Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

A Logistics Approach To Improve Medication Reconciliation In The Outpatient Clinic Setting, Aysha Khan, Demetra Antimisiaris, Madison Perkins, Luz Fernandez

The Cardinal Edge

Medication reconciliation (MR) is the process of determining the most accurate account of medication the patient is taking. Although MR seems simple, research has shown that 25% of medical errors are related to lack of medication reconciliation [1]. In the community clinic setting, the task of medication reconciliation falls on the Medical Assistants (MAs). A preliminary study of MR accuracy in an outpatient clinic found an average of 5.8 discrepancies in the chart medication list [2]. The most notable were incomplete directions, wrong directions, or wrong frequency of dosing. Unoptimized medication use is estimated to result in 275,869 deaths per …

Critical Issues In Community Health Course At Kingsborough Cc (Coh 1200) - Fall 2023, Jose Nanin

Open Educational Resources

This syllabus includes OER materials and college policies for a fully online course that exposes students to a range of topics and methods that health specialists use to research health disparities in affected communities. Through readings and videos, as well as online course assignments and discussions, students learn about library/database research methods, credibility of health information, and the health disparities most commonly occurring in modern society.

Nutrition In Times Of Crisis: A Qualitative Study In Siargao Island, Philippines, During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Gideon Lasco, Vincen Gregory Yu, Julie Madelo Compra, Phetdavanh Leuangvilay, Rapeepong Suphanchaimat, Yunting Zhang, Charina Javier

Development Studies Faculty Publications

Objectives

Despite the public-health significance of both malnutrition and crises, little has been done to explore the convergence of the two domains and develop ways to improve policies and practices, especially in rural communities. This article remedies that knowledge gap by focusing on nutrition-related changes, responses, and practices during crisis situations in Siargao Island, Philippines, using the COVID-19 pandemic as a backdrop.

Methods

Forty-six (46) semi-structured interviews were conducted among parents, caregivers, local health workers, and local officials of Del Carmen, Siargao Island. Principles of thematic analysis were applied to data analysis using NVivo 12. Afterwards, the preliminary data were …

Overview Of Transition Care Clinics And Patient No-Shows, Manul Awasthi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Introduction

Transition care clinics (TCCs) have proven to be effective in meeting the time-sensitive needs of patients in the post-discharge period and ensuring smooth transitions of patients from hospital to home. These clinics have led to lower readmissions, lower emergency department visits, cost savings, and lower rates of other adverse events following discharge. However, TCCs, including the East Tennessee State University Family Medicine (ETSU-FM) TCC have been facing high rates of patient no-shows.

Aim

The aim of this dissertation is to identify the different components and outcomes of TCC based on the literature. We further aim to analyze the TCC …

Advocacy Spotlight: Are You An Advocate?, Vincent Benivegna Dds

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

Advocacy is crucial for dentists in Michigan, as they face a unique opportunity to impact Medicaid dental benefits positively. Governor Gretchen Whitmer's budget proposal for 2023 includes a substantial $240 million investment to revamp dental Medicaid benefits, a historic move for the state. The Michigan Dental Association (MDA) has actively engaged with government offices and legislators to ensure this opportunity is not missed. However, despite the MDA's efforts to mobilize members through action alerts, response rates have disappointed. The article emphasizes the importance of consistent advocacy, as it has the power to influence dental practices and the well-being of patients …

The 2025 Michigan State Oral Health Plan, Ellen Sugrue Hyman Jd

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This feature article explores the 2025 Michigan State Oral Health Plan (SOHP), a comprehensive initiative developed by the Michigan Oral Health Coalition (MOHC) and a statewide coalition, including the Michigan Dental Association (MDA). With a focus on enhancing oral health for all Michigan residents, the SOHP prioritizes addressing economic and racial disparities. The plan, guided by three key goals—Increasing Awareness and Education, Dental-Health Integration, and Access and Infrastructure—aims to improve oral health outcomes. The article discusses the plan's development process, key findings highlighting existing disparities, workforce challenges, and the strategic implementation of the SOHP through collaborative efforts and workgroups.

