“Good Readers Make Good Doctors”: Community Readings and the Health of the Community

PMLA ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 125 (2) ◽  
pp. 426-436
Author(s):  
Amy Levin ◽  
Phoebe Stein Davis
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Sudden Change ◽  
Hospital Staff ◽  
Ambiguous Genitalia ◽  
Sex Reassignment Surgery ◽  
Sex Reassignment ◽  
Literary Interpretation ◽  
Good Readers ◽  
Staff Members

One of my best experiences as a professor of literature—one of those moments that make the whole endeavor worthwhile—occurred during a discussion of Kafka's The Metamorphosis in the visitation room of a former funeral parlor. The building had been acquired by my local hospital and converted into a meeting space with rickety metal folding tables, and it was home to my first Literature & Medicine reading and discussion group.That night, I was experimenting with a risky pairing, linking Kafka's text with an article on doctors and sex-reassignment surgery for infants born with ambiguous genitalia (Feder 294–320). As health-care professionals, members of this reading community were excited by Kafka's adeptness at conveying the array of emotions experienced by Gregor Samsa and his family, including shame, rage, helplessness, and fear at the sudden change in a loved one. The economic dilemmas of the isolated family, together with their sudden questioning of the definition of the monstrous, gained new echoes and generated fresh readings.For me as a scholar, the insights evoked by this pairing generated the same excitement and sense of discovery I experience after successfully explaining a complicated bit of literary interpretation. In turn, the Literature & Medicine programs sponsored by many state humanities councils create valuable reading communities by bringing scholars into hospitals to discuss texts about medical issues with doctors, nurses, and other employees. They offer critically important opportunities for health-care workers to talk about issues that may not arise elsewhere. For example, discussions of sex-reassignment surgery remain taboo in many hospitals, precisely because for many staff and family members the very idea of intersexuality is monstrous. On a broader basis, the effect of Gregor's change on his family echoes the consequences of the sudden disability of a family member. The pairing I presented thus allowed hospital staff members new, more sympathetic insights as well as opportunities to talk about the topics outside the press of everyday practice.—Amy Levin

scholarly journals Psychological Needs and Resources of the Staff in a Pediatric Neurosurgery Ward: A Phenomenological-Hermeneutic Study

2022 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iacopo Lanini ◽  
Debora Tringali ◽  
Rosapia Lauro Grotto
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Brain Tumors ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Pediatric Neurosurgery ◽  
Psychological Needs ◽  
Professional Activity ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Therapeutic Bond ◽  
Organizational Demands ◽  
Complex Picture

Brain tumors are a common form of solid tumors in children and, unfortunately, they are characterized by a very uncertain prognosis. The treatment of this pathology often includes one or more very invasive surgical procedures, quite often in the very first steps of the treatment. Cases of brain tumors in children represent one of the greatest challenges for health care professionals in the domain of pediatric neurosurgery. This is clearly due to the complexity of the therapeutic plan, but also to the nature of the bond that is established between the child, the parents, and the members of the staff during the often-dramatic initial phase of the illness. In this phenomenological-hermeneutic study, we explore both the emotional and organizational needs, as well as the available professional and personal resources of the staff in the Neurosurgery ward of the Meyer Children’s Hospital in Florence (Italy). The ward staff, composed of 7 surgeons, a pediatric neuro-oncologist, 12 nurses, and 4 auxiliary health care professionals, underwent in-depth interviews that were recorded (with the consensus of the participants). The recordings were then transcribed and submitted to content analysis according to COREQ standards. A complex picture of emotional as well as organizational demands emerged from the data. Shared experiences were pointed out, together with more specific and idiosyncratic contents characteristic of different professional roles. The focus of the present paper was twofold, first, we considered the needs that are overtly expressed by the staff, and then we discussed the main sources of their motivational drives. We found that the latter is mainly found in the quality of the therapeutic bond that is established with the children and the family members, together with the deep interest in one’s own professional activity and the effective complementarity and integration of the personal and professional qualities of the staff members within the multidisciplinary caring group.

scholarly journals LegionellaAntibodies in a Danish Hospital Staff with Known Occupational Exposure

2009 ◽  
Vol 2009 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Rudbeck ◽  
S. Viskum ◽  
K. Mølbak ◽  
S. A. Uldum
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Blood Donors ◽  
Reference Group ◽  
Hospital Staff ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Hospital Workers ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Antibody Titres ◽  
Antibody Levels

