Friday, May 28, 2010

For all my gals...with HOSPITALstyle

Sorry gentleman, but this post is for the ladies. In honor of the movie release of "Sex and the City 2" this week, I am taking an opportunity to talk fashion and style with my gals in healthcare who have been confined by their scrubs day in and day out for far too long.

The good news is that there is no need to invest our hard earned dollars on work wear, but instead on fabulous attire for nights out on the town that we so desperately deserve. Right ladies?

First, my new favorite site is
www.renttherunway.com

This biz was started by two Harvard Business School graduate students six months ago. It is operated out of a Dry Cleaner's in NYC. This is how it works...


1. Log in to your account
2. Peruse the designer dresses
3. Rent a dress/accessories
4. They send you two sizes for 4 days
5. You return the dress in an already
addressed envelope

This concept is amazing.

No more need to buy expensive dresses that you will wear only once. Just rent it. Whether you are in residency, medical school, or just trying to save up for something else this site is a godsend.




Also check out Gilt Groupe (This site is for the GUYS too!)
www.giltgroupe.com


Started by a team (one a founding member of eBay, the other an integral member of the fashion industry). Gilt Groupe will send you daily emails on discounted designer collections, luxury vacations, and exciting events in NYC. You need an invitation to become a member, so email me at HOSPITALstyle@gmail.com and I will get you on the list.


Happy Shopping!

Monday, May 17, 2010

Early Goal Directed Treatment of Sepsis


I recently had the privilege of attending the Warren Wetzel Trauma/Emergency Medicine Conference at Jacobi Medical Center (The Bronx, New York). The keynote speaker was Emanuel Rivers M.D. who published "Early Goal Directed Therapy of Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock" in the New England Journal of Medicine in November of 2001. This paper has had a tremendous impact on the field of Emergency Medicine and hearing Dr. Rivers speak of his path to bringing ICU principles into the Emergency Department was an amazing experience.

A few Highlights:
1.) Get a lactic acid level early (levels >4 worrisome for sepsis)
2.) Volume resuscitate heavily early on, and more conservatively later (This will decrease IL-8 production)
3.) Use the venous oxygen saturation to monitor the progress of resuscitative measures
4.) The methods the paper outlines serve to decrease incidence of multi-organ failure, mortality, and the unnecessary use of intensive care resources

Make sure you check it out for yourself and see how you can integrate it into your practice if you have not already done so. It is a valuable for the pre-septic patient anywhere (outpatient, inpatient, pre-op, post-op, etc.) This will make a difference in saving lives with style (just like Dr. Emanuel Rivers). Thank you for the inspiration!

"Early Goal Directed Therapy of Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock" in the New England Journal of Medicine in November of 2001
http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/345/19/1368

Surviving Sepsis Campaign
http://www.acep.org/sepsis