http://hppartners.com/blog/ en Copyright 2012 2012-02-20T22:05:16+00:00 http://www.hppartners.com/blog/coffee-and-the-physician/ http://www.hppartners.com/blog/coffee-and-the-physician/#When:22:05:16Z I dare you to find me more than a handful of Hospitalists or Emergency Medicine Physicians that haven’t, on occasion, had coffee on the job or somewhere related to working a shift. Caffeinism manifests as anxiety, agitation, restlessness, insomnia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, palpitation and a fast heart rate. Because caffeine can have addictive potential, its withdrawal can produce headaches, irritability, lethargy and occasional nausea. Heartburn and reflux are commonly accepted side effects (even I’ll attest to that). Old studies showed high consumption of unfiltered coffee was associated with mild elevations in cholesterol levels and that two or more cups of coffee a day could increase the risk of heart disease in people with a specific, fairly common genetic mutation that slows the breakdown of caffeine in the body. But have no fear as a study in Fudan University in Shanghai found that one extra cup of coffee a day correlated with a 3% reduced risk of a broad list of cancers. It turns out that steaming cup of java is the number one source of antioxidants in the U.S. diet according to a study by researchers at the University of Scranton, PA. Coffee came out on top, on the combined basis of both antioxidants per serving size and frequency of consumption (interestingly, of all the foods and beverages studied, dates actually have the most antioxidants of all based solely on serving size). Furthermore, for the male sex, the Harvard School of Public Health relayed results of the 20-year look at nearly 48,000 men which showed that those who drank 6 or more cups of coffee daily were 18% less likely to get prostate cancer than non-drinkers and 60% less likely to die from it. Drinking even one to 3 cups daily lowered the risk of dying by 29%. The good news is that caffeine was not the secret ingredient. Men drinking decaf benefited equally as those drinking caffeinated coffee. So in addition to the reported reduced risk of type 2 diabetes (Australian research) and the slowing of cognitive decline, males may have found a therapeutic reason to Joe before, during, and after work. Who knows, maybe this profession will show the male cadre the management keys to longevity as opposed to the doctors aging before their time. 2012-02-20T22:05:16+00:00 http://www.hppartners.com/blog/hospitalist-jobs-now-open-in-kentucky/ http://www.hppartners.com/blog/hospitalist-jobs-now-open-in-kentucky/#When:22:01:01Z Hospital Physician Partners has immediate Hospitalist Job openings at three emergency departments that we manage in Kentucky: In Flemingsburg, Kentucky at Fleming County Hospital there is an excellent Hospitalist job opportunity for a physician Board Certified or Board Eligible in IM or FP. This facility was established in 1962 and a new replacement facility opened in 2008. The new hospital features many private rooms, expanded operating rooms, a larger Emergency Department, new state-of- the-art MRI equipment and many other improvements. The friendly town of Flemingsburg is located in northeast Kentucky in the heart of Fleming County, just two hours from Cincinnati. A city that’s full of heritage, it’s surrounded by historic buildings, beautiful rolling farmland, lovely old wooden covered bridges and antique shops. There are plenty of outdoor activities as well, including golf, fishing, camping, swimming, tennis, hiking, hunting and boating. At Appalachian Regional Medical Center in Hazard, Kentucky, we have Hospitalist jobs for both physicians and nurse practitioners. This center is a 308-bed, acute-care and psychiatric hospital and enjoys a reputation of excellence as a patient-oriented, rural health facility. You’ll enjoy working with a great team and living among the beautiful mountains of Hazard on the North Fork of the Kentucky River. Hazard has everything from great fishing, hunting and camping to a wonderful heritage, strong education system and low cost-of-living. In Middlesboro, Kentucky, at Middlesboro ARH Hospital we have an opening for a Hospitalist Physician. This 96-bed facility has services that include aeromedical heliport, case management, CT scan, home health, ICU, laser surgery, MRI, labor & delivery, outpatient services, pediatrics and ultrasound. Middlesboro is located in southeastern Kentucky, just a short drive from Knoxville, and is a great place to call home. The city offers beautiful views of both the Cumberland Gap National Historic Park and Pine Mountain State Park. All of the Hospitalist jobs we have available in Kentucky come with full benefits and there are possible bonus opportunities. We also have Emergency Medicine jobs and Hospitalist jobs available across the United States. Click here to view. 2012-02-18T22:01:01+00:00 http://www.hppartners.com/blog/handling-hyped-disease-fears-in-emergency-and-hospitalist-medicine/ http://www.hppartners.com/blog/handling-hyped-disease-fears-in-emergency-and-hospitalist-medicine/#When:18:47:08Z Often our jobs as Hospitalists and