Southern medical journal
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Southern medical journal · Nov 2022
Participation in a Longitudinal Seminar Series Increases Medical Student Engagement with the COVID-19 Pandemic.
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic required a multifaceted response by healthcare professionals. Medical students played only a limited role in the early response, resulting in feelings of disengagement. The authors developed a discussion-based elective course reviewing the COVID-19 response to address this gap in medical student education. ⋯ Preclinical medical student participation in a discussion-based seminar course reviewing the COVID-19 pandemic significantly increased feelings of engagement with and understanding of the response of the medical field to the pandemic.
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Southern medical journal · Nov 2022
Multicenter StudyReadmission Risk after COVID-19 Hospitalization: A Moderation Analysis by Vital Signs.
Readmission to the hospital after hospitalization with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Hospital clinicians may identify the presence of a patient's comorbid conditions, overall severity of illness, and clinical status at discharge as risk factors for readmission. Objective data are lacking to support reliance on these factors for discharge decision making. The objective of our study was to examine risk factors for readmission to the hospital after COVID-19 hospitalization and the impact of vital sign abnormalities, within 24 hours of discharge, on readmission rates. ⋯ Comorbid conditions, including pulmonary and cardiovascular disease, are associated with readmission risk after COVID-19 hospitalization. The normalization of vital signs within 24 hours of discharge during COVID-19 hospitalization may be an indicator of readiness for discharge and may mitigate some readmission risk conferred by comorbid conditions.
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Southern medical journal · Nov 2022
Association of an Early Interest in Orthopedic Surgery with Match Rate into Orthopedic Surgery.
Orthopedic surgery residency is considered one of the most competitive specialties in which to match. Studies examining the factors associated with a successful match have neglected whether participation in an orthopedic interest group (OIG) improves the chances of orthopedic residency match. The goal of this study was to test the hypothesis that participation in the OIG would improve matching into an orthopedic surgery residency. ⋯ OIG membership was associated with a significantly higher rate of orthopedic surgery residency matches. The higher rate of match associated with OIG membership may be the result of opportunities to diversify a residency application. Future studies are needed to further evaluate the potential association between OIG involvement and orthopedic surgery match.
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Gallbladder dyskinesia is a functional disorder of the gastrointestinal tract, which can result in debilitating episodes of abdominal pain and associated symptoms. Key diagnostic criteria include a diminished gallbladder ejection fraction on scintigraphy and absence of other causes for the symptoms. ⋯ Patients meeting the clinical and diagnostic criteria for gallbladder dyskinesia should be referred for cholecystectomy, and most of these patients will have relief of their symptoms. A comprehensive preoperative discussion on expected outcomes needs to take place.