HCAHPS: having constant communication augments hospital and patient satisfaction.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) has become a standardised instrument to measure hospitalised patients' perception of care. Our hospital's HCAHPS scores for the 'communication with doctors' domain in medical service were suboptimal when compared with peer groups in December 2020. Our goal was to improve performance in the 'communication with doctors' domain to at least 50% from baseline over a 6-month period. INTERVENTION: Orientation of house staff, nurses and attendings on the Acknowledge, Introduce, Duration, Explain, Thank you (AIDET) approach. Implementation of the afternoon rounds (with documentation) along with the morning rounds to summarise the plan and discuss updates throughout the day to enhance doctor-patient communication. DATA ANALYSIS: HCAHPS domain scores for 'communication with doctors' with each subcategory were tracked monthly as well as the number of PM notes written as a measure of afternoon rounds. RESULTS: 'Communication with doctor' domain improved from 8% percentile rank in December to as high as 78%. 'Doctors treat you with courtesy/respect' improved from 24% percentile rank in December to as high as 90%. 'Doctors listen carefully to you' improved from 13% percentile rank in December to as high as 88%. 'Doctors explain in a way you understand' improved from 2% percentile rank in December to as high as 72%. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that HCAHPS scores in the 'communication with doctors' domain can be improved when employing the AIDET approach with each patient encounter and the addition of afternoon rounds. Sustainability is vital to the success of these interventions, as we observed in our results that there is a direct proportional correlation with the number of afternoon rounds performed with higher scores.

Diabetic Ketoacidosis and Hypertriglyceridemiainduced Pancreatitis: Can the Perfect Storm Happen Twice?

This case report describes the recurrence of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) leading to hypertriglyceridemia-induced pancreatitis. Hypertriglyceridemia is present in 2-5% of patients with diabetic ketoacidosis. Hypertriglyceridemiainduced pancreatitis occurs in up to 4% of patients with diabetic ketoacidosis and is a well-reported complication. This is the first case report to the author's knowledge, where the same patient had two separate episodes of acute pancreatitis that have been attributed to diabetic ketoacidosis and resultant severe hypertriglyceridemia, etiology determined to be medication non-compliance. DKA and acute pancreatitis can co-exist, and hypertriglyceridemia has been the predominant pathogenetic link between the two conditions. We also describe the pathophysiology and treatment of hyper-triglyceridemia-induced pancreatitis in diabetic ketoacidosis.

Deranged Haemostasis: Rifampin-Induced Coagulopathy.

Prothrombin time (PT), first used in 1935, is the most commonly employed marker of coagulopathy to assess bleeding tendency. It is a screening test and measures the time in seconds to the formation of a clot after platelet-poor plasma has been mixed with a thromboplastin reagent consisting of tissue factor, lipids and calcium chloride ions. The International Normalized Ratio (INR) is a standardized number based on the PT of the patient. It is used by clinicians to measure the effectiveness of anticoagulants and to guide therapy. Drugs such as warfarin can affect the level of or the metabolism of vitamin K in the body, which can impact PT and INR levels. A supratherapeutic INR is rare in a patient not on therapy with vitamin K inhibitors and with preserved liver function. Here we describe an elderly man with a supratherapeutic INR, secondary to the use of rifampin. Antibiotic-induced coagulopathy is an extremely rare complication. To the authors' knowledge, this is a unique case of rifampin-induced coagulopathy with no other associated complications of disseminated intravascular coagulation. A literature review revealed a small number of cases of rifampicin-induced coagulopathy. A high index of suspicion and knowledge is essential for the diagnosis and management of such cases. LEARNING POINTS: Given the unpredictability and rarity of rifampicin-induced coagulopathy in clinical practice, clinicians should be aware of the possibility of bleeding or drug-induced thromboembolic events with antibiotics.Early recognition and withdrawal of the offending agent are key to the successful management of this condition.Clinicians should be aware of the possible side effects of administered drugs and their possible interactions.

Henoch-Schonlein Purpura in a Newly Diagnosed HIV Patient.

HIV infection is associated with multisystemic manifestations due both to secondary infections caused by a decrease in the CD4+ T-cell count and to the pathogenicity of the HIV virus itself. A common renal manifestation is HIV-associated nephropathy, which is frequently seen in the African population with the APOL1 gene mutation; however, other forms of glomerulopathy such as IgA nephropathy, commonly noted in other ethnicities, are also seen. Vasculitis has rarely been associated with HIV infection and mainly involves small blood vessels, although any size of blood vessel may be involved. The association of Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) with HIV is rare and not well understood. We describe a 53-year-old African American woman with a newly diagnosed HIV infection who presented with a purpuric rash over the bilateral lower extremities with haematuria. Initial work-up revealed renal dysfunction with elevated ESR. Urinalysis was positive for glomerular haematuria and sub-nephrotic range proteinuria. Serum complement level, c-antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA), p-ANCA and anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) were negative. Renal biopsy revealed mesangial IgA deposits with crescent glomerulopathy and fibrinoid necrosis, while skin biopsy revealed leucocytoclastic vasculitis. A diagnosis of HSP was made based on American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria. The patient's renal function and purpura improved with a 5-day course of steroid pulse therapy. This case of HSP in a newly diagnosed HIV patient is unusual for the presence of crescentic glomerulopathy. LEARNING POINTS: Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) associated with HIV infection is uncommon but documented; however, all four features of HSP are rarely seen together.Crescent glomerulopathy is rarely seen in HIV-associated HSP.HSP associated with HIV is treated with antiretroviral drugs, while the role of steroid and immunosuppressive therapy remains controversial.

When Blood Is Being Difficult: Clotting and Bleeding in a Patient With Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome and Supratherapeutic International Normalized Ratio.

Venous thromboembolism includes deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism and is the most common cardiovascular disease after coronary artery disease and stroke. Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune disorder that is characterized by venous or arterial thrombosis with laboratory evidence of antiphospholipid antibodies. Long-term anticoagulation therapy is required to prevent recurrent DVTs, embolisms, and thrombosis-related complications. Treatment options include vitamin K antagonists, subcutaneous low-molecular-weight heparin, unfractionated heparin, or direct oral anticoagulants. Warfarin (a vitamin K antagonist) remains the mainstay of treatment in APS patients with a prior history of DVT and is associated with elevation of the international normalized ratio which is often used as a marker for therapy appropriateness and warfarin dosing. Here, we describe a unique case of a 65-year-old female with APS on warfarin (given prior lower extremity DVT) presenting with bleeding/hematoma in the left breast and a clot in the left upper extremity.

Blood Being Tricky: Anticoagulation-Resistant Venous Thromboembolism (VTE).

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a condition in which blood clots form in the venous system of the body. It includes deep venous thrombosis (DVT) that occurs when a blood clot forms in a deep vein, more common in lower extremities, and pulmonary embolism (PE) as the clot breaks loose and travels through the bloodstream to the pulmonary arteries. VTE can result in significant morbidity and mortality. It is a preventable medical condition with the treatment being straightforward in most cases with anticoagulation and mechanical thrombectomy. Here, we discuss a rare case of a 40-year-old male with recurrent VTE that was resistant to different available therapeutic options such as direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC), vitamin k antagonists, heparin, and catheter-directed thrombolysis presenting with occlusive thrombus in the entirety of the right-sided deep venous structures, with minimal preservation of flow in the common femoral vein.