Annals of the American Thoracic Society
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Little is known about adults who frequently visit the emergency department (ED) for acute asthma, or the economic impact of this ED use. ⋯ In this population-based cohort, 26% of patients had multiple asthma-related ED visits within 1 year. These patients were more likely to be black, Hispanic, and of lower socioeconomic status; they accounted for 57% of asthma-related hospital charges in Florida. To improve population health and to control asthma-related health care spending, we believe it is imperative to identify and assist adults with frequent asthma-related ED visits.
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Health care professionals in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine play key roles as teachers for learners of all levels in both clinical care and scientific investigation. Teaching excellence requires training in principles of adult learning and the acquisition and practice of key professional skills including assessment and feedback techniques, curriculum development, and strategies for effective teaching across venues ranging from the bedside to the lecture hall. Those interested in pursuing teaching as the focus of their academic career and basis for promotion should invest in professional development as a teacher and educator. ⋯ Aspiring clinician-educators should also seek out opportunities to participate in a community of medical educators locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally. At each of these levels, there exist opportunities to contribute to course or program design, development, and evaluation. Finally, for those interested in promotion as an academic clinician-educator, there are increasing requirements to produce academic scholarship ranging from curricular materials to journal articles focused on education and education research.
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Editorial Comment
What we talk about when we talk about intensive care unit strain.
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Recent literature suggests vitamin D has an effect on lung function and on the lung's ability to fight infection, both important in the cystic fibrosis (CF) population as predictors of morbidity and mortality. ⋯ Higher 25-OHD levels in children with CF were associated with lower rates of pulmonary exacerbations and, in adolescents, higher FEV1.