Ebola Triage Screening and Public Health: The New “Vital Sign Zero”

2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristi L. Koenig
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Vital Sign ◽  
Vital Signs ◽  
Public Health Emergencies ◽  
Individual Care ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Health Care Leaders ◽  
Care Health ◽  
Triage Decisions

AbstractDuring public health emergencies of international concern such as the 2014 Ebola event, health care leaders need to educate clinicians on the front lines to make uncomfortable, but real triage decisions that focus on optimization of population health outcomes over individual care. Health care workers must consider their own protection first before direct contact with potentially contagious patients. In an era of globalization and emerging infectious disease, routine triage including evaluation of the standard vital signs must shift to include public health considerations with immediate consequences. A new “vital sign zero” should be taken at the time of initial patient evaluation to assess for risk and exposure to potentially contagious infectious diseases.

Health Care Workers' Ability and Willingness to Report to Work During Public Health Emergencies

2011 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 300-308 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andy Stergachis ◽  
Lisa Garberson ◽  
Onora Lien ◽  
Luann D'Ambrosio ◽  
Laura Sangaré ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Influenza Pandemic ◽  
Public Health Emergencies ◽  
Work From Home ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Viral Influenza ◽  
Willingness To Report ◽  
Ability And Willingness

ABSTRACTObjectives: We conducted a county-wide survey to assess the ability and willingness of health care workers to report to work during a pandemic influenza and a severe earthquake and to identify barriers and strategies that would help them report to work.Methods: A stratified random sample of 9211 health care workers was selected from the Washington state licensure database and from health care agencies. We assessed correlates between self-reported ability and willingness to report to work and demographic and employer-related variables under two scenarios, influenza pandemic and a severe earthquake.Results: For the influenza pandemic scenario, 95% of respondents reported that they would be able and 89% reported that they would be willing to report to their usual place of work. Seventy-four percent of respondents reported that they would be able and 88% would be willing to report to their usual place of work following a severe earthquake. The most frequently cited strategies that would help respondents report to work during an influenza pandemic were the availability of anti-viral influenza treatment and the ability to work from home. For persons with children at home, the strategy to increase ability to report to work during an earthquake was the availability of child care.Conclusions: The majority of the King County health care workforce is willing and able to respond to an influenza pandemic or a severe earthquake.(Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2011;5:300–308)

Audit of Transfusion Procedures in 660 Hospitals

2003 ◽  
Vol 127 (5) ◽  
pp. 541-548
Author(s):  
David A. Novis ◽  
Karen A. Miller ◽  
Peter J. Howanitz ◽  
Stephen W. Renner ◽  
Molly K. Walsh
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Vital Sign ◽  
Vital Signs ◽  
The United States ◽  
Blood Bank ◽  
Patient Identification ◽  
Improvement Program ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Identification Tags

Abstract Context.—Hemolytic transfusion reactions are often the result of failure to follow established identification and monitoring procedures. Objective.—To measure the frequencies with which health care workers completed specific transfusion procedures required for laboratory and blood bank accreditation. Design.—In 2 separate studies, participants in the College of American Pathologists Q-Probes laboratory quality improvement program audited nonemergent red blood cell transfusions prospectively and completed questionnaires profiling their institutions' transfusion policies. Setting and Participants.—A total of 660 institutions, predominantly in the United States, at which transfusion medicine services are provided. Main Outcome Measures.—The percentages of transfusions for which participants completed 4 specific components of patient and blood unit identifications, and for which participants monitored vital signs at 3 specific intervals during transfusions. Results.—In the first study, all components of patient identification procedures were performed in 62.3%, and all required patient vital sign monitoring was performed in 81.6% of 12 448 transfusions audited. The median frequencies with which institutions participating in the first study performed all patient identification and monitoring procedures were 69.0% and 90.2%, respectively. In the second study, all components of patient identification were performed in 25.4% and all patient vital sign monitoring was performed in 88.3% of 4046 transfusions audited. The median frequencies with which institutions participating in the second study performed all patient identification and monitoring procedures were 10.0% and 95.0%, respectively. Individual practices and/or institutional policies associated with greater frequencies of patient identification and/or vital sign monitoring included transporting units of blood directly to patient bedsides, having no more than 1 individual handle blood units in route, checking unit labels against physicians' orders, having patients wear identification tags (wristbands), reading identification information aloud when 2 or more transfusionists participated, using written checklists to guide the administration of blood, instructing health care personnel in transfusion practices, and routinely auditing the administration of transfusions. Conclusions.—In many hospitals, the functions of identification and vital sign monitoring of patients receiving blood transfusions do not meet laboratory and blood bank accreditation standards. Differences in hospital transfusion policies influence how well health care workers comply with standard practices. We would expect that efforts designed to perfect transfusion policies might also improve performance in those hospitals in which practice compliance is substandard.

