Dr. Valerie Vaughn Co-Authors New JAMA Article on Pneumonia Care
Dr. Valerie Vaughn, Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and Hospital Medicine physician scientist at the University of Utah, is the first author of an article recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). This review, titled "Community-Acquired Pneumonia-A Review", was co-authored by Jennifer K. Horowitz, MA, Dr. Robert P. Dickson, and Dr. Scott A. Flanders.
The article highlights the critical importance of high-quality pneumonia care in the U.S., where pneumonia remains the most common infectious cause of hospitalization and mortality among adults. The review summarizes the best practices for diagnosing and treating community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) across primary care, inpatient, and ICU settings.
Pneumonia, which occurs when pathogens infect the lower respiratory tract, can lead to severe complications such as sepsis, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and even death. CAP, in particular, affects many outside of the hospital environment but can require hospitalization in severe cases, particularly among older adults. CAP accounts for an estimated 740,000 hospitalizations annually in the U.S. and costs billions in healthcare expenses.
Dr. Vaughn recently assumed the role of Director of Clinical Research for the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Utah on August 1, 2024. With this latest publication, she continues to push forward essential discussions on improving hospital medicine and patient care.
This JAMA article promises to be a pivotal resource for healthcare providers, supporting evidence-based practices that will improve patient outcomes across the continuum of care.