Image Diagnosis: Appendicitis and Appendicolith.
Gus M Garmel, MD, FACEP, FAAEM

The images from a Computed Tomography scan with oral and IV contrast demonstrates a large, distended tubular structure in the right lower abdomen consistent with an inflamed appendix and an appendicolith within the center.
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Corridor Consult
Do Patients Understand?
Suzanne Graham, RN, PhD; John Brookey, MD

Limited literacy skills are one of the strongest predictors of poor health outcomes for patients; however, patients do not need to have limited literacy skills to have low health literacy.
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A Clinical Communication Strategy to Enhance Effectiveness and CAHPS Scores: The ALERT Model.
James T Hardee, MD; Ilene K Kasper, MS

The US Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality surveys patients and rates health plans on metrics, including four questions assessing the patients impression of the physician’s communication skills: listened carefully, explained things understandably, respected what the patient said, and spent enough time. The authors detail how to improve communication in these areas to achieve the established beneficial clinical results of effective communication.
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