Senior citizens most at risk of infections because they are most frequent patients

By Bara Vaida, Kaiser Health News

July 14, 2011 – Just as airline pilots are required to use safety checklists before taking off, so should medical
facilities who are treating people on an outpatient basis, said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday.

The CDC issued a new set of

safety checklist guidelines to reduce outpatient infections because it has found that multiple facilities arent adhering to standard
infection prevention practices.

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Patients deserve the same levels of protection in a hospital or any other health care setting, said Michael Bell,
deputy director of the CDCs division of health care quality promotion.

Repeated outbreaks resulting from unsafe practices, along with
breaches of infection control noted in ambulatory surgical centers during inspections by the (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services)
indicate the need for better infection prevention.

The CDC estimates that more than 2 million hospital-acquired infections occur in U.S. hospitals each year, and as many as
99,000 patients who get these infections die as a result. That has spurred hospitals to adopt safety checklists for their patients, through
programs such as the
Comprehensive Unit-based Safety Program, a joint venture led by several non-profit groups and hospitals to improve patient safety, and the
World Health Organizations

surgical safety list.

Now the CDC has a recommended checklist for outpatients facilities such as non-hospital based clinics, physician offices,
urgent care centers, outpatient surgical centers, public health clinics, imaging centers, oncology clinics, as well as hospital-based
outpatient departments. The agency said that more than 75 percent of all operations are performed in these outpatient centers.

Press Release from CDC (July 13, 2011)

CDC Releases Infection Prevention Guide to Promote Safe Outpatient Care

Guide details minimum expectations for safe care, recommends every practice identify an infection prevention leader

Medical care in outpatient settings has surged in recent years, yet in many cases, adherence to standard infection
prevention practices in outpatient settings is lacking. To protect patients and help educate clinicians about minimum expectations of safe
care, the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention today released a new, concise guide and checklist specifically for health care providers in outpatient care settings such
as endoscopy clinics, surgery centers, primary care offices, and pain management clinics.

“Patients deserve the same basic levels of protection in a hospital or any other health care setting,” said
Michael Bell,
M.D., deputy director of CDC’s Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion. “Failure to follow standard precautions, such as correct
injection practices, cannot be tolerated. Repeated outbreaks resulting from unsafe practices, along with breaches of infection control noted
in ambulatory surgical centers during inspections by the
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid

, indicate the need for better infection
prevention across our entire health care system, including outpatient settings.”

The Guide to Infection Prevention for Outpatient Settings: Minimum Expectations for Safe Care is based on
existing, evidence-based CDC guidelines that apply to a wide range of health care facilities but are mostly used by hospitals. The
easy-to-reference guide is accompanied by an Infection Prevention Checklist for Outpatient Settings and supporting materials including a new,
no-cost, certified continuing medical education course titled
Unsafe Injection
Practices: Outbreaks, Incidents, and Root Causes

and offered on Medscape.org for clinicians in
all health care settings. The video course was developed in collaboration with the Safe Injection Practices Coalition, a partnership of health
care-related organizations formed to promote safe injection practices in all U.S. health care settings.

Among other important recommendations, the guide states that all outpatient practices should ensure that at least one
individual with specific training in infection control is on staff or regularly available. This individual should be involved in developing a
written infection control policy and have regular communication with health care providers to address specific issues or concerns.

The guide and supporting materials can be used for internal assessment within a facility or practice. They complement
ongoing work by CDC and CMS to integrate CDC guidelines into CMS surveys used during inspections of outpatient settings including ambulatory
surgery centers.

Outpatient settings, facilities where patients do not stay overnight, include non-hospital based clinics and physician
offices, urgent care centers, outpatient surgical centers, public health clinics, imaging centers, oncology clinics, outpatient behavioral
health and substance abuse clinics, physical therapy and rehabilitation centers, as well as hospital-based outpatient departments and clinics.

More than three-quarters of all operations in the United States are performed at outpatient facilities. In addition,
between 1995 and 2007, the average person made three visits each year to physician offices. By 2007, the total number of physician office
visits approached 1 billion. Vulnerable patient populations make up a significant portion of health care users, and it is critical that care
be provided under conditions that minimize the risk of health care-associated infections (HAIs).

