Articles related to Oncology, Surgical

The Journal of Clinical Oncology has a heartfelt account of one family’s struggle to access medical records after the death of a child from a brain tumor. Closing down online access to medical records is a common practice at hospitals and healthcare clinics following the death of a patient, often to the pain of family members who still have questions and seek answers.

You want speedy access to comprehensive records. Clinical decision-making tools. Optimized communication and data exchange. EHRs should be as unique as you, so whether you’re looking to replace or implement your first, this list can get you started.

Although the 2020 numbers will likely look MUCH different, the Merritt Hawkins survey from 2019 showed increased gains from previous years. Of the 62 responses representing 93 hospitals, cardiovascular surgery drove the most revenue. Still, the outlook remains bleak post-pandemic.

This “Clinical Trials & Observations” report from Blood Advances (ASH)  explores the implications of the recently approved anemia treatment luspatercept, which can now be prescribed in the second-line setting after erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) have failed or for patients who are not eligible because of high serum erythropoietin (sEPO) levels. A downloadable visual abstract helps paint the picture as well.

Dr. David P. Carbone, Director of the Thoracic Oncology Center at Ohio State University, comments on a study evaluating the efficacy of anti–PD1/PD-L1 monotherapy for patients with NSCLC and active brain metastases: “…the initial hope that PD‑1 inhibitors could be active on brain metastases has not been fully fulfilled, and the aggressive use of stereotactic radiation in that setting is useful.”