Although legionnaires' disease frequently is acquired in health care institutions, little is known about the occupational risk ofLegionellainfection among health care workers. The aim of the present cross-sectional study was to analyse antibody levels among exposed hospital workers and to determine the correlation between antibodies toLegionellaand self-reported symptoms. The study included 258 hospital employees and a reference group of 708 healthy blood donors. Hospital workers had a higher prevalence ofLegionellaantibody titres (1 : 128) than blood donors (odds ratio 3.4; 95% CI 2.4–4.8). Antibody levels were not higher among staff members at risk of frequent aerosol exposure than among less exposed employees. There was no consistent association between a history of influenza-like symptom complex and the presence of antibodies. The results indicate that hospital workers have a higher risk ofLegionellainfections than the general population. However, since no excess morbidity was associated with seropositivity, mostLegionellainfections may be asymptomatic.

scholarly journals Transmission of Pneumocystis carinii DNA from a Patient with P. carinii Pneumonia to Immunocompetent Contact Health Care Workers

2000 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 1536-1538 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergio L. Vargas ◽  
Carolina A. Ponce ◽  
Francis Gigliotti ◽  
Ana V. Ulloa ◽  
Susana Prieto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Large Subunit ◽  
Pneumocystis Carinii ◽  
Dna Amplification ◽  
Hospital Staff ◽  
Immunocompromised Patients ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Patients At Risk

The transmission of Pneumocystis carinii from person to person was studied by detecting P. carinii-specific DNA in prospectively obtained noninvasive deep-nasal-swab samples from a child with a documented P. carinii pneumonia (PCP), his mother, two contact health care workers, and 30 hospital staff members who did not enter the patient's room (controls). Nested-DNA amplification was done by using oligonucleotide primers designed for the gene encoding the mitochondrial large subunit rRNA of rat P. carinii(P. carinii f. sp. carinii) that amplifies all forms of P. carinii and internal primers specific for humanP. carinii (f. sp. hominis). P. carinii f. sp. hominis DNA was detected in samples from the patient and all of his contacts versus none of the 30 hospital staff members. The results, as previously shown in murine models ofP. carinii pneumonia, document that person-to-person transmission of P. carinii is possible. This observation suggests that immunocompromised patients not on PCP prophylaxis should not enter the room of a patient with PCP, and it also raises the question as to whether healthy contacts can transmit the disease to immunocompromised patients at risk.

Neonatal Hospice Program

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1982 ◽  
Vol 70 (3) ◽  
pp. 502-503
Author(s):  
Jonathan M. Whitfield ◽  
Anita Glicken ◽  
Robert Harmon ◽  
Roberta Siegel ◽  
L. Joseph Butterfield
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Neonatal Death ◽  
Neonatal Intensive Care ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Children's Hospital ◽  
Children’S Hospital

We wish to comment on the editorial by Silverman (A hospice setting for humane neonatal death, Pediatrics 69:239, 1982), which we find both insightful and timely. We feel we must take issue with some of Silverman's statements. Over the last 3½ years we have actively incorporated hospice concepts into our neonatal program at Denver Children's Hospital, creating a so-called Neonatal Hospice Program. 1. We agree that health care professionals involved in neonatal intensive care tend to be oriented to "rescue" care; however, in our own experience we have found that with adequate training not only are the staff members open, but often they are very willing to switch from a rescue to palliative mode of treatment in the appropriate circumstances.

Patient involvement in clinical ethics services: from access to participation and membership

2009 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 146-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerald Neitzke
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Clinical Ethics ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Ethics Education ◽  
Patient Involvement ◽  
Ethics Consultation ◽  
Hospital Staff ◽  
Case Consultation ◽  
The Right

Ethics consultation is a novel paradigm in European health-care institutions. In this paper, patient involvement in all clinical ethics activities is scrutinized. It is argued that patients should have access to case consultation services via clearly defined access paths. However, the right of both health-care professionals and patients indicates that patients should not always be notified of a consultation. Ethics education, another well-established function of an ethics committee, should equally be available for patients, lay people and hospital staff. Beyond access and utilization, lay membership on a clinical ethics service is a matter of transparency, equal participation, empowerment and democratization. Lay and patient perspectives will contribute to the quality of ethics services on all levels from case consultations to ethics education and policy development.

