Issue: Winter 2020 Vol. 15 - Issue 4
      
 
From the Editor's Desk 
A Close Call for Science and Humanity
– Lawrence I. Bonchek, MD, FACS, FACC
  Adobe PDF
 
 
Top Tips from Family Practice 
Choosing Wisely XXXIV
– Alan S. Peterson, M.D.
Recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Pediatric Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine, American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine
Adobe PDF
   
 
Scientific Reports 
The Making of a Pandemic: Bubonic Plague in the 14th Century
– James T. Eastman, MD, FCAP, edited and updated 2020 by
Joseph M. Kontra, MD
The story of the global spread of the “Black Death” 700 years ago has become relevant again today. Ships arriving in Italian ports in the 14th century were detained offshore for 40 (“quaranta”) days in hopes of reducing transmission, a tactic that has given us the word “quarantine.”
 
   
Fourth Trimester Care: Timely Intervention for Postpartum Needs
– Brianna Moyer, M.D.
The potential for problems related to pregnancy don’t end with childbirth. The first three months postpartum (The Fourth Trimester) are particularly fraught. This article provides a detailed review of that period’s problems and their management.
  Adobe PDF
   
 
How Has COVID-19 Affected Patient Access to Health Records at Penn Medicine LG Health?
– Corey Meyer, MBA, Jon Foley Sherman, PhD, Michael Sheinberg, MD
Digital medical records are revolutionizing the practice of medicine, by changing the way patients and physicians interact with each other and with both personal and general medical information. It’s no surprise that COVID-19 has accelerated the use of this technology.  
 
   
 
High-Need, High-Cost Patients and Social Determinants of Health
– Maribeth S. LeBreton, DNP, RN, CRNP, ANP-BC, and Eileen Sosa, MSN, CRNP, FNP-BC
It’s well known that a subset of patients uses a disproportionate share of medical resources. This article provides a deep and broad analysis of this problem’s causes and solutions, with a focus on the dedicated and highly resourced programs here at Penn Medicine LG Health Care Connections, Ambulatory Collaborative Care Team, and Social Service Hubs.
  Adobe PDF
   
 
Early History of Surgery in Lancaster County and the Lancaster General Hospital
– Edward T. Chory, MD, FACS
Lancaster has a long and storied tradition of surgical innovation and leadership. This is a fascinating and thoroughly researched look at surgery’s beginnings in Lancaster, which laid the groundwork for the present day.