CHEST: American College of Chest Physicians Annual Meeting

The following are highlights of abstracts that focus on readmission rates, an increasingly important subject for hospitals that are subject to evolving rules and regulations as they relate to reimbursement.

Craig Lilly, MD, Professor of Medicine, Anesthesiology and Surgery, Director, UMass Memorial eICU Program, says that technologies must be integrated as well as embraced by the workforce.

The CHEST 2012 meeting features a number of newly published studies for a wide variety of disease states ranging from tuberculosis to lung disease. The following are highlights of hypertension abstracts.

Edward Zawada, MD, MACP, Vice President of Scientific Affairs, Medical Director, Intensivist Program, Medical Director, eICU Program, Avera Medical Group Nephrology, says that the Tele-Intensive Care Program provides the skill set required to care for critically ill patients.

Robert Frantz, MD, FACC, Director, Pulmonary Hypertension Clinic, Mayo Clinic, discusses the rate of bloodstream infections in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension treated with Veletri. Dr Franz also talks about the PROSPECT registry analysis.

Cost has been front of mind for many researchers that have released new study data at CHEST 2012. Here are some of the highlights from the new research.

Brian Carlin, MD, FCCP, Allegheny General Hospital, discusses the challenges in reducing 30-day readmission rates, specifically as they apply to congestive heart failure, pneumonia, and COPD. The biggest challenge is setting up a coordinated team care effort, says Dr Carlin.

Hundreds of new abstracts were published for CHEST 2012. Here are some of the highlights around the topic of quality of life as they relate to various disease states.