6 Ways Your Next Hospital Visit May Bring Technology Changes

 

The continuing advances in technology serve to improve patient care and alleviate the work load of hospital workers. While some of these devices are in current use, others are in trial periods in facilities across the country.

 

Bloodless Medicine

Though regulations make transfusions relatively safe, patients may opt out of receiving blood products because of religious beliefs or concerns about safety. The innovation of bloodless medicine implements medication and technology that salvages, cleanses and extends blood volume without the need for supplementation with blood. The various techniques used in the process include minimally invasive surgery, coagulating lasers or electro-cautery instrumentation and volume extenders.

 

Remote Monitoring

In a report published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, 10 percent of the Intensive Care Unit beds in the country now have advanced systems that provide continual monitoring of critically ill patients. The systems consist of two-way television monitors and video cameras maintained at an operations center via computer, which enables nurses and physicians to monitor and interact with patients, families and other staff members.

 

Paperless Hospitals

Medical facilities are continually moving closer to becoming paperless environments. Advancements in technology include hospital automation consisting of computerized systems that create electronic forms. The systems have the capability of handling a multitude of information that extends from administration through patient care. Department and file filters ensure limited access to qualified personnel and printing options easily create hard copy replications of any file.

 

SafeStep Testing

The cost and prevalence of hospital acquired infections prompted manufacturer Getinge to create the SafeStep testing unit. The portable, hand held device is about the size of a phone and detects the presence of adenosine triphosphate, commonly called ATP. When present, the enzyme indicates living organisms. Staff members swab the areas requiring testing and insert the swab into the unit. Within 15 seconds, the device displays the results.

 

Infection Fighting Robots

Patients hospitalized at the Loyola University Health System may see three-foot tall, cylinder shaped robots rolling up and down the corridors. Equipped to emit ultraviolet light rays, the medical center uses the robots in unoccupied patient rooms and surgical suites to eliminate MRSA and other possible pathogens.

 

Closed Hospital Gowns

A hospital in Detroit recently began supplying patients with new gowns that completely close in the back and consist of a thicker material that provides added warmth. The gowns have snaps in the front that make the garment adjustable in size. Easily put on or removed, the gowns also allow for IV lines and medical equipment accessibility when needed.

 

Every year, engineers create technology that serves medical needs. The technology utilized in today’s hospitals was once only the product of minds that created science fiction.

 

Categories: bloodless medicine, changes, hospital, Medical, nbsp, patient care, Patients, safestep testing, staff members, technology, visit

6 Helpful Tips for Reducing Hospital Anxiety

 

Many people get anxious when they need to go to a hospital for treatment. Although this is a normal reaction, it is important to know that nervousness and anxiety doesn’t always have to accompany a visit to the hospital. Keep reading to learn about a few simple strategies for reducing hospital anxiety in people of all ages, and making the experience more tolerable.

 

Practice Relaxation Techniques

Relaxation techniques like progressive relaxation (tensing, then relaxing each group of muscles in turn), deep breathing and visualizing being somewhere pleasant and peaceful can reduce anxiety before and during hospital visits and medical procedures. These techniques are easy to learn and even children can practice them.

 

Use iPads, Music or Games

According to ScienceLife, a study found that using an iPad, listening to music, coloring, playing games or even just blowing bubbles reduces anxiety in children undergoing medical procedures in an emergency room setting. While the study didn’t include children outside an emergency room setting or adults, the article suggests these techniques or similar ones would probably be effective for other ages, as well.

 

Bring a Friend

Having a friend or family member present during procedures at the hospital often reduces anxiety in patients, according to the Nursing Times website. Patients can request to have a family member or friend remain with them and hospital personnel can make changes to hospital policy when needed in order to accommodate those requests and relieve anxiety.

 

Talk about the Anxiety

Talking about the source of the anxiety also helps with nervousness. Sometimes, our fears and anxiety related to the hospital visit are based on the unknown. If you are anxious about a procedure or treatment, asking the doctor or nurse about it will likely calm your fears. You might be worrying unnecessarily, and getting more information about what is going to happen can help you feel more at ease. Discuss your concerns with the doctor, and get all the facts before you start to worry about your hospital visit.