These new materials reinforce that health care personnel should always:

     ? Follow procedures for the safe handling of potentially contaminated medical equipment
     ? Ensure safe medical injection practices are followed

Outpatient facilities and practices should:

     ? Develop and maintain infection prevention and occupational health programs

     ? Ensure that at least one individual with training in infection control is employed by or regularly available to
the facility. This person should be responsible for overseeing the facility’s infection prevention program

     ? Develop written infection-prevention policies and procedures appropriate for the services provided by the facility
and based upon evidence-based guidelines, regulations, or standards

     ? Provide job- or task-specific infection prevention education and training to all health care personnel

     ? Make sure sufficient and appropriate supplies necessary for adherence to standard precautions are available

     ? Perform regular audits and competency evaluations of staff’s adherence to infection prevention practices

     ? Utilize CDC’s infection prevention checklist for outpatient settings to assess infection control practices

     ? Adhere to local, state, and federal requirements regarding HAI surveillance, reportable diseases, and outbreak
reporting

To access the guide, checklist, and supporting materials including the CME course, CDC and external commentary about the
guide, clinician and patient education materials, a CDC Safe Surgery feature, and additional information, please visit

http://www.cdc.gov/HAI/settings/outpatient/outpatient-settings.html.

     

Outpatient Care Checklist: Personnel and Patient-care Observations

The

Infection Prevention Checklist for Outpatient Settings: Minimum Expectations for Safe Care
[PDF 538 KB] is a companion to the

Guide to Infection Prevention for Outpatient Settings: Minimum Expectations for
Safe Care. The checklist should be used:

1. To ensure that the facility has appropriate
   infection prevention policies and procedures in place and supplies to allow healthcare personnel to provide safe care.

2. To systematically assess personnel adherence to
   correct infection prevention practices.
   (Assessment of adherence should be conducted by direct observation of healthcare personnel during the performance of their duties.)

Facilities using this checklist
should identify all procedures performed in their ambulatory setting and refer to appropriate sections to conduct their evaluation. Certain
sections may not apply (e.g., some settings may not perform sterilization or high-level disinfection).

If the answer to any of the listed
questions is No, efforts should be made to correct the practice, appropriately educate healthcare personnel (if applicable), and
determine why the correct practice was not being performed. Consideration should also be made for determining the risk posed to patients by
the deficient practice.

Certain infection control lapses
(e.g., re-use of syringes on more than one patient or to access a medication container that is used for subsequent patients; re-use of
lancets) can result in bloodborne pathogen transmission and should be halted immediately. Identification of such lapses warrants immediate
consultation with the state or local health department and appropriate notification and testing of potentially affected patients.

Infection
Prevention Checklist
I. Administrative Policies and Facility Practices

3. Occupational Health

Practice Performed

If answer is No, document plan for remediation

1. HCP are trained on the OSHA bloodborne pathogen standard upon hire and at least annually

Yes No

2. The facility maintains a log of needlesticks, sharps injuries, and other employee
   exposure events

Yes No

3. Following an exposure event, post-exposure evaluation and follow-up, including
   prophylaxis as appropriate, are available at no cost to employee and are supervised by a licensed healthcare professional

Yes No

4. Hepatitis B vaccination is available at no cost to all employees who are at risk of
   occupational exposure

Yes No

5. Post-vaccination screening for protective levels of hepatitis B surface antibody is
   conducted after third vaccine dose is administered

Yes No

6. All HCP are offered annual influenza vaccination at no cost

Yes No

7. All HCP who have potential for exposure to tuberculosis (TB) are screened for TB upon
   hire and annually (if negative)

Yes No

8. The facility has a respiratory protection program that details required worksite-specific
   procedures and elements for required respirator use

Yes No

9. Respiratory fit testing is provided at least annually to appropriate HCP

Yes No

10. Facility has written protocols for managing/preventing job-related and community-acquired
    infections or important exposures in HCP, including notification of appropriate Infection Prevention and Occupational Health
    personnel when applicable

Yes No

 
For
additional guidance on occupational health recommendations consult the following resource(s):

     


Guideline for Infection Control in Healthcare Personnel

[PDF - 285 KB]

     


Immunization of HealthCare Personnel

     


Occupational Safety Health Administration (OSHA) Bloodborne Pathogens and
Needlestick Prevention Standards

5. Hand Hygiene

Practice Performed

If answer is No, document plan for remediation

1. The facility provides supplies necessary for adherence to hand hygiene (e.g., soap,
   water, paper towels, alcohol-based hand rub) and ensures they are readily accessible to HCP in patient care areas

Yes No

2. HCP are educated regarding appropriate indications for hand washing with soap and water
   versus hand rubbing with alcohol-based hand rub
   (Note: Soap and water should be used when bare hands are visibly soiled (e.g., blood,
   body fluids) or after caring for a patient with known or suspected infectious diarrhea (e.g., Clostridium difficile or norovirus).
   In all other situations, alcohol-based hand rub may be used.)

Yes No

3. The facility periodically monitors and records adherence to hand hygiene and provides
   feedback to personnel regarding their performance

Examples of

tools used to record adherence to hand hygiene

Yes No

 
For
additional guidance on hand hygiene and resources for training and measurement of adherence, consult the following resource(s).

