MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'departments'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:27:10 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4911464&cid=t_92187_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FYbQmO1Im2Eg%2F By Tad DeHavenLast week, the House passed a $40.6 billion Homeland Security appropriations bill for fiscal 2012. The Constitutional Authority Statement for the bill cited Congress’s authority to appropriate money and the General Welfare Clause. Citing the General Welfare Clause might be appropriate for activities associated with the common defense of the nation. However, it is not an appropriate justification for something like the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant program, which distributes federal taxpayer money to local fire departments. Firefighting is a purely local concern and should be funded by those who benefit from a local fire department’s services. Why in the world am I paying federal taxes in Pennsylvania to a bureaucracy in Washingto... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4911464 Tue, 07 Jun 2011 12:40:45 +0100 4911464 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4361115&cid=t_92187_113_f&fid=39278&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogsite.mdbuyline.com%2F%3Fp%3D148 Over five years ago, I noticed leading-edge hospitals promoting service lines on their websites.  Now, almost 50% of hospitals have adopted some form a service line/product line management.  So, what’s the benefit for the hospital or the patient in this new iteration of healthcare?  An excellent article I read, “The Hospital That Could Cure Healthcare,” discussed the Cleveland Clinics’ 2006 transition to “institutes” organized by disease or organ system.  The institutes focus on coordinating care for better outcomes and reducing costs; in fact, it reduced the cost of treatment by 40% in one year.  Improving outcomes and reducing costs just by reorganizing is something worth paying attention to. Recently, I spoke to Rodger Dix, vice president of finance at Hannibal Regional... MD Buyline blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4361115 Mon, 17 Jan 2011 14:43:31 +0100 4361115 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3920778&cid=t_92187_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F08%2F31%2Fjournal-of-the-american-medical-association-2010-vol-304-no-5%2F This article aims to determine the efficacy of brief interventions addressing violence and alcohol use among adolescents presenting to an urban Emergency Department. All patients underwent a computerized baseline assessment and were randomized to a control group that received a brochure (n = 235) or a 35-minute brief intervention delivered by either a computer (n = 237) or therapist (n = 254) in the ED, with follow-up assessments at 3 and 6 months. The article concludes that among adolescents identified in the ED with self-reported alcohol use and aggression, a brief intervention resulted in a decrease in the prevalence of self-reported aggression and alcohol consequences. An NHS Athens password is required to access this article online, alternatively contact the Library for a copy o... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3920778 Tue, 31 Aug 2010 12:47:25 +0100 3920778 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3726571&cid=t_92187_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F07%2F05%2Ftrends-in-emergency-admissions-in-england-2004-%25e2%2580%2593-2009-is-greater-efficiency-breeding-inefficiency%2F Title: Trends in emergency admissions in England 2004 – 2009: is greater efficiency breeding inefficiency? Skinny: Examines the rise in emergency hospital admissions in England from 2004/05 to 2008/09 and tries to identify the possible explanations.  reasons identified include: Use of targets Ageing population Variations in practice between hospitals The report identifies a lowering of the clinical threshold for emergency admissions.  It suggests creating better out-of hospital care and preventive care to reduce the risk to patients of admission and enable expensive hospital beds to be closed. Publisher: Nuffield Trust Size of Publication: 12p. Published: 05/07/2010 Filed under: Accident and Emergency Departments, Grey Literature, Health Economics, Hospitals, NHS, Primary Care Tagged... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3726571 Mon, 05 Jul 2010 09:25:53 +0100 3726571 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3595569&cid=t_92187_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FiVzplzA4-PU%2F By Tim LynchAiyana Stanley-Jones, seven years old, was shot during a police raid on her home in Detroit. The police threw a grenade through a window and then entered as they sought a murder suspect.  Paramilitary weapons and tactics too often lead to unnecessary deaths and injuries.  Rep. John Conyers wrote a letter to the Attorney General, asking him to monitor the case.  In that letter, Conyers cites the Cato work, Overkill. That’s a start, but Conyers should go to work in the Congress and stop the Pentagon practice of selling surplus military equipment to local police departments.  