 

Don’t Be Shy

Aside from asking questions, it can also be helpful to form a bond or relationship with the nurses or doctors who will be caring for you. We tend to feel more at ease when we are around people that we are comfortable with, so if you let your doctors or nurses know about your anxiety, they will likely make efforts to help you feel more at ease. Don’t be shy about asking questions, or even asking for items that will comfort you. Of course, you don’t want to be demanding, but most hospital staff will be happy to get something for you if it will help you to feel more comfortable. Speak up about anything that is bothering you, and you won’t have to suffer through anxiety and discomfort while at the hospital.

 

Keep Parents Calm

An article published by the American Society of Nurse Anesthetists explains how children display less anxiety in hospital settings when their parents stay calm. Many of the tips for reducing hospital anxiety in patients will also help reduce anxiety in parents, like talking about the anxiety and staying informed about what is going to happen. If you are trying to keep a child calm about their hospital visit, it is important that you stay calm yourself. This is also true if you are accompanying a friend or family member on their visit.

 

As you can see, while hospital anxiety is common, you don’t have to succumb to it. By getting more information on the procedure or treatment, getting to know your doctor, openly talking about your anxiety, and finding distractions, you can let your worries wash away and be more at ease in the hospital. The information for this article was provided by the professionals of 911 Industrial Response Inc., who specialize in ambulance services in Calgary.

 

Categories: anxiety, Emergency Room, family member, hospital, hospital anxiety, hospital visit, medical procedures, reduces anxiety, reducing hospital, room setting, Tips, visit nbsp

3 Factors That Contribute to Healthcare-Associated Infections

Going to the hospital is no picnic. Just ask anyone who has recently been admitted to a health care facility. Some people dislike hospitals so much that they resist going there as much as possible. They are only forced to do so at the last minute when efforts of self-treatment fail or when a simple disease like a cold has evolved into something more complex requiring a medical professional’s help. One of the reasons why they fear the hospital could be because of healthcare-associated infections–also known as hospital acquired infections–(HAIs) which often times can prove to be more fatal than the original illness.

 

Three years ago, HAIs became a leading cause of death, which probably also increased people’s anxiety about being admitted in the hospital. However, if you pin down the factors that contribute to HAIs, then it would be a lot easier to reduce the probability of it happening. Here are some of the major factors that increase the risk of Healthcare-Associated Infections.

 

Poor Hand Hygiene

 

Hand hygiene is crucial in the hospital especially since healthcare professionals are handling multiple patients at one time. The hands are the most common medium for pathogens to transfer from patient to patient–who are all confined within the same healthcare environment. Although proper hand hygiene must be observed in any hospital or other healthcare environments, it’s so easy to forget this practice especially when things become so hectic and there are more patients than hospital staff. One way to remedy this factor is to provide a brief refresher course on how to maintain proper hygiene–especially hand hygiene–at all times. The installation of hand sanitizer dispensers outside hospital room doors is also a great way to remind the staff to cleanse first before moving on to the next patient.

 

Nurse Understaffing

 

Nurse understaffing is a reality that exists in a lot of healthcare institutions today. Due to being understaffed, nurses are sometimes forced to go on multiple straight hour shifts, leaving them burned out and driven to the point of exhaustion. This in turns affects their performance at work and in the medical industry, this is a very dangerous thing. In fact articles likethis have explained the link between nurse understaffing and increase in HAIs. The article based its findings on a study published in JAMA Pediatrics. Looking at the problem, one of the best solutions would be to hire more people to lighten the load and help each nurse perform better. This is easier said than done as most hospitals are quicker in letting go of employees than hiring new ones. Some healthcare institutions are also struggling with budget cuts, forcing them to retrench employees further understaffing their workforce. It’s not easy for healthcare professionals to work straight shifts so what they can do is to take power naps in between. Even just a short nap can help rejuvenate them rather than having any sleep at all.

 

IV Infection

 

When people get admitted in the hospital, their immune systems are already compromised, making them even more vulnerable to HAI. Their condition could take a turn for the worse when bacterial infection sets in especially when it enters the bloodstream. IV infections can be deadly like the tragic incident that happened in Alabama. One of the ways that bloodstream infection can be prevented is through the use of iv access ports that   disinfect prior to line access to prevent contamination. By doing this, the probability for cross contamination in between rooms is greatly reduced.