     


Guideline for Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings

[PDF - 298 KB]

     

Hand
Hygiene in Healthcare Settings

     
List of

tools that can be used to measure adherence to hand hygiene

6. Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE)

Practice Performed

If answer is No, document plan for remediation

1. The facility has sufficient and appropriate PPE available and readily accessible to HCP

Yes No

2. HCP receive training on proper selection and use of PPE

Yes No

 
For
additional guidance on personal protective equipment consult the following resource(s):

     


2007 Guidelines for Isolation Precautions: Preventing Transmission of Infectious Agents in Healthcare Settings

7. Injection Safety

Practice Performed

If answer is No, document plan for remediation

1. Medication purchasing decisions at the facility reflect selection of vial sizes that most
   appropriately fit the procedure needs of the facility and limit need for sharing of multi-dose vials

Yes No

2. Injections are required to be prepared using aseptic technique in a clean area free from
   contamination or contact with blood, body fluids or contaminated equipment

Yes No

3. Facility has policies and procedures to track HCP access to controlled substances to
   prevent narcotics theft/diversion

Yes No

 
For
additional guidance on injection safety consult the following resource(s):

     


2007 Guidelines for Isolation Precautions: Preventing Transmission of Infectious Agents in Healthcare Settings

     

CDC’s Injection
Safety Website

     


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding Safe Practices for Medical Injections

     


CDC training video and related Safe Injection Practices Campaign materials

8. Respiratory
Hygiene/Cough Etiquette

Practice Performed

If answer is No, document plan for remediation

1. The facility has policies and procedures to contain respiratory secretions in persons who
   have signs and symptoms of a respiratory infection, beginning at point of entry to the facility and continuing through the
   duration of the visit. Policies include:

Yes No

1. Posting signs at entrances (with instructions to patients with symptoms of respiratory
   infection to cover their mouths/noses when coughing or sneezing, use and dispose of tissues, and perform hand hygiene after hands
   have been in contact with respiratory secretions.)

Yes No

2. Providing tissues and no-touch receptacles for disposal of tissues

Yes No

3. Providing resources for performing hand hygiene in or near waiting areas

Yes No

4. Offering facemasks to coughing patients and other symptomatic persons upon entry to the
   facility

Yes No

5. Providing space and encouraging persons with symptoms of respiratory infections to sit as
   far away from others as possible. If available, facilities may wish to place these patients in a separate area while waiting for
   care

Yes No

2. The facility educates HCP on the importance of infection prevention measures to contain
   respiratory secretions to prevent the spread of respiratory pathogens when examining and caring for patients with signs and
   symptoms of a respiratory infection.

Yes No

 
For
additional guidance on respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette consult the following resource(s):

     


2007 Guidelines for Isolation Precautions: Preventing Transmission of Infectious Agents in Healthcare Settings

     


Recommendations for preventing the spread of influenza

9. Environmental
Cleaning

Practice Performed

If answer is No, document plan for remediation

1. Facility has written policies and procedures for routine cleaning and disinfection of
   environmental services, including identification of responsible personnel

Yes No

2. Environmental services staff receive job-specific training and competency validation at
   hire and when procedures/policies change

Yes No

3. Training and equipment are available to ensure that HCP wear appropriate PPE to preclude
   exposure to infectious agents or chemicals (PPE can include gloves, gowns, masks, and eye protection)

Yes No

4. Cleaning procedures are periodically monitored and assessed to ensure that they are
   consistently and correctly performed

Yes No

5. The facility has a policy/procedure for decontamination of spills of blood or other body
   fluids

Yes No

 
For
additional guidance on environmental cleaning consult the following resource(s):

     


Guidelines for Environmental Infection Control in Healthcare Facilities

[PDF - 285 KB]

10. Reprocessing of
Reusable Instruments and Devices

Practice Performed

If answer is No, document plan for remediation

1. Facility has policies and procedures to ensure that reusable medical devices are cleaned
   and reprocessed appropriately prior to use on another patient (Note: This includes clear delineation of responsibility among HCP.)

Yes No

2. Policies, procedures, and manufacturer reprocessing instructions for reusable medical
   devices used in the facility are available in the reprocessing area(s)

Yes No

3. HCP responsible for reprocessing reusable medical devices are appropriately trained and
   competencies are regularly documented (at least annually and when new equipment is introduced)

Yes No

4. Training and equipment are available to ensure that HCP wear appropriate PPE to prevent
   exposure to infectious agents or chemicals (PPE can include gloves, gowns, masks, and eye protection). (Note: The exact type of
   PPE depends on infectious or chemical agent and anticipated type of exposure.)

Yes No

 
The above
basic information allows for a general assessment of policies and procedures related to reprocessing of reusable medical devices.
Ambulatory facilities that are providing on-site sterilization or high-level disinfection of reusable medical equipment should refer
to the more detailed checklists related to sterilization and high-level disinfection in separate sections of this document devoted to
those issues.

