Author: Craig Boerner
Study spots undiagnosed genetic diseases in EHR
Mar. 15, 2018—Patients diagnosed with heart failure, stroke, infertility and kidney failure could actually be suffering from rare and undiagnosed genetic diseases.
Urological association taps Chang to help guide international strategy
Mar. 8, 2018—The American Urological Association has announced three new assistant secretary positions, including Vanderbilt’s Sam Chang, MD, to better align its international growth.
Saline use on decline at Vanderbilt following landmark studies
Feb. 27, 2018—Vanderbilt University Medical Center is encouraging its medical providers to stop using saline as intravenous fluid therapy for most patients, a change provoked by two companion landmark studies released Feb. 27 that are anticipated to improve survival and decrease kidney complications.
Opioid use increases risk of serious infections
Feb. 12, 2018—Opioid users have a significantly increased risk of infections severe enough to require treatment at the hospital, such as pneumonia and meningitis, as compared to people who don’t use opioids.
Tennessee Poison Center celebrates 30th anniversary
Feb. 12, 2018—The Tennessee Poison Center (TPC) is celebrating its 30th anniversary this month, following a year in which it received more than 50,000 emergency calls from residents, healthcare professionals, emergency departments and intensive care units.
Post-flu risks a growing concern for the elderly
Nov. 21, 2017—Infectious disease experts are warning that flu can lead to an increased risk of heart attack, stroke and disability in elderly patients for months after they have recovered from their illness.
Smoking study personalizes treatment
Nov. 16, 2017—A simple blood test is allowing Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) researchers to determine which patients should be prescribed varenicline (Chantix) to stop smoking and which patients could do just as well, and avoid side effects, by using a nicotine patch.
Amoxicillin alone better choice for pediatric pneumonia: study
Nov. 9, 2017—A combination of two antibiotics is often prescribed to treat community-acquired pneumonia in children, but a JAMA Pediatrics study is now showing that using just one of the two has the same benefit to patients in most cases.
Edwards, Schaffner honored by major infectious diseases organizations
Oct. 26, 2017—Two highly regarded Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) infectious disease clinicians were recognized with service awards from prominent organizations during IDWeek in San Diego, California, Oct. 4-8.
View the eclipse safely; white Vanderbilt Health glasses recalled
Aug. 17, 2017—VUMC has recalled the white eclipse safety glasses distributed at the Williamson County Fair over supply chain concerns. Multicolored Vanderbilt University, Dyer Observatory and Vanderbilt Eye Institute glasses were obtained from a different vendor and are not included in the recall.
Uninsured emergency department visits down after Medicaid expansion
Jun. 19, 2017—Fewer uninsured patients are walking through the doors of Emergency Departments in states that expanded Medicaid coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), even though the total number of visits has increased since 2014, according to an Annals of Emergency Medicine study released Monday.
Schaffner receives UpShot Award in vaccine communication
Jun. 15, 2017—The National Vaccine Program Office in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has selected William Schaffner, M.D., to receive its 2017 NVPO UpShot Award in Vaccine Communication.