In this episode of The Curbsiders Internal Medicine Podcast, Dr. Esther Oh, a delirium expert and President of the American Delirium Society, discusses the prevention, recognition, and management of delirium in hospitalized patients. The conversation covers the significant impact of delirium on patient outcomes and practical strategies for clinicians to address this common and dangerous condition.

Practice guidelines provide recommendations applicable to patients with or at risk of developing CVD. The focus is on medical practice in the United States, but guidelines developed in collaboration with other organizations can have a global impact. Although guidelines may be used to inform regulatory or payer decisions, they are intended to improve patients’ quality of care and align with patients’ interests. Guidelines are intended to define practices meeting the needs of patients in most, but not all, circumstances and should not replace clinical judgment.

The goal of this article is to develop an evidence-based guideline for the comprehensive management of osteoarthritis (OA) as a collaboration between the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and the Arthritis Foundation, updating the 2012 ACR recommendations for the management of hand, hip, and knee OA.

The Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) of 2021 authorized the Secretary of Health & Human Services to create a Special Focus Program (SFP) which aims to address issues that place hospice beneficiaries at risk for poor quality of care through increased oversight and/or technical assistance.

For the 21st year, AHRQ is reporting on healthcare quality and disparities. The annual National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report is mandated by Congress to provide a comprehensive overview of the quality of healthcare received by the general U.S. population and disparities in care experienced by different racial and socioeconomic groups. The report is produced with the help of an Interagency Work Group led by AHRQ.

2023 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures is a statistical resource for U.S. data related to Alzheimer’s disease, the most common cause of dementia. Background and context for interpretation of the data are contained in the Overview. Additional sections address prevalence, mortality and morbidity, caregiving, the dementia care workforce, and the use and costs of health care and services. Better Alzheimer’s disease care requires conversations about memory at the earliest point of concern and a knowledgeable, accessible care team that includes physician specialists to diagnose, monitor disease progression and treat when appropriate. The Special Report examines obstacles and opportunities for achieving better care in an era of new treatments for Alzheimer’s.

Our 2023 annual nursing home statistical analysis, covering 2019 – 2021, represents a unique look into an unprecedented and deeply challenging time for the industry.

The three-year period explored in this report includes a deep dive into the distinct stages of the pandemic – the pre-COVID environment, the heart of COVID, and then what some might call the beginning of COVID recovery.

Healthcare faces challenges in recruiting and retaining staff, despite recovering 5.65% of lost talent from the "Great Resignation." The slow return rate for Registered Nurses (RNs) raises questions. The national hospital turnover rate is 22.7%, with RN turnover at 22.5%. Turnover costs, averaging $52,350 per bedside RN, impact hospital margins. The RN vacancy rate is 15.7%, with a recruitment difficulty index of 95 days. Hospitals aim to cut reliance on supplemental staffing, saving $157,000 for each RN hired to improve financial margins.

The United Health Foundation's release of America’s Health Rankings® 2023 Senior Report, which provides a portrait of the health and well-being of older adults across the United States. The report features successes and challenges in a broad range of health measures and, because most measures include data from 2021 or later, the report highlights some of the effects that the COVID-19 pandemic had on older adults

This content provides information on the FDA-approved COMIRNATY vaccine for COVID-19, covering its use for individuals aged 12 and older, safety guidelines, side effects, and reporting procedures. It emphasizes the importance of using authorized healthcare providers for vaccination and addresses safety concerns such as allergic reactions and myocarditis.