Emergency Medicine Physicians involve having to face patient questions stemming from their fears of contracting and dying from west Nile virus, the bird flu or the swine flu. We know they are all victims of the press telling them how deadly these illnesses are to the public because they are constantly bombarded with sensationalism in the mass media effectively designed to induce frenzy and hysteria. To put these diseases into perspective for these people, tuberculosis (TB) is one of the world’s deadliest diseases. It is estimated that one-third of the world’s population are infected with TB (according to the CDC). In 2010, nearly 9 million people around the world became sick with TB. There were around 1.4 million TB-related deaths worldwide. Malaria i s another deadly disease, causing about 250 million cases of fever and approximately one million deaths annually. Attempt to allay the fears of the relatively rare, inconsequential, over-hyped diseases by bringing these ideas into the forefront of knowledge for these patients. Of the 690 West Nile Virus cases reported in the US in 2011, there were ONLY 43 deaths. The “deadly” strain of bird flu known as H5N1 has infected 565 people worldwide since 2003. Of these, only 331 have died. Official figures show there were about 562 deaths linked to the H1N1 virus during the most recent “season” , compared with 474 deaths in the global outbreak of 2009. Something of encouragement to us all was recently reported regarding the global management of malaria. In October of 2011, GlaxoSmithKline announced that, as noted in a large trial which will run until 2014, its new malaria vaccine has cut infection rates in half. Its effectiveness appears to be due to the combining of the hepatitis B vaccine with the malaria vaccine which appears to boost the immune response to the malarial particles in the vaccine by 50%. 2012-02-12T18:47:08+00:00 http://www.hppartners.com/blog/rewarding-emergency-medicine-jobs-in-ohio/ http://www.hppartners.com/blog/rewarding-emergency-medicine-jobs-in-ohio/#When:22:26:17Z Hospital Physician Partners has rewarding Emergency Medicine Jobs at two excellent emergency departments that we manage in Ohio: In Dayton, Ohio, we have Emergency Medicine job openings for physicians at Southview Medical Center plus Grandview Hospital and Medical Center. Grandview is the more active of the two rooms, seeing 25 to 35 thousand patients a year. The Emergency Medicine job opening at Southview can be either full or part-time and this 12-bed ED sees between 15 and 25 thousand patients a year. Dayton is home to several Fortune 500 companies and encourages innovation, with more patents per capita than any other city in the nation. Its own international airport and a lower than average cost of living are among a long list of benefits that make Dayton a great place to live and work. At Knox Community Hospital in Mount Vernon, we have Emergency Medicine jobs for physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants. This modern, well-equipped facility has an active emergency room, seeing 25 to 35 thousand patients a year. It offers a full range of medical, surgical and rehabilitation services and has state-of-the-art laboratory and radiology equipment. Just 44 miles from Columbus, the city of Mount Vernon is considered to be one of Ohio’s most livable communities with a low cost of living, affordable housing, a pleasant climate, light traffic and low crime rate. These Ohio Emergency Medicines jobs come with full benefits and there are possible bonus opportunities. Click here to view the Emergency Medicine jobs and Hospitalist jobs that we have available across the country. 2012-02-08T22:26:17+00:00 http://www.hppartners.com/blog/two-alabama-emergency-medicine-jobs-available-immediately/ http://www.hppartners.com/blog/two-alabama-emergency-medicine-jobs-available-immediately/#When:00:07:51Z Hospital Physician Partners has immediate job openings for Emergency Medicine Physicians in the cities of Atmore and Russellville in Alabama. The two facilities, Atmore Community Hospital and Russellville Hospital, have relatively low ED volume, seeing less than 15 thousand patients a year. Still, both of these excellent facilities play a central role in the health of their communities and both communities are great places to live and work. Atmore is located in the southwest corner of Alabama between the metropolitan areas and beautiful beaches of Mobile, Alabama and Pensacola, Florida. With its great location, host of activities and beautiful scenery, Atmore is comfortable and affordable living at its best. Russellville is within easy reach of Huntsville, Birmingham and Nashville. With a small town atmosphere, a fine educational system and a low crime rate, it’s a great place to call home. Russellville also has some of the cleanest recreational waters in Alabama and award-winning lakes for bass fishing. As with all of our Emergency Medicine jobs, these opportunities in Alabama come with full benefits and there may be bonus opportunities. You can also browse our entire list of Emergency Medicine and Hospitalist jobs to view great job opportunities in other parts of the country. 