 

Despite your fears about HAIs, don’t let these stop you from having a proper checkup. A simple cold could turn out to be more especially if you’re not getting any better for weeks. It’s still safe to get a healthcare professional’s advice.

Categories: factors, hais, hand hygiene, healthcare, healthcare institutions, healthcare professionals, hospital, Infections, nbsp, nbsp nurse, nurse understaffing

Sick During the Holidays?: How You Can Cope

It’s not easy being sick, especially during “the most wonderful time of the year.” It’s the worst timing ever considering there’s lots of good food and you’ll be spending time with family and friends you haven’t seen in a while. But all the preparations–overtime before going on break and nonstop cooking for Christmas–can take its toll on you and before you know it, you’re down with colds or worse, the flu. The cold weather isn’t helping either. It will only take your cold or flu from bad to worse. But don’t get depressed, you can still enjoy the holidays if you make the most of it. Just take some necessary steps so that you can cope and get better sooner than later.

Get Drunk on Vitamin C

Some people dive into medicines the second they find out that they are sick. I prefer going the natural way–lots of water and loads of vitamin C. If you don’t like Vitamin C supplements, you can just drink freshly squeezed orange juice or you can eat other citrus fruits that are rich in vitamin C. Water therapy is also important so make sure you hydrate and drink a lot of water. I think the organic way is more preferable that going straight to medicines, since it can help build up your immune system and the next time you get down with a cold or flu, you might have a faster recovery time.

 

Stay Out of the Cold

As much as you relish making snow angels with your family or having snowball fights with siblings and cousins, if you’re sick, you have to sit this activity out. If you’re not a fan of the cold, then this shouldn’t be a problem. If you do love the cold, there’s always a next time and if you get better earlier, there might be just enough time for one last snowball fight. If the snow has already gone by the time you are well, you can always go to an ice skating rink with friends. A bright spot on your getting sick is that you can stay warm and toasty indoors and sip hot cocoa in front of the fireplace. Or you can catch up on your reading and curl up with a good book near the hearth.

 

Be Vigilant

If in the worst case scenario, your little cold turns out to be pneumonia, it’s safer to go to the hospital so that your condition will be monitored better. Try not to feel too depressed because your emotions can often affect the state of your health. If you are frequently depressed, your immune system will also suffer and you will be prone to sickness. Try to always look at the positive side of things. When in the hospital, be vigilant so that you won’t get hospital acquired infections (HAI). One way of preventing HAI is through the use of a needleless connector. In hospital, you will have no choice but to take the medication that your doctor prescribes for you. However, you can still reinforce this treatment with water therapy and vitamin C. Enough sleep is also a must so that your body can rest and recover sooner rather than later.

 

About the Author

Based in San Diego California, Tiffany Matthews is a professional writer with over 5 years of writing experience. She also blogs about travel, fashion, and anything under the sun at wordbaristas.com, a group blog that she shares with her good friends. In her free time, she likes to travel, read books, and watch movies. You can find her on Twitter as @TiffyCat87.

Categories: cope, holidays, hospital, sick, time, vitamin, Water, water therapy

How to Improve Patient Satisfaction in Radiology Departments

Among the many provisions of the Affordable Care Act is a new focus on patient satisfaction. The bill ties provider reimbursements from Medicare to their ability to maintain high levels of patient satisfaction, which is seen as one of the drivers of quality care.

 

And as the cornerstone of many hospitals and physician practices, radiology services play a major role in patient satisfaction. While it’s virtually impossible to make everyone happy every time, there are several tactics that radiology departments and practices can use to ensure patients feel they have received quality care.

 

Identify the Right Satisfaction Drivers

The first step to improving patient satisfaction is to know what makes patients happy about your service. Understanding your patients’ expectations, and what causes them to complain, will help you more effectively develop an improvement plan. There’s no sense in investing a great amount of time, energy and money into improving aspects of your practice that are already working well. Plus, making assumptions about what your patients expect can backfire on you. You can identify the most relevant drivers via surveys and comments during office visits; you can then prioritize your improvement efforts to address the most significant concerns or themes.

