BCPS flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Vancomycin AUC/MIC target

For serious MRSA infections, guidelines recommend an AUC24/MIC of 400-600 mg·h/L using Bayesian or two-level sampling, which reduces nephrotoxicity versus trough-only monitoring.

CHA2DS2-VASc score

Score assigns 2 points each for prior stroke or TIA and age >=75, and 1 point each for CHF, hypertension, diabetes, vascular disease, age 65-74, and female sex; anticoagulate men at >=2 and women at >=3.

HAS-BLED score

Hypertension, abnormal renal or liver function, stroke, bleeding history, labile INR, elderly over 65, and drugs or alcohol each score one point; >=3 signals higher bleeding risk needing closer monitoring, not automatic withholding of anticoagulation.

Corrected calcium formula

Corrected calcium in mg/dL equals measured calcium plus 0.8 times (4.0 minus serum albumin in g/dL); it estimates total calcium when albumin is abnormally low or high.

Anion gap calculation

Anion gap equals sodium minus the sum of chloride and bicarbonate, normally about 8-12 mEq/L; a high gap with metabolic acidosis suggests lactate, ketones, uremia, or toxins.

Adjusted body weight formula

Adjusted body weight equals ideal body weight plus 0.4 times the difference between actual and ideal weight; used for aminoglycoside dosing when actual weight exceeds ideal by more than 20-30%.

Cockcroft-Gault creatinine clearance

CrCl equals (140 minus age) times weight, divided by 72 times serum creatinine, multiplied by 0.85 for women; it remains the basis for most drug renal dose adjustments.

Serotonin syndrome triad

Altered mental status, autonomic hyperactivity, and neuromuscular excitation with clonus and hyperreflexia after serotonergic drugs; clonus helps distinguish it from neuroleptic malignant syndrome.

Number needed to treat

NNT equals 1 divided by the absolute risk reduction, which is the control event rate minus the treatment event rate; it is the number of patients treated to prevent one additional event.

Intention-to-treat analysis

All randomized participants are analyzed in their assigned groups regardless of adherence or crossover; this preserves randomization and yields a conservative, real-world estimate of effectiveness.

Relative risk versus odds ratio

Relative risk compares event rates between groups, while the odds ratio compares odds; when the outcome is common, above roughly 10%, the odds ratio exaggerates the effect size.

Confidence interval interpretation

A 95% confidence interval for a risk ratio or odds ratio that includes 1.0 means no statistically significant difference at alpha 0.05; narrower intervals indicate greater precision.

Heterogeneity I-squared

I-squared is the percentage of variability across pooled studies attributable to heterogeneity rather than chance; approximately 25% is low, 50% moderate, and 75% or more is high.

Level of evidence hierarchy

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomized trials rank highest, followed by individual randomized trials, cohort studies, case-control studies, case series, and expert opinion.

Statistical power

Power equals 1 minus beta, the probability of detecting a true difference when one exists; conventional values are 80% or 90%, with alpha usually set at 0.05.

Funnel plot publication bias

A scatter plot of study effect size against precision; asymmetry suggests small negative studies were not published, and Egger's test statistically assesses this publication bias.

PDSA improvement cycle

Plan-Do-Study-Act is a rapid small-scale test-of-change cycle used in quality improvement; findings from one cycle guide modification, adoption, or scaling in the next cycle.

Root cause analysis

A retrospective structured review after a sentinel event that maps contributing system and process factors; it targets fixable causes rather than individual blame.

Failure mode and effects analysis

A prospective risk assessment that ranks potential process failures by severity, occurrence, and detectability so high-risk steps can be redesigned before harm occurs.

Just culture

A safety framework in which human error is consoled, at-risk behavior is coached, and reckless behavior is sanctioned; it promotes reporting and learning rather than blame.

High-alert medications

Drugs with heightened risk of serious harm when used in error, including insulin, heparin, opioids, concentrated electrolytes, and neuromuscular blockers; they require independent double checks and standardized storage.

Medication reconciliation

A structured comparison of a patient's medication list across care transitions to identify and resolve omissions, duplications, dosing errors, and clinically significant interactions.

Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio

The ratio of change in cost to change in health effect, commonly reported as dollars per quality-adjusted life-year and compared against a willingness-to-pay threshold.

NCC MERP index

A severity scale for medication errors running from category A, circumstances that could cause an error, through category I, an error that contributed to patient death.

Kirkpatrick evaluation levels

Four levels of training evaluation: reaction (satisfaction), learning (knowledge or skill gain), behavior (change in practice), and results (patient or organizational outcomes).

Bloom's taxonomy

A hierarchy of cognitive objectives ordered as remember, understand, apply, analyze, evaluate, and create; used to write measurable learning objectives at the appropriate level.

One-minute preceptor model

A five-step teaching microskill: get a commitment, probe for supporting evidence, teach a general rule, reinforce what was done well, and correct errors.

SMART goals

Objectives that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound; this format improves clarity, accountability, and follow-up in professional development plans.

Miller's pyramid

A clinical competence framework with four levels: knows, knows how, shows how, and does; the top level reflects actual performance in the workplace.

Transformational leadership

A style built on idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, and individualized consideration; it raises commitment beyond reward-based exchange and is linked to stronger team performance.

Thomas-Kilmann conflict modes

Five conflict-handling styles plotted by assertiveness and cooperativeness: competing, collaborating, compromising, avoiding, and accommodating; collaborating suits important issues needing commitment from both parties.

Entrustable professional activities

Units of professional work that supervisors entrust to trainees once sufficient competence is demonstrated, linking competency frameworks to real clinical tasks.