scholarly journals Development of Pictograms to Enhance Medication Safety Practices of Health Care Workers and International Preferences

2018 ◽  
Vol 71 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Régis Vaillancourt ◽  
Mike P Zender ◽  
Laurie Coulon ◽  
Annie Pouliot
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Medication Safety ◽  
Safety Issue ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Safety Issues ◽  
Soins De Santé ◽  
Drug Classes ◽  
Personnel Infirmier ◽  
Graphic Elements

<p>ABSTRACT</p><p>Background: A panel of medication management experts previously<br />identified 9 key medication safety issues and high-alert drug classes as<br />representing the most pressing medication-handling issues in health care.</p><p>Objective: To develop medication safety pictograms depicting medication<br />safety issues and high-alert drug classes that represent medication-handling<br />risks for health care personnel.</p><p>Methods: An iterative design process, including activities such as semiotic<br />analysis, design/redesign, and evaluation, was used to develop medication<br />safety pictograms. Nurses, physicians, pharmacists, and students listed<br />and drew graphic elements to depict each of the 9 key medication safety<br />issues. Graduate students in graphic design developed the preliminary<br />pictograms for the study. A Delphi survey was then conducted with<br />experts recruited from the International Pharmaceutical Federation to<br />reach consensus on the pictograms and provide feedback to the graphic<br />designers. Health care providers from around the world were invited to<br />participate in a survey to determine a preferred pictogram for each safety<br />warning.</p><p>Results: For each medication safety issue, 3 to 5 pictograms were<br />developed on the basis of graphic elements suggested by 52 health care<br />providers. These pictograms were then presented to 58 experts in 2 rounds<br />of a Delphi process. For each medication safety issue, consensus on the<br />2 best pictograms was reached and feedback provided. A total of 799<br />participants from 61 countries responded to the international preference<br />survey. Most of the participants (n = 536, 67.1%) were Canadian, and of<br />those, 385 (71.8%) were pharmacists. In 8 categories, consensus on the<br />preferred pictogram was reached across the health care professions;<br />however, a difference in preference was apparent for the pictogram<br />representing “neuromuscular blocking agent”, with nurses’ preferred<br />pictogram differing from the preference of other participants.</p><p>Conclusion: This project produced pictograms to illustrate 9 important<br />medication safety issues, which can now be validated through comprehension<br />and recall assessments. Further study can also determine their<br />potential to reduce medication administration errors.</p><p>RÉSUMÉ</p><p>Contexte : Un groupe d’experts en gestion des médicaments avait auparavant<br />établi neuf principales questions de sécurité des médicaments ou classes<br />de médicaments de niveau d’alerte élevé qui méritaient l’attention la plus<br />urgente en santé du point de vue de la manipulation des médicaments.</p><p>Objectif : Concevoir des pictogrammes de sécurité des médicaments qui<br />illustrent adéquatement les questions de sécurité des médicaments et les<br />classes de médicaments de niveau d’alerte élevé représentant des risques<br />pour le personnel en santé lors de la manipulation des médicaments.</p><p>Méthodes : Un processus de conception itératif (comprenant des activités<br />comme l’analyse sémiotique, la conception et la rectification, et l’évaluation)<br />a été employé pour créer des pictogrammes de sécurité des médicaments.<br />Du personnel infirmier, des médecins, des pharmaciens et des étudiants<br />ont dressé une liste d’éléments graphiques qu’ils ont dessinés afin d’illustrer<br />chacune des neuf principales questions de sécurité des médicaments. Des<br />étudiants diplômés en graphisme ont conçu les ébauches de pictogrammes<br />destinées à l’étude. Un sondage Delphi a ensuite été mené auprès d’experts<br />recrutés au sein de la Fédération internationale pharmaceutique afin de<br />dégager un consensus quant aux pictogrammes et de fournir des<br />commentaires constructifs aux graphistes. Des fournisseurs de soins de santé<br />de partout dans le monde ont été invités à répondre à un sondage pour<br />déterminer quel pictogramme privilégier pour chacune des mises en garde.</p><p>Résultats : Pour chaque question de sécurité des médicaments, entre trois<br />et cinq pictogrammes ont été conçus à partir d’éléments graphiques<br />proposés par 52 fournisseurs de soins de santé. Ces pictogrammes ont<br />ensuite été présentés à 58 experts au cours d’un processus Delphi à deux<br />phases. Pour chacune des questions de sécurité des médicaments, un<br />consensus sur les deux meilleurs pictogrammes a été atteint et des<br />commentaires constructifs ont été émis. Au total, 799 participants de<br />61 pays ont répondu au sondage international sur leurs préférences. La<br />majorité des participants (n = 536, 67,1 %) étaient Canadiens et parmi<br />eux, 385 (71,8 %) étaient pharmaciens. Dans huit catégories, l’ensemble<br />des professions ont atteint un consensus quant au pictogramme à<br />privilégier. Cela n’a pas été le cas pour le pictogramme représentant les<br />« bloqueurs neuromusculaires », car le personnel infirmier a privilégié un pictogramme<br />différent de celui préféré par les autres professions participantes.</p><p>Conclusions : Ce projet a produit des pictogrammes pour illustrer neuf<br />importantes questions de sécurité des médicaments. Ces pictogrammes<br />peuvent maintenant être validés à l’aide de tests de compréhension et de<br />mémoire. De plus amples études pourront aussi déterminer dans quelle<br />mesure ces pictogrammes aident à réduire les erreurs d’administration de<br />médicaments.</p><p> </p>

