Improving equality in healthcare for people with learning disabilities: a joint working approach between housing and hospital

2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (3/4) ◽  
pp. 90-98
Author(s):  
Alice Owen
Keyword(s):  
Learning Disabilities ◽  
Care Provider ◽  
Housing Association ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The People ◽  
Key Stakeholders ◽  
Ongoing Work ◽  
Patient Pathways

Purpose The current project aims to draft an NHS and care provider joint working protocol for patients with learning disabilities as they transition between care and NHS hospital services. The purpose of this paper is to present the rationale behind a joint working protocol and the progress of the project to date. Design/methodology/approach Working in partnership, Basildon University Hospital and Estuary Housing Association have sought to investigate the experiences in hospital of the people they support with learning disabilities. This has involved ongoing work examining patient pathways from both a hospital and care provider perspective as well as engaging in discussions with key stakeholders. It is hoped that these insights will feed into recommendations to form the joint working protocol. Findings Current findings are limited as this paper presents an interim report on an ongoing project. Initial findings around positive joint working practices are detailed. An emerging recommendation around improved information sharing between health and care provider in acute hospital settings is also discussed. Originality/value It is hoped that the project will improve experiences of people with learning disabilities in hospital locally, while inspiring other hospitals and care providers to adopt a joint working approach at a wider level.

Commentary on “Diabetes and people with learning disabilities: issues for policy, practice and education”

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brianne Redquest ◽  
Yona Lunsky
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Learning Disabilities ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Diabetes Care ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Family Carers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Policy Practice

Purpose There has been an increase in research exploring the area of intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and diabetes. Despite being described as instrumental to diabetes care for people with IDD, the role and experiences of family carers, such as parents and siblings, are often neglected in this research. However, it is clear that family carers do not feel that they have sufficient knowledge about diabetes. The purpose of this commentary is to extend the content from “Diabetes and people with learning disabilities: Issues for policy, practice, and education (Maine et al., 2020)” and discuss how family carers can feel better supported when caring for someone with IDD and diabetes. Design/methodology/approach This commentary discusses specific efforts such as STOP diabetes, DESMOND-ID and OK-diabetes for people with IDD including family carers. Encouragement is given for health care providers to recommend such programmes to people with IDD and their family carers. It is also suggested that health care providers involve family carers in diabetes care planning and implementation for people with IDD. Findings It is hoped that if changes are made to current diabetes practices and more research with family carers is conducted, diabetes prevention and management for people with IDD will be more successful and family carers can feel more confident in providing support to their loved ones. Originality/value Research exploring the role of family carers in diabetes care for people with IDD and diabetes is very limited. This commentary makes recommendations to help family carers feel better supported in their role. It also provides areas for future research.

Eye and vision problems associated with learning disabilities

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 126-134
Author(s):  
J. Margaret Woodhouse
Keyword(s):  
Learning Disabilities ◽  
Visual Impairment ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Learning Opportunities ◽  
Refractive Errors ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The People ◽  
Eye Problems ◽  
Visual Problems ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to educate professionals, families and supporters about the importance of ensuring regular eye examinations for the people with learning disabilities. Design/methodology/approach This is a general review of the type and prevalence of visual problems of which people with learning disabilities are most at risk. Findings Eye problems in people with learning disabilities are common but are often over-looked. Practical implications Uncorrected refractive errors mean that people are unnecessarily denied experiences and learning opportunities. Spectacles are a simple solution, and most people can be supported to wear them. Cataracts and keratoconus are conditions that can lead to visual impairment, but which are now treatable and learning disabilities should not be a contra-indication to treatment. Untreatable eye conditions mean lifelong visual impairment, but if this is not recognised, care may be inappropriate or the learning disability assumed to be greater than it is. Originality/value The review describes how families and supporters can organise successful eye examinations, to ensure that no-one with learning disabilities has an eye condition that is not managed appropriately.

Finding the sparkle: storytelling in the lives of people with learning disabilities

2015 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola Grove
Keyword(s):  
Learning Disabilities ◽  
Social Relationships ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Independent Research ◽  
Self Advocacy ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Subjective Perceptions ◽  
The People ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The ability to tell a story, whether personal or fictional, is a skill which can enable people to build a sense of identity, friendship, community and self-advocacy. However, narrative is rarely prioritised in services. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – This paper describes two approaches to the development of storytelling for people with learning disabilities used by the charity Openstorytellers. Reflections from interviews are used to illustrate how individuals view their experiences as storytellers, and the benefits that come in the wake of learning to tell and listen to stories. Findings – Storytelling led to an increased sense of purpose, confidence, communication and value. The findings are based on subjective perceptions by the people concerned, and were not obtained through independent research. However, they represent a first step towards evaluating the impact of multidimensional interventions. Practical implications – Services need to consider how they enable their members to participate actively in the sharing of experience, and imaginative and creative activities. Storytelling, both mythic and personal, can help to develop social relationships and active participation in one's community. Originality/value – Both of the approaches described here (Learning to Tell; StorysharingTM) are innovative approaches which are new in the field of learning disabilities.