More here [pdf]. Update: Radley Balko has more on this incident here. (Source: Cato-at-liberty) Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3595569 Mon, 24 May 2010 19:30:16 +0100 3595569 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3533779&cid=t_92187_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F05%2F05%2Fprimary-care-and-emergency-departments%2F Title: Primary care and Emergency Departments Skinny: Studies the impact of using primary care within or alongside Accident and Emergency. The report highlights that use of primary care clinicians in Accident and Emergency departments can benefit patients where services are integrated and clinicians work together. The findings of this report are being developed into a guide for commissioners on use of primary care clinicians with Accident and Emergency departments and this guide will be available soon. Publisher: Primary Care Foundation Size of Publication: 102p. Published: 08/03/2010 Filed under: Accident and Emergency Departments, Commissioning, Grey Literature, Hospitals, Interagency Relations, NHS, Primary Care, Quality, Urgent Care Tagged: Accident and Emergency Departments, Commissio... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3533779 Wed, 05 May 2010 06:50:02 +0100 3533779 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3415988&cid=t_92187_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F03%2F29%2Femergency-medicine-journal-2009-vol-27-no-1%2F Emergency Medicine Journal 2009 (Vol. 27, No. 1) content page Fade Fave: How have changes to out-of-hours primary care services since 2004 affected emergency department attendances at a UK District General Hospital? A longitudinal study Fade Skinny: The changes to the provision of out-of-hours primary care have been associated with an increase in patients with non-traumatic attendances presenting to our emergency department. This effect is most marked outside of office hours. (NHS Athens is required to access this article online) Filed under: Athens Password, Current Awareness, E-Journals, Journals Tagged: Accident and Emergency Departments, Athens Password, Current Awareness, E-Journals, Out of Hours, Primary Care (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3415988 Mon, 29 Mar 2010 10:54:02 +0100 3415988 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3243741&cid=t_92187_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F02%2F05%2Fmajor-trauma-care-in-england%2F Title: Major trauma care in England (Executive Summary) Skinny: National Audit Office report that finds unacceptable variation in major trauma care in England.  Care for patients who have suffered major trauma, for example following a road accident or a fall, has not significantly improved in the last 20 years despite numerous reports identifying poor practice, and services are not being delivered efficiently or effectively. Survival rates vary significantly with a range from five unexpected survivors to eight unexpected deaths per 100 trauma patients, reflecting the variable quality of care. The NAO estimates that 450 to 600 lives could be saved each year in England if major trauma care was managed more effectively. Best outcomes are delivered by services led by consultants experienced i... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3243741 Fri, 05 Feb 2010 11:53:51 +0100 3243741 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3223323&cid=t_92187_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F01%2F29%2Fobama-rules-for-mental-health-parity-issued%2F Remember the federal legislation passed in late 2008 that requires insurance companies to bring their mental health coverage in parity with their health coverage? Well, technically that law took effect 29 days ago, but the Obama administration got around today to publishing the rules that put the law into effect. The U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor and the Treasury today jointly issued new rules providing parity for consumers enrolled in group health plans who need treatment for mental health or substance use disorders. The rules are a part of the governmental process that implements the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA). First, to be clear, what the new federal law does not cover: Employers with less than ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3223323 Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:54:25 +0100 3223323 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3142485&cid=t_92187_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F01%2F04%2Fconservatives-draft-manifesto-2010-chapter-one-our-reform-plan-for-the-nhs%2F Title: Conservatives Draft Manifesto 2010 Chapter One Our Reform Plan for the NHS The Skinny: First shot in the general election campaign as the Conservative Party issue Chapter 1 of their draft manifesto which details proposed NHS Policy.  Widely presaged in the mass media over the weekend.  If elected they plan to: Scrap process targets Ensure innovation by ensuring NHS Providers become autonomous NHS Foundation Trusts Make NHS data on performance freely available to all Focus on key areas such as cancer/stroke survival and infection control Enable patient rating of the quality of services Ensure patients have choice of providers meeting NHS standards Putting patients in charge of their own records and which providers they wish to share them with Open up the NHS to private and third ... