BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to analyze the 30-day outcome after introduction of a rapid carotid endarterectomy (CEA) program. Reasons for delay in CEA and the incidence of early recurrence neurological symptoms were recorded. METHODS This is a prospective population-based study of delays to CEA and 30-day outcome in patients with symptomatic carotid stenosis. Neurolog...

This paper investigates the trade-off between cancellations of elective surgeries due to semi-urgent surgeries, and unused operating room (OR) time due to excessive reservation of OR time for semi-urgent surgeries. Semi-urgent surgeries, to be performed soon but not necessarily today, pose an uncertain demand on available hospital resources, and interfere with the planning of elective patients....

STUDY OBJECTIVE We compare utilization, price per visit, and the types of care delivered across freestanding emergency departments (EDs), hospital-based EDs, and urgent care centers in Texas. METHODS We analyzed insurance claims processed by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas from 2012 to 2015 for patient visits to freestanding EDs, hospital-based EDs, or urgent care centers in 16 Texas metropol...

Scenario: This electrocardiogram (ECG) was obtained from a 66-year-old male patient being admitted to the coronary care unit (CCU) as a “direct admit.” The patient had gone to an urgent care center 1 hour earlier with complaints of weakness and shortness of breath. Based on the symptoms and ECG (similar to the one below), he was sent via ambulance to the CCU. Past medical history includes hyper...