An online ASD learning module for pediatric health care professionals

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 154-162 ◽  
Author(s):  
Priscilla Burnham Riosa ◽  
Andrea Greenblatt ◽  
Barbara Muskat
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Behavior Management ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Hospital Setting ◽  
Hospital Staff ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Daily Work

Purpose Youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often have co-occurring health care needs and are likely to come into contact with several health care professionals over their lives. At the hospital, youth with ASD may require specialized supports to optimize health care experiences and for medical services to be delivered safely. At present, there is a limited understanding of how to best support this patient population. The purpose of this paper is to develop, implement, and evaluate an online training module for hospital staff about ASD. Design/methodology/approach To evaluate participants’ perceived utility of the learning tool, a post-module survey was administered. Findings In all, 102 health care professionals and other hospital staff completed the training and evaluation measure. Majority of participants had prior ASD-focused education (66 percent) and had experience working with at least 20 youths with ASD (57 percent). Majority of participants (88 percent) perceived the information from the module to be helpful in their daily work and reported that they learned something new (63 percent). Participants were interested in receiving additional ASD online module training opportunities on topics including: hands-on behavior management strategies, in-hospital resources, guidance on treatment adherence, and ASD training geared specifically to protection services staff. Originality/value The results from this evaluation have important practice implications for hospital staff working with patients with ASD and their families. Evidence-based strategies were easily accessible for staff and the module can be feasibly built upon and expanded as well as disseminated beyond the current hospital setting.

Failure Mode and Effects Analysis: Views of Hospital Staff in the UK

2012 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nada Shebl ◽  
Bryony Franklin ◽  
Nick Barber ◽  
Susan Burnett ◽  
Anam Parand
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Failure Mode ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Hospital Staff ◽  
Validity And Reliability ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Framework Analysis ◽  
National Quality ◽  
Risk Areas

Objective To explore health care professionals' experiences and perceptions of Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA), a team-based, prospective risk analysis technique. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 operational leads (20 pharmacists, one nurse) in medicines management teams of hospitals participating in a national quality improvement programme. Interviews were transcribed, coded and emergent themes identified using framework analysis. Results Themes identified included perceptions and experiences of participants with FMEA, validity and reliability issues, and FMEA's use in practice. FMEA was considered to be a structured but subjective process that helps health care professionals get together to identify high risk areas of care. Both positive and negative opinions were expressed, with the majority of interviewees expressing positive views towards FMEA in relation to its structured nature and the use of a multidisciplinary team. Other participants criticised FMEA for being subjective and lacking validity. Most likely to restrict its widespread use were its time consuming nature and its perceived lack of validity and reliability. Conclusion FMEA is a subjective but systematic tool that helps identify high risk areas, but its time consuming nature, difficulty with the scores and perceived lack of validity and reliability may limit its widespread use.

scholarly journals Multidisciplinary Training on Spiritual Care for Patients in Palliative Care Trajectories Improves the Attitudes and Competencies of Hospital Medical Staff: Results of a Quasi-Experimental Study

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 218-228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joep van de Geer ◽  
Nic Veeger ◽  
Marieke Groot ◽  
Hetty Zock ◽  
Carlo Leget ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Palliative Care ◽  
Spiritual Care ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Hospital Staff ◽  
Multicenter Trial ◽  
Teaching Hospitals ◽  
Spiritual Needs ◽  
Multidisciplinary Teams ◽  
Quasi Experimental

Objectives: Patients value health-care professionals’ attention to their spiritual needs. However, this is undervalued in health-care professionals’ education. Additional training is essential for implementation of a national multidisciplinary guideline on spiritual care (SC) in palliative care (PC). Aim of this study is to measure effects of a training program on SC in PC based on the guideline. Methods: A pragmatic multicenter trial using a quasi-experimental pretest–posttest design as part of an action research study. Eight multidisciplinary teams in regular wards and 1 team of PC consultants, in 8 Dutch teaching hospitals, received questionnaires before training about perceived barriers for SC, spiritual attitudes and involvement, and SC competencies. The effect on the barriers on SC and SC competencies were measured both 1 and 6 months after the training. Results: For nurses (n = 214), 7 of 8 barriers to SC were decreased after 1 month, but only 2 were still after 6 months. For physicians (n = 41), the training had no effect on the barriers to SC. Nurses improved in 4 of 6 competencies after both 1 and 6 months. Physicians improved in 3 of 6 competencies after 1 month but in only 1 competency after 6 months. Significance of Results: Concise SC training programs for clinical teams can effect quality of care, by improving hospital staff competencies and decreasing the barriers they perceive. Differences in the effects of the SC training on nurses and physicians show the need for further research on physicians’ educational needs on SC.

