JAMA : the journal of the American Medical Association
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To characterize hospital diagnoses, procedures and charges, and nursing home admissions in the year when older persons become severely disabled, comparing those in whom severe disability develops rapidly with those in whom disability develops gradually. ⋯ In the year when they become severely disabled, a large proportion of older persons are hospitalized for a small group of diseases. Hospital-based interventions aimed at reducing the severity and functional consequences of these diseases could have a large impact on reduction of severe disability.
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Comment Letter Historical Article
The Nuremberg Code, informed consent, and involuntary treatment.
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To investigate risk factors for pulmonary embolism in women. ⋯ These prospective data indicate that obesity, cigarette smoking, and hypertension are associated with increased risk of pulmonary embolism in women. Control of these risk factors will decrease risks of pulmonary embolism as well as coronary heart disease.
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Comparative Study
Physician-patient communication. The relationship with malpractice claims among primary care physicians and surgeons.
To identify specific communication behaviors associated with malpractice history in primary care physicians and surgeons. ⋯ Routine physician-patient communication differs in primary care physicians with vs without prior malpractice claims. In contrast, the study did not find communication behaviors to distinguish between claims vs no-claims surgeons. The study identifies specific and teachable communication behaviors associated with fewer malpractice claims for primary care physicians. Physicians can use these findings as they seek to improve communication and decrease malpractice risk. Malpractice insurers can use this information to guide malpractice risk prevention and education for primary care physicians but should not assume that it is appropriate to teach similar behaviors to other specialty groups.