Environmental Issues Related to Medication Errors in Long-Term Care: Lessons From the Literature
2009
HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 2
Pages 42-59
Author(s): Mahmood, A., Chaudhury, H., Gaumont, A.
Medication errors contribute significantly to patient illness and mortality and are costly to the healthcare system. This is especially true for elderly patients in long-term care facilities. While the specific definition of medication error often varies from study to study, these errors typically occur when a physician's orders, the manufacturer's guidelines, or professional best practices in drug, dose, route, or timing are not properly followed. They can arise during ordering, dispensing, or administering medication.
Added September 2014
Lactation Space Design: Supporting Evidence-Based Practice and the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative
2011
HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 4
Pages 101-109
Author(s): Thompson, T. S., Heflin, L.
Many studies support the philosophy that breast-feeding is the best nutritional option for babies. There is a strong movement to go back to breast-feeding newborn children for their first six months of life because it has been shown that breast-feeding helps reduce the rate of illness for both mother and child. One study done by Simkin showed that infants fed breast milk exclusively for their first three months of life were nine times less likely to be hospitalized for infection.
Added September 2014
Triangulating the extrinsic risk factors for inpatient falls from the fall incident reports and nurse's and patient's perspectives
2011
Applied Nursing Research
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 24
Pages 161-70
Author(s): Tzeng, H. M.
The safety of patients in hospitals is paramount during their treatment period. Accidental falls account for the most dangerous of reported incidents for a number of reasons.
Added September 2014
Outbreak of multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa colonization and infection secondary to imperfect intensive care unit room design
2009
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 30
Pages 25-33
Author(s): Hota, S., Hirji, Z., Stockton, K., Lemieux, C., Dedier, H., Wolfaardt, G., Gardam, M. A.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an infection-causing pathogen that has been associated with a high number of hospital-associated infections (HAIs), especially since the pathogen began developing multidrug resistance. As an increasing number of healthcare facilities are being redesigned, there is a growing need for researchers and designers to understand how pathogens can survive and spread HAIs in the context of these new designs.
Added September 2014
Effect of visual art on patient anxiety and agitation in a mental health facility and implications for the business case
2011
Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing
Journal Article
Issue 5
Volume 18
Pages 386-93
Author(s): Nanda, U., Eisen, S., Zadeh, R. S., Owen, D.
Previous research suggests that even small interior design changes can have positive effects on patients receiving treatment in a variety of healthcare environments. Many of these studies examine patient populations that were moved to completely renovated facilities that featured a multitude of new designs and installations, making it difficult to understand how each individual design change affects the patients.
Added September 2014
Life-space mobility of middle-aged and older adults at various stages of usage of power mobility devices
2010
Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Journal Article
Author(s): Auger, C., Demers, L., Linas, I. G., Miller, W. C., Jutai, J. W., Noreau, L.
Measuring the use of PMDs involves examining the life-space mobility of their users. The authors refer to literature where life-space mobility is defined as the area within which a person moves over time; it entails characterizing the distance travelled, the frequency of travel, and assistance (if any) availed by older adults.
Added September 2014
Perceived barriers to physical activity among older adults residing in long-term care institutions
2009
Journal of Clinical Nursing
Journal Article
Author(s): Chen, Y. M.
It is well documented by the World Health Organization (WHO), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and other worldwide healthcare organizations that regular physical activity has several benefits, particularly for the elderly. The detriments to their physical and mental health are also well documented. Yet it is seen that a substantial proportion of the elderly do not pursue physical activity on a regular basis.
Added September 2014