2012-02-04T00:07:51+00:00 http://www.hppartners.com/blog/emergency-medicine-jobs-available-for-physicians-all-across-georgia/ http://www.hppartners.com/blog/emergency-medicine-jobs-available-for-physicians-all-across-georgia/#When:17:56:33Z When it comes to Emergency Medicine jobs, exciting opportunities abound in the Peach State. Hospital Physician Partners has seven immediate Emergency Medicine Job openings for physicians at great locations throughout Georgia, including: Just one hour north of Atlanta in the scenic mountain village of Dahlonega, we have an emergency medicine job opening at Chestatee Regional Hospital. This modern facility plays an important role in the health of a community that’s rich in history and a great place to live and work. Thirty minutes southwest of Macon in the small community of Fort Valley, Georgia, there is a full or part-time EM job opening at Peach Regional Medical Center. This excellent facility has a more active emergency room, seeing 15 to 25 thousand patients a year. Hartwell is in northeastern Georgia, just a few miles from the South Carolina border. Here we have a great emergency medicine job available at Hart County Hospital. In what Travel Holiday magazine called the “#1 Small Town in America”, we have an excellent EM job opportunity at Morgan Memorial Hospital. The six-bed emergency department sees about five thousand patients annually. In the heart of the Georgia Piedmont is the historic town of Monticello. Here we have an excellent opportunity for an Emergency Medicine Physician at Jasper Memorial Hospital. At another Northeastern Georgia location, this time at Cobb Memorial Hospital in Royston, we have an immediate EM job opening. Known as the Home of the Georgia Peach, Ty Cobb, it is home to the Ty Cobb Museum honoring the legendary baseball Hall of Famer and is only 100 miles from the excitement of Atlanta. Just 70 miles south of Atlanta lies the small southern town of Warm Springs, Georgia, where we have another great emergency medicine job opening. You can enjoy life in this warm town that has mix of hospitality and heritage. Warm Springs was home to President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. All of these Emergency Medicines jobs in Georgia come with full benefits and there are bonus opportunities. We also invite you to browse Emergency Medicine jobs and Hospitalist jobs that we have available across the United States. 2012-02-01T17:56:33+00:00 http://www.hppartners.com/blog/great-emergency-medicine-jobs-at-three-michigan-locations/ http://www.hppartners.com/blog/great-emergency-medicine-jobs-at-three-michigan-locations/#When:21:38:22Z Hospital Physician Partners has immediate Emergency Medicine Job openings at three emergency departments that we manage in Michigan: In Dowagiac, Michigan, there is an excellent emergency medicine job opportunity for a physician Board Certified in EM or IM and FP with significant Emergency Medicine experience. The facility, Borgess Lee Memorial Hospital, has 11 ED beds and the hospital has delivered comprehensive, personal healthcare for over 85 years and consistently scores high in customer-service rankings. Nestled in the rolling hills of southwestern Michigan, Dowagiac carries the feel of a rural community with close proximity to major metropolitan areas like South Bend, Indiana, and Chicago. At Sturgis Hospital in Sturgis, Michigan we have another great Emergency Medicine job opportunity for a physician. This emergency department is a little more active and sees 15 to 25 thousand patients a year. Located just one hour from South Bend, Indiana, Sturgis is a great Midwest location with a diverse economic base; a wonderful assortment of people; one of Michigan’s finest school systems; several international businesses; excellent healthcare and beautiful, affordable homes. In Three Rivers, Michigan we have emergency medicine jobs for physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants. In this moderately active ED physicians work 12 hours shifts and NPs/PAs work eight hours shifts. Here’s a chance to apply your skills at a great facility and live in a wonderful community. Three Rivers is located approximately 20 miles South of Kalamazoo where the Portage and Rocky Rivers flow into the St. Joseph River. It’s surrounded by many lakes and the local economy is a diversified mix of service, tourism and industry. All of the Emergency Medicines jobs we have available in Michigan come with full benefits and there are possible bonus opportunities. We also have Emergency Medicine jobs and Hospitalist jobs available across the United States. Click here to view. 2012-01-27T21:38:22+00:00 http://www.hppartners.com/blog/pennsylvania-emergency-medicine-job-at-great-lock-haven-facility/ http://www.hppartners.com/blog/pennsylvania-emergency-medicine-job-at-great-lock-haven-facility/#When:21:50:49Z Hospital Physician Partners has an immediate job opening for a full or part-time Emergency Medicine Physician at Lock Haven Hospital in Pennsylvania. This ER has relatively low volume (less than 15 thousand patients annually) and 10 beds. Since Lock Haven is Clinton County’s only city, this is your chance to have a real impact on the health of a community at a great facility. Close to 37,000 people live in Clinton County. A friendly and natural environment, Clinton County has five Pennsylvania state parks and parts of five state forests cross into the county. With mountains as far as your eyes can see and the crystal-clear waters of the West Branch Susquehanna River beckoning for a boating ride, Lock Haven is perfect for the outdoor enthusiast and a great place to live and work. As with all of our openings, this Emergency Medicine job in Pennsylvania comes with full benefits and there may be bonus opportunities. You can also browse our entire list of Emergency Medicine and Hospitalist Medicine jobs to view great job opportunities in other parts of the country. 