Authors

Main Content

Top Content

Directory of Authors from the Journal and their last article.

Chiraag PatelView Articles

Volume 22, Number 3Review Articles

The Impact of Systematic Safety Precautions on COVID-19 Risk Exposure and Transmission Rates in Outpatient Healthcare Workers

Deepak A KapoorKathleen LatinoAnn E AndersonGillian HodesJonathan AndersonMarcus CognettiChiraag Patel

We evaluated the impact of safety protocols, including rapid testing and contact tracing, on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) risk exposure and transmission rates amongst healthcare workers in the outpatient care setting. Over an 11-week period, a total of 254 employees representing 38% of our total workforce had potential COVID-19 exposure and underwent voluntary COVID-19 testing. Data was stratified based on severity of risk exposure and job description. During this period, the probability of a COVID exposure being high risk decreased in Administrative (293.0%; P < 0.01) and Clinical (277.0%; P < 0.01) staff; simultaneously, viral transmission rates declined in Administrative (273.4%; P = 0.03) and Clinical (269.9%; P = 0.04) staff as well. Systematic safety protocols effectively reduce exposure risk and transmission rates in outpatient healthcare workers and should be ubiquitously adopted. [Rev Urol. 2020;22(3):93-101] © 2020 MedReviews®, LLC

SafetyCOVID-19 diagnostic testingContact tracing

Chris McClainView Articles

Volume 22, Number 2Review Articles

Implementation of a Centralized, Cost-effective Call Center in a Large Urology Community Practice

Original Research

Gary M KirshStephen F KappaChris McClainKrista WallacePaul CinquinaDon LawsonMary M SmithEarl WalzBrooke Edwards

Call centers provide front-line care and service to patients. This study compared call-answering efficiency and costs between the implementation of an internal, centralized call center (January to July 2019) and previously outsourced call-center services (January to July 2018) for a large urology community practice. Retrospective review of call metrics and cost data was performed. Internal call-center leadership, training, and culture was examined through survey of staff and management. A total of 299,028 calls with an average of 5751 calls per week were answered during the study periods. The Average Speed of Answer (ASA) was 1:42 (min:s) for the outsourced call center and 0:14 for the internal call center (P < 0.001), with 70% of outsourced calls answered under 2 minutes compared with 99% of calls for the internal call center (P < 0.001). The Average Handle Time (AHT) for each outsourced call was 5:32 versus 3:41 for the internal call center (P < 0.001). The total operating expenses were 7.7% lower for the internal call center. Surveys revealed the importance of engaged leadership and staff training with feedback, simplified work algorithms, and expanded clinical roles. We found that internal, centralized call centers may provide a call-answering solution with greater efficiency and lower total operating expense versus an outsourced call center for large surgical practices. A culture that emphasizes continuous improvement and empowers call-center staff with expanded clinical roles may ultimately enhance patient communication and service. [Rev Urol. 2020;22(2):67–74] © 2020 MedReviews®, LLC

Cost effectivenessCall centerTelehealthOrganizational efficiency

Chris SpeakerView Articles
Chris TyrrellView Articles
Christian SeitzView Articles

Volume 5, Number 2Meeting Reviews

Advances in the Medical Treatment of Prostate Cancer, Bladder Cancer, Renal Cell Cancer, and Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Highlights from the XVIIth Congress of the European Association of Urology, Birmingham, UK

Claus G RoehrbornBob DjavanMesut RemziChristian Seitz

Prostate cancerBenign prostatic hyperplasiaBladder cancerLower urinary tract symptomsProstate-specific antigenRadical prostatectomyRadical nephrectomyNomogramsTamsulosinAlfuzosinFinasterideDutasterideBicalutamideBacille Calmette-GuerinPermixonRenal cell cancerTransrectal ultrasound-guided biopsyVirtual cystoscopy

Christian TwissView Articles
Christina CarnegieView Articles
Christina KimView Articles
Christopher CefaluView Articles

Volume 18, Number 4Case Review

Gossypiboma Manifesting as Urachal Mass

Nirmish SinglaAhmed Q HaddadChristopher CefaluVitaly Margulis

Gossypiboma (retained surgical sponge) occurs between 1 in 1000 and 1 in 1500 of all intra-abdominal operations. Patients with gossypibomas may present asymptomatically or with nonspecific symptoms, such as abdominal pain or bloating; identification frequently relies on imaging. Results of imaging alone, however, may appear nonspecific, and the gossypiboma may mimic other masses, such as neoplasms, hematomas, or abscesses. They require surgical removal for definitive diagnosis and treatment. Herein we present an unusual case of gossypiboma masquerading as an urachal mass in a 75-year-old woman. Diagnostic evaluation, natural history, and prevention of retained surgical materials are discussed. [Rev Urol. 2016;18(4):239-241 doi: 10.3909/riu0703] © 2016 MedReviews®, LLC

