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Less than 15% of residency programs teach new physicians to practice cost-conscious care

Despite a national consensus among policy makers and educators to train residents to be more conscious of the cost of care, less than 15 percent of internal medicine residency programs have a formal curriculum addressing it, a new research letter published today in JAMA Internal Medicine by a Penn Medicine physician found.

17 Dec 2013

Public, patients and doctors confuse palliative care with end of life care, says new review

A new review says palliative care's association with end of life has created an "identity problem" that means the majority of patients facing a serious illness do not benefit from treatment of the physical and psychological symptoms that occur throughout their disease.

16 Dec 2013

Analysis provides first empirical evidence on how shared savings ACO model affect quality of care

Approximately 10 percent of Medicare spending is for cancer care, and Medicare spending is nearly four times higher for beneficiaries with cancer than in those without the disease. Little is known about how to curb spending growth while maintaining or improving quality of care for these high-risk, high-cost patients.

14 Dec 2013

Study shows that age and sleep deprivation induce cellular stress in pancreas

Sleep, or the lack of it, seems to affect just about every aspect of human physiology. Yet, the molecular pathways through which sleep deprivation wreaks its detrimental effects on the body remain poorly understood.

12 Dec 2013

Study finds that people with COPD twice likely to develop mild cognitive impairment, memory loss

A recent Mayo Clinic study found that people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are about twice as likely to develop mild cognitive impairment (MCI) -- and chances are that it will include memory loss. The study was recently published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings.

12 Dec 2013

New studies examine role of hospitals and other health care facilities on nursing reforms

Two new studies by researchers at the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services examine how well hospitals and other health care facilities are doing when it comes to a call to reform the nursing profession. A 2010 Institute of Medicine report warned that the nursing profession must change or it would not be able to meet the growing demands that are emerging as a result of health reform, new technologies and an aging population.

6 Dec 2013

Study validates prognostic tool that determines risk of death within 1 year of hospital admission

A University of Colorado Cancer Center study recently published in the Journal of Hospital Medicine validates a prognostic tool that determines risk of death within a year of hospital admission, helping doctors match treatments to patients' values and goals of care.

6 Dec 2013

Manipulation of Wnt/B-catenin pathway provides therapeutic targets for hair loss, skin cancer

A pathway known for its role in regulating adult stem cells has been shown to be important for hair follicle proliferation, but contrary to previous studies, is not required within hair follicle stem cells for their survival, according to researchers with the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

5 Dec 2013

CJR surgeons to perform free joint replacement surgeries on 17 patients

More than 2 million Americans suffer from debilitating hip, knee and joint conditions. Severe joint pain and arthritis can affect almost all aspects of an individual's life, often preventing them from working, enjoying the activities they love and performing simple, everyday tasks.

4 Dec 2013

New brain connectivity study finds striking differences in the neural wiring of men and women

A new brain connectivity study from Penn Medicine published today in the Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences found striking differences in the neural wiring of men and women that's lending credence to some commonly-held beliefs about their behavior.

3 Dec 2013

3D mammography identifies 22% more breast cancers than traditional mammography

Compared to traditional mammography, 3D mammography—known as digital breast tomosynthesis—found 22 percent more breast cancers and led to fewer call backs in a large screening study at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, researchers reported today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America.

3 Dec 2013

Penn Medicine incorporates automated prediction tool that aims to reduce hospital readmissions

An automated prediction tool which identifies newly admitted patients who are at risk for readmission within 30 days of discharge has been successfully incorporated into the electronic health record of the University of Pennsylvania Health System. The tool, developed by researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine, is the subject of a study published in the December issue of the Journal of Hospital Medicine.

27 Nov 2013

Customized palliative care can reduce health care costs, improve care for high-risk geriatric patients

For high-risk geriatric patients, improved palliative care that is matched to their changing needs at home can reduce emergency room visits, reduce health care costs, and improve overall care. Current gaps in policy and practice that block implementation of these beneficial customized care models are presented in the article "Research Priorities in Geriatric Palliative Care: Policy Initiatives," published in Journal of Palliative Medicine, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers.

