Preventing falls on an elderly care rehabilitation ward
2000
Clinical Rehabilitation
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 14
Pages 178-185
Author(s): Donald, I.P., Pitt, K., Armstrong, E., Shuttleworth, H.
Patient falls refer to patients’ unplanned descent to the floor with or without injuries to the patients. Patient falls are a leading cause of injuries and death and contribute to healthcare cost increase. Patient falls are more likely happen to elder patients and may cause special problems in rehabilitation units because falls may cause injuries and fear that impede the rehabilitation progress. It was also observed at the study site that the majority of falls happened at the bedside.
Added October 2012
Surface contamination in the dental operatory: a comparison over two decades
2003
Journal of the American Dental Association
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 134
Pages 325-330
Author(s): Williams, H.N., Singh, R., Romberg, E.
Infection prevention is a major concern in dental healthcare settings. Patients and dental healthcare professionals may be exposed to pathogenic bacteria and viruses (e.g. cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2, HIV, staphylococci) that colonize or infect the respiratory tract or the oral cavity. These pathogens can be transmitted through direct contact, indirect contact with contaminated surfaces, droplets, and airborne microorganisms.
Added October 2012
Lighting and perceptual cues: Effects on gait measures of older adults at high and low risk for falls
2011
BMC Geriatrics
Journal Article
Issue 49
Volume 11
Pages 1471-2318
Author(s): Figueiro, M., Plitnik, B., Rea, M., Gras, L., Rea, M. S.
The visual system plays an important role in maintaining balance while navigating the environment. Older adults often depend heavily on visual information to maintain balance and orientation due to age related changes that affect their vestibular system (contributes to balance and spatial orientation) and somatosensory system (that moderates sensations of touch, smell etc.). Even small reductions in visibility could severely impact their gait and balance and potentially result in a fall. Even in healthy older adults, gait becomes slower and step lengths become shorter under dim lighting conditions.
Added November 2012
Do absorption and realistic distraction influence performance of component task surgical procedure?
2010
Surgical Endoscopy
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 24
Pages 902-907
Author(s): Pluyter, J. R., Buzink, S. N., Rutkowski, A. F., Jakimowicz, J. J.
Surgeons’ ability of focusing their attention on surgical tasks directly impacts their performance on surgical operations, which is an important factor influencing quality of care, work efficiency, patient satisfaction, and many other healthcare outcomes. Attention or concentration is more important for performing minimal invasive surgeries which involve complex technologies and put high physical and cognitive demands on surgeons.
Added November 2012
Randomized controlled trial investigating the effect of music on the virtual reality laparoscopic learning performance of novice surgeons
2008
Surgical Endoscopy
Journal Article
Issue 11
Volume 22
Pages 2416-2420
Author(s): Miskovic, D., Rosenthal, R., Zingg, U., Oertli, D., Metzger, U., Jancke, L.
The acoustic environment in operating rooms has significant impact on the performance of surgeons, anesthetists, and other staff who need high cognitive attention on the tasks they are performing. Music is often played in operating rooms during surgical procedures even though mixed results have been reported from research around music’s effects on healthcare work performance. Research from other settings showed that certain type of music might help improve human cognition.
Added October 2012
Direct cellular vs. indirect pager communication during orthopaedic surgical procedures: A prospective study
2009
Technology and Health Care
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 17
Pages 149-157
Author(s): Ortega, G. R., Taksali, S., Smart, R., Baumgaertner, M. R.
Staff-to-staff communication is critical to quality and efficient healthcare. Physicians, nurses, and other healthcare workers all use various methods of communication in their daily work. Difficulties in staff communication often lead to interruptions and delays in patient care, variation in response time, medical errors, violation of privacy, and dissatisfaction in patient and staff.
Added October 2012
Antimicrobial drug use and infection control practices associated with the prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in European hospitals
2007
Clinical Microbiology and Infection
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 13
Pages 269-276
Author(s): MacKenzie, F. M., Bruce, J., Struelens, M. J., Goossens, H., Mollison, J., Gould, I. M.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a type of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics such as methicillin and cephalosporins. MRSA may cause serious infections to patients with open wounds, invasive devices, and weakened immune systems, which are in some cases extremely difficult to treat. In recent years, the rate of MRSA infections has been increasing globally and causing high morbidity, mortality, and healthcare cost.