GossypibomaUrachal massSurgical errorsPatient safety

Christopher D MooreView Articles

Volume 8, Number 3Reviews in Urology

Spurious Hypocalcemia After Gadodiamide-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Case Review

James G CairidiChristopher D MooreRobert C Newman

Gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging is a diagnostic modality widely used in urologic practice. We report on a 54-year-old woman in whom a critically low serum calcium level was measured with standard colorimetric assay after gadodiamide-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. The same phenomenon was noted in 2 other patients seen in our practice. Repeat serum calcium measurements performed several hours later were within normal limits. Commercially available gadolinium-based contrast agents might precipitate critically low serum calcium values when measured by standard colorimetric assay. Physician awareness of gadodiamide-induced spurious hypocalcemia might prevent unnecessary therapeutic interventions. [Rev Urol. 2006;8(3):165-168]

Magnetic resonance imagingGadoliniumHypocalcemia

Christopher E BayneView Articles
Christopher E KellyView Articles
Christopher G EdenView Articles

Volume 17, Number 3Review Articles

Current Status of Hemostatic Agents and Sealants in Urologic Surgical Practice

Management Update

Sashi S KommuRobert McArthurAmr M EmaraUtsav D ReddyChristopher J AndersonNeil J BarberRaj A PersadChristopher G Eden

There has been a recent and near exponential increase in the use of hemostatic agents and sealants to supplement the rapidly evolving methods in the surgical management of urologic patients. This article reviews the use of hemostatic agents and sealants in current urologic practice. [Rev Urol. 2015;17(3):150-159 doi: 10.3909/riu0673] © 2015 MedReviews®, LLC

HemostasisTissue adhesionUrologic surgery

Christopher J AndersonView Articles

Volume 17, Number 3Review Articles

Current Status of Hemostatic Agents and Sealants in Urologic Surgical Practice

Management Update

Sashi S KommuRobert McArthurAmr M EmaraUtsav D ReddyChristopher J AndersonNeil J BarberRaj A PersadChristopher G Eden

There has been a recent and near exponential increase in the use of hemostatic agents and sealants to supplement the rapidly evolving methods in the surgical management of urologic patients. This article reviews the use of hemostatic agents and sealants in current urologic practice. [Rev Urol. 2015;17(3):150-159 doi: 10.3909/riu0673] © 2015 MedReviews®, LLC

HemostasisTissue adhesionUrologic surgery

Christopher J ChermanskyView Articles
Christopher J DiBlasioView Articles
Christopher J KaneView Articles

Volume 22, Number 4Review Articles

Low Penetrance Germline Genetic Testing: Role for Risk Stratification in Prostate Cancer Screening and Examples From Clinical Practice

Management Update

Gerald L AndrioleFranklin GaylisKelly K BreePaul DatoChristopher J KaneA Karim Kader

Broad-based prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening has saved lives but at a substantial human and financial cost. One way of mitigating this harm, while maintaining and possibly improving the benefit, is by focusing screening efforts on men at higher risk. With age, race, and family history as the only risk factors, many men lack any reliable data to inform their prostate cancer (PCa) screening decisions. Complexities including history of previous negative biopsies, interpretation of negative and/or equivocal mpMRI findings, and patient comorbidities further compound the already complicated decisions surrounding PCa screening and early detection. The authors present cases that provide real-world examples of how a single nucleotide polymorphism–based test can provide patients and providers with personalized PCa risk assessments and allow for development of improved risk-stratified screening regimens. [Rev Urol. 2020;22(4):152–158] © 2021 MedReviews®, LLC

Prostate cancer screeningRisk stratificationSomatic DNA testGermline DNA testsSingle nucleotide polymorphism DNA test

Christopher KellyView Articles
Christopher M PieczonkaView Articles

Volume 16, Number 3Review Articles

The Rationale for Optimal Combination Therapy With Sipuleucel-T for Patients With Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer

Treatment Review

Neal D ShoreRaoul S ConcepcionChristopher M PieczonkaVladimir MouravievNeil MariadosRobert B SimsMark Emberton

Immunotherapy encourages the recipient&rsquo;s own immune response to destroy cancer cells, and current evidence suggests that immunotherapies may be most beneficial in early metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Sipuleucel-T is the first therapeutic cancer vaccine to be approved by both the US Food and Drug Administration and European Medicines Agency for the treatment of asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic mCRPC. Combining immunotherapy with other treatments may have potent anticancer effects; cytoreductive therapies can release tumor antigens and promote a proinflammatory environment that could augment immunotherapies. However, some cytoreductive agents or coadministered drugs may be immunosuppressive. Understanding these interactions between different mCRPC treatment modalities may offer further potential to improve patient outcomes. [Rev Urol. 2014;16(3):122-130 doi: 10.3909/riu0637] © 2014 MedReviews®, LLC

Prostate cancerSipuleucel-TCombination therapy

Christopher P SmithView Articles