Internal Medicine Commons^™

Aaim Recommendations For The 2020-2021 Internal Medicine Residency Application Cycle In Response To The Covid-19 Pandemic, Katherine C Chretien, Jaya M Raj, Reeni A Abraham, Paul Aronowitz, Donna J Astiz, Shobhina G Chheda, Ernie L Esquivel, Maria M Garcia, Nadia Ismail, Susan Lane, Suzanne E Mclaughlin, Anne Pereira, Amy W Shaheen, Abby L Spencer, Kimberly M Tartaglia, Lisa L Willett

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

This statement was released in June 2020 by the Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine to provide guidance for the 2020-2021 residency application cycle in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. While many of the recommendations are specific to this cycle, others, such as the Department Summary Letter of Evaluation, are meant to be an enduring change to the internal medicine residency application process. AAIM realizes that some schools may not yet have the tools or resources to implement the template fully this cycle and look toward collaboration within the internal medicine education community to facilitate adoption in the cycles to come.

Implementation Of A Hospital Medicine Rotation And Curriculum For Internal Medicine Residents, Doris Lin, Chirayu Shah, Erica Lescinskas, Cory Ritter, Lindsey Gay

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

INTRODUCTION: Hospital medicine is a growing field that focuses not only on expertise in inpatient medicine but also on knowledge of nonclinical health system topics. The traditional model for resident education does not lend itself to learning these topics. We developed a unique ward rotation with a dedicated curriculum called the Resident Inpatient Training Experience (RITE) to address this deficiency.

METHODS: The RITE rotation was initially implemented in the 2013-2014 academic year. The curriculum accompanying the rotation contained four case-based modules that included content on patient safety, quality improvement, cost-conscious care, hospital metrics/reimbursement, physician billing and coding, and transitions of …

Reliability And Validity Of Watch: Warwick Assessment Instrument For Clinical Teaching, Sonia Ijaz Haider, Khalid Masood Gondol, Muhammed Tariq, Muhammad Furqan Bari, Iqbal Azam Syed

Department for Educational Development

Objective: To determine the reliability, validity, feasibility, acceptability and perceived educational impact of WATCH: Warwick Assessment insTrument for Clinical teacHing among doctors in Pakistan.
Study design: Cross-sectional research study.
Place and duration of study: The College of Physicians and Surgeons, Pakistan, from September 2018 to August 2019.
Methodology: Postgraduate trainees were asked to rate the clinical teaching sessions, using WATCH, which consists of 15 items. Percentage was used to calculate gender and participation from different specialties. Inter-item correlations of 15 items with individual mean scores, standard deviations and Cronbach's Alpha were reported, including Friedman test, in order to observe the …

Improving Outpatient Pneumococcal Vaccination Rates In Patients Age <65, Evan Nardone, Md, Mark Mallozzi, Md, Alvin George, Md, Christine Kurian, Md, Omar Safdar, Md, Timothy Kuchera, Md

Health Equity and Quality Improvement (HEQI) Summit

Objectives

• To increase pneumococcal vaccination rates for patients 19-64 at JHAP to reach 70% over 3 months.
• To increase resident knowledge of indications for pneumococcal vaccination in patients 19-64 by 25% over 3 months

Changing Internal Medicine Residents’ Perspective On Social Determinants Of Health, Daniel Tran, Do, Hiba Ansari, Do, Layla Barrera, Do, Magdala Chery, Do

Health Equity and Quality Improvement (HEQI) Summit

Background: Social determinants of health (SDOH) shape the conditions of a person’s daily life and include factors such as housing, occupation, education, safety and income. While physicians are aware of the inequalities that exists in healthcare, not all physicians feel adequately able to address such concerns. Understanding of factors that contribute to the development and perpetuation of inequities in health care must be developed at the medical education training level.

Objectives: Evaluate internal medicine residents’ understanding of SDOH and implement a curriculum on health disparities in order to improve their comfort in addressing social needs.

Methods: A survey regarding several …

Assessing Internal Medicine Resident Comfort With Obtaining Consent For Autopsies, Zach French, Kelly Hughes, Edward Wang, Elizabeth Braden

Health Equity and Quality Improvement (HEQI) Summit

Objective

We aim to increase resident comfort and knowledge of the autopsy process by 20% based on average survey response scores

Implementing Inter-Professional Patient-Family Centered Plan Of Care Meetings On An Inpatient Hospital Unit, Nicolas Hernandez, Alice Fornari, Sage Rose, Leanne Tortez

Patient Experience Journal

Inpatient plan of care meetings support efforts to encourage collaborative practice and patient-family centered care and result in an effective strategy to enhance communication and patient satisfaction. Clinical team members participated in patient/family centered plan of care meetings at a community hospital in a selected inpatient unit with full time hospitalist physicians. Quantitative data were gathered pre/post implementation from the external Hospital Consumer Assessment of Health Care Providers (HCAHPS) survey. HCAHPS data were collected independently, specifically for questions related to communication between patients, family members/guardians and the medical team and also the effects of care transition. There was a slow …

