Doug Brunk is a San Diego-based award-winning reporter who began covering health care in 1991. Before joining the company, he wrote for the health sciences division of Columbia University and was an associate editor at Contemporary Long Term Care magazine when it won a Jesse H. Neal Award. His work has been syndicated by the Los Angeles Times and he is the author of two books related to the University of Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball program. Doug has a master’s degree in magazine journalism from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. Follow him on Twitter @dougbrunk.
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Two factors associated with vocal cord dysfunction in study
Female sex and the absence of wheezing were found to correlate with vocal cord dysfunction in patients with high pretest probability of disease, a...
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Optimal management of GERD in IPF unknown
The optimal management of GERD in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis has yet to be determined, according to Joyce S. Lee, MD.
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Few non-ICU patients receive palliative care consults
A significant percentage of patients who meet criteria for palliative care consultations do not receive a consult during their hospital stay,...
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New mechanical ventilation guidelines unveiled
LOS ANGELES – Acutely hospitalized patients who have been on mechanical ventilation for more than 24 hours, are at high risk for extubation...
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Study finds nonoperative management of blunt splenic injuries in elderly safe
Nonoperative management of blunt splenic injuries in the geriatric population is safe, based on results from a study of national data.
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Inhaled antibiotic for bronchiectasis shows promise
LOS ANGELES – Long-term inhaled ciprofloxacin therapy appears to be a safe and effective treatment option in patients with bronchiectasis, results...
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Lung cancer screening found effective in a community hospital
Lung cancer screening with low-dose CT scans in a community hospital setting replicates results from international and multicenter trials when it...
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Sepsis mortality linked to concentration of critical care fellowships
Compared with other parts of the United States, survival rates for sepsis were highest in the Northeast and metropolitan areas in the Western...
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Smokers’ hand grip strength predicts risk for respiratory events
LOS ANGELES – In smokers with or at risk for COPD, hand grip strength is associated with CT markers of body composition, independent of body mass...
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LMWH best for preventing PE in patients with major trauma
Venous thromboembolism prophylaxis with low molecular weight heparin (LMWH), instead of unfractionated heparin (UH), is associated with lower risk...
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Chest physician perceptions of e-cigarettes mixed
Chest physicians in the United States are likely to encounter electronic cigarette users in clinical practice, yet there is no consensus regarding...
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Pelvic fracture pattern predicts the need for hemorrhage control
Blunt trauma patients admitted in shock with anterior posterior compression III or vertical shear fracture patterns, or patients with open pelvic...
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High resting heart rate may signal exacerbation risk in COPD patients
Higher resting heart rate may predict future risk of exacerbation in patients with recent COPD exacerbation, results from a multicenter study...
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Novel device provides real-time glucose monitoring of critically ill
WAIKOLOA, HAWAII – Use of an automated bedside blood monitoring platform was safe and effective in measuring glucose in critically ill patients,...
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Brief screen helps identify patients with PTSD, depression
A new nine-item tool known as the Injured Trauma Survivor Screen demonstrated strong sensitivity and specificity for predicting PTSD and...