Clinician's Roundtable

Who will benefit most from early intervention and treatment from the 750,000 patients hospitalized with sepsis each year? Dr Peter De Blieux, Pulmonary and Critical Care specialist from the Louisiana State University Health and Science Center, discusses early management and diagnosis including the importance of goal directed therapy. Dr Shira Johnson is the host as Dr De Blieux reviews common mistakes in sepsis management and provides case studies for learning.

Sepsis kills 210,000 patients each year. Dr. Peter DeBlieux, professor of medicine at Louisiana State University Health Science Center and director of emergency medicine services at the Medical Center of Louisiana, discusses the latest clinical practice guidelines. He is interviewed by Dr. Shira Johnson about how to improve sepsis mortality with new therapies. Learn why early and agressive management is the key .

'Street medicine' involves delivering medical care to the unsheltered homeless where they live. How effective is this model? What are its challenges and rewards? Host Dr. Michael Greenberg explores the evolving field of street medicine with Dr. Jim Withers, founder of the non-profit street medicine organization Operation Safety Net in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. How can addressing the homeless population's medical needs on the streets help lower medical institution costs? What can interested physicians do to get involved with street medicine?

Craig Standen, senior vice president of Ziegler Healthcare's finance team, reports to host Dr. Larry Kaskel the effects of the capital crunch and sub-prime debacle on hospitals and healthcare systems, and ultimately physicians. Mr. Standen explains how many hospitals and private practices began to depend on cheap credit that is no longer available, and have halted capital expenditures and reduced expenses accordingly in order to deal with the limited access to cash. Tune in to hear Mr. Standen's comments on the effects of the crisis on hospitals, smaller practice groups, and patients, as well as strategies for managing internal cash flow, and how this may impact access to care.

Dr. Donald Palmisano, past-president of the American Medical Association and professor of surgery and medical jurisprudence at Tulane University School of Medicine, talks about his new book, On Leadership: Essential Principles for Success, and the idea that leadership qualities can be taught. He discusses how and why physicians should make their voices heard and take on roles of leadership in the greater world beyond the hospital walls. Dr. Maurice Pickard hosts.

Dr. Donald Palmisano, past-president of the American Medical Association and clinical professor of surgery and medical jurisprudence at Tulane University School of Medicine, discusses his book, On Leadership, Essential Principles for Success which includes lessons about leadership, resiliency and preparedness that come from experiences in the ranks of healthcare workers.

The COURAGE trial showed no substantial difference in cardiovascular outcomes among patients who received either optimal medical therapy or optimal therapy plus a percutaneous intervention. Dr. William Weintraub, professor of medicine at Chrisitana Care Health System in Newark, Delaware, describes his cost-benefit analysis of this trial and how cost effectiveness should be measured and evaluated in this patient population. Hosted by Dr. Matthew Sorrentino.

The COURAGE trial suggested that optimal medical therapy and angioplasty are equivalent in reducing major cardiovascular events for patients with coronary artery disease. Dr. William Weintraub, the John H. Ammon Chair of Cardiology and director of the Center for Outcomes Research at the Christiana Care Health System in Newark, Delaware, will describe his research on the impact of angioplasty on the quality of life for participants in the COURAGE trial and show that the patients with severe angina received the greatest benefit from angioplasty. Hosted by Dr. Matthew Sorrentino

There is a national consensus on standards for perinatal care, but what does that mean and how did these come about? Maureen Corry, executive director of the ChildBirth Connection tells host Bruce Japsen of the Chicago Tribune about coming changes in perinatal standards at hospitals and how these measures should lead to improvements and provide consumers more information. Physicians, too, will be able to get an insight on how to prepare for this future movement.

The National Quality Forum has endorsed 17 perinatal standards to measure and improve quality of care. Maureen Corry, executive director of the Childbirth Connection, talks with host Bruce Japsen of the Chicago Tribune about these coming measures and what they will mean to child-birthing families and their physicians.