A Quality Intervention To Reduce Telemetry, Alina Polonsky Md, Abdullah Alcharif Md, Andrew Maiolo Md

Internal Medicine

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Physician Held Stigmas And Bias On The Health Outcomes Of Patients With Obesity: A Review Of The Literature, Rachel Cohen, Catherine Jones

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Obesity is a growing epidemic that continues to garner attention throughout healthcare. The goal of this study was to review the literature on physician bias and stigmas surrounding obesity to assess the current state of research on connections between obesity-related stigma and the health outcomes and care of patients with obesity. A specific search string was used to obtain articles via PubMed and psychINFO, yielding 14 studies found that investigate these connections. The studies were categorized into three distinct pathways leading from physician stigma and biases to differing health outcomes of patients with obesity. These three pathways- perceptions, patient interaction, …

Turning Passion Into Purpose: A Journey To Medicine Through Global Health, Laurenie Louissaint Md

Family Medicine

No abstract provided.

Listening To The Patient: A Typology Of Contextual Red Flags In Disease Management Encounters, Amy E. Binns-Calvey, Gunjan Sharma, Naomi Ashley, Brendan Kelly, Frances M. Weaver, Saul J. Weiner

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose: Patients send clues, often unwittingly, when they are grappling with a life challenge that complicates their care. For instance, a patient may lose control of a previously well-managed chronic condition or start missing appointments. When explored, these clues help clinicians uncover the life circumstance impacting the individual’s ability to manage their health and health care. Such clues are termed “contextual red flags.” Effective care requires recognizing them, asking about them, and customizing the care plan where feasible. We sought to develop a typology of contextual red flags by analyzing audio recordings along with the medical records of encounters between …

Medical Student Attitudes Toward Cell Phone Use On Rounds, Jacob Garcia, Sarah E. Rosenberg, Md

Phase 1

Purpose: Mobile devices are ubiquitous and serve as an important resource for on-the-spot research about patient questions and conditions. However, even when a device is used to address patient needs, patients and members of the medical team may assume the student is using their phone for non-clinical activities and perceive the student as uninterested and disengaged. Medical students are aware of this potential for misperception, and as such, we designed a study to investigate the attitudes of third and fourth year medical students towards cell phone use on internal medicine rounds.

Methods: Our target learner population was third and fourth …

Preparing Healthcare Staff For Cardiac Arrest Codes In The Outpatient Clinical Setting: Code Drill Training Improves Patient Outcomes, Rowan Edwards, Rn

Master's Projects and Capstones

Preparing Healthcare Staff for Cardiac Arrest Codes in the Outpatient Clinical Setting: Code Drill Training Improves Patient Outcomes

The acuity of care provided in outpatient clinical settings across the United States continues to rise. It is estimated that more than 350,000 cardiac arrests occur outside of a hospital each year (AHA, 2019). For the purpose of this clinical nurse leader (CNL)-lead quality improvement project, the relevant focus is directed towards improving the knowledge, physical skills and perceptions of healthcare staff within an urgent care center (UCC) regarding the application of advanced rescue skills. It is important to note that the …

Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction: A Review Of The Acc/Aha Guidelines And Evidence-Based Management Strategy, Vikas Sunder, Md

The Medicine Forum

Introduction

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a clinical syndrome in which a patient has signs and symptoms of heart failure including dyspnea, fatigue, pulmonary rales, peripheral edema and an ejection fraction greater than 50%.1-4 Approximately half of patients with heart failure have a preserved ejection fraction.2-5 HFpEF is considered a distinct clinical entity from other causes of heart failure with a preserved ejection fraction such as valvular heart disease, pericardial disease, and infiltrative cardiomyopathy. HFpEF carries a poor prognosis, with an annual mortality of 29% in patients discharged after an acute decompensated heart failure admission.5 5-year survival …

A Gram-Negative False-Negative: Normal Procalcitonin Level In A Patient With Multiple Klebsiella Pneumoniae Intra-Abdominal Abscesses: A Case Report And Literature Review, Mario Caldararo, Md

The Medicine Forum

Introduction

Despite over 3,000 peer-reviewed articles on procalcitonin (PCT) since 2004, guidance on its usage is sparse.1 An analysis of more than 500 United States hospitals in the Premier Healthcare Database found large differences in utilization exist across regions (115 PCT encounters per 10,000 patients in the Northeast vs. 408 to 576 in other regions) and teaching vs. non-teaching hospitals (345 vs. 530 PCT encounters per 10,000 patients, respectively).2 The purpose of this work is to describe a case that exemplifies the caveats in PCT interpretation and to summarize the current knowledge of the clinical utilization of PCT.