2012-01-25T21:50:49+00:00 http://www.hppartners.com/blog/three-great-emergency-medicine-jobs-now-available-in-missouri/ http://www.hppartners.com/blog/three-great-emergency-medicine-jobs-now-available-in-missouri/#When:21:31:40Z When it comes to rewarding Emergency Medicine jobs in the Show-Me State, Hospital Physician Partners delivers the goods. Check out three great Emergency Medicine Job opportunities now available in Missouri: At St. Alexius Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri, we have Emergency Medicine job openings for both physicians and nurse practitioners. The physician positions can be either full or part-time and the full or part-time nurse practitioner positions give you the chance to work independently and enjoy a high rate of pay. Not much more needs to be said about the great city of St. Louis — the Gateway to the West offers jazz, blues, archeology, culture and history plus is home to the World Champion St. Louis Cardinals. In southeastern Missouri is the small, historic community of Dexter. At Missouri Southern Healthcare in Dexter we have an excellent opportunity for an Emergency Medicine Physician. In this five-bed ED you can make a difference in this low-volume room while earning up to $200k per year! With St. Louis and Springfield just a few hours away, Dexter is a great place to live and work, with a warm small-town community; outdoor activities like fishing, water skiing, hunting and boating; plus museums like the Heritage Museum and the Stars and Stripes Museum. Many of the Missouri Emergency Medicine jobs have bonus opportunities and all of the jobs we have available come with full benefits. To see the complete list of Missouri Emergency Medicine jobs click here, or browse our entire list of Emergency Medicine and Hospitalist Medicine jobs. 2012-01-22T21:31:40+00:00 http://www.hppartners.com/blog/arkansas-emergency-medicine-jobs-now-open-for-physicians/ http://www.hppartners.com/blog/arkansas-emergency-medicine-jobs-now-open-for-physicians/#When:01:46:30Z Hospital Physician Partners manages Emergency Departments at great facilities throughout Arkansas and the Untied States. Here are a few of the excellent Emergency Medicine Job opportunities that we currently have available in Arkansas: In Helena, Arkansas, just one-hour southwest of Memphis, there is an immediate opening for a full or part-time Emergency Medicine Physician. There is flexible scheduling for 12 and 24-hour shifts and although ED volume at Helena Regional Medical Center is relatively low, this excellent facility delivers a full-range of services through the latest in technology. There is access to full benefits and there are also bonus opportunities and possible relocation assistance. In addition to Helena’s proximity to the culture and attractions of Memphis, the town that Mark Twain once called the “prettiest situation on the Mississippi River” is home to plenty of culture and attractions of its own, including the famous Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival. Another town in Arkansas with easy access to Memphis is Forrest City, just 45 minutes to the west. Here we also have a full or part-time job opening for an Emergency Medicine Physician. Flexible scheduling and custom reward bonuses are available in this full-service facility that has 118 beds. Forrest City is home to the famous singer and minister Rev. Al Green and to John W. Henry, principal owner of the Boston Red Sox. Forrest City is a great place to live and work. We have another full or part-time Emergency Medicine job opening for a physician at Harris Hospital in Newport, Arkansas. This 133-bed acute care facility is the county’s only inpatient and outpatient healthcare services provider and has a strong focus on customer service and quality patient care. Full benefits and custom reward bonuses are also available here. We invite you to discover all of the Emergency Medicines jobs we have available in Arkansas and across the country. Click here to view. 2012-01-21T01:46:30+00:00 http://www.hppartners.com/blog/north-carolina-hospitalist-jobs-at-great-facilities/ http://www.hppartners.com/blog/north-carolina-hospitalist-jobs-at-great-facilities/#When:21:18:29Z Hospitalist medicine continues to be a fast-growing and rewarding discipline. Hospital Physician Partners has Hospitalist jobs at these excellent facilities throughout North Carolina: Johnston Medical Center-Smithfield is a 199-bed