Factors Affecting Retention In The Philippine National Rural Physician Deployment Program From 2012 To 2019: A Mixed Methods Study, Erika Louise L. Flores, Edric Matthew R. Manahan, Miguel Paulo B. Lacanilao, Isabella Ma. Beatriz T. Ladaw, Mico Martin B. Mallillin, Nikolai Thadeus Q. Mappatao, Juan Alfonso Leonardia, Veincent Christian F. Pepito

Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health Publications

Background

To address the maldistribution of healthcare providers and the shortage of physicians in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas of the Philippines, the Philippine National Rural Physician Deployment Program, or more commonly known as the Doctors to the Barrios (DTTB) program was established in 1993. However, as of 2011, only 18% of the DTTBs chose to stay in their assigned municipalities after their two-year deployment, termed retention. This study aims to identify the individual, local, work, national, and international factors affecting the retention of DTTBs in their assigned communities after their two-year deployment.

Methods

A descriptive, mixed-methods, explanatory design was …

Palliative Care And Life-Sustaining/Local Procedures In Colorectal Cancer In The United States Hospitals: A Ten-Year Perspective, Zahra Mojtahedi, Ja Seol Koo, Ji Yoo, Pearl Kim, Hee-Taik Kang, Jinwook Hwang, Moon Kyung Joo, Jay J. Shen

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Background: In recent years, palliative care utilization has been increasing while life-sustaining/local procedures have been declining at the end of life. Palliative care utilization widely varies based on tumor type. Limited information is available on inpatient palliative care in colorectal cancer. Aims: This study investigated inpatient palliative care utilization and its association with patient demographics, hospital charges, and procedures among colorectal cancer patients admitted to US hospitals between 2008 and 2017. Receipt of life-sustaining and local procedures and surgeries were also investigated during the ten years. Methods: Data were extracted from the National inpatient sample (NIS) database containing de-identified information …

Collegiate Athletic Trainers’ Experiences Planning For Return-To-Sports During Covid-19: A Qualitative Research Study, Eric G. Post, Justin S. Disanti, Christianne M. Eason, Hayley J. Root, Thomas E. Abdenour

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the role of intercollegiate head athletic trainers in the process of planning to resume sport, as well as their experiences across the course of the pandemic to identify key strategies, challenges, and future considerations during the Covid-19 pandemic. Method: This exploratory, descriptive qualitative study was conducted via one-on-one semi structured interviews through the Zoom video conference technology. Twenty-four head athletic trainers across NCAA Division I, II, and III institutions participated in the study. Results: Emerging themes included the development of detailed, institution-specific plans with shared elements such as policies for testing …

Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Loneliness And Social Isolation: A Multi-Country Study, Roger O’Sullivan, Annette Burns, Gerard Leavey, Iracema Leroi, Vanessa Burholt, James Lubben, Julianne Holt-Lunstad, Christina Victor, Brian Lawlor, Mireya Vilar-Compte, Carla M. Perissinotto, Mark A. Tully, Mary Pat Sullivan, Michael Rosato, Joanna Mchugh Power, Elisa Tiilikainen, Thomas R. Prohaska

Department of Public Health Scholarship and Creative Works

The COVID-19 global pandemic and subsequent public health social measures have challenged our social and economic life, with increasing concerns around potentially rising levels of social isolation and loneliness. This paper is based on cross-sectional online survey data (available in 10 languages, from 2 June to 16 November 2020) with 20,398 respondents from 101 different countries. It aims to help increase our understanding of the global risk factors that are associated with social isolation and loneliness, irrespective of culture or country, to support evidence-based policy, services and public health interventions. We found the prevalence of severe loneliness was 21% during …

Incompatibility Group I1 (Inci1) Plasmids: Their Genetics, Biology, And Public Health Relevance, Steven L. Foley, Pravin R. Kaldhone, Steven C. Ricke, Jing Han

Food and Drug Administration Papers

Bacterial plasmids are extrachromosomal genetic elements that often carry antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes and genes encoding increased virulence and can be transmissible among bacteria by conjugation. One key group of plasmids is the incompatibility group I1 (IncI1) plasmids, which have been isolated from multiple Enterobacteriaceae of food animal origin and clinically ill human patients. The IncI group of plasmids were initially characterized due to their sensitivity to the filamentous bacteriophage If1. Two prototypical IncI1 plasmids, R64 and pColIb-P9, have been extensively studied, and the plasmids consist of unique regions associated with plasmid replication, plasmid stability/maintenance, transfer machinery apparatus, single-stranded DNA …