Can Our Hearts Take The New Guidelines?, Eitan Frankel, Md

The Medicine Forum

No abstract provided.

Resident Experiences With Journaling, Tara Sunder, Md, Gretchen Diemer, Md, Vikas Sunder, Md

The Medicine Forum

Background

Each year, medical school graduates don their long white coat for the first time and begin their residency. While residency promises the excitement of learning and increased autonomy, it also brings long duty hours and stressful situations worsened by inexperience. Due to these stressors, burnout affects many residents each year. Studies have been done to see if wellness curricula help decrease resident burnout, and since journaling is a known way to relieve stress and enhance reflection, journaling has become a common intervention in these curricula.1,2 While there are studies evaluating the impact of journaling on mental health and stress …

Pneumatosis Intestinalis In A Patient With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Sean Dikdan, Md, Michael Lake, Md

The Medicine Forum

Introduction

Pneumatosis intestinalis (PI) refers to the radiographic finding of gas within the small or large bowel wall. It can be seen in association with gas in the portal venous system. The clinical significance of these findings is variable and depends on the patient's etiology and initial presentation. PI can be seen anywhere in the gastrointestinal tract distal to the stomach and is caused by a myriad of conditions.1 We present a case of a patient admitted to the intensive care unit with PI and portal vein gas.

Hemothorax And Hemorrhagic Ascites: A Rare Presentation Of Endometriosis, Harry Wang, Md

The Medicine Forum

Introduction

Endometriosis is a common diagnosis in reproductive age women characterized by the presence of endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity.1 Although it is typically confined to the pelvis, rare manifestations involving the thorax, abdomen or pericardium have been documented.2-5 Even more rare is the concurrent presence of endometriosis- associated hemorrhagic pleural effusion and ascites, which can prove a diagnostic challenge. We describe a case of hemothorax and hemorrhagic ascites in a woman with shortness of breath and abdominal pain.

Subacute Onset Hand Clumsiness In A Renal Transplant Patient With A Recent Icu Stay, William Bradford, Md

The Medicine Forum

Introduction

Solid organ transplant recipients carry a high burden of disease and are susceptible to opportunistic infections not seen in other patient subgroups. Signs and symptoms that would not necessarily warrant timely attention in other patient groups may call for an aggressive workup in this subset of patients. Here, we present one case in which a seemingly trivial complaint denoted serious underlying pathology, and timely attention to this minor but unusual concern led to early intervention with appropriate treatment of an uncommon disorder.

Hyperviscosity In Non-Igm Lymphoplasmacytic Lymphoma, Mario Fonseca-Paricio, Md, Sushil Chmire, Md, Adam Binder, Md

The Medicine Forum

The following is a case of how a non-IgM paraproteinemia can present with symptoms of hyperviscosity and coagulopathy, an uncommon occurrence.1-3 As this case demonstrates, this diagnosis must be considered even in patients with relatively normal coagulation laboratory results. Such pathology requires urgent treatment with plasmapheresis.

Worsening Autoimmune Neutropenia After Stopping Ibrutinib In A Patient With Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Case Report And Review Of Literature, Natalie Rosen, Ba, Thomas Klumpp, Md, Sameh Gaballa, Md, Msc

The Medicine Forum

Introduction

Autoimmune cytopenia (AIC) is relatively common in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia occurring in 5-10% of patients during the course of their disease.1 Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) constitutes the highest prevalence (5-10%) of CLL-associated AIC followed by idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) (2-5%), pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) (<1%), and autoimmune neutropenia (AIN) (<1%).2,3 The prevalence of AIN, however, may in fact be higher than reported due to a lack of awareness of the condition and difficulty in its diagnosis.4 Despite its rarity, autoimmune neutropenia can be a significant clinical challenge in patients with CLL and can increase the risk of infectious complications. Thus, the prompt diagnosis and resolution of CLL-associated AIN is essential to the management of these patients.

Ibrutinib is a selective inhibitor of Bruton tyrosine kinase and induces a durable response in patients with CLL.5 The activity of ibrutinib in CLL-associated AIC is largely unknown as pivotal clinical trials excluded patients with AIC. We report a case of a patient with CLL who experienced worsening of AIN after …

Bilateral Choroidal Metastases As Initial Presentation Of Widespread Follicular Thyroid Cancer, Jennifer Hong, Md

The Medicine Forum

Introduction

Follicular thyroid cancer (FTC) is the second most common malignancy of the thyroid gland and comprise 10-15% of all thyroid tumors; the usual mode of spread is via hematogenous dissemination with the most common sites of metastases being the lungs and bones.4 A case is presented to demonstrate the unusual presentation of follicular thyroid cancer as bilateral choroidal metastases. Although exceptional, a diagnosis of choroidal metastases should be considered in any decline in visual acuity in patients with thyroid cancer.