scholarly journals Pictograms for Safer Medication Management by Health Care Workers

2016 ◽  
Vol 69 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Régis Vaillancourt ◽  
Annie Pouliot ◽  
Kim Streitenberger ◽  
Sylvia Hyland ◽  
Pierre Thabet
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Medication Safety ◽  
Medication Management ◽  
Medication Administration ◽  
Delphi Process ◽  
Semiotic Analysis ◽  
Safety Issues ◽  
Personnel Infirmier ◽  
Nurses And Physicians ◽  
Pharmacy Technicians

<p><strong>ABSTRACT</strong></p><p><strong>Background:</strong> Inherent risks are associated with the preparation and administration of medications. As such, a key aspect of medication safety is to ensure safe medication management practices.</p><p><strong>Objective:</strong> To identify key medication safety issues and high-alert drug classes that might benefit from implementation of pictograms, for use by health care providers, to enhance medication administration safety. This study was the first step in the development of such pictograms.</p><p><strong>Methods:</strong> Self-identified medication management experts participated in a modified Delphi process to achieve consensus on situations where safety pictograms are required for labelling to optimize safe medication management. The study was divided into 3 phases: issue generation, issue reduction, and issue selection. Issues achieving at least 80% consensus and deemed most essential were selected for future studies. Retained issues were subjected to semiotic analysis, and preliminary pictograms were developed.</p><p><strong>Results:</strong> Of the 87 health care professionals (pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, nurses, and physicians) invited to participate in the Delphi process, 30 participated in all 3 phases. A total of 55 situations that could potentially benefit from safety pictograms were generated initially. Through the Delphi process, these were narrowed down to 10 situations where medication safety might be increased with the use of safety pictograms. For most of the retained issues, between 3 and 6 pictograms were designed, based on the results of the semiotic analysis.</p><p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> The pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, nurses, and physicians participating in this study reached consensus and identified 10 medication administration safety issues that might benefit from the development and implementation of safety pictograms. Pictograms were developed for a total of 9 issues. In follow-up studies, these pictograms will be validated for comprehension and evaluated for effectiveness.</p><p><strong>RÉSUMÉ</strong></p><p><strong>Contexte :</strong> Il y a des risques inhérents associés à la préparation et à l’administration de médicaments. Pour cette raison, l’un des principaux aspects de la sécurité des médicaments est d’assurer des pratiques de gestion des médicaments sécuritaires.</p><p><strong>Objectif :</strong> Déterminer les principales questions de sécurité des médicaments et les classes de médicaments de niveau d’alerte élevé pour lesquelles l’ajout de pictogrammes, destinés aux fournisseurs de soins de santé, permettrait de rendre l’administration de médicaments plus sécuritaire. La présente étude représentait la première étape dans l’élaboration de ces pictogrammes.</p><p><strong>Méthodes :</strong> Des professionnels qui se définissaient comme experts en gestion de médicaments ont participé à un processus Delphi modifié dans le but d’arriver à un consensus à propos des situations où des pictogrammes de sécurité doivent être ajoutés à l’étiquette afin d’optimiser la gestion sécuritaire des médicaments. L’étude a été divisée en trois phases : génération de questions de sécurité, élimination de questions de sécurité et sélection de questions de sécurité. Les questions qui atteignaient un consensus d’au moins 80 % et qui étaient considérées comme les plus essentielles ont été retenues pour des études ultérieures. Les questions de sécurité retenues ont été soumises à une analyse sémiotique, puis des ébauches de pictogrammes ont été créées.</p><p><strong>Résultats :</strong> Parmi les 87 professionnels de la santé (notamment des pharmaciens, des techniciens en pharmacie, du personnel infirmier et des médecins) invités à participer au processus Delphi, 30 ont pris part aux trois étapes. Au total, 55 situations pour lesquelles il pourrait être avantageux d’utiliser des pictogrammes de sécurité ont été générées au départ. Grâce au processus Delphi, ce nombre a été réduit à 10 situations pour lesquelles la sécurité des médicaments pourrait être accrue à l’aide de pictogrammes de sécurité. Pour la plupart des questions retenues, entre trois et six pictogrammes ont été conçus à l’aide des résultats de l’analyse sémiotique.</p><p><strong>Conclusion :</strong> Les pharmaciens, les techniciens en pharmacie, le personnel infirmier et les médecins qui ont participé à l’étude ont atteint un consensus sur dix questions au sujet de l’administration sécuritaire des médicaments pour lesquelles l’élaboration et la mise en place de pictogrammes de sécurité pourraient être avantageuses. Ensuite, des pictogrammes ont été conçus pour neuf questions au total. Dans les études ultérieures, il faudra évaluer l’efficacité des pictogrammes et s’assurer qu’ils sont interprétés correctement.</p>

