scholarly journals The Impact of SARS-COV-2 Response on Hospital Infection Prevention Programs and Practices in Southeastern United States

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Sonali D. Advani ◽  
Andrea Cromer ◽  
Brittain Wood ◽  
Esther Baker ◽  
Kathryn L. Crawford ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Resource Availability ◽  
Infection Prevention ◽  
Southeastern United States ◽  
Prevention Programs ◽  
Hospital Infection ◽  
Prevention Policies ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Initial assessments of SARS-COV-2 preparedness revealed resource shortages and variations in infection prevention policies across US hospitals. Our follow-up survey revealed improvement in resource availability, increase in testing capacity, and uniformity in infection prevention policies. Most importantly, the survey highlighted an increase in staffing shortages and use of travel nursing.

scholarly journals 424. The Impact of COVID-19 Response on Infection Prevention Programs and Practices in Southeastern United States

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S312-S312
Author(s):  
Sonali D Advani ◽  
Sonali D Advani ◽  
Andrea Cromer ◽  
Brittain A Wood ◽  
Esther Baker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Resource Availability ◽  
Infection Prevention ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Elective Surgical Procedures ◽  
Symptom Screening ◽  
Initial Survey ◽  
One Year ◽  
Almost All ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Early assessments of COVID19 preparedness reported resource shortages, use of crisis capacity strategies, variations in testing, personal protective equipment (PPE), and policies in US hospitals. One year later, we performed a follow-up survey to assess changes in infection prevention practice and policies in our diverse network of community and academic hospitals. Methods This was a cross-sectional electronic survey of infection preventionists in 58 hospitals within the Duke Infection Control Outreach Network (community) and Duke/UNC Health systems (academic) in April-May 2021 to follow-up our initial survey from April 2020. The follow-up survey included 26 questions related to resource availability, crisis capacity strategies, procedures, changes to PPE and testing, and staffing challenges. Results We received 54 responses (response rate, 93%). Facilities reported significantly fewer PPE and resource shortages in the follow-up survey compared to our initial survey (Figure 1, P< 0.05). Only 32% of respondents were still reprocessing N95 respirators (compared to 73% in initial survey, P< 0.05). All hospitals performed universal masking, universal symptom screening on entry, and 30% required eye protection. In 2020, most hospitals suspended elective surgical procedures in March-April, and restarted in May-June. Approximately 92% reported in-house testing for SARS-COV-2 by April 2020, at least a third of which had a weekly capacity of >100 tests. Almost 80% performed universal pre-operative testing, while 61% performed universal preadmission testing for SARS-COV-2. Almost all hospitals switched from test-based to time-based strategy for discontinuing isolation precautions, majority in August-September 2020. Twenty-five percent hospitals reported infection prevention furloughs, staffing cuts, and or reassignments, while 81% reported increased use of agency nursing during the pandemic. Conclusion Our follow-up survey reveals improvement in resource availability, evolution of PPE guidance, increase in testing capacity, and burdensome staffing changes. Our serial surveys suggest increasing uniformity in infection prevention policies, but also highlight the increase in staff turnover and infection prevention staffing shortages. Disclosures Sonali D. Advani, MBBS, MPH, Nothing to disclose David J. Weber, MD, MPH, PDI (Consultant)

scholarly journals Assessing the Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Health Providers in the Southeastern United States

2021 ◽  
pp. 114055
Author(s):  
Henry Slone ◽  
Arianna Gutierrez ◽  
Caroline Lutzky ◽  
Demi Zhu ◽  
Hannah Hedriana ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
United States ◽  
Southeastern United States ◽  
Mental Health Providers ◽  
Health Providers ◽  
The Impact

scholarly journals The Magnitude of the Impact of HIV on the Human Beings in the World’s Richest Country, America: The Misery of African Americans

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muse Abdi
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
African Americans ◽  
Hiv Infection ◽  
Risk Behaviors ◽  
Mass Incarceration ◽  
Prevention Programs ◽  
The United States ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Related Risk ◽  
The Impact

Disproportionate rates of HIV infection among African Americans is an increasing concern in the United States. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of HIV prevention programs on African Americans and social determinants fueling HIV-related risk behaviors. Using literature, this study analyzed the incidences of HIV infection among African Americans in the United States and the effectiveness of the prevention programs. African Americans struggle with mass incarceration, drugs, stigma, criminalization, and lack of economic opportunities, which contribute to the HIV-related risk behaviors. The existing traditional prevention programs in place are not working for African Americans. Tailored and culturally relevant programs should be designed and implemented. Further studies are needed to establish the causal relationships and develop preventive measures.

scholarly journals Cry Wolf Effect? Evaluating the Impact of False Alarms on Public Responses to Tornado Alerts in the Southeastern United States

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 549-563 ◽  
Author(s):  
JungKyu Rhys Lim ◽  
Brooke Fisher Liu ◽  
Michael Egnoto
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
False Alarm ◽  
Protective Action ◽  
Southeastern United States ◽  
The United States ◽  
False Alarms ◽  
Protective Behavior ◽  
Tornado Warnings ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
The Impact