scholarly journals COVID – 19 related knowledge and preventive practices early in the outbreak among health care workers in selected public health facilities of Illu aba Bor and Buno Bedelle zones, Southwest Ethiopia

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dereje Tsegaye ◽  
Muluneh Shuremu ◽  
Dereje Oljira ◽  
Sileshi Dubale ◽  
Getachew Befekadu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Infection Prevention ◽  
Health Facilities ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Southwest Ethiopia ◽  
Preventive Practices ◽  
Care Workers

Abstract Background Novel-coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) disease is currently a worldwide health risk and public health emergency concern. The virus is transmitted from an infected person to another person through close contact and droplets. Frontline health care workers are the most at risk of infection, and so a WHO interim guidance document was issued by the World Health Organization (WHO) which underscores the importance of proper sanitation and waste management practices for COVID- 19 in health-care settings. This study aimed at assessing knowledge and preventive practices towards Covid-19 among health care providers in selected health facilities of Illu Aba Bor and Buno Bedele zones, Southwest Ethiopia. Methods An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from April to May 2020 among 330 health workers in selected health facilities of Illu Aba Bor and Buno-Bedelle Zones, Southwest Ethiopia. Data were collected using a self-administered structured questionnaire. The collected data were entered into Epidata version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 23 for analysis. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent predictors of preventive practices towards Covid-19. Statistical significance was declared at a p-value of < 0.05. Result The majority of respondents (93.3%) demonstrated good knowledge of COVID-19, and the mean (SD) knowledge score was 9.04 ± 1.06. Nearly two-thirds (64.2%) of the study participants had good infection prevention practices. Being male (AOR = 3.65, 95% CI: (1.96, 6.80)), education level (AOR = 1.82, 95% CI (1.02, 3.22)), profession (AOR = 3.17, 95% CI (1.08, 9.33)), service year (5–10 years) (AOR = 2.00 (1.02, 3.92)) and more than 10 years (AOR = 3.14 (1.51, 6.52)), availability of personal protective equipment (AOR = 1.96 (1.06, 3.61)) and Knowledge level (AOR = 2.61 (1.48, 4.62)) were independent predictors of COVID-19 preventive practices. Conclusion The overall level of knowledge of HCWs was good. However, the practice was relatively low. Gender, educational status, profession, year of service, knowledge towards COVID-19, and availability of personal protective equipment were independent predictors of good infection prevention practices. Optimizing the infection prevention and control loop of the health facilities is recommended.

ANALYSIS OF THE ROLE OF THE ECONOMIST IN PUBLIC HEALTH

Vestnik ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 313-316
Author(s):  
И.Г. Турсумбай ◽  
Л.К. Кошербаева
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Health Economics ◽  
Continuous Improvement ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Economic Situation ◽  
Care Workers

Одним из последствий осуществления медицинской деятельности в разнообразных хозяйственных формах является изменение экономического положения работников здравоохранения. От количества и качества их труда зависит экономический результат деятельности лечебно-профилактических учреждений (ЛПУ) в целом. В статье приводится сравнительный анализ занимающихся подготовкой экономистов в области здравоохранения по различным критериям. Подчеркивается необходимость непрерывного совершенствования подготовки управленческих кадров в области экономики здравоохранения в современных условиях развития общества. One of the consequences of the implementation of medical activities in various economic forms is a change in the economic situation of health care workers. The number and quality of their work depends on the economic result of the activities of medical and preventive institutions (LPU) as a whole. The article presents a comparative analysis of the health economists who are engaged in training according to various criteria. The necessity of continuous improvement of training of managerial personnel in the field of health economics in the modern conditions of society development is emphasized.