Hotline for Exposure to Occupational Hazards

2010 ◽  
pp. 805-826
Author(s):  
Ken Bleakley
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Call Center ◽  
Medical Personnel ◽  
Swine Flu ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Source Information ◽  
Safety Issues ◽  
Department Of Health ◽  
Advanced Information Technology

Health care providers, first responders and law enforcement professionals face serious safety issues when they find themselves exposed to health-threatening incidents on the job. Rapid, reliable and documented guidance by specially-trained medical personnel is essential to the safety of the exposed person and their contacts. Florida Hospital Centra Care and FONEMED, an accredited medical call center, offer a 24X7 hotline to provide counseling to employees who sustain an occupational exposure. Paper - based systems proved inadequate to handle sophisticated protocols using the compliance guidelines of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and Centers for Disease Control. Therefore, they developed advanced information technology for registered nurses to process the protocols, obtain source information, fully document all calls and transmit the reports immediately to the treating health care provider and other concerned parties. Nurses also have immediate access to advice from on-call occupational medicine physicians for unusual environmental exposures, pandemics such as H1N1 Flu, or bioterrorism issues. The Exposure Hotline has since become the backbone of a Swine Flu Hotline now serving the general public

scholarly journals Interaction between Psychotropic Medications and Alcohol: Perceptions among Patients Attending an Adult Mental Health Day Hospital Program

2018 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cynthia Cheng ◽  
Fatima Mithoowani ◽  
Thomas Ungar ◽  
Monica Lee
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Drug Interactions ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Psychotropic Medications ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Consommation D’Alcool ◽  
Adult Mental Health ◽  
Soins De Santé ◽  
Troubles Mentaux