facility located on the Coastal Plain in Smithfield, NC and has openings for physicians and physician assistants. This hospital has behavioral health, urgent care and surgical services plus a cancer center. The facility plays an important role in the well-being of this friendly community and the town is known as a great place to live and work. At Franklin Regional Medical Center in Louisburg, North Carolina there is an opening for a physician at this 85-bed facility. Services include: cardiac care, ultrasound, radiology, laboratory, critical care, plastic surgery, comprehensive imaging, OB/GYN, nephrology, orthopedics, gastroenterology, urology and pediatric. Louisburg is located in the upper Piedmont plateau of North Carolina just 30 miles northeast of Raleigh and 45 miles northeast of Durham, so it offers close proximity to the resources and great quality of life of the Research Triangle. Transylvania Community Hospital in Brevard, North Carolina has an opening for a part-time physician. This hospital has 94 beds and delivers a full range of services, including: cardiology, ICU/CCU, anesthesiology, OB/GYN, home health, radiology, speech/language therapy, respiratory therapy, laboratory, wound care/ostomy and podiatry. The facility is located in the heart of Transylvania County in the western Blue Ridge Mountains, just 30 miles southwest of Asheville, and is near the beautiful Pisgah National Forest. We have other great Hospitalist jobs throughout the country; click here to view. The North Carolina Hospitalist jobs that we have available come with full benefits and many have bonus opportunities. 2012-01-17T21:18:29+00:00 http://www.hppartners.com/blog/emergency-medicine-jobs-available-throughout-texas/ http://www.hppartners.com/blog/emergency-medicine-jobs-available-throughout-texas/#When:02:13:02Z From Texarkana to San Antonio, over in Houston to Odessa, there are excellent Emergency Medicine jobs available for physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants: Wadley Regional Medical Center (WRMC) has been servicing the city of Texarkana and surrounding communities for 100 years and today has grown into a modern facility with cutting-edge technology and 370 beds. Rewarding jobs are available for physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants in this active emergency department that treats 35 to 50 thousand patients annually. Down in San Antonio there is an exciting emergency medicine job opportunity a physician looking to make a difference in a fast-paced urban environment. The emergency department at Southwest General Hospital sees 35 to 50 thousand patients annually and this state-of-the-art facility has 28 beds in its ED. The most visited state in Texas, San Antonio is also a great place to live, home to many historic sites, attractions, the San Antonio River Walk and major league sports with the San Antonio Spurs of the NBA. Over in Houston at St. Joseph Medical Center there are Emergency Medicine Job openings for both physicians and nurse practitioners, The Center is staffed by over 650 board-certified physicians and more than 1,800 medical professionals. The hospital facility covers eight city blocks and is conveniently located on the edge of Houston’s downtown. Houston is the fourth largest city in America and offers a rich, diverse culture, world-class museums, plenty of entertainment options and is home to more than 40 universities and colleges. Many of the Texas Emergency Medicine jobs have bonus opportunities and all the jobs we have available come with full benefits. To see the complete list of Texas Emergency Medicine jobs click here, or browse our entire list of Emergency Medicine and Hospitalist Medicine jobs. 2012-01-12T02:13:02+00:00 http://www.hppartners.com/blog/emergency-medicine-we-see-dead-people-the-wall/ http://www.hppartners.com/blog/emergency-medicine-we-see-dead-people-the-wall/#When:15:35:01Z Repeatedly we hear from administration that our customer service scores are not what they want them to be. Sure, there is nothing wrong in making the emergency department experience as pleasant as possible for our patients and their visitors. But the ED has one experience more shocking than other areas of the hospital and certainly more than the average person is accustomed to. We see dead people. Most people would run out of the room screaming if they found themselves in a room with a dead person. Not us. We continue to talk about movies, family or whatever else has our fancy at the time. Some of us continue eating lunch shortly after a code. By and large we are standing by death. This is not normal — but it is absolutely necessary. Building mental silos, as it were, helps us cope with bad outcomes. We create a wall between the patients and us. We, on one side, separate ourselves emotionally from the patients on the other side. We need that wall to make it through the day. Who could possibly go on with their work after witnessing the death of a child in the emergency department without that wall? But perhaps the wall is too high. Perhaps once in a while we need to look over the wall to see who is there. It is important for us to remember that there are in fact people