Hard-Earned Wisdom

The Group ◽  
2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald L. Rosenstein ◽  
Justin M. Yopp
Keyword(s):  
Terminal Illness ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Advanced Lung Cancer ◽  
Single Fathers ◽  
Healthcare Organizations ◽  
Entire Family ◽  
Non Profit ◽  
Personal Connection ◽  
The Family ◽  
Seriously Ill

In 1994, Kenneth Schwartz, a forty-year-old healthcare attorney from Boston, was diagnosed with advanced lung cancer. At different times during his progressive illness, he was deeply moved by aspects of his care that were less strictly medical or technical: a calming visit from a nurse prior to surgery; a personal connection with an anesthesiology resident from his neighborhood; and, toward the end of his life, the kindness and perspective provided by his oncologist. Shortly before his death, Mr. Schwartz founded a non-profit organization to promote the kind of compassionate care that had meant so much to him. Two decades later, the Schwartz Center for Compassionate Healthcare reaches millions of patients and hundreds of thousands of caregivers to realize its founder’s vision of more humane care for the seriously ill. A cornerstone of the Center’s work is the Schwartz Rounds program, which brings healthcare providers from multiple disciplines together for frank discussions about the emotional and psychosocial challenges of caring for patients. More than five hundred healthcare organizations around the world host these ongoing, non-traditional conferences. A few years ago, the organizer of Schwartz Rounds at UNC invited us to lead an upcoming conference. She was aware of our work with the single fathers support group and wanted us to address the challenges that spouses face when caring for a partner with a terminal illness. At the next group meeting, we mentioned this request to the men and asked them for their advice. Each father had been an eyewitness to the end of his wife’s life and knew well how that heartbreaking time had impacted his entire family. Not surprisingly, they had a lot to say about end-of-life care and how it could be improved. Karl was particularly passionate. “I’ve actually thought about this a lot since Susan died. Obviously, the patient is the focus, but I think it’s also important for doctors to appreciate what the family goes through—especially when there are kids at home and the spouse is a co-parent. That dynamic alone influences so many things.”

Survey of Cloud Computing in Healthcare Sector

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (7) ◽  
pp. 337
Author(s):  
S. Karthiga Devi ◽  
B. Arputhamary
Keyword(s):  
Cloud Computing ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
High Volume ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Healthcare Sector ◽  
Cloud Infrastructure ◽  
Healthcare Organizations ◽  
Privacy And Security ◽  
Healthcare Data ◽  
Number Of Patients

Today the volume of healthcare data generated increased rapidly because of the number of patients in each hospital increasing.  These data are most important for decision making and delivering the best care for patients. Healthcare providers are now faced with collecting, managing, storing and securing huge amounts of sensitive protected health information. As a result, an increasing number of healthcare organizations are turning to cloud based services. Cloud computing offers a viable, secure alternative to premise based healthcare solutions. The infrastructure of Cloud is characterized by a high volume storage and a high throughput. The privacy and security are the two most important concerns in cloud-based healthcare services. Healthcare organization should have electronic medical records in order to use the cloud infrastructure. This paper surveys the challenges of cloud in healthcare and benefits of cloud techniques in health care industries.

INCREASING ADOPTION OFSOCIAL MEDIA IN HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATIONS : OPPORTUNITIES AND CONCERNS

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharafat Hussain ◽  
Prof. Mohd. Abdul Azeem
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Social Networking ◽  
Health Care Organizations ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Healthcare Organizations ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
Social Media Presence ◽  
Use Of Social Media

Adoption of social media amongst health care organizations is thriving. Healthcare providers have begun to connect with patients via social media. While some healthcare organizations have taken the initiative, numerous others are attempting to comprehend this new medium of opportunity. These organizations are finding that social networking can be an effective way to monitor brand, connecting with patients, community, and patient education and acquiring new talent. This study is conducted to identify the purpose of using social media, concerns, policy and its implementation and the overall experience of healthcare organizations with social media. To collect first hand data, online questionnaire was sent via LinkedIn to 400 US healthcare organizations and representatives out of which 117 responded and were taken further for analsysis. The results of this study confirm the thriving adoption, increased opportunities and cautious use of social media by healthcare organizations. The potential benefits present outweigh the risk and concerns associated with it. Study concluded that social media presence will continue to grow into the future and the field of healthcare is no exception.

scholarly journals Internet of things issues related to psychiatry

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott Monteith ◽  
Tasha Glenn ◽  
John Geddes ◽  
Emanuel Severus ◽  
Peter C. Whybrow ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Internet Of Things ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Emotional Reactions ◽  
The Body ◽  
Psychiatric Research ◽  
Main Body ◽  
Personal Safety ◽  
Healthcare Organizations ◽  
Iot Devices

