Impotence: Etiology and Management

There has never been a more favorable outlook for the patient with impotence. In the current climate of growing interest and candor regarding human sexuality, patients Eire more inclined to seek help, and physicians and other therapists are better informed. Improved understanding of pathophysiology and psychosexuality has enhanced the effectiveness of new approaches to treatment.     

A Nutrition Management Model for Long Term Care Part IInutnutr

No abstract available for this article.     

An Evaluation of the Nutrition Services for the Elderly

No abstract available for this article.     

BOOK REVIEWS

No abstract available for this article.     

The ABC's of Nutritional Assessment in Older Adults

No abstract available for this article.     

老年人肺癌外科治疗

 目的　总结老年人肺癌外科诊治经验。方法　 64例肺癌患者经胸部X -线和CT检查、诊断性抗炎抗痨治疗、支气管镜检查和剖胸手术中快速病理诊断 ,以及同时进行肺癌的手术治疗。结果　肺癌切除率 90 .8% ,无手术死亡 ,2例出现呼吸衰竭 ,需延长呼吸器辅助时间。结论　老年肺癌患者经认真术前准备 ,及时采取微创手术治疗 ,加强术后处理是提高手术疗效的关键     

Strategies for Preventing Distractions and Interruptions in the OR

Stakeholders in the automotive industry, airline industry, and anesthesia profession have identified critical periods of time in which distractions and interruptions of normal processes can have devastating effects. Just as reducing distractions improves safety in an automobile or airplane cockpit, limiting distractions and interruptions during critical times in the perioperative setting can increase patient safety. We assessed perioperative nurses and identified what they perceived as critical phases of nursing care. We also worked with our anesthesia partners to address their concerns about interruptions during the administration of nerve blocks. The perioperative nurses at our hospital initiated strategies to reduce distractions or interruptions to their practice at critical points, and, in collaboration with surgical committee members, we developed strategies to reduce or eliminate distractions for anesthesia professionals during the preoperative administration of nerve blocks and to eliminate distractions for the RN circulator and scrub person during the final counts.     

Introducing the editorial board

One of the most important contributions made to any medical journal is that of its board of editorial consultants. In the February issue we began to lntroduce the members of our Editorial Board. Each month we will publish brief profiles of a few more of these distinguished physicians so that ali of you may become a little more familiar with th ose whose dedicated labor does so much to make this journal possible.     

Hand Hygiene in Emergency Medical Services

Abstract

Background. Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) affect millions of patients annually (World Health Organization. Guidelines on Hand Hygiene in Healthcare. Geneva: WHO Press; 2009). Hand hygiene compliance of clinical staff has been identified by numerous studies as a major contributing factor to HAIs around the world. Infection control and hand hygiene in the prehospital environment can also contribute to patient harm and spread of infections. Emergency medical services (EMS) practitioners are not monitored as closely as hospital personnel in terms of hand hygiene training and compliance. Their ever-changing work environment is less favorable to traditional hospital-based aseptic techniques and education. Methods. This study aimed to determine the current state of hand hygiene practices among EMS providers and to provide recommendations for improving practices in the emergency health services environment. This study was a prospective, observational prevalence study and survey, conducted over a 2-month period. We selected participants from visits to three selected hospital emergency departments in the mid-Atlantic region. There were two data components to the study: a participant survey and hand swabs for pathogenic cultures. Results. This study recruited a total sample of 62 participants. Overall, the study revealed that a significant number of EMS providers (77%) have a heavy bacterial load on their hands after patient care. All levels of providers had a similar distribution of bacterial load. Survey results revealed that few providers perform hand hygiene before (34%) or in between patients (24%), as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. Conclusion. This study demonstrates that EMS providers are potential vectors of microorganisms if proper hand hygiene is not performed properly. Since EMS providers treat a variety of patients and operate in a variety of environments, providers may be exposed to potentially pathogenic organisms, serving as vectors for the exposure of their patients to these same organisms. Proper application of accepted standards for hand hygiene can help reduce the presence of microbes on provider hands and subsequent transmission to patients and the environment.     

Abstracts for the 2008 NAEMSP Scientific Assembly

Abstract

Objectives. To date, most patient safety studies have been conducted in relation to the hospital rather than the prehospital setting and data regarding emergency medical services (EMS)-related errors are limited. To address this gap, a study was conducted to gain an in-depth understanding of the views of highly experienced EMS practitioners, educators, administrators, and physicians on major issues pertaining to EMS patient safety. The intent of the study was to identify key issues to give direction to the development of best practices in education, policy, and fieldwork. Methods. A qualitative study was conducted using processes described by Lincoln and Guba (1985) to enhance the quality and credibility of data and analysis. Purposive sampling was used to identify informants with knowledge and expertise regarding policy, practice, and research who could speak to the issue of patient safety. Sixteen participants, the majority of whom were Canadian, participated in in-depth interviews. Results. Two major themes were identified under the category of key issues: clinical decision making and EMS's focus and relationship with health care. An education gap has developed in EMS, and there is tension between the traditional stabilize-and-transport role and the increasingly complex role that has come about through “scope creep.” If, as expected, EMS aligns increasingly with the health sector, then change is needed in the EMS educational structure and process to develop stronger clinical decision-making skills. Conclusion. The results of this study indicate that many individual organizations and health regions are addressing issues related to patient safety in EMS, and there are important lessons to be learned from these groups. The broader issues identified, however, are system-wide and best addressed through policy change from health regions and government.