Short-Term Surgical Missions: Role of Pharmacist Volunteers

2020 ◽  
pp. 089719002093429
Author(s):  
Anne M. McDonnell ◽  
Megan E. Barra ◽  
Luis Alcantara Abreu ◽  
Thomas S. Thornhill ◽  
Jeffrey N. Katz ◽  
...  

Health care professionals often participate in short-term surgical missions in underserved areas of the world. Surgical missions often rely on the use of medications to provide health care to these underserved areas in patients with multiple comorbid conditions. The direct role a pharmacist may have in surgical missions is not well described in the literature; however, numerous opportunities exist for pharmacist involvement to improve patient care and operational processes throughout medication planning and delivery of surgical missions. Pharmacists have specialized knowledge in medication acquisition, preparation, and distribution that result in a unique position to contribute positively to the mission’s clinical and operational dynamics. Pharmacists may assist in various activities such as medication ordering, accrual, purchasing and preparing during the surgical mission. Pharmacists may also provide clinical support and offer alternative medications in the setting of drug intolerance or allergies. In 2008, Operation Walk Boston, a short-term surgical mission was established to provide hip and knee joint replacements to patients in the Dominican Republic. Pharmacists and pharmacy residents play a crucial role as members of this surgical mission. Based on our experience, this article aims to describe the evolving role of pharmacists as a member of a surgical mission.

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelly Lien ◽  
Jennifer Kays-Sommer ◽  
Alexandra Bite ◽  
Zamin Ladha ◽  
Rhiana Roeper ◽  
...  

Phenomenon: Satellite campuses of medical schools in Canada introduce smaller communities to new medical learners. Non-physician health care professionals (NPHCPs) in regional hospitals may have had little prior exposure to learners. Lack of clarity regarding the role of the medical student is a barrier that hinders interprofessional collaboration. The purpose of this project was to examine the educational relationship between students and NPHCPs in regional hospitals. Approach: Surveys were distributed to NPHCPs of various disciplines at two community hospitals in Waterloo Region. A second survey was distributed to medical students attending a satellite medical campus of McMaster University.   Findings: Surveys completed by 141 NPHCPs identified the following themes: frequent student interaction, no orientation to students, uncertainty of roles, willingness to teach, and barriers to teaching. Student surveys demonstrated frequent interactions, lack of familiarity of their role by NPHCPs at regional hospitals, desire to learn from NPHCPs, and specific teachable procedures.  Insights: NPHCPs and medical students agree that interprofessional medical education can improve patient care, communication and the quality of education. While there is interest in involving NPHCPs in teaching, orienting NPHCPs to the roles of students in regional hospitals may improve relationships and allow informal teaching opportunities.   Funding: This work was supported by the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, McMaster University.


Author(s):  
Tinne Dilles ◽  
Jana Heczkova ◽  
Styliani Tziaferi ◽  
Ann Karin Helgesen ◽  
Vigdis Abrahamsen Grøndahl ◽  
...  

Pharmaceutical care necessitates significant efforts from patients, informal caregivers, the interprofessional team of health care professionals and health care system administrators. Collaboration, mutual respect and agreement amongst all stakeholders regarding responsibilities throughout the complex process of pharmaceutical care is needed before patients can take full advantage of modern medicine. Based on the literature and policy documents, in this position paper, we reflect on opportunities for integrated evidence-based pharmaceutical care to improve care quality and patient outcomes from a nursing perspective. Despite the consensus that interprofessional collaboration is essential, in clinical practice, research, education and policy-making challenges are often not addressed interprofessionally. This paper concludes with specific advises to move towards the implementation of more interprofessional, evidence-based pharmaceutical care.


2012 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 293-301 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles H. Tator

There has been a remarkable increase in the past 10 years in the awareness of concussion in the sports and recreation communities. Just as sport participants, their families, coaches, trainers, and sports organizations now know more about concussions, health care professionals are also better prepared to diagnose and manage concussions. As has been stated in the formal articles in this special issue on sport-related concussion, education about concussion is one of the most important aspects of concussion prevention, with the others being data collection, program evaluation, improved engineering, and introduction and enforcement of rules. Unfortunately, the incidence of concussion appears to be rising in many sports and thus, additional sports-specific strategies are required to reduce the incidence, short-term effects, and long term consequences of concussion. Enhanced educational strategies are required to ensure that individual participants, sports organizations, and health care professionals recognize concussions and manage them proficiently according to internationally recognized guidelines. Therefore, this paper serves as a “brief report” on a few important aspects of concussion education and prevention.