over the wall, and they are not all dead. We need to lower that wall whenever we can to allow us to associate with our patients as living people who are experiencing a difficult time — that is why they are in the emergency room. These are the patients filling out those patient surveys. It is often not our sickest patients (when admitted that have their complaints validated) who complete these surveys. It is those not-so-sick patients; the urgent and not-so-urgent patients that complete surveys. These are the ones who “pay” for the construction of the wall. They pay with the emotional detachment of the staff from their needs. They sense our “compassion fatigue”. It is time to reconstruct the wall at a lower height. We in Emergency Medicine cannot make it go away but we can make it so we see those people on the other side that are not dead. 2012-01-09T15:35:01+00:00 http://www.hppartners.com/blog/hand-hygiene-in-emergency-medicine/ http://www.hppartners.com/blog/hand-hygiene-in-emergency-medicine/#When:03:29:16Z Hospital patients in the U.S. acquire nearly 2 million infections each year (approximately one in 20 patients) according to the Center for Disease Control. Hand hygiene has been established as one of the most important ways to prevent the spread of infections. A recent satirical article was published in EP Monthly in which the author developed a valid point about how much hand washing would be required of an Emergency Medicine Physician during a shift. The author based his calculations on the requirements he apparently summarized from JCHAO recommendations.* The author calculated that if an emergency physician sees an average of 2.5 patients per hour, (assuming a conservative average of touching each patient twice) he/she would be required to perform hand hygiene about 10 times an hour (about once every 6 minutes) and about 100 times in a 10 hour shift. (Here’s a link to the actual CDC guidelines and indications for hand washing and hand antisepsis in the health care setting for you to reference at your convenience. The CDC’s recommendations are valid and sensible but the list itself is onerous.) A key factor in successfully running an emergency department is time management. Assuming the author is correct in his calculations, he raises a valid point for the physician working shifts in an emergency department. The Emergency Medicine Physician is obliged to comply with an immense set of requirements from regulators while performing his or her professional obligations and maintaining care standards. These responsibilities fill up the shift and add to the time-management challenge in the emergency room. The skill of “Managing the ED” and its nuances will be spotlighted as one of our CME lectures available to you soon from the HPP University website. *Reference: R. Bukata, MD, In my opinion Death by Regulation: Enough is Enough, EP Monthly, 10/7/11. 2012-01-04T03:29:16+00:00 http://www.hppartners.com/blog/emergency-medicine-jobs-abound-in-north-carolina/ http://www.hppartners.com/blog/emergency-medicine-jobs-abound-in-north-carolina/#When:22:00:11Z From the Blue Ridge Mountains through the Piedmont area to the Coast Plain, Emergency Medicine jobs are available at excellent facilities in attractive locations throughout North Carolina. Here is just a sample of the opportunities in emergency departments that we staff across the Tar Heel State: Nestled in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Spruce Pine, North Carolina is Blue Ridge Regional Hospital. This facility serves a diverse population of residents in Mitchell, Yancey, Southwest Avery and Northern McDowell counties and is looking for qualified physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants who enjoy combining modern medicine and advanced technology with compassionate, patient-centered care. Spruce Pine is an enjoyable and affordable place to live, is known for its downtown festivals and is just an hour’s drive from the famous Western North Carolina destination of Asheville. Over in North Carolina’s Piedmont area there is an Emergency Medicine job opening for a physician certified in Emergency Medicine, Internal Medicine or Family Practice. This 149-bed hospital offers a full range of services and sees and average of 25 to 35 thousand patients in the emergency department each year. Thomasville is centrally located between the mountains to the west and the coast to the east and is just one hour north of Charlotte and 30 minutes from Winston-Salem. On the Coastal Plain in Smithfield, NC is Johnston Medical Center-Smithfield. This is an active facility with an emergency department annual volume of more than 50 thousand so you’ll have a chance to put your skills to good use in an exciting, rewarding and challenging environment. The Center has Emergency Medicine job openings for physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants, so here’s your chance to secure a position in a great place to live and work. The North Carolina Emergency Medicine jobs that are available right now come with full benefits and many have bonus opportunities. Click here to see the complete list of North Carolina Emergency Medicine jobs or browse