Critical items (e.g., surgical instruments) are objects
that enter sterile tissue or the vascular system and must be sterile prior to use (see Sterilization Section).

Semi-critical items (e.g. , endoscopes for upper endoscopy and colonoscopy,
vaginal probes) are objects that contact mucous membranes or non-intact skin and require, at a minimum, high-level disinfection prior
to reuse (see High-level Disinfection Section).

Non-critical items (e.g., blood pressure cuffs) are objects that may come in
contact with intact skin but not mucous membranes and should undergo cleaning and low- or intermediate-level disinfection depending on
the nature and degree of contamination.

Single-use devices (SUDs) are labeled by the manufacturer for a single use
and do not have reprocessing instructions. They may not be reprocessed for reuse except by entities which have complied with FDA
regulatory requirements and have received FDA clearance to reprocess specific SUDs.

Note: Pre-cleaning must always be performed prior to sterilization and/or
disinfection

For additional guidance on reprocessing of medical devices consult the
manufacturer instructions for the device and the following resource(s):

     


Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities

     


FDA regulations on reprocessing of single-use medical devices

11. Sterilization of
Reusable Instruments and Devices

Practice Performed

If answer is No, document plan for remediation

1. All reusable critical instruments and devices are sterilized prior to reuse

Yes No

2. Routine maintenance for sterilization equipment is performed according to manufacturer
   instruction (confirm maintenance records are available)

Yes No

3. Policies and procedures are in place outlining facility response (i.e., recall of device
   and risk assessment) in the event of a reprocessing error/failure.

Yes No

 
For
additional guidance on sterilization of medical devices consult the manufacturer instructions for the device and the following
resource(s):

     


Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities

12. High-Level
Disinfection of Reusable Instruments and Devices

Practice Performed

If answer is No, document plan for remediation

1. All reusable semi-critical items receive at least high-level disinfection prior to reuse

Yes No

2. The facility has a system in place to identify which instrument (e.g., endoscope) was
   used on a patient via a log for each procedure

Yes No

3. Routine maintenance for high-level disinfection equipment is performed according to
   manufacturer instruction; confirm maintenance records are available

Yes No

 
For
additional guidance on reprocessing of high-level disinfection devices consult the manufacturers instructions for the device and the
following resource(s):

     


Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities

Some
of this
information is reprinted from

kaiserhealthnews.org with permission from the Henry J.
Kaiser Family Foundation. You can view the entire Kaiser
Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives and sign up
for email delivery. Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. All
rights reserved.

This point-of-care clinical companion explores the complexities of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and other imaging modalities used to diagnose and monitor a variety of diseases, presented through a compilation of intriguing patient cases. Each case presentation, narrated by a leading specialty expert, consists of a thousand words of insightful opinion and analysis of the patient’s medical images and history. A transcript of the audio commentary is also provided to enhance understanding of each case study.

Over time, the presentations form a comprehensive mobile case library, which becomes a valuable reference aid and resource that clinicians will access frequently in daily practice. Downloadable education materials for patients and clinicians are also provided as supplemental resources.

The inaugural MedImage Cases series focuses on the important role of the MRI in the diagnosis and management of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). This debilitating neurologic disease has no cure and profoundly alters the lives of affected individuals and their caregivers. Conventional and nonconventional MRIs have different advantages and limitations in measuring disease activity, disease progression, and response to MS therapy. By gaining insights into MRI best practices, neurologists and other clinicians who treat patients with MS can improve and personalize treatment interventions for optimal outcomes. A new MS patient case is added every 2 weeks, with a total of 26 cases released throughout the year.

Clinicians can earn free continuing medical education (CME/CE) credit for each case activity they complete. In addition, clinicians will soon be able to submit their own unusual or compelling patient MRIs and case narrations to the editorial board for possible inclusion in this collection, making MedImage Cases a dynamic and relevant educational tool. The series is offered both online at http://mic.projectsinknowledge.com/ and as a free iPhone/iPad app, coming soon, for easy access at the point of care.

“We’re pleased to introduce our new MedImage case-based educational format with MS as the first topic. MS is one of the most challenging diseases out there, and the MRI is a vital tool in its diagnosis and management,” said Patty Peterson, CCMEP, Senior Vice President of Projects In Knowledge. “This program offers an excellent and convenient opportunity for clinicians to keep current on the advances being made in imaging technology, explained by noted experts who provide practical insights on the application of these technological advances to patient care.”

Future editions of MedImage Cases will focus on other diseases and cover a variety of imaging modalities, such as computed tomography and positron emission tomography, and will also incorporate other image types and visuals, such as photographs and lab reports.

