“Patients who have a clear understanding of their after-hospital care instructions are 30 percent less likely to be readmitted…”

This point was made in a study funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and published in the 2/3/09 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine. In fact they reported if patients receive more complete information on things like how to take their medicines and when to make follow-up appointments, they have fewer hospital admissions and emergency departments visits. This translates into an average savings of $412 per patient.

According to AHRQ Director, Carolyn M. Clancy, MD,"Because a hospital stay can be a confusing and stressful time for patients, it's important that clinicians make sure patients are prepared to leave the hospital understanding the information they need to recover at home."

To read the entire article, go to www.ahrq.gov/news/press/pr2009/redpr.htm.

“About four out of five Americans know trans fats are bad for health. But only one in five can name three foods high in trans fat…”

According to a study that appeared in the February 2009 issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association and conducted by University of Colorado researcher Robert H Eckel, MD:

• 92% of Americans have heard of trans fats
• 73% of Americans know trans fats increase the risk of heart disease
• 77% of Americans know saturated fats increase the risk of heart disease

Unfortunately this doesn’t help much because:

• Only 21% of Americans can name three food sources of trans fat
• Nearly half of Americans can't name even one trans fat food source
• Only a third of Americans can name even one trans fat food without seeing a list

To read the entire article, go to www.webmd.com/diet/news/20090209/can-you-name-3-trans-fat-foods

“A sustained belly laugh, not a simple titter, giggle, or snicker, may have a beneficial effect on blood pressure…”

According to Dr. Madan Kataria, “Everyone knows that laughter is the best medicine, but in actual practice very few people laugh. He also points out, “The number one sickness in the world is depression and laughter is an anti-depressant. When people are depressed, they don’t laugh.”

He says that participants in his laugh study group had an 18% improvement in positive emotions and a 28% reduction in negative emotions and a significant reduction in perceived stress scale score.

To read the entire article and to hear an audio interview with Dr. Kataria, go to www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/ASH/9484