Risking Lives to Save Others During COVID-19: A Focus on Public Health Care Workers in Bangladesh and Egypt

2021 ◽  
pp. 002073142110637
Author(s):  
Shahjahan Bhuiyan
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Public Health Care ◽  
Altruistic Behavior ◽  
Ongoing Research ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Street Level ◽  
Care Workers

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has been spreading around the world, causing a major public health crisis that has already claimed hundreds of thousands of lives. Street-level bureaucrats­—health workers, teachers, street cleaners, police officers­, and so forth—are at the forefront in fighting against the pandemic. Of these, public health care workers, due to the nature of their involvement, should know and understand why they are risking their lives to save others during this pandemic. Based on the preliminary data gleaned from interviews with public health care workers in Bangladesh and Egypt, this ongoing research suggests they are risking their lives for reasons such as altruistic behavior, service to profession, adherence to bureaucratic accountability, and a desire to help mankind. The findings contribute to the existing literature about street-level bureaucratic behavior in atypical times such as these of the pandemic. This study is unique in that it comprehends that public health care workers of two culturally and geographically distinct countries are risking their lives for the same public-spirited cause.

scholarly journals Application of Health-Care Networking in COVID-19: A Brief Report

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Punidha Kaliaperumal ◽  
Tamorish Kole ◽  
Neha Chugh
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Systems ◽  
Public Health Care ◽  
Current Crisis ◽  
Delivery Of Care ◽  
Public Health Emergencies ◽  
Northern India ◽  
Care Systems ◽  
Private And Public

ABSTRACT Health-care systems all over the world are stretched out and being reconfigured to deal with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Some countries have flattened the curve, some are still fighting to survive it, and others are embracing the second wave. Globally, there is an urgent need to increase the resilience, capacity, and capability of health-care systems to deal with the current crisis and improve upon the future responses. The epidemiological burden of COVID-19 has led to rapid exhaustion of local response resources and massive disruption to the delivery of care in many countries. Health-care networking and liaison are essential component in disaster management and public health emergencies. It aims to provide logistical support between hospitals; financial support through local or regional governmental and nongovernmental agencies for response; manpower and mechanism for coordination and to implement policies, procedures, and technologies in the event of such crisis. This brief report describes how 4 independent private hospitals in northern India had adopted the principles of health-care networking, pooled their resources, and scaled up 1 of the partner hospitals as Dedicated COVID-19 Hospital (DCH) to treat moderate to severe category of COVID-19 patients. It brings out the importance of a unique coalition between private and public health-care system.

scholarly journals Initial experiences of US neurologists in practice during the COVID-19 pandemic via survey

Neurology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 95 (5) ◽  
pp. 215-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akanksha Sharma ◽  
Christina R. Maxwell ◽  
Jill Farmer ◽  
Diana Greene-Chandos ◽  
Kathrin LaFaver ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Systems ◽  
The United States ◽  
Survey Study ◽  
Practice Model ◽  
Safety Measures ◽  
Public Health Emergencies ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Rapid Changes ◽  
Care Systems

ObjectiveTo test the hypothesis that US neurologists were experiencing significant challenges with lack of personal protective equipment (PPE), rapid changes in practice, and varying institutional protocols, we conducted this survey study. The current coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused widespread disease and death. Rapid increases in patient volumes have exposed weaknesses in health care systems and challenged our ability to provide optimal patient care and adequate safety measures to health care workers (HCWs).MethodsA 36-item survey was distributed to neurologists around the United States through various media platforms.ResultsOver a 1-week period, 567 responses were received. Of these, 56% practiced in academia. A total of 87% had access to PPE, with 45% being asked to reuse PPE due to shortages. The pandemic caused rapid changes in practice, most notably a shift toward providing care by teleneurology, although a third experienced challenges in transitioning to this model. Wide variations were noted both in testing and in the guidance provided for the exposed, sick, or vulnerable HCWs. Notably, 59% of respondents felt that their practices were doing what they could, although 56% did not feel safe taking care of patients.ConclusionsResults from our survey demonstrate significant variability in preparedness and responsiveness to the COVID-19 pandemic in neurology, affected by region, health care setting, and practice model. Practice guidelines from professional societies and other national entities are needed to improve protection for physicians and their patients, promote recommended practice changes during a pandemic, and optimize future preparedness for public health emergencies.

scholarly journals Epidemiology of ebolavirus disease (EVD) and occupational EVD in health care workers in Sub-Saharan Africa: Need for strengthened public health preparedness

2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (10) ◽  
pp. 455-461 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nlandu Roger Ngatu ◽  
Ntumba Jean-Marie Kayembe ◽  
Elayne Kornblatt Phillips ◽  
Joa Okech-Ojony ◽  
Masika Patou-Musumari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Public Health Preparedness ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Sub Saharan
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