About Projects In Knowledge

Projects In Knowledge is a fully accredited provider of cutting-edge, innovative educational activities for physicians and other clinicians. Since its founding in 1980, the company’s mission has been to improve the quality of healthcare in the United States and abroad by delivering the highest quality professional education, with demonstrated results, to physicians and other clinical professionals using creative, effective, and easily accessible instructional modalities. To learn more about us and to view all of our CME/CE programs, please visit our website: www.projectsinknowledge.com. Connect with us through our social media outlets: www.projectsinknowledge.com/news/social_media.cfm .

Projects In Knowledge is a registered trademark of Projects In Knowledge, Inc.

]]> http://medical-programs.com/2011/07/medimage-cases-a-new-medical-e-textbook-from-projects-in-knowledge%c2%ae/feed/ 0 http://medical-programs.com/2011/07/minimally-invasive-procedures-can-cure-abnormal-heart-rhythms-in-children/ http://medical-programs.com/2011/07/minimally-invasive-procedures-can-cure-abnormal-heart-rhythms-in-children/#comments Thu, 07 Jul 2011 04:52:26 +0000 admin http://medical-programs.com/2011/07/minimally-invasive-procedures-can-cure-abnormal-heart-rhythms-in-children/ WEST HARTFORD, CT–(Marketwire – 07/06/11) – BroadcastMed, Inc.’s surgical web portal ORLive.com presents a premiere program from Akron Children’s Hospital highlighting the important treatments provided by The Pediatric Arrhythmia Center. Akron Children’s Hospital can cure many abnormal heart rhythms through radiofrequency ablation and cryoablation. Radio frequency uses heat to cure rapid heartbeats, while cryoablation involves freezing the heart tissue. You can watch, “Minimally Invasive Treatment of Rapid Heartbeats in Children,” beginning July 14th at 6:00pm EDT on ORLive.com.

Learn more about this and future web events at www.ORLive.com. You can sign up for our weekly e-newsletter and follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Plus, to see numerous health videos from a wide-range of specialties, check out our YouTube Channel.

About BroadcastMed, Inc.

Since 1994, BroadcastMed has been providing online video solutions to hospitals, device manufacturers, and other health-related organizations. Our audience has access to thousands of hours of surgical broadcasts through our ORLive.com portal along with medical programs in other clinical disciplines, many of which include continuing medical education (CME) credit.

IRVINE, Calif., July 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Biomedical-Market-News.com (www.biomedical-market-news.com), a long-standing medical industry information site online since 1995, has included upcoming medical meetings and medical industry events taking place during the remainder of the 2011 calendar year in its online newsroom. Medical industry execs, doctors and other regular attendees of medical and health meetings are invited to visit the newsroom to explore and sign up for programs suited to their interests and professions.

Programs listed include annual medical meetings, conferences, symposiums, tradeshows and expositions, online classes, webinars and workshops, university programs and offerings, CME and other educational and training courses.

Biomedical-market-news.com press releases include conference announcements and medical news covering many medical specialties and categories:

• Cardiology
• Critical Care Medicine
• Endocrinology
• Gastroenterology
• Geriatrics
• Hematology
• Hepatology
• Infectious Diseases
• Medical Device
• Nephrology
• Oncology
• Orthopedics
• Pediatrics
• Physician Practices
• Pulmonology/Pneumology/Respirology
• Rheumatology
• Sleep Medicine
• Stem Cell
• Surgeons/Surgery
• Transplantation

In addition to conferences, regular biomedical market news and medical industry news items are posted in the newsroom including medical device news, medical industry and health initiatives, state of industry reports and more.

Geographical coverage includes upcoming meetings and events taking place in the USA, Canada, and the European Union.

The program notices are paid-for B2B transmittals that are first sent directly to industry professionals and subscribers, then posted to the newsroom.

Medical industry executives and doctors who wish to visit the newsroom, or signup for the complimentary daily newsmail service to receive upcoming program notices, are invited to go to: http://www.biomedical-market-news.com. Companies or meeting planners wishing to issue an upcoming event notice nationwide or internationally, receive rates, and learn other details can call +1 714 434-9500 (9:00am to 5:00pm M-F, PT).

SOURCE Biomedical-Market-News.com

Source: PR Newswire

More News in this Category

BELLEVUE, Wash., June 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — The Educational Review System announces the first annual Pediatric Medication Safety Summit, an event supported by an education grant from Talyst. The Summit will focus on the most relevant pediatric medication safety topics and will be hosted by barcode point-of-care (BPOC) expert, Mark Neuenschwander, 2010 recipient of the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) Lifetime Achievement Award.

“Patient safety in pediatric medicine is extremely important in the health care industry,” said Carla Corkern, Chief Executive Officer at Talyst. “We are pleased to support an event that will drive more awareness in the industry.”

For more information and to register, please visit http://www.pediatricsafetysummit.com/.

