The October issue is online

The October issue of ACP Hospitalist is online and includes stories about the following.

More hospitalists choose post-acute care. Though they have diverse schedules, responsibilities and backgrounds, post-acute hospitalists all are focused on improving care for nursing home patients. The setting is in some ways a natural one for hospitalists, with its emphasis on processes of care and the health of the facility itself.

Reviewing medications in elderly inpatients. More than 60% of American seniors take at least five drugs, and the risk of adverse drug reactions increases with the number of medications a patient takes. Such reactions are responsible for nearly 11% of hospital admissions in older adults, research has found. Hospitalization provides an opportunity to review and revise a patient's medication roster.

When to mobilize after stroke? Mobilization after stroke is generally considered appropriate therapy for most patients, with its potential to improve recovery and reduce complications and disabilities. There is no firm guidance, however, on how early this mobilization should begin and whether very early mobilization—within the first 24 hours —is a good idea.