Try a new search

Format these results:

Searched for:

person:mednia01

in-biosketch:true

Total Results:

14


Design and comparison of a hybrid to a traditional in-person point-of-care ultrasound course

Janjigian, Michael; Dembitzer, Anne; Srisarajivakul-Klein, Caroline; Mednick, Aron; Hardower, Khemraj; Cooke, Deborah; Zabar, Sondra; Sauthoff, Harald
BACKGROUND:Traditional introductory point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) courses are resource intensive, typically requiring 2-3 days at a remote site, consisting of lectures and hands-on components. Social distancing requirements resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic led us to create a novel hybrid course curriculum consisting of virtual and in-person components. METHODS:Faculty, chief residents, fellows and advanced practice providers (APPs) in the Department of Medicine were invited to participate in the hybrid curriculum. The course structure included 4 modules of recorded lectures, quizzes, online image interpretation sessions, online case discussions, and hands-on sessions at the bedside of course participant's patients. The components of the course were delivered over approximately 8 months. Those participants who completed a minimum of 3 modules over the year were invited for final assessments. Results from the hybrid curriculum cohort were compared to the year-end data from a prior traditional in-person cohort. RESULTS:Participant knowledge scores were not different between traditional (n = 19) and hybrid (n = 24) groups (81% and 84%, respectively, P = 0.9). There was no change in POCUS skills as measured by the hands-on test from both groups at end-of-course (76% and 76%, respectively, P = 0.93). Confidence ratings were similar across groups from 2.73 traditional to 3.0 hybrid (out of possible 4, P = 0.46). Participants rated the course highly, with an average overall rating of 4.6 out 5. CONCLUSIONS:A hybrid virtual and in-person POCUS course was highly rated and as successful as a traditional course in improving learner knowledge, hands-on skill and confidence at 8 months after course initiation. These results support expanding virtual elements of POCUS educational curricula.
PMCID:8917361
PMID: 35278145
ISSN: 2524-8987
CID: 5182382

Mastering co-management: A curriculum for hospitalists [Meeting Abstract]

Mednick, A; Dembitzer, A; Nelson, A; Trivedi, S P; Viswanathan, A
Needs and Objectives: The U.S. surgical population is becoming increasingly medically complex, increasing the risk of post-operative complications. Surgeons have traditionally consulted internists and sub-specialists for medical management during inpatient admissions, but this has failed to decrease complications or healthcare costs. To address this issue hospitalists have taken on the role of co-managing patients admitted to surgical services. However, internal medicine residencies don't adequately prepare trainees for this role. Safe and effective modern medical care requires training in medical co-management (MCM), yet there exists no robust theory-and evidence-based curricula to teach these competencies. We designed a curriculum to fill this need. Setting and Participants: Thirteen hospitalists with 0-7 years' clinical experience in an academic medical center in New York, NY. Hospitalists spend 50% of their clinical time on an MCM service covering general surgery, vascular surgery, neurosurgery, general neurology/epilepsy, and orthopedic surgery. Description: We developed a yearlong curriculum based on the Society for Hospital Medicine's guidelines on creating MCM teams and other published frameworks. We applied evidence-based learning theories including: Adult Learning Theory, Cognitivism, Constructivism, and Ericsson's Theory of Expertise. We developed a conceptual framework incorporating key stakeholders in MCM (medical attending, surgical attending, PCP, mid-levels, and patients/families) and 6 core content topics (Roles & Responsibilities, Communication Strategies, Trust & Respect, Common Complications, Transitions of Care, and Deliberate Practice). The curriculum includes two parts: a week-long intensive orientation with Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) and workshops in the main content areas, and a series of monthly continuing professional development (CPD) sessions to facilitate deliberate practice and improve skills needed to manage niche patients on surgical services. These CPD skills are based upon needs identified by the hospitalists and surgical teams. Evaluation: Effectiveness will be measured at the program and hospitalist level. The program will be assessed by patient quality metrics (eg, LOS and readmission rates) and satisfaction by the surgical teams yearly. We will evaluate the impact on hospitalists using retrospective pre-post surveys to measure changes in clinical knowledge, confidence and engagement. Assessments will be collected using Qualtrics survey software. Discussion/Reflection/Lessons Learned: In the early stages of this curriculum, 79% of participants found the CPD sessions "very or extremely helpful." Participants have shown increasing engagement in the curriculum as evidenced by proposals of future session topics and attendance. Data collection is ongoing
EMBASE:629004096
ISSN: 1525-1497
CID: 4052682

