role of nurse practitioners (NPs). …

Acute Pancreatitis With Normal Amylase And Lipase, Kichul Ko, Md, Luz Catherine Tello, Md, Jessica Salt, Md

The Medicine Forum

Introduction

Acute pancreatitis is diagnosed by clinical history and physicalexamination with concurrent elevations in serum amylase andlipase levels; occasionally radiographic findings are of furtherassistance. We report a case of radiographically proven acutepancreatitis with normal serum amylase and lipase levels.

Embracing Quality Improvement At Resident Clinic: A Report Card On Our Diabetes Care, Tamara Solitro, Md

The Medicine Forum

Background

The age of embracing the status quo or the “if it ain’t broke,don’t fix it” philosophy in medical practice is long gone. Thegoal of quality improvement in the medical field is one we canall appreciate: to optimize the delivery of health care and useadvanced knowledge and technology to improve patient care.Many industries, such as automobile and engineering, alreadyapply the scientific method to quality improvement efforts, andthe time has come for medical practices to follow suit.

The Improvement Guide: A Practical Approach to EnhancingOrganizational Performance1 describes a model of improvementthat can be used in a variety of settings, including medicalpractices. …

Tjuh Adherence To Idsa Guidelines For The Treatment Of Cryptococcal Meningitis, Matthew Grant, Md

The Medicine Forum

Introduction

Cryptococcal meningitis is an infectious complication of immunecompromised states that carries a high rate of mortality orrelapse. Although Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA)guidelines outline the recommended treatment regimen forcryptococcal meningitis, clinicians take a heterogenous clinicalapproach. This study examines the use of antifungal regimens intreating cryptococcal meningitis at a tertiary care hospital.