Nurses Launch Billboard Campaign Against Renewal of Desert Regional Medical Center Lease Renewal

By: Robbins RA

Abstract: 

No abstract available. Article truncated after 150 words. The California Nurses Association and National Nurses United have launched  a billboard campaign against the lease renewal of public-owned, Palm-Springs-based Desert Regional Medical Center to Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare (Figure 1) (1). The billboard campaign is in response to the posting of two videos that showed a water leak in Desert Regional's neurological intensive care unit and an infestation  of cockroaches in the emergency department break room (2,3). Desert Regional is a public hospital governed by an elected district board. Tenet Healthcare is a private company that leases and runs the hospital. The nurses’ union said Tenet has a long-standing practice of short-staffing Desert Regional, which they said has caused patient safety issues (1). Tenet is currently in the process of renegotiating another 30-year lease with the hospital, which would include the option to purchase the hospital from the Desert Healthcare District at the end of the new lease (1).

Desert …

URL: https://www.swjpcc.com/news/2024/3/3/nurses-launch-billboard-campaign-against-renewal-of-desert-r.html

March 2024 Medical Image of the Month: Sputum Cytology in Patients with Suspected Lung Malignancy Presenting with Acute Hypoxic Respiratory Failure

By: Ali A

Abstract:

No abstract available. Article truncated after 150 words. A 71-year-old woman presented with right-sided mass-like consolidation and pleural effusion on CT (Figure 1A), discovered incidentally after placement of a drug-eluting stent for coronary artery disease. The patient had a medical history significant for COPD, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and coronary artery disease, status post a recent drug-eluting stent (less than 1 month ago). The patient received a presumptive diagnosis of pneumonia with parapneumonic effusion. Findings persisted despite multiple courses of empiric antibiotic therapy. She then underwent thoracentesis; pleural fluid was exudative; however, cytology was inconclusive. An FDG PET-CT (Figure 1B) revealed hypermetabolic activity in the right lower lobe with radiotracer activity up to 7.7 SUV concerning for malignancy. Diagnostic bronchoscopy was planned; however, her condition deteriorated suddenly the day before her planned procedure. EMS found the patient to be severely hypoxic, SpO2 in the 70s. Patient was taken by ambulance to the local emergency room.

Upon arrival, the patient was …

URL: https://www.swjpcc.com/imaging/2024/3/2/march-2024-medical-image-of-the-month-sputum-cytology-in-pat.html 

March 2024 Pulmonary Case of the Month: A Nodule of a Different Color

By: Wesselius LJ

Abstract: 

No abstract available. Article truncated after 150 words.

History of Present Illness

The patient is a 73-year-old woman from Wisconsin seen in January 2024 for lung nodules.  She had been followed by her physician in Wisconsin for lung nodules but had never had a biopsy or specific diagnosis. She reported that the nodules “waxed and waned.” Her Wisconsin physician suggested she be evaluated in Arizona.

She has occasional cough attributed to paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, but denies sputum production, fever, chills or shortness of breath

Past Medical History, Family History and Social History

• Rheumatoid arthritis diagnosed in her 30s, although not currently on any treatment.
• Breast cancer 2006, treated with chemoradiation
• Osteoporosis
• Family history:  negative for lung cancer or other lung disorders
• Social History: Lifelong nonsmoker

Medications

• None

Physical Examination

• Unremarkable

Laboratory

• Normal CBC
• Cocci serology: negative
• Rheumatoid factor: elevated 61 U/ml (normal < 15)
• Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody: negative
• Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate: normal

Radiology

A thoracic CT of …

URL: https://www.swjpcc.com/pulmonary/2024/3/1/march-2024-pulmonary-case-of-the-month-a-nodule-of-a-differe.html 

$1 Billion Donation Eliminates Tuition at Albert Einstein Medical School

By: Robbins RA

Abstract: 

No abstract available. Article truncated after 150 words. Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx joins NYU Grossman School of Medicine in becoming tuition free. Einstein’s tuition was eliminated by a $1 billion donor gift from Ruth Gottesman EdD (1). Dr. Gottesman, a retired clinical Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics (Developmental Medicine) at Einstein, has been a specialist in learning disabilities at the school since 1968 and is currently Chair of the Einstein Board of Trustees and also serves on the Montefiore Health System board. Announced to the cheers of the assembled student body, Dr. Gottesman announced that beginning in August, tuition will be free "in perpetuity". Tuition at the school is nearly $59,000 per year, leaving nearly 50% of the students owing more than $200,000 after graduating.

Dr. Gottesman’s fortune came from her husband, David "Sandy" Gottesman an early investor in Omaha, Nebraska-based Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffet's multinational conglomerate. Mr. Gottesman died in September 2022 at the …

URL: https://www.swjpcc.com/news/2024/2/27/1-billion-donation-eliminates-tuition-at-albert-einstein-med.html 

Hospitals, Aviation and Business

By: Robbins RA

Abstract: No abstract available. Article truncated after 150 words.

Boeing’s recent troubles remind us that in many ways, healthcare is like aviation:

1. They are both highly technical endeavors, guided by highly educated and trained personnel such as physicians and pilots.
2. Even small mistakes can be devastating.
3. Operating margins (operating income/revenue) are very low.
4. Both are led by businessmen not trained in the industry.
5. Some have put profit ahead of safety.

The cockpit of the typical airliner or the multitude of instruments in the typical intensive care unit demonstrates that aviation and medicine are both highly technical. Airline pilots have a minimum of 1,500 hours of flight time. This includes time spent obtaining a private pilot’s license, commercial license, instrument rating, multiengine rating, and airline transport pilot (ATP) certificate. Pilots often have additional in type ratings for turboprop or jet engines. Many have spent time as flight instructors and normally have at least 5 years …

URL: https://www.swjpcc.com/editorials/2024/2/16/hospitals-aviation-and-business.html