This week on The Rounds Table Kieran Quinn and Ashley Minuk are back with two articles with a bend toward primary care and hospitalist physicians. Ashley covers aspirin versus rivaroxaban for VTE prophylaxis after hip or knee arthroplasty. Kieran shares an article on the use of ridesharing apps to decrease missed appointments.

After hip or knee surgery many patients receive rivaroxaban for VTE prophylaxis. Giving patients aspirin instead of rivaroxaban would save healthcare dollars, be preferential in patients with poor renal function, and would be simpler for patients to continue after discharge. Ashley shares the EPCAT II trial comparing rivaroxaban and aspirin for VTE prophylaxis after hip or knee arthroplasty.

Next, missed appointments are a major healthcare problem in the sense that waiting lists for doctors can swell due to these missed appointments and revenue is lost for physicians caring for patients. Many patients miss appointments due to unreliable transportation. Kieran shares a trial examining the use of the rideshare service, Lyft, to decrease missed primary care appointments.

Finally, the Good Stuff segment continues this week’s theme of transportation. Ashley shares a study on cycling and sexual function. Kieran builds on his study as he shares an article on Uber’s newest initiative to get people to the doctor’s office.

Like what you hear? Rate us on iTunes! Chat with us on Twitter @roundstable and tweet at Ashley @ashleyminuk and Kieran @kieranlquinn

The Papers

1. VTE Prophylaxis: http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1712746

2. Ridesharing & Missed Appointments: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/article-abstract/2671405

Good Stuff

1. Cycling and Sexual Function: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180111141619.htm

2. Uber & Medicine: https://www.npr.org/2018/03/01/589464779/uber-launches-service-to-get-people-to-their-doctors-offices

Music Credits

The Rounds Table Theme Music by Brendan Quinn, Creative Director and Composer, Vapor RMW