Pulmonology

This is a prospective randomized controlled trial evaluating an EHR-embedded behavioral intervention intended to reduce low-value specialty referrals in cardiology, pulmonology, and gastroenterology. The intervention is designed to (1) strengthen physicians' intentions to avoid low-value specialty referrals at the point of encounter by presenting criteria for high-value referrals and informing physicians that referral decisions may be reviewed and (2) support follow-through on these intentions by modifying the referral process through structured checklist prompts embedded within the referral workflow. The primary hypothesis is that physicians exposed to the intervention will demonstrate lower rates of low-value cardiology, pulmonology, and gastroenterology referrals compared with physicians exposed to the arm where the order composer allows physicians to place referrals with minimal decision support.

Tuberculosis (TB) remains the leading infectious disease worldwide and kidney transplant recipients (KTR) is high risk population needing prevention from reactivation, which cause high mortality. In fact, its latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is increasing after transplantation and has been identified as a risk factor for TB. However, the suitable regimen for LTBI treatment in KTRs remains unclear. Currently, three-month rifamycin-containing regimens, such as weekly rifapentine and isoniazid (3HP) or daily rifampicin and isoniazid (3HP), are common because its non-inferiority to nine-month of daily isoniazid (9H) and high completion rate by its short course in TB contacts. However, KTRs have many differences from general population, like use of immune-suppressants and possible residual renal insufficiency, so that to prescribe rifamycin-containing LTBI treatment regimens may have many concerns. One biggest concern is that drug-drug interaction between rifamycin and immunosuppressants. In addition, there is no study before in investigating the use of rifamycin-containing regimen in the population of KTRs (only study for kidney transplant candidates).