Background and ObjectivesEvidence is conflicting with regards to the role of vitamin D in statin induced myalgia (SIM). Studies so far have assessed cross-sectional association and were limited by study sample selected predominantly from cardiology clinics. In this retrospective cohort study we assessed the association between vitamin D and SIM and attempted to establish a serum vitamin D cutoff to identify patients at risk for developing SIM.MethodsMedical charts of 5526 consecutive patients from a primary care practice in Scranton, Pennsylvania from 2005–2012 were reviewed. Vitamin D level (25-hydroxy cholecalciferol) at statin initiation was considered “Exposure level”. Vitamin D levels were categorized into quartiles (≤ 10, 11–20, 21–30, >30 ng/ml). SIM was identified by patient report.Results1160 out of 5526 patients were treated with statins. The mean age was 55.9 years. 276 (24%) developed SIM. Unadjusted 7-yr cumulative incidences of SIM for quartiles 1–4 of vitamin D were 32.3, 21.5, 18.3 and 14.6% respectively. The lowest quartile of vitamin D was independently associated with 1.21 times the hazard of the fourth quartile for developing SIM (95% CI: 1.09, 1.33; P-trend  = 0.001). Vitamin D cut-off ≤15 ng/ml, showed a positive predictive value, negative predictive value, likelihood ratio (LR) + and LR- of 81, 90, 5.1 and 0.1, respectively for predicting SIM.ConclusionsLow vitamin D level at statin initiation is associated with SIM, levels ≤15 ng/ml have a high predictive accuracy for SIM. Randomized controlled trials are needed to validate our results.

Purpose. The effect of patient centered medical home (PCMH) curriculum interventions on residents’ self-reported and demonstrated knowledge, skills and attitudes in PCMH competency arenas (KSA) is lacking in the literature. This study aimed to assess the impact of PCMH curricular innovations on the KSA of Internal Medicine residents.Methods. Twenty four (24) Internal Medicine residents—12 Traditional (TR) track residents and 12 Teaching Health Center (THC) track residents—began training in Academic Year (AY) 2011 at the Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education (WCGME). They were followed through AY2013, covering three years of training. PCMH curricular innovations were focally applied July 2011 until May 2012 to THC residents. These curricular innovations were spread program-wide in May 2012. Semi-annual, validated PCMH Clinician Assessments assessing KSA were started in AY2011 and were completed by all residents.Results. Mean KSA scores of TR residents were similar to those of THC residents at baseline for all PCMH competencies. In May 2012, mean scores of THC residents were significantly higher than TR residents for most KSA. After program-wide implementation of PCMH innovations, mean scores of TR residents for all KSA improved and most became equalized to those of THC residents. Globally improved KSA scores of THC and TR residents were maintained through May 2014, with the majority of improvements above baseline and reaching statistical significance.Conclusions. PCMH curricular innovations inspired by Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA’s) Teaching Health Center funded residency program expansion quickly and consistently improved the KSA of Internal Medicine residents.

Hypercalcemia in sarcoidosis is due to three mechanistic reasons: (1) systemic conversion of 25-hydroxyvitamin D to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D by the enzyme 1-α hydroxylase produced by activated monocyte/macrophage system, (2) production of parathormone-related peptide (PTHrP) by the sarcoid granuloma, (3) tissue-level conversion of 25-hydroxyvitamin D to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D by 1-αhydroxylase produced by local monocyte/macrophage system in the sarcoid granuloma. We report two cases of one proposed mechanism of hypercalcaemia in sarcoidosis (mechanism 3). Both individuals presented with sarcoidosis and 25-hydroxyvitamin D deficiency and developed symptomatic hypercalcaemia with vitamin D replacement. Given their low serum parathormone and parathormone-related peptide levels, low serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D and normal serum 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, the systemic 25-hydroxy vitamin D deficiency may not have reflected an increased activity of vitamin D at the local granulomatous tissue level.

More than 105 million referrals of Medicare beneficiaries to specialists occur annually. Different settings and electronic health records have made care coordination complex. PCPI (formerly American Medical Association-convened Physicians Consortium for Performance Improvement) and The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education sponsored the Closing the Referral Loop pilot project. Twelve dyads of primary care and specialist physicians sought to improve ambulatory referrals by mapping the referral process, and using care compacts, metrics, and electronic health records. Referrals closed on time increased from 40% to 70%. Clinical questions answered increased from 50% to 75%. Adoption of the change package and lessons from this project may significantly improve ambulatory referral management.

Purpose: Effect of patient centered medical home (PCMH) curriculum interventions on residents’ self-reported and demonstrated knowledge, skills and attitudes (KSA) in PCMH competency arenas is lacking in the literature. This study aimed to assess impact of PCMH curricular innovations on Internal Medicine residents’ self-reported KSA. Method: Twenty four (24) Internal Medicine residents - 12 Traditional (TR) track and 12 Teaching Health Center (THC) track - began training in academic year (AY) 2011 at the Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education (WCGME). They were followed through AY2013 covering three years of training. PCMH curricular innovations were applied beginning July 2011 until May 2012 focally to THC residents. These curricular innovations were spread program wide in May 2012. Semi-annual validated PCMH Clinician Assessments assessing PCMH competencies based on self-reported KSA were started in AY2011 and completed by all residents. Results: Mean self-reported KSA scores of TR residents were similar to THC residents at baseline for all PCMH competencies. In May 2012, mean scores of THC residents were significantly higher than 2011 and graduating 2009 TR residents for most PCMH competencies. After program wide implementation of PCMH innovations, mean scores of 2011 and 2010 TR residents for all PCMH competencies improved and most equalized to those of 2011 THC residents. Globally improved PCMH competency scores of 2011 THC and TR residents were maintained through May 2014, with majority of improvements above baseline reaching statistical significance. Conclusions: PCMH curricular innovations inspired by HRSA’s Teaching Health Center funded residency program expansion quickly and consistently improved Internal Medicine residents’ self-reported KSA of PCMH competencies and improvements were sustained.