scholarly journals Impact of Electronic Medication Management on the Physical Location of Work in a Paediatric Setting

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bethany A. Van Dort ◽  
Melissa T Baysari ◽  
Mirela Prgomet ◽  
Wu Yi Zheng ◽  
Magdalena Z Raban ◽  
...  

Electronic medication management (eMM) systems can have a significant impact on efficiency and safety. There is limited evidence on the effects of eMM implementation on the physical location of work. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of eMM and associated hardware implementation on the location of tasks performed by doctors and nurses. 41.5 hours of observation were conducted in the oncology ward of a paediatric hospital. Tasks, locations and resources used were recorded pre and post eMM implementation. Results showed that a wider variety of locations were used to conduct tasks following eMM implementation. Post-eMM, more tasks were performed in the hallway, where medication trolleys with attached laptops were situated, and in patient rooms where additional computers were installed, providing more opportunities for patient/carer and clinician interaction. The findings from this study reveal the impact that computer placement has on the location of work for doctors and nurses, and the importance of planning hardware placement for eMM implementation.

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 111-117 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin L. Black ◽  
Courtney Duval

Background: Diabetes is a growing problem in the United States. Increasing hospital admissions for diabetes patients demonstrate the need for evidence-based care of diabetes patients by inpatient providers, as well as the importance of continuity of care when transitioning patients from inpatient to outpatient providers. Methods: A focused literature review of discharge planning and transitions of care in diabetes, conducted in PubMed is presented. Studies were selected for inclusion based on content focusing on transitions of care in diabetes, risk factors for readmission, the impact of inpatient diabetes education on patient outcomes, and optimal medication management of diabetes during care transitions. American Diabetes Association (ADA) guidelines for care of patients during the discharge process are presented, as well as considerations for designing treatment regimens for a hospitalized patient transitioning to various care settings. Results: Multiple factors may make transitions of care difficult, including poor communication, poor patient education, inappropriate follow-up, and clinically complex patients. ADA recommendations provide guidance, but an individualized approach for medication management is needed. Use of scoring systems may help identify patients at higher risk for readmission. Good communication with patients and outpatient providers is needed to prevent patient harm. A team-based approach is needed, utilizing the skills of inpatient and outpatient providers, diabetes educators, nurses, and pharmacists. Conclusion: Structured discharge planning per guideline recommendations can help improve transitions in care for patients with diabetes. A team based, patient-centered approach can help improve patient outcomes by reducing medication errors, delay of care, and hospital readmissions.


Author(s):  
A Kim ◽  
Hayeon Lee ◽  
Eun-Jeong Shin ◽  
Eun-Jung Cho ◽  
Yoon-Sook Cho ◽  
...  

Inappropriate polypharmacy is likely in older adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD) owing to the considerable burden of comorbidities. We aimed to describe the impact of pharmacist-led geriatric medication management service (MMS) on the quality of medication use. This retrospective descriptive study included 95 patients who received geriatric MMS in an ambulatory care clinic in a single tertiary-care teaching hospital from May 2019 to December 2019. The average age of the patients was 74.9 ± 7.3 years; 40% of them had CKD Stage 4 or 5. Medication use quality was assessed in 87 patients. After providing MMS, the total number of medications and potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) decreased from 13.5 ± 4.3 to 10.9 ± 3.8 and 1.6 ± 1.4 to 1.0 ± 1.2 (both p < 0.001), respectively. Furthermore, the number of patients who received three or more central nervous system-active drugs and strong anticholinergic drugs decreased. Among the 354 drug-related problems identified, “missing patient documentation” was the most common, followed by “adverse effect” and “drug not indicated.” The most frequent intervention was “therapy stopped”. In conclusion, polypharmacy and PIMs were prevalent in older adults with CKD; pharmacist-led geriatric MMS improved the quality of medication use in this population.