 

Create a Satisfaction Plan

Without a comprehensive plan for improving patient satisfaction, you will have a difficult time determining whether you’ve been successful in your efforts or whether it’s time to make additional adjustments. Using the results of surveys, determine the current state of patient satisfaction and where you would like to be. For example, if your patient satisfaction ratings currently average three out of five stars, a reasonable goal would be to raise that ranking to four out of five stars in six months. With a goal in mind and knowledge of what’s making your patients unhappy, you can then design an action plan to address those issues and gain the support of key stakeholders in the organization.

 

Use Teleradiology to Build Volume

One of the most common complaints among patients about radiology departments, from both patients and physicians, is the amount of time it takes to process images and report results. Particularly in hospitals, where radiology volume can fluctuate significantly in a matter of minutes, it can be difficult to accurately determine staffing needs on a day-to-day basis. That’s why implementing teleradiology services and using the capabilities of qualified professionals who offer accurate readings at any time of day or night can make a significant difference in your satisfaction ratings. Rather than waiting up to several hours for in-house radiologists to get to their images, patients can have answers sooner. Doctors can then develop treatment plans more quickly and efficiently.

 

Work With Staff

Because patient satisfaction often comes down to the staff, and specifically interactions with staff, it’s important to include them in the planning process and provide training in the action items you’re implementing. It may also be helpful to conduct staff observations, watching interactions between patients and staff to determine any areas that are a cause for concern and providing feedback — or corrective action — when necessary. However, remember that it’s important to get your staff’s feedback and input into any new processes or initiatives. Educate them on the need to make changes, but allow them to provide insight into why things are the way they are. Your staff is on the front lines and can alert you to problems or processes that are impacting satisfaction that you may have not even thought of yet.

 

Improve Communication

Finally, communication is the cornerstone of any patient satisfaction improvement initiative. In many cases, patients cite a lack of communication, or how people communicate, as a reason for their dissatisfaction with a particular provider or practice. You could be the most accomplished and competent radiologist in the world, but if you are rude or unpleasant to patients, it will be reflected in your satisfaction scores. For that reason, include communication initiatives in your improvement plan and brainstorm ways you can more effectively communicate with your staff and your patients.

 

With so much riding on patients’ perceptions of their care, it’s important to make patient satisfaction a top priority. Listen to your patients and address their concerns, and you should see a significant increase in the number of people who feel your services are of the highest quality.

 

About the Author: Darren Dodge is the director of business development for ONRAD, Inc.

Categories: hospital, patient satisfaction, radiology

Could Giving Birth at Home be Safer than Hospital?

Home births are on the rise in the UK, and now account for around 2.5% of all births. This is, however, still much lower than in the Netherlands, where family wellness statistics show that around 20% of babies are born at home.

 

Supporters of home birth claim that, as long as the home birth is planned and attended by medical professionals, giving birth at home is actually less risky than giving birth in hospital, especially for those who are giving birth for the second time.

 

A large study was conducted in Holland, which found that severe complications (where the wellness and wellbeing of mother and baby was dangerously compromised) occurred in around one in 1,000 home births and 2.3 per 1,000 hospital births. This is thought to be strong evidence that giving birth at home is actually safer than giving birth in the hospital.

 

Leading doctors in the UK, however, warn that the system for giving birth in the Netherlands is entirely different to what is in place in the UK, and that these statistics do not directly translate for UK home births.

 

They also warn that the statistics may be fatally skewed by the fact that only women who are low risk in the first place are allowed to give birth at home, meaning that cases of complications in hospital births are inevitably going to be higher, as that is where women who are higher risk give birth. They also warn that although the complications are less frequent for home births, the repercussions of such complications (such as haemorrhage) are more severe in home birth cases, as immediate medical attention is not available without an ambulance ride.

 

Although statistics from the Netherlands look encouraging for those who are pro home birth, even the researchers themselves warn that having good home birth figures relies strongly on having a very good selection system in place, to make sure that high risk women do not birth at home, have good transport in place for cases of emergency, and to have plenty of well qualified and highly trained midwives, something that the UK fails to deliver.

Categories: birth, Home, hospital

3 Ways to Avoid the Spread of Infection in the Hospital

We’ve often heard the adage that “Health is wealth.” No matter how much money you accumulate, it’s useless when you are sickly. If you are constantly sick, you will end up spending most of your money on medicine and hospital bills. If you are a healthcare professional, then all the more that you should watch out for your health. You will be exposed to people with different diseases so it’s important that you build up your immune system to fight off infection. Look through these steps and learn how you can avoid the spread of infection in the hospital.