Complicated Persistent Peritonitis, Lindsey Roth, Ba, Kumar Sarkar, Md

The Medicine Forum

Introduction

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is a common complication of end-stage liver disease. SBP can present with many symptoms such as abdominal pain, fever and altered mental status.1 The diagnosis of SBP is made when ascitic fluid from a paracentesis has an absolute neutrophil count (ANC) more than 250/uL, there is a positive ascitic fluid culture, and no secondary source of infection can be idenitifed.2 However, nearly 60% of patients with SBP have negative fluid cultures.3 These patients can still potentially have SBP and should be treated as such since in-hospital mortality ranges from 20-40%.1,4 Conventional treatment for SBP includes …

Sealing The Diagnosis Of Celiac Disease In Pregnancy, Ritu Nahar, Md, Avani Aman, Md

The Medicine Forum

Introduction

Celiac disease (CD) is an immune mediated condition that results from a reaction to dietary gluten and primarily affects the small intestine. Genetically predisposed individuals develop a chronic inflammatory state of the small intestine which leads to malabsorption. The disease is mediated by HLA DQ2 or DQ8 haplotypes, which bind the gliadin peptides of gluten, present the peptides to CD4+ T lymphocytes and trigger cytokine and B lymphocyte responses.1

The prevalence of CD in the United States is approximately 1% and can reach up to 4-5% in at-risk groups.2 Serologic study of asymptomatic elderly patients in the United Kingdom …

Thyrotoxic Periodic Paralysis – A Case Report Of A Rare Cause Of Paralysis In A 39-Year-Old Asian Man, R. Benson Jones, Md, James Uricheck, Md

The Medicine Forum

Introduction

Uncontrolled hyper thyroidism has a myriad of presentations. Classically, symptoms include weight loss, tremor, palpitations, shortness of breath, diarrhea, anxiety, and heat intolerance. A rare manifestation of hyperthyroidism is thyrotoxic periodic paralysis (TPP). Periodic paralysis is a musculoskeletal channelopathy manifested by episodes of painless muscle weakness often precipitated by heavy exercise, fasting, or high carbohydrate meals. Although classically associated with painless weakness; cramping, myalgias, and stiffness can also occur prior to the episodes as prodromal symptoms. Neurologic examination during an attack typically demonstrates proximal more than distal muscle weakness, and the upper extremities are more commonly affected than the …

A Case Report Of Pseudohypoglycemia In A Patient With Leukocytosis, Michael Weintraub, Md, Deepika Nandiraju, Md, Monika Shirodkar, Md

The Medicine Forum

Introduction

Hypoglycemia is most convincingly documented by Whipple’s triad: low plasma glucose, symptoms of hypoglycemia and relief of symptoms after treatment.1 Pseudohypoglycemia is a condition where there is an artifactually low glucose concentration and an absence of hypoglycemic symptoms. We present a case of pseudohypoglycemia where leukocytosis played a role in lowering venous glucose.

A Case Of Left Ventricular Myocardial Calcification In A Patient With Severe Sepsis, Carly Sedlock, Md, Randi Zukas, Md, Hillary Landon, Md

The Medicine Forum

Introduction

Sepsis is an important source of morbidity and mortality among patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and can cause critical damage to all organ systems. Regarding cardiac complications, sepsis can acutely result in cardiomyopathy characterized by ventricular dilatation and a depressed ejection fraction.1 Myocardial calcification is a more rare, delayed cardiac complication of severe sepsis that has been reported in literature.1-6 Herein we report a case of a patient with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) admitted to the TJUH ICU requiring prolonged vasopressor support for severe sepsis whose clinical course was complicated by left ventricular myocardial calcification.

Fibrous Web In The Right Atrium: A Complication Of Fungal Endocarditis And Previous Lead Infections, Harry Wang, Md

The Medicine Forum

A 57-year-old woman with a past medical history of severe non-ischemic cardiomyopathy undergoing orthotopic heart transplant evaluation on milrinone, prior extraction of multiple pacemaker and implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) leads due to Staphylococcus epidermidis endocarditis, and multiple central venous catheter infections presented with several days of worsening dyspnea on exertion, orthopnea and lower extremity edema, prompting admission for congestive heart failure exacerbation.

Table Of Contents: The Medicine Forum Volume 20, 2018-2019

The Medicine Forum

Clinical Images

Case Reports

• Cardiology
• Endocrinology
• Gastroenterology and Hepatology
• Hematology and Oncology
• Infectious Disease
• Pulmonary Medicine
• Rheumatology

Original Article

Editorial

Literature Review

Creative Writing