27 Nov 2013

Expanding access to health insurance may not inflate ICU usage in Massachusetts, shows study

A multi-institution study led by researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania has found that increasing the number of insured patients is not associated with higher intensive care unit (ICU) usage in Massachusetts.

26 Nov 2013

Director of Scheie Eye Institute honored with WIO's Suzanne Veronneau Troutman Award

Joan M. O'Brien, MD, the George E. de Schweinitz and William F. Norris Professor of Ophthalmology, chair of the Department of Ophthalmology and director of the Scheie Eye Institute at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, was recently presented with the Women in Ophthalmology's Suzanne Veronneau Troutman Award.

26 Nov 2013

Researchers identify new mechanism that causes neurodegeneration

As we age, our body rhythms lose time before they finally stop. Breaking the body clock by genetically disrupting a core clock gene, Bmal1, in mice has long been known to accelerate aging , causing arthritis, hair loss, cataracts, and premature death.

26 Nov 2013

Dysregulation of epigenetic marks may play role in chronic kidney disease, shows study

The research of physician-scientist Katalin Susztak, MD, PhD, associate professor of Medicine in the Renal Electrolyte and Hypertension Division, at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, strives to understand the molecular roots and genetic predisposition of chronic kidney disease.

26 Nov 2013

Research: Notch protein plays essential role in triggering T-cell development

The lab of Avinash Bhandoola, PhD, professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, has studied the origins of T cells for many years. One protein called Notch, which has well-known roles in the development of multiple tissues, plays an essential role in triggering T-cell development.

25 Nov 2013

Research report focuses on the impact of real-time cost information within a primary care

Health care costs continue to go up, and physicians control more than 80 percent of those costs. Could providing physicians with real-time information about the cost of what they order help to restrain excessive testing? This is the question addressed in an article- in the Journal of General Internal Medicine-, published by Springer. The research project was led by Daniel Horn of the Massachusetts General Hospital's Division of General Medicine in the US, and is among the first to focus on the impact that the passive display of real-time laboratory costs can have within a primary care, non-academic setting.

22 Nov 2013

Research provides first rigorous comparison of 2 surgical approaches for severe heart valve disease

New research presented today at the 2013 Scientific Sessions of the American Heart Association by researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvaniafound no difference in outcomes at one-year between two recommended surgical options for treating ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR) - repair of the leaky valve or its replacement with an artificial valve.

20 Nov 2013

Hospice News and Research

Less than 15% of residency programs teach new physicians to practice cost-conscious care

Public, patients and doctors confuse palliative care with end of life care, says new review

Analysis provides first empirical evidence on how shared savings ACO model affect quality of care

Study shows that age and sleep deprivation induce cellular stress in pancreas

Study finds that people with COPD twice likely to develop mild cognitive impairment, memory loss

New studies examine role of hospitals and other health care facilities on nursing reforms

Study validates prognostic tool that determines risk of death within 1 year of hospital admission

Manipulation of Wnt/B-catenin pathway provides therapeutic targets for hair loss, skin cancer

CJR surgeons to perform free joint replacement surgeries on 17 patients

New brain connectivity study finds striking differences in the neural wiring of men and women

3D mammography identifies 22% more breast cancers than traditional mammography

Penn Medicine incorporates automated prediction tool that aims to reduce hospital readmissions

Customized palliative care can reduce health care costs, improve care for high-risk geriatric patients

Expanding access to health insurance may not inflate ICU usage in Massachusetts, shows study

Director of Scheie Eye Institute honored with WIO's Suzanne Veronneau Troutman Award

Researchers identify new mechanism that causes neurodegeneration

Dysregulation of epigenetic marks may play role in chronic kidney disease, shows study

Research: Notch protein plays essential role in triggering T-cell development

Research report focuses on the impact of real-time cost information within a primary care

Research provides first rigorous comparison of 2 surgical approaches for severe heart valve disease

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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