 

Wash Your Hands Frequently

 

When you’re in the medical industry and you’re working with other healthcare professionals, it’s important that you wash your hands frequently. How often should you wash? Wash your hands before and after every procedure you have. It may sound a little obsessive-compulsive but in this line of work, this is actually a good thing. Better safe and clean than sorry. Another thing you may wonder about is how long should you wash your hands? An aunt of mine told me about a technique in handwashing which is pretty simple. Just finish singing the happy birthday song while washing your hands. If you think this method is too simplistic for you, here is a more thorough guide in the medical handwashing technique. You should also take a bath after your shift at the hospital.

 

Get an Immunity Boost the Healthy Way

 

One of the best ways to avoid sickness is through prevention. Healthcare professionals should do what they can to boost their immunity like taking multivitamins. Getting enough rest is vital but it is challenge for those who go on 24 to 36-hour shifts. If they can, doctors should take little naps in the lounge provided for them. Another way that will help them build up their immune system is to eat fruits and vegetables and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Try to insert some exercise in between duty hours. Learn some yoga exercises so you can de-stress and strengthen your inner core. Going organic also helps you detox and gives you more energy to do a lot of things.You should also look for healthier alternatives like cinnamon and honey, which have intensive healing properties and help you fight disease.

 

Make Use of Gadgets that Help Prevent Infection

 

If ever you are working with an immunocompromised patient, wear a face mask to protect him or her especially if you feel you are coming down with a cold. Those with flu should avoid face masks to avoid spreading it to other people. Should you ever find the tables reversed and find yourself the patient and you are required to be admitted in the hospital, you should take precautionary measures yourself so you won’t catch another infection. If you need to have an IV, the Curos® Port Protector will help fight infection as it aids in effectively disinfecting the IV access port. Being a patient isn’t easy. The least you can do is to keep an eye out for your welfare so you can avoid circumstances that will complicate your condition and worsen whatever ailment you have.

 

About the Author

Based in San Diego California, Tiffany Matthews is a professional writer with over 5 years of writing experience. She also blogs about travel, fashion, and anything under the sun at wordbaristas.com, a group blog that she shares with her good friends. In her free time, she likes to travel, read books, and watch movies. You can find her on Twitter as @TiffyCat87.

Categories: health, hospital, infection

Hospital Jobs, where to apply and how to get them

Luckily Hospital jobs are widely available in every major city and town…. It just depends on whether you are looking for a job in an entry level position or something much higher up in the Hospital.

If you have only got a certain amount of education, i.e. you finished after high school then there are a lot of opportunities  for positions in hospitals as patient transporters, Food Services, and mail room support.  All of the above tend to be a very popular choice so don’t restrict yourself, remember, there is no harm in applying.

What these positions offer is the ability to ‘get your foot in the door’ of the world of Hospital Jobs.  They can also be a rewarding opportunity to earn an income if you are pursuing higher education.  Hospitals have to be one of the highest regarded ‘equal opportunity employer’.  A large majority of the entry level positions are open to mentally and physically challenged individuals who may struggle to find employment in other establishments.

One of the other benefits of Hospital Jobs is that most of them are offered on both Full-Time and Part-Time levels.  Of course it depends on the position you are looking to get but shifts normally cover either 20 or 40 hours per week.  However, it is important to remember that you will generally need to work some weekends and will normally include call schedules which may see you working through the night.

If you are leaning towards a residency or internships in a Hospital then get ready to work hours well in excess of the 40 you would get in the outside world.  You will also be expected to work every other weekend, nights and be available to be on-call.  On the flipside of this type of position the Office based Hospital Jobs tend to be a much more acceptable 20 or 40 hour week in sociable hours.

You could be looking towards becoming a Hospital Technician or Lab worker and these positions normally run in shifts covering early morning, afternoon & night time shifts.

If you have followed the education route in life then there are opportunities to forward your studies and experience.  There are nursing, and research positions available in most hospitals around the country.  These jobs tend to require a minimum level of skill but will be largely dependent on the position and can range from a nursing assistant through to a Laboratory Researcher.  On the administrative level, you could look towards secretarial or accounting through to Hospital Management if your education fits this kind of work.