About Education Review System

Educational Review Systems(ERS) is a full-service meeting planning and continuing education firm specializing in turn-key medical education solutions for the pharmaceutical and medical industries. We deliver a diversified menu of high quality CE, CME, Nursing and ancillary medical group programs.

About Talyst

Talyst, founded in 2002, helps pharmacies to enhance efficiency, provide greater inventory control and improve patient safety by delivering enterprise-class software and proven hardware components that increases efficiency, lower costs and deliver better patient care.

As of 2010, Talyst has installed automated systems in more than 500 acute-care hospitals, integrated healthcare systems, long-term care facilities, and correctional institutions. The company strives to “engineer the safer pharmacy.”

SOURCE Talyst

Source: PR Newswire

More News in this Category

BALTIMORE HOUSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
In an effort to increase adherence to treatment guidelines, as well as
improve patient care and outcomes, the Johns Hopkins University School
of Medicine and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, along
with their educational partner Medikly,
announced today the development of the CIRCLE OF CARE-BREAST CANCER (BC)
initiative.

“This initiative is truly unique in that it will increase the factual
and procedural knowledge of participating oncologists who treat minority
women with breast cancer by providing them with tools that enable a
learner-centric, collaborative approach to learning,” said Victor
Marrow, Ph.D., executive director, Office of Funded Programs/CME Johns
Hopkins University School of Medicine. “Participants will co-create
content, as well as share knowledge with their peers by leveraging
social media tools such as blogs, wikis, RSS, podcasting and
peer-to-peer (P2P) media-sharing utilities.”

In the United States, data show that while incidence of breast cancer is
higher in white versus black women, breast cancer-related mortality is
substantially higher in black women compared to white women. In
addition, The Journal of Clinical Oncology recently reported that
cancer among minorities would nearly double by 2030, increasing 99
percent in comparison to an expected 31 percent increase among whites.
While this number is alarming, the good news is that for most common
cancers, if a patient receives an early diagnosis with quality
treatment, the chances of survival are the same, regardless of race.
However, with the disparities in screenings and patient education among
black women, this is not always the case for breast cancer.

“The underlying causes of these inequalities range from a lack of
knowledge of treatment guidelines to poor patient-provider
communication,” said Jean Ford, M.D., co-course director of CIRCLE OF
CARE-BC initiative and director of the Johns Hopkins Center to Reduce
Cancer Disparities. “Our goal is to improve the collective knowledge of
group participants, fostering a ‘community of practice’ and promoting
information discovery while cultivating knowledge aggregation,” Ford
added.

“The CIRCLE OF CARE-BC initiative is designed to provide measurable
outcomes and data to approximately 12,000 participating oncologists
through an evidence-based educational curriculum aimed at improving
guideline adherence among minority women with breast cancer,” said
Lovell Jones, Ph.D., co-course director of CIRCLE OF CARE-BC initiative
and director of the Center for Research on Minority Health in the
Department of Health Disparities Research at MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Jones concluded, “The end result will be a highly educated group of
oncologists who are better able to care and improve patient-related
outcomes for this underserved group of women.”

About Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

In July 2010, U.S. News World ranked The Johns Hopkins Hospital #1
among American hospitals for the 20^th consecutive year. Johns
Hopkins Medical School remains the nation’s leading medical school
recipient of research funds from the National Institutes of Health. In
2006, The Johns Hopkins Office of Continuing Medical Education achieved
“Accreditation with Commendation” for six years, the highest ranking
issued by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education.
For more info contact Lisa Barnhill at lbarnhill@jhmi.edu.

About Medikly

For organizations that develop and provide accredited and non-accredited
medical education to healthcare providers, Medikly offers a suite of
social learning tools and applications that assists them in creating
communities around their ideas, content and audiences. Unlike
traditional forms of learning, with rigid schedules and curricula, users
can customize and personalize the way they create, share and exchange
content, providing an endless stream of learning possibilities. For more
information, email Rich Motarjeme, VP, Business Development at rich@medikly.com
or visit www.medikly.com.

“Boston Scientific is our first corporate partner to pledge funds for ASGE’s new Institute for Training Technology, and we are grateful for their generous donation and for recognizing the importance of building a focused and interactive learning environment that will continuously improve physician performance and patient care,” said Gregory G. Ginsberg, MD, FASGE, President, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. “The world is constantly changing, and opportunities for evolutions in gastrointestinal endoscopy must be seized and maximized. This facility will provide an unparalleled anchor location to foster the development, training and adoption of new techniques and technologies as they apply to gastroenterological endoscopic management of digestive and related disorders.”

ASGE has been providing learning opportunities at its current Institute for Training Technology (IT T) in Oak Brook, Ill. The new facility will be situated on a 3.5-acre plot in Chicago‘s Downers Grove suburb, close to both O’Hare and Midway airports, and will serve as the global home of endoscopy, offering a full range of medical training and continuing medical education (CME).