our entire list of Emergency Medicine and Hospitalist Medicine jobs. 2011-12-27T22:00:11+00:00 http://www.hppartners.com/blog/emergency-medicine-study-predictors-of-death-after-ed-discharge/ http://www.hppartners.com/blog/emergency-medicine-study-predictors-of-death-after-ed-discharge/#When:19:07:47Z A recently published study expounded on the patterns and predictors of short-term death (within seven days) after emergency department (ED) discharge*. In this study they found that 50 in 100,000 patients in the United States die within 7 days of discharge from an emergency department. We all acknowledge that the emergency department is an inherently high-risk setting and furthermore would say that a death after discharge from the ED is unsettling. None of us with a soul enjoy one of those gut-wrenching, “Do you remember that patient you saw the other night?” questions that lead to that conclusion. The study’s’ findings pointed to increasing age, male sex and other serious pre-existing comorbidities as those risks associated with increased death rate after discharge from the ED. Interestingly, more than 25% of patients who died within 7 days of ED discharge had at least one chronic or serious condition, such as a previous myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, peripheral vascular disease, pulmonary disease, renal disease, or diabetes with complications. The top 5 primary discharge diagnoses predictive of a 7-day death after discharge included noninfectious lung disease (pleurisy, pneumothorax, pneumonitis), renal disease, ischemic heart disease, neoplasm and blood dyscrasias (the majority represented by anemia & sickle cell disease). How many of these fatal discharges might be prevented by following *The Ten Commandments of Emergency Medicine*? Many of them I postulate! Practicing with these premises during the management of these high risk patients supports a high care standard. Inherently we all periodically look introspectively at our job and how we manage patient disposition. The Emergency Medicine Physician’s care repertoires would benefit from a periodic reflective practice renaissance using these valuable conventions. If you are unfamiliar with, or have further interest in reviewing The Ten Commandments of Emergency Medicine, they will be included within our website lecture curriculum in the very near future. So stay tuned. *Reference: Patterns and predictors of short-term death after emergency department discharge. Gabayan GZ, Derose SF, Asch SM, Yiu S, Lancaster EM, Poon KT, Hoffman JR, Sun BC: Ann Emerg Med. 2011 Dec;58(6):551-558. 2011-12-21T19:07:47+00:00 http://www.hppartners.com/blog/emergency-medicine-management-means-improved-patient-satisfaction-for-bapti/ http://www.hppartners.com/blog/emergency-medicine-management-means-improved-patient-satisfaction-for-bapti/#When:19:05:07Z Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle, Mississippi was recently recognized for thier Emergency Department process enhancements and improvement to Patient Satisfaction scores. Effective Emergency Medicine management is directly related to patient satisfaction and satisfaction is reliant on efficiency and the speed to which a patient is seen. The turn-a-round was the subject of a story in the December 2011 edition of The Columbus and The Golden Triangle Dispatch. Details and the full article can be viewed here. To see all of the Emergency Medicine jobs and Hospitalist jobs that Hospital Physician Partners has in Mississippi and throughout the United States, click here. 2011-12-19T19:05:07+00:00 http://www.hppartners.com/blog/award-winning-wuesthoff-medical-center-in-florida-offers-exciting-hospitali/ http://www.hppartners.com/blog/award-winning-wuesthoff-medical-center-in-florida-offers-exciting-hospitali/#When:15:20:46Z If you’re looking not just for any Hospitalist job but are looking to make a real difference in Hospitalist Medicine and the health of a community, consider Wuesthoff Medical Center in Rockledge, Florida. This award-winning acute care hospital is recognized in Florida for clinical excellence and is a key factor in the health and well being of residents throughout Brevard County. It has a full range of services, including a Heart Center, a Women’s Health program and a program for palliative care. Located on Florida’s Space Coast, the hospital is close to the surf, sand and entertainment of nearby Cocoa Beach and all the attractions of Orlando are within easy reach. Wuesthoff Medical Center in Florida has rewarding Hospitalist jobs for both physicians and nurse practitioners. Full benefits are available and there are bonus opportunities. To see all of the Hospitalist jobs and Emergency Medicine jobs that Hospital Physician Partners has in Florida and throughout the United States, click here. 2011-12-19T15:20:46+00:00 http://www.hppartners.com/blog/narcotics-usage-in-the-emergency-department/ http://www.hppartners.com/blog/narcotics-usage-in-the-emergency-department/#When:02:26:28Z The issue of narcotic medication in Emergency Medicine always elicits emotional debate on both sides of the issue. Of course there are actually more than two sides, and there is a clearly gray zone