Author(s):  
Alfonso M. Cueto-Manzano ◽  
Héctor R. Martínez-Ramírez ◽  
Laura Cortés-Sanabria ◽  
Enrique Rojas-Campos

2019 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diana Wu ◽  
Lamercie Saint-Hilaire ◽  
Andrew Pineda ◽  
Danielle Hessler ◽  
George W. Saba ◽  
...  

Background and Objectives: Health professionals increasingly recognize the role that social determinants play in health disparities. However, little focus is placed on how health care professionals themselves contribute to disparities through biased care. We have developed a curriculum based on an antioppression framework which encourages health professionals to evaluate their biases and combat health care disparities through an active process of allyship. Methods: Teaching methods emphasize skill building and include lectures, guided reflections, and facilitated discussions. Pre- and postsurveys were administered to assess participants’ confidence level to recognize unconscious bias and to be an ally to colleagues, patients, and staff. In total, we conducted 20 workshops with a total of 468 participants across multiple disciplines. Results: The survey response rate was 80%. Using a paired t-test, the mean difference in the pre- and postsurveys revealed a statistically significant improvement across all measures. Participants showed the greatest improvements (large effect size d>0.8) in their understanding of the process of allyship, their ability to describe strategies to address, assess, and recognize unconscious bias, and their knowledge of managing situations in which prejudice, power, and privilege are involved. Conclusions: Results show that an antioppression curriculum can enhance health professionals’ confidence in addressing bias in health care through allyship. For those who value social justice and equity, moving from the role of bystander to a place of awareness and solidarity allows for one’s behaviors to mirror these values. Allyship is an accessible tool that all health professionals can use in order to facilitate this process.


Author(s):  
Kathel Dunn ◽  
Joanne Gard Marshall ◽  
Amber L. Wells ◽  
Joyce E. B. Backus

Objective: This study analyzed data from a study on the value of libraries to understand the specific role that the MEDLINE database plays in relation to other information resources that are available to health care providers and its role in positively impacting patient care.Methods: A previous study on the use of health information resources for patient care obtained 16,122 responses from health care providers in 56 hospitals about how providers make decisions affecting patient care and the role of information resources in that process. Respondents indicated resources used in answering a specific clinical question from a list of 19 possible resources, including MEDLINE. Study data were examined using descriptive statistics and regression analysis to determine the number of information resources used and how they were used in combination with one another.Results: Health care professionals used 3.5 resources, on average, to aid in patient care. The 2 most frequently used resources were journals (print and online) and the MEDLINE database. Using a higher number of information resources was significantly associated with a higher probability of making changes to patient care and avoiding adverse events. MEDLINE was the most likely to be among consulted resources compared to any other information resource other than journals.Conclusions: MEDLINE is a critical clinical care tool that health care professionals use to avoid adverse events, make changes to patient care, and answer clinical questions.


CJEM ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 10 (01) ◽  
pp. 38-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathleen Brown ◽  
Sharon E. Mace ◽  
Ann M. Dietrich ◽  
Stephen Knazik ◽  
Neil E. Schamban

ABSTRACT Patient and family–centred care (PFCC) is an approach to health care that recognizes the integral role of the family and encourages mutually beneficial collaboration between the patient, family and health care professionals. Specific to the pediatric population, the literature indicates that the majority of families wish to be present for all aspects of their child's care and be involved in medical decision-making. Families who are provided with PFCC are more satisfied with their care. Integration of these processes is an essential component of quality care. This article reviews the principles of PFCC and their applicability to the pediatric patient in the emergency department; and it discusses a model for integrating PFCC that is modifiable based on existing resources.


Author(s):  
Marcos Reyes-Estrada ◽  
Nelson Varas-Díaz ◽  
Richard Parker ◽  
Mark Padilla ◽  
Sheilla Rodríguez-Madera

HIV-related stigma among nurses can impact health care services for people with HIV/AIDS (PWHA). health care professionals’ religious views can potentially foster stigmatizing attitudes. There is scarce scientific literature exploring the role of religion on HIV/AIDS stigma among nurses. This study aimed to explore the role of religion in the stigmatization of PWHA by nurses in Puerto Rico. We conducted an exploratory study using qualitative techniques. We conducted 40 in-depth interviews with nurses who provided services to PWHA. Three main factors emerged in the analysis as contributors to HIV/AIDS stigmatization: (1) nurses’ personal religious experiences, (2) religion as a rationale for HIV-related stigma, and (3) religious practices during health care delivery. The results show that religious beliefs play a role in how nurses understood HIV/AIDS and provided service. Results point toward the need for interventions that address personal religious beliefs while reducing HIV/AIDS stigma among nurses.


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