High-Tech Hospital
The newly opened OhioHealth Inc. Dublin Methodist Hospital is truly high-tech. Lamont Yoder, vice president and chief nursing officer states, "We consider ourselves digital, wireless, and paperless to the maximum extent possible. In designing the hospital, we tried to maximize the use of wireless technology in all of our processes."
Technological innovations are numerous. They include electronic medical records (EMR)-the word "chart" does not appear in any of the hospital's policies or processes. Instead, the acronym EMR is used. VOCERA is a wireless communication badge worn on employees shirts' to eliminate disruptive overhead paging; wireless tablet laptops with fingerprint recognition allow only authorized healthcare providers access to all patient information; wireless laptops for patients using flat-screen monitors are installed in all patient rooms allowing patients to receive educational information, select meals, and access the Internet; bar-code scanning technology, used by nurses to scan patient ID bracelets and medications, ensures that patients receive the correct doses at the correct times, following the correct routes.
The hospital's 170 RNs received nine weeks of specialized technology training using all of the equipment prior to the opening of the hospital. Yoder says the new technology helps the medical staff work more efficiently. http://include.nurse.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080310/MW02/803100307/Acce.
Expansion of Gardasil Use Possible
The Food and Drug Administration is considering whether to expand use of a vaccine intended to prevent cervical cancer to women ages 27 to 45. Gardasil is currently approved for use in girls and women ages 9 through 26 to block four types of human papillomavirus, which can cause cervical cancer and genital warts. A decision is expected this summer.
See the April/June 2008 issue ofJCNfor more information on this vaccine and a discussion of the pros and cons of mandating the vaccination.-http://money.cnn.com/2008/03/19/news/companies/merck_gardasil.ap/index.htm?postv.
Six-Step Approach to Master Pharmacology
In an article the February/March 2008 issue of Imprint, the author Loretta Manning, MSN, RN, discusses an easy formula for facilitating and simplifying medication information. She suggests:
M Memory Techniques-learn generic names not brand names
A Association-use association for better recall
S Significance to Clinical-ask what is significant to clinical practice
T Think-before you can think, you must know the accurate information
E Explain New Information-explain verbally to someone
R Reflection-after administering meds, reflect and evaluate the process
She also suggests a strategy for "SAFE" medication administration. Here's the formula:
S System Specific Assessment Safety (identify client)
A Action, Accuracy or order, Adverse Effects
F Food-Drug, Drug-drug interactions, First (plan, action, etc.)
E Educate, Evaluate data prior to giving, Evaluate client response, Expected outcome
-Imprint, Vol. 55, No. 2, p. 50.
Ethnic Background Increases Some Health Risks
Nearly 3 million transplanted South Asians live in North America. Studies indicate that this diverse group is three to five times more likely to have a heart attack or to die from heart disease than the overall population, even though many are at a healthy weight, by Western standards.
The explanation appears to be centered on the way fat accumulates. At equal weight, people of some minority groups, including South Asians, gain more fat around the middle. These differences are prompting some international health groups to adjust screening tools by race. One such test-the body mass index (BMI)-uses height and weight to gauge risk of weight-related complications.
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute sets a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 as healthy; 25 to 29.9 as overweight, and 30 and higher as obese. However, studies suggest that these cutoffs may give a false sense of security to people of Asian ancestry and cause unnecessary concern to those with African roots. As a result, the World Health Organization has lowered the BMI cutoff for obesity for Asians from 30 to 25. -http://www.washingtonpost.com/wpdyn/content/article/2008/01/21/AR2008012101106.h.
Purses: A Pain in the Back
Oversized purses can leave you with back, neck and shoulder pain, and headaches. Medical experts at Baylor Medical Center in Garland, Texas state that if your purse is uncomfortable when you place it on your shoulder or if it weighs more than a few pounds, changes are needed.
Simple solutions include carrying only what is needed in your wallet. Empty your change every few days and keep only the cash and credit cards that you need. Leave oversized bags at home and carry your cell phone on a body clip. -Health Smart, November, 2007.
Manufactured Need
"Margin and the advertising industry are enemies. Margin requires contentment to thrive, but advertising requiresdiscontent to thrive[horizontal ellipsis].Were everyone to adapt a scripturally authentic lifestyle of contentment, each of us would need fewer clothes, toys, furniture, and automobiles[horizontal ellipsis].If we actually needed the thing advertisers would not have to convince us of it. But, truth be told, we are fairly easy prey." Paul writing in Philippians 4:11 adds perspective: "Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to get along happily whether I have much or little," NLT. -A Minute of Margin, Richard A. Swenson, reflection 31.
-PulseBeats compiled by
Cathy Walker, JCN
Associate Editor