Covid-19 Viral Testing Disparities In Los Angeles City, Laura Cyphers

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

Hispanic and Black communities have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19-related morbidity and mortality (California Department of Public Health, 2020). Inequitable access to viral testing resources may have exacerbated these COVID-19-related racial and ethnic health disparities. For example, reports from the Los Angeles Department of Public Health revealed glaring viral testing disparities in April 2020 (early pandemic), with predominantly White communities in Los Angeles County receiving 65% more tests than Hispanic and Black communities. In response, California statewide testing was expanded for communities of color (Vann et al., 2020). To investigate access to viral testing in Los Angeles City, the current …

Ethics And Economics Of The Covid-19 Pandemic In The United States, Peter Hilsenrath, Tyrone F. Borders

Health Management and Policy Faculty Publications

The Covid-19 experience provides a natural experiment in personal and social ethics. Difficult decisions are routinely made to optimize lives and livelihoods. This commentary provides background and insight into the ethical and economic foundations underpinning dilemmas of this historic pandemic.

Coh-2000 - Community Health Interventions, Jose Nanin

Open Educational Resources

This syllabus includes OER materials and college policies for a fully online course that exposes students to a range of health promotion and disease prevention and management strategies used by health specialists to address community health challenges. Through readings and videos, as well as online course assignments and discussions, students learn about planning and designing interventions to improve the health of specific priority populations and communities-at-large.

Geographic Variation In The Structure Of Kentucky’S Population Health Systems: An Urban, Rural, And Appalachian Comparison, Rachel Hogg-Graham, Angela Carman, Glen P. Mays, Pierre Martin Dominique Zephyr

Journal of Appalachian Health

Introduction: Research examining geographic variation in the structure of population health systems is continuing to emerge, and most of the evidence that currently exists divides systems by urban and rural designation. Very little is understood about how being rural and Appalachian impacts population health system structure and strength.

Purpose: This study examines geographic differences in key characteristics of population health systems in urban, rural non-Appalachian, and rural Appalachian regions of Kentucky.

Methods: Data from a 2018 statewide survey of community networks was used to examine population health system characteristics. Descriptive statistics were generated to examine variation across geographic regions in …

Structural And Social Determinants Of Opioid Abuse Among Florida-Based Hospitals, Donald R. Haley, Hanadi Hamadi, Jing Xu, Mei Zhao, Anh Viet Tran Nguyen, Dayana Martinez

Florida Public Health Review

Background: With over two million people suffering from opioid abuse disorders, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has identified opioid abuse as a key priority. Florida is one of eight states labeled as a high-burden opioid abuse and is an “epicenter” for opioid use and misuse.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to discover potential predictors of opioid abuse in Florida by exploring specific healthcare delivery, geographic, and patient demographic factors.

Methods: A retrospective longitudinal study design was used to examine four years (2014-2017) of Florida inpatient administrative discharge data across 173 hospitals of opioid abuse rate. …

Protecting The Rights Of People With Disabilities, Elizabeth Pendo

All Faculty Scholarship

One in four Americans — a diverse group of 61 million people — experience some form of disability (Okoro, 2018). On average, people with disabilities experience significant disparities in education, employment, poverty, access to health care, food security, housing, transportation, and exposure to crime and domestic violence (Pendo & Iezzoni, 2019). Intersections with demographic characteristics such as race, ethnicity, gender, and LGBT status, may intensify certain inequities. For example, women with disability experience greater disparities in income, education, and employment (Nosek, 2016), and members of under-served racial and ethnic groups with disabilities experience greater disparities in health status and access …

The Impact Of Socioeconomic Factors On Food Insecurity Among Syrian Refugees In Florida, Racha Sankar

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Syrian refugees settled in the United States may experience food insecurity due to different socioeconomic factors that may include nutrition knowledge, language proficiency, women’s education, and perceived stress. The structure and the type of households may also contribute to food insecurity in this population.

The objective of this study was to measure food security among Syrian refugees residing in Florida. It also aimed to determine the socioeconomic factors that may attribute to food insecurity at household level.

