Hospital Medicine Top Stories of 2012

Dear Readers,

We are pleased to bring you our 2012 Journal Watch Hospital Medicine Top Stories. As in previous years, our list focuses on inpatient topics, such as venous thromboembolism prophylaxis and treatment, Clostridium difficile infections, and transitions of care. However, the biggest story of the year, in our opinion, relates to use and management of medications (i.e., outbreak of meningitis associated with contaminated methylprednisolone). Our ability to treat disease effectively is only good as the safety of the drugs we administer. We hope that you find the list helpful as you reflect on the medical advances that have influenced your practice during 2012. If you have any comments, please send us e-mail, or use our Reader Remarks feature to express your opinion on any individual summary on our site.

From our family to yours, best wishes for a happy and healthy New Year.

Should Albumin Be Given to Cirrhotic Patients Who Undergo Large-Volume Paracentesis?

CMS: A Focus on Care Transitions Makes Sense

Extended Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis in Hospitalized Medical Patients: Risks vs. Benefits

Passing Out Made Ridiculously Simple . . . or at Least Somewhat Simpler

Does Hospital-Based Pay for Performance Affect Mortality?

Central Venous Catheter Insertion Sites: Is the Femoral Vein Really Associated with Higher Risk for Infection?

Fecal Transplantation Works for C. difficile Colitis

Proton-Pump Inhibitors Often Are Prescribed Inappropriately at U.S. Teaching Hospitals

Fully Oral Therapy for Symptomatic Pulmonary Embolism

Update on the Outbreak of Fungal Meningitis Associated with Contaminated Methylprednisolone