<p><strong>ABSTRACT</strong></p><p><strong>Background: </strong>Interaction between alcohol and certain medications can lead to adverse consequences. Individuals with mental health disorders are particularly vulnerable because of their psychotropic medications, which are typically taken over extended periods and which are known to have pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interactions with alcohol. It is unknown what education these patients receive from their health care providers and how such interactions are managed.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To determine whether individuals with mental health disorders are aware of alcohol–drug interactions and if so, how they use such information.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A questionnaire was developed to explore the perceptions of mental health patients concerning alcohol–drug interactions. The questionnaire included questions in 3 domains: knowledge of potential alcohol–drug interactions, consumption of alcohol while taking psychotropic medications, and source of advice regarding the interactions. Attendees of an adult mental health day hospital program were invited to participate.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 131 participants answered the questionnaire between July 2014 and February 2015; 31 of the questionnaires were incomplete and were excluded from analysis. Of the 100 participants included in the analyses, 75 reported having received counselling from a health care provider about alcohol–drug interactions, and 49 of these reported following the advice provided. The most common advice reported by participants was to avoid alcohol consumption while taking medications. Serious adverse effects, such as worsening of a psychiatric condition, admission to hospital, and increased drowsiness, were reported by 23 participants. Sixty-nine participants considered physicians to be the best source of information about these interactions.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Most participants reported that they had received information about strategies to avoid negative consequences from alcohol–drug interactions. Nevertheless, consumption of alcohol occurred, and almost one-quarter of participants reported a serious adverse effect related to consuming alcohol. These self-reported data indicate that patients do not necessarily follow the advice of their health care providers. Future studies should explore reasons for the gap between advice and action and how to minimize it.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>RÉSUMÉ</strong></p><p><strong>Contexte : </strong>L’interaction entre l’alcool et certains médicaments peut mener à des conséquences cliniques. Les personnes atteintes de troubles mentaux y sont particulièrement vulnérables à cause des médicaments psychotropes qu’ils prennent d’habitude sur une période prolongée et pour lesquels les interactions pharmacocinétiques et pharmacodynamiques avec l’alcool sont notoires. On ne sait pas quels conseils ces patients reçoivent de leurs fournisseurs de soins de santé et comment de telles interactions sont gérées.</p><p><strong>Objectifs :</strong>Déterminer si les personnes atteintes de troubles mentaux sont conscientes des interactions entre l’alcool et les médicaments et, si oui, dévoiler comment elles agissent à la lumière de cette information.</p><p><strong>Méthodes : </strong>On a mis au point un questionnaire pour enquêter sur les perceptions qu’ont les patients atteints de troubles mentaux des interactions alcool-médicaments. Les questions y étaient regroupées en trois catégories : conscience des interactions potentielles alcool-médicaments, consummation d’alcool en prenant des psychotropes et source des conseils sur les interactions. Les participants à un programme hospitalier de jour pour adultes atteints de troubles mentaux ont été invités à participer à l’étude.</p><p><strong>Résultats : </strong>Au total, 131 participants ont rempli le questionnaire entre juillet 2014 et février 2015; 31 des questionnaires étaient incomplets et ont été exclus de l’analyse. Parmi les 100 participants inclus dans les analyses, 75 ont indiqué avoir reçu des conseils d’un fournisseur de soins de santé sur les interactions alcool-médicaments et 49 d’entre eux ont affirmé avoir suivi les conseils offerts. Le conseil le plus fréquent selon les répondants était d’éviter la consommation d’alcool lorsqu’on prend des médicaments. De graves réactions indésirables, telles que la deterioration d’un trouble psychiatrique, l’admission à l’hôpital et une somnolence accrue, ont été soulignées par 23 participants. Soixante-neuf participants considéraient les médecins comme les meilleures sources d’information à propos de ces interactions.</p><strong>Conclusions : </strong>La plupart des participants ont indiqué avoir reçu de l’information sur les stratégies permettant d’éviter les conséquences des interactions alcool-médicaments. Certains ont tout de même consommé de l’alcool et près du quart des participants ont signalé une reaction indésirable grave liée à la consommation d’alcool. Ces données autodéclarées révèlent que les patients ne suivent pas nécessairement les conseils de leurs fournisseurs de soins de santé. Des études ultérieures devraient se pencher sur les raisons expliquant l’écart entre les conseils et les actions et sur les solutions pour réduire cet écart.

Patient safety in the ICU

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bradford D. Winters ◽  
Peter J. Pronovost
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Patient Safety ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Model Building ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Health Care Environment ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Process Improvements ◽  
Safety Issues ◽  
Sustainable Improvement

While patient safety and quality have become a major focus of health care providers, policy makers, and customers over the last decade and a half, progress has been limited and wide quality gaps, where patient do not receive the care they should, remain. While technical improvements have gone a long way in these efforts, adaptive improvements in the culture of safety need to be more vigorously addressed. Likewise, quality metrics and a scientific approach to patient safety is necessary to ensure that interventions actually work. The Comprehensive Unit Safety Program (CUSP) strategy and its embedded Learning from Defects (LFD) process are central to creating a sustainable improvement in the culture of patient safety and quality, and in real outcomes and process improvements. CUSP is a bottom-up approach that relies on the wisdom and efforts of front-line providers who best know the safety issues in their immediate environment. The LFD process seeks to translate evidence into practice (TRiP model) building interventions and tools to improve safety and close the quality gap. The development of these interventions and tools are guided by the principles of safe design and the application of the four E’s (engagement, education, execution, and evaluation) can be successfully implemented into the health care environment with substantial improvements in safety and quality.

scholarly journals Medication safety practices in healthcare facilities in Kaduna State, Nigeria: a study protocol

