Southern medical journal
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Southern medical journal · Sep 2023
Multicenter Study Observational StudyA Multicenter Observational Study Comparing Virtual with In-Person Morning Reports during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic disrupted how educational conferences were delivered, leaving programs to choose between in-person and virtual morning report formats. The objective of our study was to describe morning reports during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the use of virtual formats, attendance, leadership, and content. ⋯ During the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual morning report formats predominated. Compared with traditional in-person reports, virtual report increased attendance, favored resident leadership, and approached a similar range of patient diagnoses with a greater number of case-based presentations and slides. In spite of these characteristics, all programs returned to an in-person format for morning report as pandemic restrictions waned.
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Southern medical journal · Sep 2023
Community Socioeconomic and Urban-Rural Disparities in Prehospital Notification of Stroke by Emergency Medical Services in North Carolina.
Notification by emergency medical services (EMS) to the destination hospital of an incoming suspected stroke patient is associated with timelier in-hospital evaluation and treatment. Current data on adherence to this evidence-based best practice are limited, however. We examined the frequency of EMS stroke prenotification in North Carolina by community socioeconomic status (SES) and rurality. ⋯ Across a large, diverse population, EMS prenotification occurred in only one-third of suspected stroke patients. Furthermore, low SES and rural tracts were independently associated with a lower likelihood of prehospital notification. These findings suggest the need for education and quality improvement initiatives to increase EMS stroke prenotification, particularly in underserved communities.
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Southern medical journal · Sep 2023
Characteristics of a Southern Intensive Trauma- and Psychiatric-Focused Recovery Program.
Treatment of substance use disorders (SUDs) is complex, involving biological, psychological, and social factors to be considered when designing effective programs. Trauma-informed psychiatric care integrated with a developmentally appropriate intensive 12-step approach is being used at A Reprieve for Women (Reprieve), a long-term intensive residential recovery program for female emerging adults with SUDs located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The Reprieve treatment philosophy focuses on long-term intensive care, treatment of coexisting trauma and psychiatric disorders, and development of life skills. The purpose of this article is to outline Reprieve's programmatic features and report Reprieve's 1- and 2-year sobriety rates for women who completed the 6-month residential program and compare it with national sobriety rates for other residential SUD treatment programs. ⋯ Reprieve's higher-than-national sobriety rates make it a valuable program to study. Its emphasis on the treatment of coexisting psychiatric problems and past traumas, development of life skills, and the unique needs of female emerging adults may contribute to the program's success. It is hoped that this program description and preliminary analysis of outcomes will provide valuable information for future SUD treatment program development. More rigorous study is needed to delineate the effects of specific programmatic features on sobriety.
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Southern medical journal · Sep 2023
Impact of COVID-19 Policies on Hospitalists' Psychological Safety.
The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic brought about many changes in work environment and interpersonal interactions to prevent the spread of infection. Policies such as ubiquitous masking, virtual meetings, physician distancing, and decreased communal eating changed the inpatient work environment. This study aims to look at the impact of these changes on hospitalists' psychological safety. ⋯ This study highlights the importance of finding ways to foster connection and decrease burnout while continuing to prevent the spread of infection.
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Southern medical journal · Sep 2023
Patient Acceptance of Primary Care Behavioral Health in a Resident Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic.
Primary care behavioral health (PCBH) is a patient care model in which a behavioral health consultant (BHC) works alongside the primary care provider to address behavioral components of health conditions. PCBH is well received in the primary care setting; however, little is known about acceptability of the service among prenatal patients. The study was designed to explore the acceptability of PCBH among pregnant patients in a resident obstetrics and gynecology clinic. ⋯ Overall, the PCBH model had high acceptability among a prenatal care population in a resident obstetrics and gynecology clinic and offers potential to improve prenatal outcomes.