2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 317-323
Author(s):  
Melissa T. Baysari ◽  
Rae‐Anne Hardie ◽  
Peter Barclay ◽  
Johanna I. Westbrook

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. e12-e12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra C Malyon ◽  
Julia R Forman ◽  
Jonathan P Fuld ◽  
Zoë Fritz

ObjectiveTo determine whether discussion and documentation of decisions about future care was improved following the introduction of a new approach to recording treatment decisions: the Universal Form of Treatment Options (UFTO).MethodsRetrospective review of the medical records of patients who died within 90 days of admission to oncology or respiratory medicine wards over two 3-month periods, preimplementation and postimplementation of the UFTO. A sample size of 70 per group was required to provide 80% power to observe a change from 15% to 35% in discussion or documentation of advance care planning (ACP), using a two-sided test at the 5% significance level.ResultsOn the oncology ward, introduction of the UFTO was associated with a statistically significant increase in cardiopulmonary resuscitation decisions documented for patients (pre-UFTO 52% to post-UFTO 77%, p=0.01) and an increase in discussions regarding ACP (pre-UFTO 27%, post-UFTO 49%, p=0.03). There were no demonstrable changes in practice on the respiratory ward. Only one patient came into hospital with a formal ACP document.ConclusionsDespite patients’ proximity to the end-of-life, there was limited documentation of ACP and almost no evidence of formalised ACP. The introduction of the UFTO was associated with a change in practice on the oncology ward but this was not observed for respiratory patients. A new approach to recording treatment decisions may contribute to improving discussion and documentation about future care but further work is needed to ensure that all patients’ preferences for treatment and care at the end-of-life are known.


2020 ◽  
pp. 117-122
Author(s):  
Katie-Rose Cawthorne Cawthorne ◽  
Jason Dean ◽  
Richard PD Cooke

Background: Though high hand hygiene (HH) levels significantly reduce the risk of healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs), the current cost of HCAIs and the impact of optimal HH practices on HCAIs are poorly defined. The last NHS England financial assessment was in 2009. Methods: The number of HCAIs per bed per year for NHS England were calculated and average costs were attributed using data from three sources; National Audit Office report, a commercially available calculator, and a financial analysis by a specialist paediatric hospital in England. Improved HH compliance for NHS England was based on a sustained rise in compliance rates from 50 to 80% combined with an HCAI reduction of at least 20%. The cost savings based on such improvements were then calculated. Results: In 2020, it is estimated that the number of HCAIs per bed per year ranges from 3.0 to 9.3, with a midpoint of 5.1. The direct costs of HCAI to NHS England were found to lie between £1.6 and £5 billion. Based on a 20% reduction in HCAI rates, this could lead to cost savings of between £322 million and £1 billion per year. Conclusion: Current direct costs of HCAIs consume approximately 1.3% to 4.1% of NHS England’s annual budget. Improving HH compliance among healthcare workers can lead to significant cost savings. There appears to be a strong financial argument for investment into innovative HH compliance technologies that have been historically perceived as too expensive.


2013 ◽  
Vol 103 (2) ◽  
pp. 831-862 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katja Seim ◽  
Joel Waldfogel

We estimate a spatial model of liquor demand to analyze the impact of government-controlled retailing on entry patterns. In the absence of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, the state would have roughly 2.5 times the current number of stores, higher consumer surplus, and lower payments to liquor store employees. With just over half the number of stores that would maximize welfare, the government system is instead best rationalized as profit maximization with profit sharing. Government operation mitigates, but does not eliminate, free entry's bias against rural consumers. We find only limited evidence of political influence on entry. (JEL D42, D72, L11, L12, L43, L81)


Author(s):  
Margaret Tseng ◽  
Rebecca Magee Pluta

Students with chronic illness have historically received an education via home and hospital instruction during their absences. This instruction is significantly inferior in both quality and quantity when compared with the educational experience of students able to attend school. This case study details the experiences of a middle school student in the mid-Atlantic Region of the United States whose chronic illness presented unique and multifaceted challenges that could not be met by her district's inflexible policies and disconnected resources. This case illuminates the need for schools to break away from the traditional administrative special education mold when responding to the challenges of educating frequently absent students with chronic illness. The educational Civil Rights of these students can be preserved, however, by utilizing affordable, available technology to minimize the impact of frequently missed classes, provide continuity of instruction and allow educational access regardless of a student's physical location during their absences from school.


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