Abstract On average, 75% of tornado warnings in the United States are false alarms. Although forecasters have been concerned that false alarms may generate a complacent public, only a few research studies have examined how the public responds to tornado false alarms. Through four surveys (N = 4162), this study examines how residents in the southeastern United States understand, process, and respond to tornado false alarms. The study then compares social science research findings on perceptions of false alarms to actual county false alarm ratios and the number of tornado warnings issued by counties. Contrary to prior research, findings indicate that concerns about false alarm ratios generating a complacent public may be overblown. Results show that southeastern U.S. residents estimate tornado warnings to be more accurate than they are. Participants’ perceived false alarm ratios are not correlated with actual county false alarm ratios. Counterintuitively, the higher individuals perceive false alarm ratios and tornado alert accuracy to be, the more likely they are to take protective behavior such as sheltering in place in response to tornado warnings. Actual country false alarm ratios and the number of tornado warnings issued did not predict taking protective action.

scholarly journals PERIACETABULAR OSTEOTOMY IN ACTIVE DUTY U.S. MILITARY PERSONNEL: A SINGLE CENTER’S EXPERIENCE WITH A MINIMUM OF TWO YEARS FOLLOW-UP

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4_suppl3) ◽  
pp. 2325967120S0014
Author(s):  
Andrew S. Murtha ◽  
Matthew R. Schmitz
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Military Service ◽  
Periacetabular Osteotomy ◽  
The United States ◽  
Active Duty ◽  
Service Members ◽  
Military Service Members ◽  
Active Service ◽  
The Impact

Background: The primary focus of periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) literature has been survivorship until hip arthroplasty. This endpoint overlooks its impact on young, active patients. Hypothesis/Purpose: This study sought to assess the impact of the PAO on the careers of active duty members of the United States Armed Forces. Methods: A retrospective review identified 38 patients who underwent PAO performed by a single surgeon at an academic, military medical center from January 2014 through April 2017. Twenty-one of the patients were active duty United States military service members (16 female, 5 male) and had a minimum 28 months of post-operative follow-up at the time of review. Preoperative and postoperative duty restrictions were noted and referrals to the U.S Army and U.S. Air Force Medical Evaluation Boards (MEB) were queried. Results: The average age at surgery was 25.6 years (range, 19-40y). Preoperatively, sixteen patients (94.1%) were on duty restrictions, one had been referred to the MEB, and records were not available on three patients who separated from the military prior to review. Average follow-up was 3.4 years (range, 2.3 – 5.4y). Among the patients without a preoperative MEB referral, 85.0% remained on active duty (n = 12) or completed their military service commitment (n=5). Of the fourteen patients with temporary duty restrictions preoperatively, 35.7% (n=5) were relieved of their restrictions and returned to full duty and 50% (n=7) were retained on active service with permanent duty restrictions. Such permanent duty restrictions typically consisted of modifications to the aerobic component of the semiannual military fitness testing. Six patients (28.6%) were referred to the MEB including one who was referred prior to PAO. Of these patients, two were deemed fit to retain on active service with permanent duty restrictions, two were medically separated for non-hip conditions, and two were medically separated for a hip condition. The average Veteran Affairs (VA) disability score related to hip pathology in patients referred to MEB was 16% (range 0-40%). Conclusion: This is the first study to look at the PAO in active duty military service members. In patients with symptomatic acetabular dysplasia, PAO may provide an opportunity to relieve preoperative duty restrictions and allow for continued military service. Further study with the inclusion of patient reported outcomes are necessary assess the impact of the procedure in this active patient population.

scholarly journals Sensitivity of Ice Storms in the Southeastern United States to Atlantic SST—Insights from a Case Study of the December 2002 Storm

2006 ◽  
Vol 134 (5) ◽  
pp. 1454-1464 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renato Ramos da Silva ◽  
Gil Bohrer ◽  
David Werth ◽  
Martin J. Otte ◽  
Roni Avissar
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Surface Temperature ◽  
Southeastern United States ◽  
Atmospheric Modeling ◽  
Ice Storm ◽  
Freezing Rain ◽  
Western Atlantic ◽  
Ice Storms ◽  
Meteorological Observations ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Meteorological observations and model simulations are used to show that the catastrophic ice storm of 4–5 December 2002 in the southeastern United States resulted from the combination of a classic winter storm and a warm sea surface temperature (SST) anomaly in the western Atlantic Ocean. At the time of the storm, observations show that the Atlantic SST near the southeastern U.S. coast was 1.0°–1.5°C warmer than its multiyear mean. The impact of this anomalous SST on the ice accumulation of the ice storm was evaluated with the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System. The model shows that a warmer ocean leads to the conversion of more snow into freezing rain while not significantly affecting the inland surface temperature. Conversely, a cooler ocean produces mostly snowfall and less freezing rain. A similar trend is obtained by statistically comparing observations of ice storms in the last decade with weekly mean Atlantic SSTs. The SST during an ice storm is significantly and positively correlated with a deeper and warmer melting layer.

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