A case of red herrings, wide nets and atypical features [Meeting Abstract]

Ng, J; Beccarino, N J; Mednick, A
Learning Objective #1: Discuss typical, atypical clinical & laboratory presentations of acute mononucleosis Learning Objective #2: Review indications for treatment beyond supportive care CASE: A 33 year-old female with 1 prior spontaneous abortion presented with facial swelling, arthralgias and fevers to 102F for 2 weeks. The patient reported environmental exposures as a native of Australia such as outbreaks of Ross River Fever, encounters with flying foxes, a layover in Hong Kong, and a child with a febrile illness. She sought outpatient care and initial bloods revealed WBC 2.52K/uL, platelets 105K/uL and AST/ALT 88/70 ALP 117 U/L. She was prescribed antibiotics without effect. A week later, she developed pleuritic chest pain, was found to have a small pericardial effusion on outpatient echocardiogram and referred to the Emergency Department. Triage vitals were normal. Her exam was notable for periorbital edema, cervical lymphadenopathy and pain in bilateral wrists without effusion. Labs showed recovering blood counts (WBC 9.3K/uL Hgb 13.1g/dL Plt 157 K/uL), unremarkable UA, microalbumin/creatinine ratio and CK, but worsening LFTs with AST 505 ALT 578 ALP 788 U/L. She was admitted for further work-up with rheumatology and infectious disease input. While hospitalized, the patient developed new night sweats and a sore throat. Repeat echocar-diogram revealed a trace pericardial effusion and abdominal ultrasound was normal. C3/C4 levels, beta-2 glycoprotein, cardiolipin, Ro/La, lupus anticoagulant, histone, centromere, and mitochondrial antibodies all returned negative, as did respiratory viral panel, HIV, hepatitis serologies, thick and thin smears, Lyme, Anaplasma and Babesia serologies, Ross River fever, Dengue and Chikungunya. ANA titer and dsDNA Ab were < 1:40 and 9 respectively, but EBV viral capsid IgM returned positive consistent with acute mononucleosis. IMPACT: The triad of acute EBV is well known, but atypical presentations provide diagnostic challenges and warrant further evaluation DISCUSSION: The triad of acute Epstein-Barr viral infection involves high fevers, lymphadenopathy, and pharyngitis, all present in our patient. However, she also exhibited less typical disease features. Her periorbital edema, known as "Hoagland's sign," is caused by viral replication obstructing lymphatic drainage of the nasopharynx. Similarly, infected tonsillar B-cells instigate secretion of polyclonal antibodies (including heterophile and non-specific autoantibodies). This process is normally accompanied by leukocytosis with atypical lymphocytes, but our case presented initially with leukopenia. Further, her degree of transaminitis (levels > 10x) normal is usually restricted to the immunocompromised. Finally, EBV may also cause transient myo-or pericarditis as noted in select case reports. The mainstay of treatment is supportive, although steroids and acyclovir are used in cases of laryngeal edema, liver failure, or hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia. These agents have not been proven to reduce the length or severity of illness
EMBASE:622330049
ISSN: 1525-1497
CID: 3137702

Chronic eosinophilic pneumonia: A diagnosis to consider in patients who fail treatment of infectious pneumonia [Meeting Abstract]