Abstract Background Internet of Things (IoT) devices for remote monitoring, diagnosis, and treatment are widely viewed as an important future direction for medicine, including for bipolar disorder and other mental illness. The number of smart, connected devices is expanding rapidly. IoT devices are being introduced in all aspects of everyday life, including devices in the home and wearables on the body. IoT devices are increasingly used in psychiatric research, and in the future may help to detect emotional reactions, mood states, stress, and cognitive abilities. This narrative review discusses some of the important fundamental issues related to the rapid growth of IoT devices. Main body Articles were searched between December 2019 and February 2020. Topics discussed include background on the growth of IoT, the security, safety and privacy issues related to IoT devices, and the new roles in the IoT economy for manufacturers, patients, and healthcare organizations. Conclusions The use of IoT devices will increase throughout psychiatry. The scale, complexity and passive nature of data collection with IoT devices presents unique challenges related to security, privacy and personal safety. While the IoT offers many potential benefits, there are risks associated with IoT devices, and from the connectivity between patients, healthcare providers, and device makers. Security, privacy and personal safety issues related to IoT devices are changing the roles of manufacturers, patients, physicians and healthcare IT organizations. Effective and safe use of IoT devices in psychiatry requires an understanding of these changes.

Coinfection of Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) Nymphs With Babesia spp. (Piroplasmida: Babesiidae) and Borrelia burgdorferi (Spirochaetales: Spirochaetaceae) in Wisconsin

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
T E Zembsch ◽  
X Lee ◽  
G M Bron ◽  
L C Bartholomay ◽  
S M Paskewitz
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Borrelia Burgdorferi ◽  
Ixodes Scapularis ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Sensu Stricto ◽  
Babesia Microti ◽  
Tick Bites ◽  
The Family ◽  
Babesia Spp

Abstract Borrelia burgdorferi, the spirochete that causes Lyme disease, is endemic and widespread in Wisconsin. Research in the northeastern United States has revealed a positive association between Babesia microti, the main pathogen that causes babesiosis in humans, and Bo. burgdorferi in humans and in ticks. This study was conducted to examine associations between the disease agents in the Upper midwestern United States. Ixodes scapularis Say nymphs (N = 2,858) collected between 2015 and 2017 from nine locations in Wisconsin were tested for Babesia spp. and Borrelia spp. using real-time PCR. Two species of Babesia were detected; Ba. microti and Babesia odocoilei (a parasite of members of the family Cervidae). Prevalence of infection at the nine locations ranged from 0 to 13% for Ba. microti, 11 to 31% for Bo. burgdorferi sensu stricto, and 5.7 to 26% for Ba. odocoilei. Coinfection of nymphs with Bo. burgdorferi and Ba. odocoilei was detected in eight of the nine locations and significant positive associations were observed in two of the eight locations. The prevalence of nymphal coinfection with both and Bo. burgdorferi and Ba. microti ranged from 0.81 to 6.5%. These two pathogens were significantly positively associated in one of the five locations where both pathogens were detected. In the other four locations, the observed prevalence of coinfection was higher than expected in all but one site-year. Clinics and healthcare providers should be aware of the association between Ba. microti and Bo. burgdorferi pathogens when treating patients who report tick bites.

A Global Socio-economic-medico-legal Model for the Sustainability of Longitudinal Electronic Health Records

2006 ◽  
Vol 45 (03) ◽  
pp. 240-245 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Shabo
Keyword(s):  
Electronic Health Records ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Financial Assets ◽  
Healthcare Organizations ◽  
Health Records ◽  
Record Keeping ◽  
Proposed Model ◽  
Legal Model ◽  
Electronic Health

Summary Objectives: This paper pursues the challenge of sustaining lifetime electronic health records (EHRs) based on a comprehensive socio-economic-medico-legal model. The notion of a lifetime EHR extends the emerging concept of a longitudinal and cross-institutional EHR and is invaluable information for increasing patient safety and quality of care. Methods: The challenge is how to compile and sustain a coherent EHR across the lifetime of an individual. Several existing and hypothetical models are described, analyzed and compared in an attempt to suggest a preferred approach. Results: The vision is that lifetime EHRs should be sustained by new players in the healthcare arena, who will function as independent health record banks (IHRBs). Multiple competing IHRBs would be established and regulated following preemptive legislation. They should be neither owned by healthcare providers nor by health insurer/payers or government agencies. The new legislation should also stipulate that the records located in these banks be considered the medico-legal copies of an individual’s records, and that healthcare providers no longer serve as the legal record keepers. Conclusions: The proposed model is not centered on any of the current players in the field; instead, it is focussed on the objective service of sustaining individual EHRs, much like financial banks maintain and manage financial assets. This revolutionary structure provides two main benefits: 1) Healthcare organizations will be able to cut the costs of long-term record keeping, and 2) healthcare providers will be able to provide better care based on the availability of a lifelong EHR of their new patients.