“Boston Scientific’s pledge to the IT T Capital Campaign reflects our strong commitment to GI education and our goals of enhancing patient outcomes and procedural efficiency,” said David Pierce, President of Boston Scientific’s Endoscopy Division.  ”The new Institute will greatly complement our existing education programs designed to provide essential hands-on training and share best practices with physicians worldwide.”  

The new facility will offer:

• Significantly enhanced laboratory facilities that will house up to 16 endoscopy towers and other medical equipment to provide training simulations using the latest equipment and technologies
• Advanced training models and simulators
• A 100-seat auditorium with a built-in audience-response system
• In-house DVD authoring and rapid duplication capabilities
• Additional conference space and breakout rooms
• The capability to send and receive live satellite transmissions anywhere in the world, including endoscopic instruction and demonstration techniques as well as didactic lectures on research and educational findings
• The potential to access live and/or recorded institute hands-on and didactic courses via video streaming technology or the ASGE-controlled digital resource library
• The ability for domestic and international faculty to participate in courses on site or via satellite to teach cutting-edge techniques live to anyone, anywhere in the world
• A residence for international members to extend training while in the U.S. attending DDW® or other meetings, allowing them to learn and practice techniques that are not standard in their regions of the world

“One of the goals of the ASGE Foundation is physician outreach — to educate, train and encourage innovation. With financial support from the ASGE Foundation, ASGE’s work has improved the quality of digestive care provided for patients and enhanced physicians’ practices, not only in the U.S., but internationally as well,” said ASGE Foundation Chair Robert A. Ganz, MD, FASGE. “From this new facility we will be able to stream courses and live images anywhere around the world, so physicians could be sitting in Mumbai and watching a course going on in Chicago.”

ASGE and the ASGE Foundation promote ongoing research in gastrointestinal endoscopy and its applications to disease management and prevention to ultimately improve the quality of endoscopy delivered to patients. The ASGE Foundation also funds programs designed to improve physician training and foster career development as well as supports important educational initiatives aimed at explaining the role of endoscopy in digestive health to the public. The IT T Capital Campaign has raised funds from ASGE members and corporate partners, and the campaign is more than halfway toward its $6 million fundraising goal.

To learn more about the IT T Capital Campaign, visit www.asge.org/ITTCampaign.

About the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
Since its founding in 1941, the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) has been dedicated to advancing patient care and digestive health by promoting excellence in gastrointestinal endoscopy.  ASGE, with nearly 12,000 members worldwide, promotes the highest standards for endoscopic training and practice, fosters endoscopic research, recognizes distinguished contributions to endoscopy, and is the foremost resource for endoscopic education.  Visit www.asge.org and www.screen4coloncancer.org for more information and to find a qualified doctor in your area.

About Endoscopy
Endoscopy is performed by specially-trained physicians called endoscopists using the most current technology to diagnose and treat diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Using flexible, thin tubes called endoscopes, endoscopists are able to access the human digestive tract without incisions via natural orifices. Endoscopes are designed with high-intensity lighting and fitted with precision devices that allow viewing and treatment of the gastrointestinal system.

Media Contact: Anne Brownsey
(630) 570-5635
abrownsey@asge.org

SOURCE American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy

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Tornadoes in Alabama Leave Therapists and Patients in Need of Help

Newton, MA (PRWEB) June 23, 2011

In the wake of the tornadoes and floods that have destroyed many homes and communities throughout the United States, clinicians are asking for strategies to support patients with real loss and for approaches for treatment providers to remain resilient while giving care. On June 1, Dr. Edmund Neuhaus, founder and CEO of Atheneum Learning, delivered the webinar entitled, “Control What You Can Control: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy–CBT for Extreme Life Circumstances” for more than 80 clinicians associated with the Adult Clinical Services of the Alabama Psychiatric Services. This webinar was broadcast across the state of Alabama to psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, nurses, and licensed mental health providers.

There is a much broader need than we realize. Numerous states have been devastated or impacted by severe storms, flooding and hundreds of tornadoes, but we tend to focus on the loss of housing and schools, and the devastation of personal property. Even more severe are the emotional turmoil, the fear, and the difficulty coping with what has happened and what comes next. States most severely impacted include Alabama, Missouri, Mississippi, Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa and Illinois but there was also significant damage in Texas, Oklahoma, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Ohio, and Massachusetts.

Most Effective Help We Can Give in Times of Great Stress: Dr. Neuhaus’ webinar focused on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), a highly effective, evidence-based treatment approach for people suffering from a wide range of problems, including depression, anxiety, life stress, and trauma caused by extreme life circumstances. Clinicians work actively with their patients to identify problems, set concrete goals, and monitor progress session by session. During this process, patients are educated about their reactions to the stress and the problems it causes, which leads to the core element of CBT: teaching patients coping skills that help them improve their daily functioning and enhance their sense of connection to their families, friends, and the larger community.