scholarly journals CORRUPTION IN MEDICAL SPHERE OF UKRAINE: CURRENT SITUATION AND WAYS OF PREVENTION

2019 ◽  
Vol 72 (9) ◽  
pp. 1814-1821
Author(s):  
Vladislava S. Batyrgareieva ◽  
Andriy M. Babenko ◽  
Sandra Kaija
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Medical Practice ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Military Service ◽  
State Level ◽  
Hospital Staff ◽  
The State ◽  
Positive Tendency

Introduction: All social life spheres in Ukraine are influenced by corruption. Ukrainian citizens were inquired in order to determine corruption rate in various social spheres. It was conditioned by reforming criminal justice and administrative management, which is directed, particularly, for liquidation of corruption in the state. Special emphasize is stressed on corruption rate in the medical sphere. The aim of the article is to determine: 1) population’s attitude towards to corruption, in particular, in the medical sphere; 2) the most corruptive social spheres; 3) efficiency of anti-corruption measures; 4) readiness of population to participate into struggle with corruption. Materials and methods: The study is grounded on dialectical, comparative, analytic, synthetic, sociological (special-purpose inquiry form, interview), statistic and comprehensive research methods. The study group consisted of 1 120 citizens and 513 medical and pharmaceutical professionals of Ukraine. Questions were related to: 1) citizens’ contact with corruption; 2) corruption expansion rate in state authorities, self-governing authorities, in various infrastructure spheres, particularly, in healthcare; 3) awareness about struggle with corruption in the state and in the region and determination of citizens’ readiness to cope with corruption. Results: Corruption contact level of citizens remains steadily high. Corruption in the medical sphere is the most widespread: during the previous year before the inquire 63% respondents were involved into corruptive schemes. Corruption in the medical sphere can be subdivided in the following levels: from patient to doctor; inside the hospital – from a healthcare institution employee to the executive hospital staff; on state level concerning state procurements of medications. A bribe to health care professionals was given for: receipt of a sick leave certificate and various references (for example, about unfitness for military service, fitness for driving a car or fulfillment of particular works); high-quality conduct of an operation, medical servicing rendering; writing out a “necessary” prescription; approval or hiding of any bodily injuries; falsification of a true cause of death. All health care professionals have come across different corruptive practices, among which the following payments are widespread: for employment in a hospital, license for private medical practice or establishment of private clinics, “avoidance” of checks of healthcare institutions’ activity. The largest bribes are given state officials for participation in tenders for medical drugs supply by pharmaceutical companies. All health care professionals have come across different corruptive practices, among which the following payments are widespread: for employment in a hospital, license for private medical practice or establishment of private clinics, “avoidance” of checks of healthcare institutions’ activity. Conclusion: Corruption on the sphere of medical practice is complex phenomenon. The conducted poll made it possible to structure the corruption problem, to see its various levels and levels. In respondents’ opinion, a scrupulous information campaign is a positive tendency: 45% consider this is a guarantee of anticorruption. Nevertheless, only 5% respondents assume personal notification of anticorruption bodies about receipt of a bribe by medical staff.

scholarly journals Effects of a Person Centered Dementia Training Program in Greek Hospital Staff—Implementation and Evaluation

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 976
Author(s):  
Mara Gkioka ◽  
Birgit Teichmann ◽  
Despina Moraitou ◽  
Sotirios Papagiannopoulos ◽  
Magda Tsolaki
Keyword(s):  
Training Program ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Hospital Staff ◽  
Individual Performance ◽  
Organizational Level ◽  
General Hospitals ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Over Time

People with Dementia (PwD) are frequently admitted in general hospitals. However, health care professionals have lack of dementia knowledge, negative attitudes toward dementia, and lack of confidence in caring those patients. The aim of this study is to develop, implement and evaluate a dementia staff training program in Greek general hospitals. It was a repeated-measures research design. Fourteen (14) two-day workshops were conducted, consisting of six targeted and interactive modules. Staff members (N = 242) attended the program and were assessed according to (1) individual performance: questionnaires about attitudes towards dementia, confidence in care, knowledge about dementia and anxiety before, immediately after the training and three months later, (2) an overall training evaluation immediately after the training and (3) an evaluation of training implementation three months later. Positive attitudes towards dementia, improvement of confidence in care and decrease of feeling of anxiety as a trait, were sustained over time. Knowledge about dementia also increased after the training and sustained, with, however, a slight decrease over time. A well applied training program seems to provide the basis of a better care in PwD during hospitalization. However, changes in the organizational level and a transformation of care culture are necessary for training sustainability over time.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document