scholarly journals WhatsApp Tele-Medicine – usage patterns and physicians views on the platform

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward Barayev ◽  
Omri Shental ◽  
Dotan Yaari ◽  
Elchanan Zloczower ◽  
Itai Shemesh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Instant Messaging ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Smartphone Application ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Healthcare Organizations ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Patient Confidentiality ◽  
Medical Specialists ◽  
Usage Patterns

Abstract Background Telemedicine has become an integral part of health care delivery in recent years. One of the leading applications for this use is WhatsApp — a free smartphone application that allows instant messaging with pictures and videos. This study analyzed the emerging role of WhatsApp on reducing the need for referrals to medical specialists and to compare the views of physicians regarding WhatsApp consultations. Methods A cross-sectional study based on an anonymous web-survey was conducted among PCPs and medical specialists working in the Israel Defense Forces Medical-Corps during September and October, 2019. Results Of 201 participants, 153 were PCPs and 48 were medical specialists. 86.9 % of PCPs and 86.5 % of specialists used WhatsApp every day in professional settings. Added workload, potential breaching of patient confidentiality and lack of full documentation of consultations were the main concerns among physicians using the application. 60.7 % of PCPs and 95.7 % of specialists stated that these consultations have reduced the need for in-person appointments at least once a week. Conclusions In times of COVID-19 that require social distancing, WhatsApp provides a simple, readily available platform for consultations between healthcare providers, even to the extent of rendering some in-person appointments unnecessary. Healthcare organizations should address the matters troubling healthcare providers, mainly patient confidentiality and lack of documentation in patients’ medical records, while providing adequate compensation for those providing the service during and after work hours.

Protective preparation: a process central to family caregivers of persons with mild cognitive impairment

2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 375-384 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ching-Lin Wang ◽  
Li-Min Kuo ◽  
Yi-Chen Chiu ◽  
Hsiu-Li Huang ◽  
Huei-Ling Huang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Family Caregivers ◽  
Caregiver Burden ◽  
Family Caregiving ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Theory Approach ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
The Family ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACTBackground:To develop a theoretical model explaining the longitudinal changes in the caregiving process for family caregivers of persons with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in Taiwan.Methods:A longitudinal, grounded theory approach using in-depth face-to-face interviews and an open-ended interview guide. We conducted 42 interviews over a two-year period; each participant was interviewed at least once every six months. All participants were interviewed in their home. The participants total of 13 family caregivers of persons with MCI.Results:One core theme emerged: “protective preparation.” This reflected the family caregiving process of preparation for a further decline in cognitive function, and protection from the impact of low self-esteem, accidents, and symptoms of comorbidities for the family member with MCI. Protective preparation contained three components: ambivalent normalization, vigilant preparation, and protective management.Conclusions:Interventions to help family caregivers manage the changes in persons with MCI can reduce caregiver burden. Our findings could provide a knowledge base for use by healthcare providers to develop and implement strategies to reduce caregiver burden for family caregivers of persons with MCI.

IMPACT OF CYSTIC FIBROSIS ON FAMILY FUNCTIONING

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1964 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-71
Author(s):  
Juanita Turk
Keyword(s):  
Cystic Fibrosis ◽  
Family Relationships ◽  
Psychological Functioning ◽  
Sick Child ◽  
The Other ◽  
Family Needs ◽  
Entire Family ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Family ◽  
Family Service Agencies

