Randomized controlled trials of case management in primary care have been infrequent and contradictory. The aim of this study was to determine if a clinic-based ambulatory case management intervention, Primary Intensive Care (PIC), would reduce hospital utilization and total cost and/or improve health outcomes among primary care patients with a recent history of high use of inpatient services. Current patients with > or =2 hospital admissions per year in the 12-18 months prior to recruitment in an urban primary care clinic were enrolled in a randomized clinical trial. Patients were randomized to the PIC intervention or usual care. PIC patients underwent a comprehensive multidisciplinary assessment with the result being a team-generated plan. The PIC team nurse practitioner served as case manager for the 12 months of follow-up and provided services designed to implement the care plan for those in the experimental group. Health care use, function, and a medication adherence scale were measured at baseline and at 12 months. There were no significant differences when either comparing the number of admissions pre and post enrollment within groups or the followup results post intervention between groups. A similar result was noted for the number of emergency department visits. The number of clinic visits increased in the intervention group by 1.5 visits per year which was statistically significant when compared to the control group. Overall functional status, health outcomes, and the Mental Health Functional Status subscore did not change significantly in either group during the study. We were unable to detect a difference in hospital use or functional status, mental health function, or medication adherence among patients who require frequent hospital admissions using our intervention.

For the seventh time in its history the ICOM Definition of a Museum is under discussion, with a view to possible revision to be agreed at the General Conference in Kyoto in September 2019. As part of this process, ICOFOM initiated an academic debate on the Definition, welcoming museologists, museum professionals and policy makers to a suite of symposia held around the world in 2017. In this article, we consider the results of symposia held in France, Argentina, Brazil, and Scotland in the light of the changing social role of museums, and reveal how the museum has come to perceive itself differently in relation to museum values, participation and social inclusion in Europe and Latin America.

This pilot study was conducted to determine whether primary care patients with perceived inappropriate high healthcare utilization would require fewer emergency or inpatient services while enrolled in a weekly multidisciplinary clinic. Seventeen high-utilizing or difficult management patients of a primary care center were referred for the special intervention, Primary Intensive Care (PIC). Although not selected for the presence of psychopathology, 16 patients had comorbid psychiatric diagnoses. Patients followed in the PIC Clinic had significantly lower inpatient and emergency department use during their enrollment in the intervention when compared to the matched pre-enrollment time period, although the total hospital cost differences did not reach statistical significance. Patient and staff satisfaction was high, although the intervention was very difficult for the providers.

This review examines the current literature relating to diabetes related kidney disease (DKD) and the optimal management of cardio-renal risk. DKD develops in approximately 40% of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The mainstay of therapy is to reduce the progression of DKD by optimising hyperglycaemia, blood pressure, lipids and lifestyle. Evidence supports the role for renin-angiotensin system blockade in limiting the progression of DKD. Recent data from diabetes related cardiovascular outcome trials and renal specific trials have provided a novel insight on the additional benefits of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) in reducing the progression of DKD as well as cardiovascular risk. Lessons have been learnt from CRE-DENCE and there are expectations that DAPA-CKD and EMPA-KIDNEY will further support the benefits of SGLT2 inhibition in relation to DKD. As a consequence, international guidelines have been updated to reflect the positive benefits. In addition, novel steroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists offer a potential role in future years. The review examines the current evidence and future approach to optimising outcomes for renal protection in patients with diabetes. K E Y W O R D Sangiotensin II receptor blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, chronic kidney disease, diabetes-related nephropathy, diabetic nephropathy, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors, glucagon like peptide-1 receptor agonists, sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors, type 2 diabetes

Errors in telephone communication can result in outcomes ranging from inconvenience and anxiety to serious compromises in patient safety. Although 25% of interactions between physicians and patients take place on the telephone, little has been written about telephone communication and medical mishaps. Similarly, training in telephone medicine skills is limited; only 6% of residency programs teach any aspect of telephone medicine. Increasing familiarity with common telephone challenges with patients may help physicians decrease the likelihood of negative outcomes. We use case vignettes to highlight communication errors in common telephone scenarios. These scenarios include giving sensitive test results, requests for narcotics, managing ill patients who are not sick enough for the emergency room, dealing with late-night calls, communicating with unintelligible patients, and handling calls from family members. We provide management strategies to minimize the occurrence of these errors.