scholarly journals The identity and role of stakeholders in the medical tourism industry: state of the art

2020 ◽  
Vol 75 (3) ◽  
pp. 559-574 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed Kamassi ◽  
Noor Hazilah Abd Manaf ◽  
Azura Omar
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Medical Tourism ◽  
Tourism Development ◽  
Tourism Industry ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Key Stakeholders

Purpose This paper aims to address and identify the major stakeholders in the medical tourism industry, based on their participation in medical tourism activities and their support for medical tourism development. Design/methodology/approach This paper systematically reviews the content of medical tourism studies from literature to identify key stakeholders and address the roles they play in the medical tourism industry. Findings This study shows that the key stakeholders in the medical tourism industry are eight, namely, medical tourists, health-care providers, government agencies, facilitators, accreditation and credentialing bodies, health-care marketers, insurance providers and infrastructure and facilities. These stakeholders strongly influence medical tourists’ decision-making process in seeking medical treatment abroad. Besides, a successful medical tourism development depends greatly on the excellent partnership between all stakeholders. Practical implications This paper sheds light on the crucial role of these stakeholders that can be an important consideration in medical tourists’ decision-making process and industry growth. The study can facilitate policymakers in designing and developing policies to improve medical tourism practices. Originality/value This paper expands the knowledge about medical tourism literature by identifying and explaining the significant role of each stakeholder in the industry. The results of this paper are quite revealing to all practitioners in terms of the potential strategies and medical tourism growth. The study establishes a foundation for future medical tourism research in the rapidly growing industry.

scholarly journals Development and validation of an algorithm using health administrative data to define patient attachment to primary care providers

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Liisa Jaakkimainen ◽  
Imaan Bayoumi ◽  
Richard H. Glazier ◽  
Kamila Premji ◽  
Tara Kiran ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Administrative Data ◽  
Care Provider ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Reference Standard ◽  
Health Administrative Data ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Primary Care Access ◽  
Care Access

PurposeThe authors developed and validated an algorithm using health administrative data to identify patients who are attached or uncertainly attached to a primary care provider (PCP) using patient responses to a survey conducted in Ontario, Canada.Design/methodology/approachThe authors conducted a validation study using as a reference standard respondents to a community-based survey who indicated they did or did not have a PCP. The authors developed and tested health administrative algorithms against this reference standard. The authors calculated the sensitivity, specificity positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) on the final patient attachment algorithm. The authors then applied the attachment algorithm to the 2017 Ontario population.FindingsThe patient attachment algorithm had an excellent sensitivity (90.5%) and PPV (96.8%), though modest specificity (46.1%) and a low NPV (21.3%). This means that the algorithm assigned survey respondents as being attached to a PCP and when in fact they said they had a PCP, yet a significant proportion of those found to be uncertainly attached had indicated they did have a PCP. In 2017, most people in Ontario, Canada (85.4%) were attached to a PCP but 14.6% were uncertainly attached.Research limitations/implicationsAdministrative data for nurse practitioner's encounters and other interprofessional care providers are not currently available. The authors also cannot separately identify primary care visits conducted in walk in clinics using our health administrative data. Finally, the definition of hospital-based healthcare use did not include outpatient specialty care.Practical implicationsUncertain attachment to a primary health care provider is a recurrent problem that results in inequitable access in health services delivery. Providing annual reports on uncertainly attached patients can help evaluate primary care system changes developed to improve access. This algorithm can be used by health care planners and policy makers to examine the geographic variability and time trends of the uncertainly attached population to inform the development of programs to improve primary care access.Social implicationsAs primary care is an essential component of a person's medical home, identifying regions or high need populations that have higher levels of uncertainly attached patients will help target programs to support their primary care access and needs. Furthermore, this approach will be useful in future research to determine the health impacts of uncertain attachment to primary care, especially in view of a growing body of the literature highlighting the importance of primary care continuity.Originality/valueThis patient attachment algorithm is the first to use existing health administrative data validated with responses from a patient survey. Using patient surveys alone to assess attachment levels is expensive and time consuming to complete. They can also be subject to poor response rates and recall bias. Utilizing existing health administrative data provides more accurate, timely estimates of patient attachment for everyone in the population.

