Coaching older adults discharged home from the emergency department: The role of competence and emotion in following up with outpatient clinicians

ObjectiveMotivating older adults to follow up with an outpatient clinician after discharge from emergency departments (ED) is beneficial yet challenging. We aimed to answer whether psychological needs for motivation and discrete emotions observed by care transition coaches would predict this behavioral outcome.MethodsCommunity-dwelling older adults following ED discharge were recruited from three EDs in two U.S. states. We examined home visit notes documented by coaches (N = 725). Retrospective chart reviews of medical records tracked participants’ health care utilization for 30 days.ResultsObserved knowledge-based competence predicted higher likelihood of outpatient follow-up within 30 days, while observed sadness predicted a lower likelihood of follow-up within seven days following discharge. Moreover, participants who demonstrated happiness were marginally more likely to have an in-person follow-up within seven days, and those who demonstrated knowledge-based competence were more likely to have an electronic follow-up within 30 days.ConclusionsKnowledge-based competence and emotions, as observed and documented in coach notes, can predict older adults’ subsequent outpatient follow-up following their ED-discharge.Practice implicationsIntervention programs might encourage coaches to check knowledge-based competence and to observe emotions in addition to delivering the content. Coaches could also customize strategies for patients with different recommended timeframes of follow-up.     

新型冠状病毒疫情在线防控的“华西项目化工作模式”探索与实践

目的探索"华西项目化工作模式"在新型冠状病毒(2019-nCoV)疫情在线防控工作中的应用价值。方法基于四川大学华西医院丰富的抗震救灾和项目管理经验,依托PDCA循环持续优化"华西项目化工作模式"。结果"华西项目化工作模式"可运用于新型冠状病毒(2019-nCoV)突发公共卫生事件,已建立快速反应工作闭环,整个项目组运行良好、系统运维稳定。结论"华西项目化工作模式"为疫情在线防控工作提供了工作路径,采用互联网+方式远程协作办公方式,有效促进疫情应急管理科学化,在疫情在线干预防控工作中起到了积极作用。     

Febrile convulsions increase risk of Tourette syndrome

PurposeFebrile convulsion (FC) and Tourette syndrome (TS) are both common neurological disorders in infants and children. Both disorders share clinical similarities, such as paroxysmal symptoms with normal neurodevelopment and expected remission over time. This population-based study investigated the association between FC with TS during childhood neurodevelopment.MethodWe used the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database to conduct a retrospective cohort analysis on 1586 FC patients. A reference cohort of 6344 non-FC patients, matched for age, sex, urbanization level, parental occupation, and index year, was used for comparison. The risk of the occurrence of TS in FC patients was assessed using a Cox proportional hazard regression model.ResultsThe overall incidence of TS was higher in the FC cohort than in the non-FC cohort (28.5 vs 13.9 per 10,000 person-years; adjusted hazard ratio = 1.91, 95% confidence interval = 1.32–2.75). The associated risk factors for FC patients to develop TS were boys, children living in rural areas, and children whose parents held blue-collar positions. Moreover, the risk of TS in FC patients rose from 0.89 to 16.0 (trend test P < 0.0001) when the frequency of FC-related medical visits increased from 1 to 2 times to more than 4 times. The adjusted hazard ratio for TS in related to FC-related medical visits was 1.02 (95% CI = 1.02–1.03) per one frequency increment.ConclusionFC may increase the risk of subsequent TS occurrence in children. Children who had frequent medical visits for FC were particularly vulnerable.     

A federal perspective on EAPs and emergency preparedness

Federal Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) have a long history of intervention in emergency situations, and their role has expanded since September 11, 2001. There is considerable evidence on the importance of organizational factors such as social support in protecting disaster victims from the psychological effects of trauma. The authors recommend that EAPs become integrally involved in organizations' emergency planning processes, so that such supports can be built into all aspects of plans. EA professionals should function as organizational consultants, not simply as helpers who will eventually care for those affected. Two federally based case studies provide examples of EA professionals who have successfully used such an approach in their respective organizations.