Southern medical journal
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Southern medical journal · Nov 2024
Clinical Shift Distribution in Academic Hospital Medicine Fellowship across 10 Years.
As hospital medicine (HM) has grown as a specialty, it has been paralleled by an increase in HM fellowship training programs. Limited data are available surrounding clinical exposure for HM fellows. Using data from a large academic medical center with a long-standing HM fellowship program, we reviewed the types of clinical shifts and distribution of shift data completed by HM fellows from 2013 to 2023. ⋯ HM fellows spend the majority of their clinical time on off-hours shifts, which does not reflect the clinical practice of an academic hospitalist. The least amount of time was spent attending on traditional teaching services. Because HM fellowships are designed to prepare HM fellows for careers as academic hospitalists, more work is necessary to determine how best to optimize and standardize clinical exposure while maintaining adequate time for opportunities to engage in academic development.
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Southern medical journal · Nov 2024
Neighborhood Ecologies, Cases, and Deaths during the Beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Lessons for Current and Future Epidemics?
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has disproportionately affected Black and Latinx communities. Ecologic analyses have shown that counties with a higher percentage of Latinx and Black people have worse COVID-19 outcome rates. Few ecologic analyses have been published at the neighborhood (census tract) level. We sought to determine whether certain sociodemographic neighborhood ecologies were associated with COVID-19 case and death rates in metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia. ⋯ Neighborhoods were differentially at risk of COVID-19 cases or deaths depending on their sociodemographic ecology at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Prevention methods and interventions may need to consider different social determinants of health when addressing potential cases and deaths during future emergent epidemics.
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Southern medical journal · Nov 2024
Effect of HIV Status and Charlson Comorbidity Index on COVID-19 Clinical Outcomes in a Case-Control Study.
During the course of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, numerous comorbidities were identified as risk factors for increased morbidity and mortality. Few studies have examined human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and COVID-19 co-infection and the impact of HIV on COVID-19 outcomes. In this study, we compared outcomes of people living with HIV with COVID-19 with a control group to examine outcomes. ⋯ We found no difference in outcomes of people living with HIV in comparison to matched controls based on HIV status but found that an increased Charlson Comorbidity Index score led to increased morbidity and mortality regardless of HIV status.
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Southern medical journal · Nov 2024
Advancement of a Vertically Integrated Training Program (VITP): Introspective Assessment and Expansion.
With the number of medical school applicants more than doubling during the past 30 years, there has been an increased need to mentor premedical undergraduate students. The Vertically Integrated Training Program at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, was created to provide direct mentoring for college students interested in a career as a physician. ⋯ Data suggest a trend toward positive change in terms of increased confidence of undergraduate students regarding the process of applying to and finding success in medical school. This article reviews the development of the Vertically Integrated Training Program, evaluates the success of the program, and suggests next steps for the organization.
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Southern medical journal · Nov 2024
Lymphedema Awareness and Experience in the Turner Syndrome Community.
Lymphedema commonly affects females with Turner syndrome (TS), although it may be underrecognized and untreated. The objective of this study was to better understand self-reported lymphedema prevalence, knowledge, and experience in TS. ⋯ Identification of knowledge gaps and experience with lymphedema in TS can help with the development of targeted educational interventions. Greater awareness and understanding of this treatable condition in TS may contribute to improved health outcomes.