Added October 2012
Cost effectiveness of a medical vigilance system to reduce patient falls
2007
Nursing Economic$
Journal Article
Issue 6
Volume 25
Pages 333-338, 352
Author(s): Spetz, J., Jacobs, J., Hatler, C.
Patient falls refer to patients’ unplanned descent to the floor with or without injuries to the patients. Patient falls are a leading cause of injuries and death and contribute to healthcare cost increase. The prevention of patient falls is especially important in certain patients and settings such as post-neurosurgery units where patients are often confused. A variety of fall-prevention programs have been implemented by many hospitals. Some of such programs include environmental modifications in addition to educational and operation al changes.
Added October 2012
Patient satisfaction in an acute medicine department in Morocco
2010
BMC Health Services Research
Journal Article
Issue 149
Volume 10
Pages 1-12
Author(s): Soufi, G., Belayachi, J., Himmich, S., Ahid, S., Soufi, M., Zekraoui, A., Abouqal, R.
Patients' satisfaction is an important indicator for quality of care. Measuring healthcare quality and improving patient satisfaction have become increasingly prevalent, especially among healthcare providers and purchasers of healthcare. This is mainly due to the fact that consumers are becoming increasingly more knowledgeable about healthcare. This Open Source study focuses on inpatient satisfaction with hospital care in an Arabic culture in Morocco.
Added October 2012
Lumbar spine forces during manoeuvring of ceiling-based and floor-based patient transfer devices
2009
Ergonomics
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 52
Pages 384-397
Author(s): Marras, W.S., Knapik, G.G., Ferguson, S.
Patient handling is an important concern in healthcare facilities linked to patient falls, as well as staff injury. It continues to represent a high risk for low back pain among caregivers. Research shows that manual transfer of patients can impose unacceptable loads on the spine (even when the task is shared by two caregivers). Due to this, patient lift devices have gained popularity and are frequently used. However the merits and demerits between the different systems continues to be explored.
Added October 2012
A Novel PACU Design for Noise Reduction
2008
Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 23
Pages 226-229
Author(s): Smykowski, L.
As redesign and renovation of patient care units occur, health care providers need to consider the importance of lowering environmental stressors. Noise in the hospital environment is one well documented problem, with detrimental effects to both patients and staff. The paper reviews the redesign of the organization's PACU that explored a unique floor plan to minimize noise and improve privacy.
Added October 2012
An outbreak of airborne nosocomial varicella
1982
Pediatrics
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 70
Pages 550-556
Author(s): Gustafson T. L., Lavely G. B., Brawner Jr., E. R., Hutcheson Jr., R. H., Wright, P. F., Schaffner, W.
An outbreak of nosocomial varicella was traced to airborne spread from an immunocompromised child hospitalized from Nov 11-19, 1980. Seventy potentially susceptible children were hospitalized on the ward during that period. Although the index patient remained in strict room isolation throughout his hospital stay, eight of these patients contracted varicella. The afternoon of November 12 was the...
Added August 2012
Characteristics and circumstances of falls in a hospital setting
2004
Journal of General Internal Medicine
Journal Article
Issue 7
Volume 19
Pages 732–739
Author(s): Hitcho, E., Krauss, M., Birge, S., Dunagan, W., Fischer, I., Johnson, S., Nast, P. A., Costantinou, E., Fraser, V. J.
Patient falls refer to patients’ unplanned descent to the floor with or without injuries to the patients. Patient falls are common for inpatients, averaging 2.3 to 7 falls per 1,000 patient days. About 30% of the falls lead to injuries, which contribute to higher healthcare cost. In order to prevent falls, it is very important to understand the epidemiology of patient falls, including the characteristics of fallers, the distribution and patterns of falls, contributing factors, and fall-related injuries.