This study was undertaken to determine whether families of children with cystic fibrosis were experiencing difficulties in meeting family needs and in maintaining normal family relationships. It was found that families were not deprived of the essentials of living, but they were not able to maintain their usual pattern of family relationships. Time and energy precluded carrying on activities with each other and with the children; and there was breakdown in their ability to communicate adequately between themselves and the children regarding important family issues. In order to preserve the family as a functioning unit, someone has to be concerned about the entire family. Of necessity, the family has focused on the sick child, leaving the physician, the nurse, the social worker and/or the social agencies to help the family refocus on its total situation, rather than just a part of it. Traditionally, the mother takes care of the sick child. It is she who takes the child to the doctor's office and is responsible for carrying out his recommendations. In the care of a CF child, she assumes a heavy burden and frequently is fatigued from this responsibility. Because she is so tired and so occupied, she may misunderstand or distort what she is told by the physician, and may not be able to tell her husband or the children what they need to know in order to participate in family activities and in the care of the CF child. This situation can easily lead to misunderstanding and tension within the family. To avoid this, both parents could be encouraged, at some point, to come together to the physician's office for discussion. Such discussions could lead to more consideration and appreciation being given to each other. It might lessen the tendency for each to blame the other for the child's illness and could avoid the feeling voiced by one mother, "I would like to blow him out of his chair so that he would help me and understand what I go through." We also need to realize that the CF child is frequently aware of the demands he makes on the family. If these demands are not discussed freely, then everyone is caught in a "web of silence" revolving around his own feelings of frustration. This creates a burden for everyone, including the CF child, and if not discussed it can impair the psychological functioning of all members. The CF child needs to be encouraged to participate in his own care program and to assume some responsibilities for himself. He should not reach the age of seven being unable to tie his own shoes or dress himself, as has been observed in some CF children. It would seem feasible, therefore, that the CF child should have an awareness of what is wrong with him, and what his abilities and limitations are. The other siblings should also be given as much explanation as possible because they, too, are part of the family and attention and care is being diverted from them. This explanation could make for more understanding on the sibling's part. While it would still be difficult for him to accept some of the decisions made (such as why the parents could not get home from the hospital in order for him to use the family car for a senior prom), he would know that it was the situation that was causing the decrease in attention and care rather than rejection of him by the parents. In order to give these families as much assistance as possible, the community's resources should be utilized. Frequently, the parents are unaware of these or need encouragement to avail themselves of services. The homemaker service or visiting nurse service could free the family from constant care; the local youth program could be helpful to the siblings in the family, and Family Service Agencies could be used for counseling on family problems. In summary, this study points up the need for the total family to have an understanding and awareness of CF and to share such knowledge with one another; that all problems of the family have to be considered and not just those of the CF child; and that help from other professional people should be utilized along with sources of the community.

scholarly journals Turismo de células madre

2012 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
José Luis Pérez Requejo ◽  
Justo Aznar Lucea
Keyword(s):  
Medical Tourism ◽  
Family Doctor ◽  
Medical Support ◽  
Sono Stati ◽  
Advanced Therapy ◽  
The Family ◽  
Scientific Papers ◽  
Seriously Ill Patients ◽  
To Receive ◽  
Seriously Ill

Mai prima d’ora i pazienti gravemente malati o con malattie incurabili o croniche, sono stati così esposti a organizzazioni mediche senza scrupoli, che approfittando del loro logico disagio e della loro preoccupazione promettono cure miracolose e trattamenti, facendo pagare enormi somme di denaro per procedure senza alcuna garanzia, alcun reale beneficio e, peggio ancora, con gravi rischi per la salute. Questo articolo discute alcuni casi di pazienti che hanno pagato con la loro salute, spesso irrimediabilmente, o in maniera catastrofica, gli effetti di terapie teoricamente avanzate con cellule staminali di alcuni centri. Ci si è riferiti a diversi paesi che, in tempi anche non remoti, offrono e praticano qualcuno di questi trattamenti, il più delle volte attraverso strategie di marketing dirette e aggressive per i pazienti o le loro famiglie, mostrando reale o fittizi rapporti relativi ad altri pazienti, ma senza previ studi scientifici che avvalorino i risultati dei presunti benefici. In questo articolo, discutiamo alcuni utili suggerimenti e linee guida internazionali per riconoscerli ed evitarli. Inoltre, abbiamo discusso in dettaglio le ragioni specifiche per cui la maggior parte dei medici e clinici sollevino dei dubbi sulla competenza e le ragioni etiche di questi centri e scoraggino i viaggi di questo “turismo medico”. È sempre consigliabile chiedere il consiglio del medico di famiglia o specialista, prima della decisione dei pazienti di ricevere trattamenti dubbi, con la certezza che il paziente avrà sempre la sua comprensione e il supporto emotivo e medico. ---------- Never before seriously ill patients with chronic or incurable diseases have been so exposed to unscrupulous medical organizations that, taking advantage of their logical distress and worry, promise miracle cures and treatments and charge them huge amounts of money for procedures with no guarantee, no real benefits and, even worse, with serious risks to their health. This paper discusses some cases of patients who paid with their health, often irreparably, or catastrophically, the effects of supposedly advanced therapy centers with stem cells. Several countries are mentioned, not always as remote, which offer and practice any of these treatments, most often by direct and aggressive marketing to patients or their families, showing real or fictional accounts of other patients, but without the previous studies and scientific papers that endorse their supposed beneficial results. In this article we discuss some useful hints and international guidelines to recognize and avoid them. Also, we discussed in detail the specific reasons why most doctors and clinics doubt about the competence and ethical reasons of these centers and discourage those “medical tourism” trips. It is always advisable to seek the advice of the family doctor or specialist in charge, before the patients decision to receive dubious treatments, with the assurance that, decide what the patient decide, they will have always his understanding and his emotional and medical support.

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