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3142485 Mon, 04 Jan 2010 21:48:24 +0100 3142485 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2610860&cid=t_92187_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F07%2F17%2Femergency-medicine-journal-2009-vol-26-no-7%2F content page Fade Fave: Predicting admission and mortality with the Emergency Severity Index and the Manchester Triage System: a retrospective observational study Fade Skinny: In recent years triage systems have frequently been used in emergency departments (EDs). In the Netherlands, the Dutch Institute for Healthcare Improvement developed a guideline in 2004 that advised all EDs in the Netherlands to implement the Manchester Triage System (MTS). Creators of the guideline preferred the MTS because it is not diagnosis-based and therefore is particularly applicable for use by nurses. After publication of the guideline, EDs started implementing the MTS and, at the end of 2006, 87% of hospitals that used a triage system had implemented the MTS while 13% used the Emergency Severity Index (ESI)... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2610860 Fri, 17 Jul 2009 08:00:41 +0100 2610860 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2464280&cid=t_92187_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FSJQ560dB0NI%2F The San Francisco Chronicle brings two great pieces today - including an excellent review of our new Book! Is Your Brain A Couch Potato? (online book review) "At 165 pages, we're talking a short, sweet, entertaining read of a complex topic, with timely (written in 1/09) reviews of 21 top technology products, as well as informed and expert predictions of where this burgeoning brain-fitness field is headed. More importantly, after you read it, you'll have a good, detailed sense of where you, personally, can act to improve your own couch-potato brain - and how to keep it fit and flexible your whole life. The SharpBrains Guide To Brain Fitness reminds of us all why books (and not just googling a topic) can be well worth your time and money. Two Stethoscopes Up - check it out." Sof... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2464280 Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:22:50 +0100 2464280 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2347782&cid=t_92187_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F5HNxxwVlass%2F At first, I thought the calendar was wrong and it must be April 1 and the White House was playing an April Fool’s joke. That seemed like the only logical explanation for a story in today’s Washington Post stating that the President wants all government departments to identify $100 million in supposed budget cuts. With 14 cabinet-level departments, that adds up to $1.4 billion of savings — and those savings almost certainly be measured against an ever-increasing budget baseline, which means that they would merely be reductions in planned increases. This is a shallow and insincere stunt to trick taxpayers. This is the same President, after all, that just squandered nearly $800 billion on a so-called stimulus bill. And this is the same President that just rammed through a $3... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2347782 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 16:15:31 +0100 2347782 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2305914&cid=t_92187_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F03%2F27%2Fcompetencies-for-recognising-and-responding-to-acutely-ill-patients-in-hospital%2F (Equality Impact Assessment) sets out a non-mandatory framework of competencies for recognising and responding to acutely ill patients in hospital. It supports NICE Guideline 50 (Acutely ill patients in Hospital - July 2007) and includes comments made during a consultation on the document that took place between March and June 2008. Posted in Accident and Emergency Departments, Competency Framework, Critical Care, Emergency Admission, Grey Literature, Hospitals, Quality Tagged: Competencies, Ctitical Care, Emergency Care, Grey Literature, Hospitals, Quality, Urgent Care (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2305914 Fri, 27 Mar 2009 16:18:43 +0100 2305914 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2039837&cid=t_92187_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F12%2F15%2Fthe-way-ahead-2008-2012%2F from the College of Emergency Medicine calls on the Government to urgently address serious workforce shortages and fund additional Emergency Medicine Consultant positions in hospitals across the UK. The report suggests Emergency Medicine Consultant posts should increase from 740 to 1500 by 2012, to ensure each Emergency Department (ED) has a qualified Emergency Medicine specialist to lead and supervise care of the highest quality, particularly in the evenings and at weekends when EDs are at their busiest with sick and injured patients. The report’s appendicies can be found below: Appendix 1: College Structures Appendix 2: Clinical Standards Appendix 3: Workforce Appendix 4: The new Staff Grade and Associate Specialist Doctors’ contract Appendix 5: Emergency Medicine in the Re... