Family Medicine

HPM FAST Prognostication 3rd Edition

Accurate prognostication is critical to recognizing the need for hospice and palliative care and advanced planning in patients with advanced disease. Unfortunately, formal education on how to use prognostication is often lacking. Providers need evidence-based education on prognosticating a variety…

EFM Case Study Series #18: Hypertensive Crisis & Stroke

Hypertensive crisis and stroke are on the rise in the pregnant population. Over the past 20 years, the incidence of preeclampsia has increased by approximately 25% in the US and is the leading cause of maternal and infant illness and…

Statins: What to Recommend When Guidelines Conflict?

More than 21% of US adults take lipid-lowering statin medications; however, the CDC states that many more people should be doing so. But who is eligible? The guidelines of the USPSTF, the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association and the…

Hip Fracture: Enhancing Patient Recovery

About 340,000 Americans suffer hip fractures due to falls every year. For many elderly patients, a hip fracture signals the beginning of the end, a decline ending in death within the following year. In the past, hip fractures have been…

Delirium and the Elderly Hospitalized Patient

Delirium is common among elderly hospitalized patients. At home, the incidence is low, but once hospitalized, patient incidence increases to 14–24%, and in intensive-care even higher, 50-80%. Delirium is under-diagnosed and under-treated. In a 2017 study, clinicians failed to list…

EFM Case Study #17: Oxytocin Truths and Myths

Exogenous oxytocin (Pitocin) may be the most commonly used drug in obstetrics but it is not benign. Its use in clinical practice is riddled with myths, unsubstantiated by science, that perpetuate poor practice habits. Misuse, overuse, and sometimes abuse in…

EFM Case Study #16: Equipment Failure

Medical error is the third leading cause of death in the US and technology failure is to blame 44% of the time. Perinatal clinicians are frequently unaware of the equipment limitations they use routinely. Non-invasive blood pressure machines, pulse oximeters,…

EFM Case Study #15: Critical Event Notification

The obstetric malpractice claim of “a delay in treatment of fetal distress” remains the number one factor In over 20% of claims from multiple PIAA resources. The key to avoiding delaying treatment to a fetus in distress is to recognize…