that also deserves some discussion. There are those who dispense medication and are labeled “The Candy Man” by the nursing staff; there are those doctors who refuse to give any narcotic pain medicine to patients despite the nature of the disease/injury. Somewhere in between are those Emergency Medicine physicians who understand that they need to treat acute pain. The pain issue has become so contentious that we are forced and pulled toward different directions by different agencies. JACHO has decided that our pain management is so poor that it is now a monitored performance of the emergency department. Indeed pain levels have to be measured upon entrance to the department and then upon exit. On the other side we have other agencies telling us that we need to control the amount of narcotics we are prescribing to patients. The concern on the conservative side is that we are contributing to the drug dependency problem. To clarify, these patients that are in fact abusing drugs had those drugs issued before they came in. I don’t believe we have ever created a drug addict in the emergency department; nor by withholding pain medication have we cured a drug addict. The philosophy in this category is that we are simply “feeding the animals.” This references the fact that if we give pain medicine to these patients, they will simply keep coming back. Our role is not social; it is medical. And while some argue it is both, we are in Emergency Medicine to establish the presence of and stabilize or treat any emergency medical condition. However, one of the basic rules of medicine is to relive pain and suffering. There is no way to identify who does or does not have real pain. There is no object of measure, that is, a pain-o-meter. I always wonder how the staff knows when a patient is not in pain. Does the triage nurse have a pain-o-meter? We should not be influenced by the opinions of others; we have to do our own independent evaluation of the patient and reach our own conclusions. Indeed, how many times has a nurse made a comment when you prescribe pain medicine as if you were taking it from his/her private stash? We need to look at these patients and take them at face value and accept the fact that they really are in pain and need pain medication. I would rather treat several patients who may in fact “dupe” me out of narcotics, rather than withhold pain medication from a person in real pain. Now, I am not naïve. I know there are patients who return to the emergency department every week for pain treatment. For patients with chronic pain, it is important that the department as a whole develop a consensus policy that is uniform amongst the providers. You may choose not to use narcotics on these patients or perhaps to administer a single injection and no prescriptions. Whatever the policy, it should be approved by the group and practiced by the providers so the staff sees a consistency in the management of these patients. 2011-12-18T02:26:28+00:00 http://www.hppartners.com/blog/florida-hospitalist-jobs-offer-professional-and-lifestyle-rewards/ http://www.hppartners.com/blog/florida-hospitalist-jobs-offer-professional-and-lifestyle-rewards/#When:21:11:59Z This is a great time to be practicing Hospitalist Medicine in Florida, as jobs are available from the northern part of the peninsular to the Keys. Here are a few examples of the opportunities that Hospital Physician Partners has for physicians and nurse practitioners: In the renowned destination of Key West there are opportunities for both physicians and nurse practitioners at the Lower Keys Medical Center. Created in 1971, this facility serves the citizens of the Florida Keys living below the Seven Mile Bridge and is the area’s sole hospital care provider. Tropical breezes, historical sites, attractions, entertainment and an idyllic lifestyle make Key West a great place to live and work. At Memorial Hospital in Tampa, Florida, there is a job opening for a physician looking for the challenges and rewards of a Hospitalist Medicine practice. This facility has served the residents of south Tampa and the surrounding community for over 30 years and recent renovations plus the addition of state-of-the-art technology have kept the hospital modernized to provide the highest quality medical care. The Tampa Bay area is known for its breathtaking beaches and year-round temperate climate and is home to many attractions, including the Lowry Park Zoo, the Florida Aquarium, Busch Gardens and Adventure Islands. Physicians and nurse practitioners can take advantage of exciting hospitalist opportunities at the Wuesthoff Medical Center in Rockledge, Florida. This 291-bed acute care hospital has received numerous awards for its commitment to providing quality patient care and is recognized for clinical excellence. Rockledge is located on Florida’s Space Coast and is within easy reach of the attractions of Orlando plus the ocean recreation and entertainment of nearby Cocoa Beach. Our Hospitalist Medicine positions come with full benefits and many have bonus opportunities. To see all of our Emergency Medicine and Hospitalist jobs throughout the United States, click here. 2011-12-09T21:11:59+00:00