National Instruments measures success by employee satisfaction

2014 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 5-7
Keyword(s):  
Employee Satisfaction ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The People ◽  
Key Stakeholders ◽  
Development Incentives ◽  
A Company ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describes how a company with more than 7,000 employees around the world has earned international plaudits for retaining the feel of a family firm. Design/methodology/approach – This paper examines why the people strategy is so important at National Instruments and what this means in practice. Findings – This paper attributes the success of the company to its policies on recruitment, retention, employee development, incentives, benefits and communications. Practical implications – The role of the firm’s 100-year plan in guiding company decisions has been highlighted. It focuses on a long-term commitment to key stakeholders and supports the firm’s unwavering investment in its people. Social implications – The close involvement of the company in the communities where it is based and, in particular, its education initiatives aimed at producing more top-class scientists has been highlighted. Originality/value – This paper provides the inside story of the people strategy at a firm named among the USA’s 100 Best Companies for the 15th consecutive year.

Older carers of people with learning disabilities: their experiences with local authority assessment processes and personnel

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel Forrester-Jones
Keyword(s):  
Learning Disabilities ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Social Care ◽  
Local Authority ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Needs Assessments ◽  
High Level ◽  
Funding Cuts

Purpose Amongst other actions the Care Act 2014 emphasised the duties of local authorities (LA) to assess the needs of carers, as well as those they care for and to meet all eligible needs for support. This paper aims to report the findings of a study which explored the experiences of older carers of people with learning disabilities as they navigated LA assessment processes and personnel. Design/methodology/approach Using an explorative design, 21 older carers were interviewed about their experiences. Interview transcripts were qualitatively analysed. Findings Three main themes were identified, namely, needs assessments as ambitions, not outcomes; the effects of funding-cuts projected onto carers; and challenges with social care personnel. Originality/value The study findings attracted a high level of engagement with public awareness and mainstream news and social media. The LA also immediately responded with interventions to address some of the findings, including carer “drop-in” sessions. They are also adapting their carer’s needs assessment processes as a result of the study. It is hoped that the issues raised will be of interest to other social care providers and practitioners.

Designing living environments with adults with autism

2014 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 63-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Lowe ◽  
K. Gaudion ◽  
C. McGinley ◽  
Alex Kew
Keyword(s):  
Learning Disabilities ◽  
Physical Environment ◽  
Design Research ◽  
Special Interests ◽  
Adults With Autism ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Housing Design ◽  
The People ◽  
Space Objects ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore how a people-centred, design-led approach to the different needs and aspirations of adults with autism could help inform the design of space, objects and activities for individuals in their own homes to enhance everyday life experiences. There are dozens of studies that have reported the health benefits associated with good design and the Kingwood Trust set out to research what that might mean for the adults with autism it supports. Design/methodology/approach – The paper describes three projects: Housing Design, Garden Design and Exploring Sensory Preferences whose design interventions were realised through a process of design ethnography, to include and work with the people that Kingwood support who have limited verbal speech and learning disabilities. Participatory observation, co-design workshops, interviews, visual probes and mapping tools were created to gather insights about how a person perceives and engages with the physical environment, with a particular focus on their sensory sensitivities and special interests. Findings – The outcome of the project is a holistic, design-led approach to identifying the sensory preferences and special interests of adults with autism to inform the design of residential accommodation. A second project will be published at a later date, which will test and evaluate the effectiveness of the design interventions described in this paper as part of a PhD by practice supported by Kingwood Trust. Originality/value – Autistic adults with limited verbal speech and additional learning disabilities, are often excluded from design research. This paper bridges this gap by selecting and adapting design methods that invite the people that Kingwood support to be active participants within the design process. The revised DSM-5 is an important milestone that puts the sensory environment back onto the roadmap within autism research, however the relationship between people with autism and the physical environment is a relatively under-researched area. This paper bridges this gap in research and illustrates how an autistic person's interaction and reaction to their home environment, can create understanding, tangible insights and clues to inform the design and adaptation of environments to reduce triggers of anxiety, making them more comfortable, enjoyable and meaningful for that person.

כסתות, מספחות and נפשות (Ezek 13:17–23)

2020 ◽  
Vol 132 (2) ◽  
pp. 301-305
Author(s):  
Daewook Kim
Keyword(s):  
Human Beings ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Conceptual Connection ◽  
The People ◽  
The Dead

AbstractThe expression נפשות in Ezekiel 13 refers to two different meanings: (living) human beings and the spirits of the dead. The words כסתות and מספחות seem to refer to the paraphernalia involved in the women’s practice of necromancy and in the fall of the people, respectively. The expression נפשות is employed as antanaclasis to establish a conceptual connection between necromancy and ruin.

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