Subject(s)
Coronary Artery Bypass , American Heart Association , Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary , Anti-Infective Agents/therapeutic use , Arrhythmias, Cardiac/etiology , Arrhythmias, Cardiac/prevention & control , Cardiology , Coronary Artery Bypass/adverse effects , Coronary Artery Bypass/mortality , Humans , Patient Selection , Practice Guidelines as Topic , Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic , Risk , Societies, Medical , Treatment Outcome , United StatesABSTRACT
This preliminary study evaluated the effectiveness of enteric-coated erythromycin in the treatment of adults with nonstreptococcal pharyngitis. Twenty-six patients, aged 12 or older, with nonstreptococcal pharyngitis were randomly assigned in a double-blind fashion to receive either enteric-coated erythromycin or placebo for 10 days. Each day the patients rated the soreness of their throats and how sick they felt. The use of erythromycin appeared to decrease the median number of days for the feeling of sickness to improve (two days versus four days, P less than .01) as well as to decrease the median number of days for the feeling of sickness to resolve (three-and-a-half days versus five days, P less than .05). This apparent improvement in sickness occurred even though there was no significant decrease in the soreness of the throat in patients treated with erythromycin compared to those patients treated with placebo. Treatment with enteric-coated erythromycin appeared to shorten the time until improvement in this group of adults with nonstreptococcal pharyngitis.
Subject(s)
Erythromycin/therapeutic use , Pharyngitis/drug therapy , Adolescent , Adult , Child , Consumer Behavior , Double-Blind Method , Erythromycin/administration & dosage , Erythromycin/adverse effects , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Pharyngitis/etiology , Pharyngitis/psychology , Random AllocationABSTRACT
Nephrolithiasis is a rare but important condition in pregnant women. The most common presenting complaint is flank pain. Recurrent or persistent urinary tract infections may also be due to nephrolithiasis. Ultrasound is the first-line diagnostic study, but a limited intravenous pyelogram can be obtained when indicated. Spontaneous passage of the stone occurs in approximately two-thirds of patients.
Subject(s)
Kidney Calculi , Pregnancy Complications , Female , Humans , Kidney Calculi/diagnosis , Kidney Calculi/therapy , Pregnancy , Pregnancy Complications/diagnosis , Pregnancy Complications/therapyABSTRACT
This study examined how family practice residents coded their patient care services, and whether feedback on coding patterns together with income projections would alter coding behavior. Current and future income projections were calculated using assumptions about the practice setting. The collected and calculated data were presented to the residents after the study period, together with a discussion of coding of patient care services and fees. The same data were collected three months and nine months later. There was no significant difference in coding patterns when comparing first- to second- to third-year residents. Six months after the information was presented to the residents, the percentage of brief visits coded decreased significantly, and the percentages of intermediate and comprehensive visits coded increased significantly. Twelve months later, the changes in coding patterns had reverted to the initial findings. This appears to be an effective approach that could be used elsewhere to teach coding of patient care services as part of a practice management curriculum.