Thanawala, S; Mednick, A
LEARNING OBJECTIVE #1: Recognize clinical features of chronic eosinophilic pneumonia LEARNING OBJECTIVE #2: Diagnose eosinophilic pneumonia when imaging is atypical CASE: A 42-year-old male with history of hypertension and asthma presented with intermittent cough and progressive dyspnea over eight months. His symptoms were more pronounced in the two months leading to admission, during which time he had outpatient treatment with 5 courses of simultaneous oral antibiotics and steroids. Outpatient CT scan of the chest during this time showed diffuse bilateral ground glass opacities, interpreted as atypical infection and inflammatory changes. His symptoms temporarily improved with therapy; however, he was ultimately admitted due to progression of symptoms. On admission, he reported dyspnea at rest, cough productive of yellow sputum, and 20 lb unintentional weight loss over six months. He denied fevers, recent travel, or smoking. Initial vital signs and exam were normal. Labs were notable forWBC 14,000 with 5% eosinophils (750/muL) and elevated ESR and CRP. A repeat CT of the chest showed airspace consolidations primarily in a central and peribronchovascular distribution, with differential diagnosis including infection, organizing pneumonia, vasculitis, chronic eosinophilic pneumonia (CEP), and neoplasm. Blood cultures, HIV, 1,3 beta-d-glucan, galactomannan, ANA, p-ANCA, and c-ANCA were unremarkable. For tissue diagnosis, patient underwent video-assisted thoracoscopy with wedge resection, complicated by an apical pneumothorax requiring chest tube placement. Pathology showed numerous eosinophils in alveolar airspaces, consistent with CEP. Patient was started on high dose steroids with clinical improvement. He was discharged home with a chest tube and continued steroid treatment. IMPACT: In future practice, diagnoses other than infection should be considered earlier in patients with a history of atopy who fail multiple courses of outpatient antibiotics for presumed pneumonia. Furthermore, CEP can be diagnosed with elevated eosinophil count in broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) fluid. For a patient with peripheral eosinophilia and symptoms consistent with CEP, BAL is the less invasive and more appropriate first diagnostic test over open lung biopsy. DISCUSSION: This patient's chronic dyspnea and cough, weight loss, lack of improvement with antibiotics, and unrevealing infectious and rheumatologic workup made CEP and cryptogenic organizing penumonia (COP) leading differential diagnoses. The classic radiographic appearance of eosinophilic pneumonia is peripheral upper-lobe ground glass infiltrates, which is seen in approximately two thirds of patients with this disease. About three quarters of patients have peripheral eosinophilia. While imaging of COP may appear similar to CEP, peripheral eosinophilia is not typically present, and open lung biopsy is required tomake the diagnosis. This patient's classic symptoms along with peripheral eosinophilia pointed toward a diagnosis of CEP even in the absence of typical radiographic findings
EMBASE:615581308
ISSN: 0884-8734
CID: 2554052

Clinical Conundrum: A Case Of Afatinib-Induced Interstitial Lung Disease [Meeting Abstract]

Wu, SE; Lee, MH; Mednick, A
ISI:000390749600597
ISSN: 1535-4970
CID: 2414482

Treatment of Leptomeningeal Carcinomatosis in a Patient With Metastatic Cholangiocarcinoma

Jacobs, Ramon E A; McNeill, Katharine; Volpicelli, Frank M; Warltier, Karin; Iturrate, Eduardo; Okamura, Charles; Adler, Nicole; Smith, Joshua; Sigmund, Alana; Mednick, Aron; Wertheimer, Benjamin; Hochman, Katherine
A 49-year-old woman with cholangiocarcinoma metastatic to the lungs presented with new-onset unrelenting headaches. A lumbar puncture revealed malignant cells consistent with leptomeningeal metastasis from her cholangiocarcinoma. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain revealed leptomeningeal enhancement. An intrathecal (IT) catheter was placed and IT chemotherapy was initiated with methotrexate. Her case is notable for the rarity of cholangiocarcinoma spread to the leptomeninges, the use of IT chemotherapy with cytologic and potentially symptomatic response, and a possible survival benefit in comparison to previously reported cases of leptomeningeal carcinomatosis secondary to cholangiocarcinoma.
PMCID:4435345
PMID: 26157901
ISSN: 2326-3253
CID: 1662882

Use of patient-delivered coupons as a vehicle for HIV partner notification: results of a pilot study in Guatemala [Letter]

Samayoa, Blanca; Pacheco, Karla Patricia Alonzo; Shapiro, Mia; Mednick, Aron; Arathoon, Eduardo; Anderson, Matthew
PMID: 20723559
ISSN: 0091-7435
CID: 950882