Dr. Neuhaus also emphasized the importance of clinicians monitoring their own stress reactions when working with patients who have suffered major trauma, a factor often overlooked in the field. He highlighted specific methods of self-care to help clinicians sustain healthy professional and personal functioning. The company, Atheneum Learning, is offering to make the recorded webinar available to provider members of organizations serving a population affected by these natural disasters.

Download Slides from the Webinar

Atheneum Learning

Atheneum Learning creates and delivers programs for medical providers, patients and their families to improve behavioral health outcomes. The company is based in Newton, MA and was founded in 2008. For two decades the Founder and CEO, Edmund C. Neuhaus, PhD, ABPP, has designed CBT training curricula and trained hundreds of psychology interns, post-doctoral fellows, psychiatry residents, and graduate students. He is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychology at the Harvard Medical School and former Co-Director of Psychology Training at McLean Hospital. Dr. Neuhaus also directed McLean’s Behavioral Health Partial Hospital Program for many years, which treats patients with mood, anxiety, and personality disorders, with an additional specialty program for borderline personality disorder. Atheneum Learning offers “Flexible CBT,” a 20 CEU/CME online CBT training course that is available for psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, nurses, and licensed mental health providers.

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The Institute for Health Technology Transformation announced today that Barry P. Chaiken, MD, MPH, chief medical officer, DocsNetwork, Ltd, and former HIMSS Chair has been appointed Senior Fellow and Health IT Chair for the Institute’s 2012 series of educational programs and meetings.

New York, NY (PRWEB) June 20, 2011

The Institute for Health Technology Transformation announced today that Barry P. Chaiken, MD, MPH, chief medical officer, DocsNetwork, Ltd, and former HIMSS chair has been appointed senior fellow and health IT chair for the Institute’s 2012 series of educational programs and meetings.

Dr. Chaiken has over 20 years experience in healthcare information technology, patient safety, clinical transformation, and public health. During his career, he has worked with the National Institutes of Health, UK’s National Health Service, McKesson, and BearingPoint.

“We’re very pleased that Dr. Chaiken will be working with the Institute in a concerted effort to move our health system forward with programs that foster the more effective use of information technology,” said Waco Hoover, the Institute’s CEO.

“Dr. Chaiken brings a wealth of insight and industry expertise that will make a meaningful and lasting impact on programs and initiatives developed at the Institute.”

In Dr. Chaiken’s role as senior fellow and health IT chair he will work with the Institute’s Advisory Board and other industry leaders to program and develop leading educational programs and collaboration opportunities for health care leaders. In tandem with the Institute’s mission to promote the effective use of technology across the U.S. health system, Dr. Chaiken will engage leaders from the community to ensure the Institute continually provides timely and relevant resources.

“I am thrilled to lead the programs for the Institute in 2012,“ said Dr. Chaiken. “This presents a great opportunity for me to further facilitate the use of healthcare information technology to enhance quality of care, improve patient safety, and better manage healthcare resources.”

Dr. Chaiken is board certified in General Preventive Medicine and Public Health as well as Health Care Quality Management. He is currently Chief Medical Officer at DocsNetwork, Ltd. where he offers clients his expertise in strategy development, clinical transformation, and quality improvement.

Dr. Chaiken serves as a Healthcare Advisory Board member at Imprivata, Inc, ProtoHIT, Inc., and Symphony Corporation. He has delivered more than 60 CME lectures, and is currently on the editorial board of the Journal of Patient Safety and the journal of Patient Safety and Quality Healthcare. Chaiken writes a column on technology and quality for the journal Patient Safety and Quality Health Care.

Dr. Chaiken received his medical degree from SUNY Downstate Medical Center, NYC, his masters in public health degree in health services administration from the Harvard School of Public Health and his bachelors of arts degree in psychology from the University at Albany. He acquired his specialty training from the Centers for Disease Control as an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer and from the New Jersey State Department of Health as a preventive medicine resident. He served as a Board member (2006-2010), Board Liaison to HIMSS Europe (2006-2009), and Board Chair (2009-2010), and continues his involvement as a Fellow of the Health Information Management and Systems Society (HIMSS).

About the Institute for Health Technology Transformation

The Institute for Health Technology Transformation is the leading organization committed to bringing together private and public sector leaders fostering the growth and effective use of technology across the healthcare industry. Through collaborative efforts the Institute provides programs that drive innovation, educate, and provide a critical understanding of how technology applications, solutions and devices can improve the quality, safety and efficiency of healthcare. http://www.ihealthtran.com

For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/prweb2011/6/prweb8585578.htm

Source: prweb

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