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2039837 Mon, 15 Dec 2008 17:01:36 +0100 2039837 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1829069&cid=t_92187_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F09%2F26%2Fnot-just-a-matter-of-time-a-review-of-urgent-and-emergency-care-services-in-england%2F is a service review from the Healthcare Commission to give an in-depth assessment of the performance of NHS organisations in delivering services relating to particular aspects of healthcare.  They aim to provide accountability and assurance to patients and the public that services are of high quality and give value for money, and to help trusts improve services for patients and obtain better value for money. This review considered urgent and emergency care from the point that the need for care is identified up to the point that this need is resolved, by treatment, reassurance, or admission to hospital. Follow up measures were also looked at (e.g. arranging for a falls assessment for an older person who has fallen at home). It included within its scope: urgent primary care services (prov... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1829069 Fri, 26 Sep 2008 07:21:30 +0100 1829069 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1622038&cid=t_92187_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F07%2F15%2Fjournal-of-management-marketing-in-healthcare-14%2F This study examines how technological innovation is encouraged, and discouraged, in Canada and other selected Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries, including the UK, France and the USA. The research uses The Conference Board of Canada’s Innovation Framework as an analytical tool in benchmarking the performance of Canada and other OECD countries in several areas of health innovation, including the innovation environment, and the creation, diffusion, transformation and use of knowledge. The results of this study are discouraging for Canada as it scores poorly in many important areas of technological health innovation. Substantial efforts are needed, and needed now, to revitalise health innovation systems and to refuel the capacity to commercialise heal... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1622038 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 06:27:58 +0100 1622038 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1237402&cid=t_92187_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F02%2F17%2Forganisational-factors-that-influence-waiting-times-in-emergency-departments%2F Research  from the  National Institute of Health Research presenting the organisational characteristics shared by emergency departments by identifying three factors that are strongly associated with shorter waiting times, Organisational factors that influence waiting times in emergency departments (summary) identifies the following key findings: Waiting times are a key performance target for emergency departments, with all hospitals aiming to treat and either admit, discharge or transfer people within four hours of arrival. Two significant factors that influence waiting times are the size of the department and the seriousness of cases entering the department. Three other important factors which are associated with shorter waiting times are: lower levels of sickness absence among nu... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1237402 Sun, 17 Feb 2008 04:26:30 +0100 1237402 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1068633&cid=t_92187_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2007%2F12%2F04%2Fmapping-health-care-for-the-homeless%2F The Queen’s Nursing Institute have produced ‘On The Ground: Mapping Homeless Healthcare’ a report on nursing care for the Homeless. Key findings are: One in three homeless young people have attempted suicide. Mental health problems are eight times more likely if you are homeless. Homeless people are four times more likely to use A & E Services. If a homeless person is injured it is four times more likely to be because they have been assaulted. The life expectancy for those sleeping rough is 42 – down from 47 a decade ago. (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1068633 Tue, 04 Dec 2007 13:42:23 +0100 1068633 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1041288&cid=t_92187_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2007%2F11%2F21%2Ftrauma-who-cares%2F More than half of all patients arriving in hospital with severe injuries receive poor care, according to Trauma: Who cares? an investigation from National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death (NCEPOD) which also expresses concern about the care of patients before they even reach hospital. Trauma, or serious physical injury, is a leading cause of death of young people, who may end up in hospital after a road accident or fight. It found medical staff often did not appreciate how severely ill patients were and showed little urgency over care. They also made erroneous clinical decisions. Often the problem lay with inexperienced junior staff left to manage trauma patients admitted at night. A third of patients arriving in A&E did not see a consultant there. A Self assessment... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1041288 Wed, 21 Nov 2007 11:24:24 +0100 1041288