Added August 2012
Relaxation music decreases the dose of patient-controlled sedation during colonoscopy: a prospective randomized controlled trial
2002
Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 55
Pages 33-36
Author(s): Lee, D.W.H, Chan, K, Poon, C, Ko, C, Chan, K, Sin, K, Chan, A.C.W
Colonoscopy is an unpleasant and stressful procedure which often requires a high doseage of sedatives for the patients. Additionally patient noncompliance with recommendations for colonoscopy procedures can become a challenge in surveilance programs for screening cancer. This study explores the effectiveness of a non-pharmocological intervention, like relaxation music, on patient-controlled sedation.
Added October 2012
Cancer Patients' Satisfaction With Care in Traditional and Innovative Ambulatory Oncology Clinics
2008
Journal of Nursing Care Quality
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 23
Pages 251-257
Author(s): Groff, S. L., Carlson, L. E., Tsang, K., Potter, B. J.
Recent advances in cancer care allow more cancer patients to be treated on an ambulatory care basis, whether chemotherapy, radiation therapy or follow-up care. Care can include physical, psychological, and emotional challenges. Ambulatory oncology clinics have the opportunity to create positive treatment experiences for patients.
Added October 2012
Carpeting in hospitals: an epidemiological evaluation
1982
Journal of Clinical Microbiology
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 15
Pages 408-15
Author(s): Anderson, RL, Mackel, DC, Stoler, BS, Mallison, GF
Choice of flooring in a healthcare environment has tremendous cost implications. The impact of flooring on health related issues are only just beginning to be considered. A common issue of contention in healthcare design environments is the use of carpets and the implications for patient satisfaction and safety issues. While research shows that carpets may act as microbial reservoirs (especially in areas that are busy and associated with patient care) the relevance to disease, i.e. the epidemiological relevance, is not clear.
Added October 2012
Factors influencing patient satisfaction when undergoing endoscopic procedures
2009
Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 69
Pages 883-891
Author(s): Ko, H. H., Zhang, H., Telford, J. J., Enns, R.
Patient satisfaction with endoscopic procedures helps establish performance standards, increases the accountability of physicians and staff, may facilitate patient compliance, and can lead to improvements in the quality of care. Limited data are available regarding the best mechanism and timing for assessing patient satisfaction with endoscopy.
Added October 2012
Patient Satisfaction: Evaluating the Success of Hospital Ward Redesign
2007
Journal for Healthcare Quality
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 29
Pages 44-49
Author(s): Kline, T. J. B., Baylis, B. W. , Chatur, F., Morrison, S. A., White, D. E. , Flin, R. H., Ghali, W. A.
Numerous studies asses of the quality of patient care through patient satisfaction measures, and others gauge the interaction between caregivers and patients, but physical facilities are also cited as an important contributor to the patient experience. This study considers a Canadian context, where standards differ from those in the US (e.g. semi-private and ward rooms at the time of the study) and patient satisfaction may be less intrinsic as a benchmark, due to the government structure of care.
Added October 2012
Impact of interruptions and distractions on dispensing errors in an ambulatory care pharmacy
1999
American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy
Journal Article
Issue 13
Volume 56
Pages 1319-1325
Author(s): Flynn, E. A., Barker, K. N., Gibson, J. T., Pearson, R. E., Berger, B. A., Smith, L. A.
Errors and error rate have been used as outcome measures of the quality of drug distribution that is a function of the interaction between humans, procedures, equipment, and the work environment. Dispensing errors have been measured by observation and occur at rates of up to 24%. Studies show the relationship between errors and noise, light levels, and prescription workload, as well as the increased number of distractions and errors in an ambulatory care pharmacy.
Added October 2012
Relationships between Ambient Sounds and the Accuracy of Pharmacists' Prescription-Filling Performance
1996
Human Factors: The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 38
Pages 614-622
Author(s): Flynn, E. A., Barker, K. N., Gibson, J. T., Pearson, R. E., Smith, L. A., Berger, B. A.
Errors and error rate have been used as outcome measures of the quality of drug distribution that is a function of the interaction between humans, procedures, equipment, and the work environment. Dispensing errors have been measured by observation and occur at rates of up to 24%. Studies show the relationship between errors and the combination of interruptions and distractions, light levels, and prescription workload, as noise.
Added October 2012