There will also be Hospital Jobs available for PR, Marketing and higher finance positions depending on your qualifications.

If you have proceeded through an advanced degree in medicine then Well Done!  You are primed to get a Hospital Job as a physician.  These types of positions tend to offer opportunities to medical school graduates to train in specialist areas such as Cardiology, Orthopaedics, Surgery and internal medicine.  Once you have been through your internship and residency you may find that a position is offered at the place you trained.

Hospital Jobs are always in high demand and finding a specialist recruitment office within your local hospital.  If you are in America thenusing sites like www.hospitaljobs.us.com can be very beneficial as they list all the latest positions in pretty much every hospital in the US.

Categories: hospital, Hospital Job, Hospital Technician

Sectioning: What is it and Who Does it Affect?

Roughly 10% of people will experience some form of mental health problem at any time. For a small minority of people, mental health problems can have such an impact on wellness that life becomes overwhelming. When this happens to you, you can have difficulty making decisions about your treatment and find yourself in situations that put your wellbeing at risk, as well as those around you.

Roughly six in every 1,000 with mental health problems will need to be admitted to hospital, but not all of these will be admitted using one of the sections of the Mental Health Act. Using a section, or sectioning, is only ever used as a last resort. In order to ensure safety and effective treatment, the Act makes it clear only the minimum amount of restriction can be used and it doesn’t mean the person cannot take decisions about other areas of their life, as this is covered by the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

The most recent amendments to the Mental Health Act were made in 2007, but the act was originally passed in 1959. According to the latest amendments, doctors are still needed for some decisions, but the scope has been widened for other mental health professionals to be in charge of a person’s care or to take decisions about the use of a section. This means that clinical psychologists, occupational therapists, social workers and nurses have a role in sectioning.

There are various sections, and the one used will determine the amount of time you can be held in hospital and what can be done without your consent. Section two, for example, is used for assessing you and can only detain you for 28 days, whilst some sections only allow you to be held for 72 hours, often in an emergency situation, and others can last for up to a year.

There is a right of appeal for most sections, in which you can ask for a hearing by the hospital managers and also the Mental Health Review Tribunal. The 2007 amendments also established Independent mental health advocates. These are professionals who work with you to ensure that your voice is being heard, the minimum of restrictions are being imposed and the maximum amount of choice is being made available you.

Sectioning: What is it and Who Does it Affect?

Categories: Decisions, health, health act, health problems, hospital, mental, Mental Health, Mental Health Act, Sectioning, sections

Birmingham Hospital Pioneers Asthma Treatment

It is too often a familiar story: struggling desperately to try to breathe, Anthony McGuinness sees his life flash before him. He was suffering from another asthma attack – and this one seemed to be as deadly as the others if not worse. The father-of-three, who is from New Oscott, Birmingham, was rushed immediately to hospital where he underwent life-saving treatment. But when things started to get wrong the medical staff had to resort to giving him the powerful horse tranquilliser Ketamine.

“I had an attack at home and called 999,” says Anthony, who suffers from the serious condition called Brittle Asthma. An ambulance came and rushed me to hospital where I stabilised and was expected to get better. But through the night my breathing deteriorated and when I woke up a nurse was sitting on my bed. Unbeknownst to me she had been listening to my breathing for a while.”

Within minutes I had three doctors from intensive care and a nurse around my bed who said I had not had a good night and needed to go to intensive care. My breathing deteriorated again and I was gasping so they gave me intravenous medication. But it still wasn’t working so I was given Ketamine. They actually give it to horses, it is quite a powerful drug”.

Since the very worrying incident where he was given the drug, the budding actor has made remarkable strides with his condition. That is all thanks to a new device that is being used at Birmingham’s Heartlands Hospital to monitor sufferers of asthma.

The device works by monitoring the levels of nitric oxide that is in exhaled breath, which is essential for diagnosing the condition and determining the amount of prescribed steroids that should be given to a patient.

Birmingham Hospital Pioneers Asthma Treatment

Categories: Asthma, birmingham, Breathing, breathing deteriorated, condition, hospital, intensive care, treatment