Early palliative care consultation reduces antimicrobial consumption at end of life (Links to an external site)

Early palliative care consultation may reduce antimicrobial consumption in patients at the end of life, according to recently published study findings. “Physicians often choose to continue antibiotics to improve quality of life or reduce symptom burden. However, whether these outcomes are achieved is unclear, with some studies showing no difference,” Jason P. Burnham, MD, instructor […]

White named director of Division of Palliative Medicine (Links to an external site)

Patrick White, MD

Patrick White, MD, an assistant professor of medicine, has been named director of the newly formed Division of Palliative Medicine at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. The appointment was announced by Victoria J. Fraser, MD, the Adolphus Busch Professor and head of the Department of Medicine.

McClellan: Ira’s reward (Links to an external site)

St. Louis was once known for booze, shoes and baseball. Now it’s baseball, frozen custard and medicine. Our reputation in the third is largely due to the medical school at Washington University and its teaching arm — Barnes-Jewish Hospital.

Easing the final journey (Links to an external site)

He was young — still in his 40s — and facing a devastating diagnosis: congestive heart failure that would end his life too soon. Readily admitting that his own lifestyle decisions had brought him to this place, Mr. D (his name has been changed to protect his privacy) suffered from what could only be described […]