An innate immune system cell is a major determinant of species-related susceptibility differences to fungal pneumonia

Shao, Xiuping; Mednick, Aron; Alvarez, Mauricio; van Rooijen, Nico; Casadevall, Arturo; Goldman, David L
Rats and mice are considered resistant and susceptible hosts, respectively, for experimental cryptococcosis. For both species, alveolar macrophages (AM) are central components of the host response to pulmonary Cryptococcus neoformans infection. We explored the role of AM in three strains of mice and three strains of rats during cryptococcal infection by comparing the outcome of infection after macrophage depletion using liposomal clodronate. AM depletion was associated with enhancement and amelioration of disease in rats and mice, respectively, as measured by lung fungal burden. The apparent protective role for AM in rats correlated with enhanced anti-cryptococcal activity as measured by phagocytic activity, oxidative burst, lysozyme secretion, and ability to limit intracellular growth of C. neoformans. Furthermore, rat AM were more resistant to lysis in association with intracellular infection. In summary, differences in AM function in rats and mice suggest an explanation for the species differences in susceptibility to C. neoformans based on the inherent efficacy of a central effector cell of the innate immune system.
PMID: 16116215
ISSN: 0022-1767
CID: 950872

Melanization of Cryptococcus neoformans affects lung inflammatory responses during cryptococcal infection

Mednick, Aron J; Nosanchuk, Joshua D; Casadevall, Arturo
The production of melanin pigments is associated with virulence for many microbes. Melanin is believed to contribute to microbial virulence by protecting microbial cells from oxidative attack during infection. However, there is also evidence from various systems that melanins have immunomodulatory properties, which conceivably could contribute to virulence by altering immune responses. To investigate the effect of melanin on the immune response, we compared the murine pulmonary responses to infection with melanized and nonmelanized Cryptococcus neoformans cells. Infection with melanized cells resulted in a greater fungal burden during the early stages of infection and was associated with higher levels of interleukin-4 and MCP-1 and greater numbers of infiltrating leukocytes. Infection with laccase-positive (melanotic) C. neoformans cells also elicited higher MCP-1 levels and more infiltrating leukocytes than did infection with laccase-negative cells. Melanization interfered with phagocytosis in vivo for encapsulated C. neoformans but not for nonencapsulated cells. The results provide strong evidence that cryptococcal melanization can influence the immune response to infection and suggest that immunomodulation is an additional mechanism by which the pigment contributes to virulence.
PMCID:1087470
PMID: 15784542
ISSN: 0019-9567
CID: 935052

The pathogenesis of fatal outcome in murine pulmonary aspergillosis depends on the neutrophil depletion strategy

Stephens-Romero, Shane D; Mednick, Aron J; Feldmesser, Marta
Aspergillus fumigatus causes invasive disease in severely immunocompromised hosts but is readily cleared when host innate defenses are intact. Animal models for evaluation of therapeutic strategies to combat invasive aspergillosis that closely mimic human disease are desirable. We determined optimal dosing regimens for neutrophil depletion and evaluated the course of infection following aerosol infection in mice by determining survival, organ fungal burden, and histopathology in mice in which neutropenia was induced by three methods, administration of granulocyte-depleting monoclonal antibody RB6-8C5 (MAb RB6), administration of cyclophosphamide, and administration of both agents. Administration of either individual agent resulted in a requirement for relatively high conidial inocula to achieve 100% mortality in both BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice, although the infection appeared to be somewhat more lethal in C57BL/6 mice. Death following induction of neutropenia with MAb RB6 occurred when a relatively low fungal burden was present in the lung and may have been related to the inflammatory response associated with neutrophil recovery. In contrast, administration of both agents reduced the lethal inoculum in each mouse strain by approximately 1 log(10), and C57BL/6 mice that received both agents had a higher fungal burden and less inflammation in the lung at the time of death than BALB/c mice or mice of either strain that received MAb RB6 alone. Our data suggest that the relationship among fungal burden, inflammation, and death is complex and can be influenced by the immunosuppression regimen, the mouse strain, and the inoculum.
PMCID:538996
PMID: 15618146
ISSN: 0019-9567
CID: 935042