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 204209862092757
Author(s):  
Basira Kankia Lawal ◽  
Alhaji A. Aliyu ◽  
Umar Idris Ibrahim ◽  
Bilkisu Bello Maiha ◽  
Shafiu Mohammed
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Patient Safety ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Safety Culture ◽  
Medication Safety ◽  
Patient Safety Culture ◽  
Phase Iii ◽  
World Health ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Safety Practices

Background: In recent years, there has been growing concern about patient safety and this is becoming a global problem. Medication safety can be used to describe systematic assessments of healthcare professionals’ practices as related to safe use of medicines. Identification and prevention of medication errors is the key component of medication safety. This includes multiple aspects of medication practice and other factors that affect it, such as organisational structure, communication, technologies such as those used for dispensing, and strategies pursued by leadership in cultivating and promoting a culture of safety. Methods: The study adopted a mixed method approach divided into three phases. Phase I is a quantitative phase and involves an assessment of core medication safety practices in the study sites together with an assessment of patient safety culture through the use of the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture (HSOPSC) developed by US Agency for Health Care Research and Quality (AHRQ). Phase II will involve semi-structured interviews with health care providers and focus group discussions with patients to explore their perspectives on medication safety and to explore their experiences concerning medication safety respectively. Phase III will be an intervention study and will utilise the World Health Organisation (WHO) Patient Safety Curriculum Guide: Multi professional edition as the intervention tool. Discussion: The study findings will offer substantial opportunity for improvements. The study will also open up an area of patient safety culture, where not much research has been conducted in Nigeria.

Long-Term Care Residents with Cancer and their Health Care Providers Reflect on Hope

2012 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 285-293 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maggie Gibson ◽  
Eunice Gorman
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Soins De Santé ◽  
Longue Duree ◽  
Longue Durée

RÉSUMÉCette étude a examiné l’espoir parmi les résidents avec le cancer en soins de longue durée et a évalué les points de vue des résidents et aussi des prestataires de soins de santé (PSS). Les données cliniques ont établi que la prévalence d’un diagnostic de cancer dans l’établissement d’étude (15%) était semblable à d’autres estimations dans la littérature. On a fait passer une entrevue parmi huit PSS experimentés. Dix résidents avec un diagnostic de cancer ont été interrogés, et ils ont complété l’index d’espoir Herth (IEH). Les dimensions de l’espoir et les facteurs contextuels qui forment l’espoir sont manifestés comme des thèmes, et pour less PSS et pour les résidents, mais reflétaient leurs points de vue différents. En tant que partie intégrante des soins, l’espoir était un thème pour PSS. Les scores d’IEH étaient élevés, ce qui indique que les résidents étaient généralement optimistes. Les résultats de l’étude suggèrent que, pour le sous-groupe petit mais complexe de résidents en soins de longue durée qui a un diagnostic de cancer, l’espoir n’est pas perdu, mais plutôt il est pertinent, nuancé et possible d’atteindre.

scholarly journals Implications of COVID-19 Lockdown on Child Preparedness among Rwandan Families

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 214-220
Author(s):  
Alice Muhayimana ◽  
Donatilla Mukamana ◽  
Jean Pierre Ndayisenga ◽  
Olive Tengera ◽  
Josephine Murekezi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Adverse Outcomes ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Birth Preparedness ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Soins De Santé ◽  
First Case ◽  
The World ◽  
The Government

