Hospital Medicine
Physician discussions on inpatient care, transitions of care, diagnostic reasoning, and hospital-based protocols.
Recent Discussions
Do you routinely discontinue atypical coverage in community-acquired pneumonia when PCR testing (i.e., respiratory pathogen panel) is negative for atypical organisms?
In community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), here is how I approach the decision to discontinue atypical coverage (e.g., azithromycin or doxycycline) when respiratory pathogen panel PCR testing is negative for atypical organisms (most commonly, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamydia pneumoniae, Legionella pneum...
In patients with persistent borderline hypotension recovering from sepsis or critical illness, do you use midodrine to avoid escalating to higher levels of care?
Although midodrine is a medication that can be used to avoid vasopressors, I think it is much more important to give isotonic fluids when the patient would benefit from fluids. It is also very important to determine the etiology of hypotension. Is hypotension related to sepsis? Hypovolemia? Bleeding...
What treatments options may be considered in patients with POTS who also need daily diuretics to treat heart failure and are already wearing compression garments?
Given the epidemiology of POTS and congestive heart failure, you are far more likely to see a patient with neurogenic orthostatic hypotension and CHF than POTS and CHF. I have an article on NOH and CHF in Autonomic Neuroscience 2020. The principals are basically the same however because the managem...
What is your approach to iron supplementation in patients with an active infection?
In patients with active infections, I generally avoid intravenous iron due to the potential for promoting pathogen growth, a practice supported by cautions from nephrology and gastroenterology society guidelines. However, evidence for the risk of infection with IV iron is inconsistent, underpowered,...
What is your approach to iron supplementation in patients with an active infection?
In patients with active infections, I generally avoid intravenous iron due to the potential for promoting pathogen growth, a practice supported by cautions from nephrology and gastroenterology society guidelines. However, evidence for the risk of infection with IV iron is inconsistent, underpowered,...
How often do you recommend performing an advanced lipid panel for monitoring of lipid lowering therapy?
I am late to the responses, but I do not ever order an advanced lipid panel. Our institution does not have it on the lab menu either (one has to go to an outside lab to get it done). Anything needed for CV risk assessment can be gleaned from the history, including family history and a standard lipid...
How have you improved your serious illness conversation skills over the course of your career?
I surely hope that my communication skills have improved over the course of my career (in the same way that being a doctor has improved). However, improvement as a clinician doesn't just happen. One has to be intentional about it. Things that will help: Take a course. VitalTalk runs a number of edu...
When diuretics or lactulose are newly started or uptitrated at discharge, what clinical factors make you schedule follow-up within 72–96 hours rather than the usual 7–14 days?
In reality, follow-up in 72-96 hours is quite difficult to achieve, so we do rely a bit on nursing check-ins as opposed to clinic follow-up. But clinical factors such as severity of VOL or HE, suspected compliance, out-of-hospital discharge setting (home vs shelter), support structure for patient, a...
In a frail older adult with moderate-to-severe lower urinary tract symptoms, when do you start a beta-3 agonist like vibegron over an anticholinergic?
In a frail older adult with OAB-predominant moderate-to-severe LUTS, I generally start a β3 agonist (vibegron or mirabegron) as the first-line pharmacologic option once behavioral interventions are insufficient. Behavioral therapies may include fluid management, bladder retraining, pelvic floor exer...
For patients with acute renal failure and possible urinary retention, do you obtain a bedside bladder POCUS exam before ordering renal imaging or placing a Foley catheter?
Bedside Bladder Ultrasound has a strong role in the evaluation of acute urinary retention (AUR) as a possible cause for acute renal failure. Practice varies, as does the evidence base, but most POCUS experts recommend ultrasounding both the bladder (to assess for post-void residual volume) and both ...