The world is currently facing the fatal viral pandemic called coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), earlier named 2019-novel coronavirus (2019- nCoV). Every country of the world keeps responding to the challenges posed by covid-19 in all aspects of human endeavour with high demand and burden on health care. The report of the first case in Rwanda on 14th March 2020 was accompanied by actions to drive control measures by the government of Rwanda importantly to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Those measures included education on personal preventive behaviours, social distancing and restricting the movement of people locally, nationally and internationally resulting to lockdown that allowed only essential services. Lockdown has particularly affected Rwandan families with pregnant mothers in the context of childbirth preparation in different aspects.  This review paper articulates the possible various dimensions of influence of the COVID-19 lockdown on birth preparedness by families and the possible maternal and neonatal health adverse outcomes that may be associated. This is with the intention of helping health care providers and other stakeholders anticipate, track and prepare for appropriate mitigation to reduce maternal-neonatal morbidity and mortality.   French title: Implications du verrouillage de COVID-19 sur la préparation des enfants dans les familles RwandaisesLe monde est actuellement confronté à la pandémie virale mortelle appelée maladie à coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19), précédemment appelée 2019-nouveau coronavirus (2019-nCoV). Chaque pays du monde continue de répondre aux défis posés par le Covid-19 dans tous les aspects de l'activité humaine avec une forte demande et un fardeau sur les soins de santé. Le rapport du premier cas au Rwanda le 14e mars 2020 a été accompagné d'actions à conduire des mesures de contrôle par le gouvernement du Rwanda important pour prévenir la propagation de Covid-19. Ces mesures comprenaient une éducation sur les comportements personnels de prévention, la distanciation sociale et la restriction de la circulation des personnes aux niveaux local, national et international, entraînant un verrouillage qui n'autorisait que les services essentiels. Le verrouillage a particulièrement affecté les familles Rwandaises de mères enceintes dans le cadre de la préparation à l'accouchement sous différents aspects. Cet article de synthèse articule les différentes dimensions possibles de l'influence du verrouillage du COVID-19 sur la préparation à la naissance des familles et les éventuels effets indésirables sur la santé maternelle et néonatale qui peuvent être associés. Ceci dans le but d'aider les prestataires de soins de santé et les autres parties prenantes à anticiper, suivre et préparer des mesures d'atténuation appropriées pour réduire la morbidité et la mortalité materné-néonatales.

Malpractice & Negligence: Cal. Supreme Court Clarifies Negligence Provisions under State’s Elder Abuse Act

1999 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 203-203
Author(s):  
Kendra Carlson
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Supreme Court ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Elder Abuse ◽  
Skilled Nursing Facility ◽  
Pressure Sores ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Nursing Facility ◽  
Skilled Nursing ◽  
The Supreme Court

The Supreme Court of California held, in Delaney v. Baker, 82 Cal. Rptr. 2d 610 (1999), that the heightened remedies available under the Elder Abuse Act (Act), Cal. Welf. & Inst. Code, §§ 15657,15657.2 (West 1998), apply to health care providers who engage in reckless neglect of an elder adult. The court interpreted two sections of the Act: (1) section 15657, which provides for enhanced remedies for reckless neglect; and (2) section 15657.2, which limits recovery for actions based on “professional negligence.” The court held that reckless neglect is distinct from professional negligence and therefore the restrictions on remedies against health care providers for professional negligence are inapplicable.Kay Delaney sued Meadowood, a skilled nursing facility (SNF), after a resident, her mother, died. Evidence at trial indicated that Rose Wallien, the decedent, was left lying in her own urine and feces for extended periods of time and had stage I11 and IV pressure sores on her ankles, feet, and buttocks at the time of her death.

Using Technology to Improve Access to Health Care for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Populations

2012 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 71-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pauline A. Mashima
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Access To Health Care ◽  
Underserved Populations ◽  
Linguistically Diverse ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Department Of Health ◽  
Use Of Technology ◽  
Access To Health ◽  
Improve Access

Important initiatives in health care include (a) improving access to services for disadvantaged populations, (b) providing equal access for individuals with limited or non-English proficiency, and (c) ensuring cultural competence of health-care providers to facilitate effective services for individuals from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health, 2001). This article provides a brief overview of the use of technology by speech-language pathologists and audiologists to extend their services to underserved populations who live in remote geographic areas, or when cultural and linguistic differences impact service delivery.

Interdisciplinary Therapy Assessments for the Older Adult

2012 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-16
Author(s):  
Lynn Chatfield ◽  
Sandra Christos ◽  
Michael McGregor
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Standardized Testing ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Outcome Measurement ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Patient Centered ◽  
Screening Process ◽  
Evidenced Based ◽  
Changing Economy

In a changing economy and a changing industry, health care providers need to complete thorough, comprehensive, and efficient assessments that provide both an accurate depiction of the patient's deficits and a blueprint to the path of treatment for older adults. Through standardized testing and observations as well as the goals and evidenced-based treatment plans we have devised, health care providers can maximize outcomes and the functional levels of patients. In this article, we review an interdisciplinary assessment that involves speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and respiratory therapy to work with older adults in health care settings. Using the approach, we will examine the benefits of collaboration between disciplines, an interdisciplinary screening process, and the importance of sharing information from comprehensive discipline-specific evaluations. We also will discuss the importance of having an understanding of the varied scopes of practice, the utilization of outcome measurement tools, and a patient-centered assessment approach to care.

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