A comprehensive 228-item questionnaire was administered to N=80 households (n=43 in rural areas, n=37 in urban areas). Families with and without children were …

Paging Dr. Strong: A Call To Action Towards Addressing Occupational Stress And Burnout Among Primary Care Health Professionals, Carmen Olmedo

Master's Projects and Capstones

Purpose: Within a rapidly evolving industry, occupational stress and burnout among healthcare clinicians and staff is becoming a pervasive public health crisis across all subspecialties. The purpose of this project was to use the Compassion Satisfaction-Compassion Fatigue (CS-CF) Theory as a method to assess burnout among primary care health professionals, in addition to developing recommendations to assist the promotion of a staff wellness initiative at an urban community clinic.
Methods: A needs assessment was conducted at a Community Health Center (CHC) in San Francisco. Data collection consisted of anonymous distribution of the Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL) Survey and semi-structured …

Medicaid Work Requirements: State-Based Innovation Or Punitive Policymaking?, Diane Sherwin

Honors Theses

In March 2017, officials appointed to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services by President Donald Trump signaled to state governments their intent to support states who would choose to utilize Medicaid’s Section 1115 waiver provision to alter their state’s Medicaid program by introducing a work requirement. As of October 1, 2018, 13 states have heeded this signal and proposed a work requirement component for their Medicaid programs. The purpose of this paper is to determine if Medicaid work requirements are an innovative policy approach to improve independence among Medicaid enrollees, or if these requirements are a punitive, partisan approach …

Let Me Upgrade You: Common Measures In Public Health Accreditation Action Plans, Gurleen K. Roberts

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to understand the success rates for health departments pursuing and achieving accreditation in version 1.0 and 1.5 of the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) standards and measures. During the accreditation process, health departments that present performance gaps are asked to complete an Action Plan to specify how they plan to improve to meet the desired conformity. This study will highlight specific measures that are often included in Action Plans so that health departments pursuing accreditation can be better prepared to address these common pitfalls.

Methods: This study is a non-experimental, secondary …

Cross Jurisdictional Boundaries To Build A Health Coalition: A Kentucky Case Study, Angela L. Carman, Margaret L. Mcgladrey

Health, Behavior & Society Faculty Publications

Cross-jurisdictional sharing is accomplished through collaboration across jurisdictional boundaries to deliver essential public health services and solve problems that cannot be easily addressed by single organizations or jurisdictions. Partners across 10 counties and three public health jurisdictions of the Barren River Area Development District (BRADD) convened as Barren River Initiative to Get Healthy Together (BRIGHT), a community health improvement coalition. Focus groups and interviews with BRIGHT members indicate that the use of effective strategies to focus collaborative health improvement efforts fosters a cohesive coalition even when the group is populated by individuals from across public health jurisdictional boundaries. Focusing strategies …

Identifying Windows Of Opportunity For Active Living And Healthy Eating Policies In Connecticut, 2016, Anna E. Greer, Ann-Uriel Knausenberger

Public Health Faculty Publications

We examined the relative importance of 23 community issues among elected officials and health directors in Connecticut in 2016. For this cross-sectional study, 74 elected officials (40.7% response rate) and 47 health directors (62.7% response rate), who were purposively sampled, completed a questionnaire to rate their perceived importance of 23 community issues. Eight of these issues were related to active living, healthy eating, or obesity. We used χ2 tests to evaluate differences in responses. Compared with elected officials, health directors significantly more often perceived obesity, access to healthy groceries, poor nutrition, lack of pedestrian walkways, and pedestrian safety as important. …

Tonga: Chronic Diseases, Muhammad Taimoor

Global Public Health

Tonga is an Archipelago in the south Pacific Ocean, south of Samoa. The public health brief project is on chronic diseases in Tonga. The total population of Tonga was 107,122 in 2010. The Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga is the established religion in Tonga. Tongan’s make up the majority of the population but there are other ethnicities such as Euromericans and Europeans too. The major challenges faced by Tonga are decaying infrastructure, low economy, and political corruption. The widespread of non-communicable diseases such as cancer is a major health issue in Tonga. 74% of all adults in Tonga are the …

Who's Hungry In San Diego, Alison M. Schurman, Kathy S. James

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Objective: Food insecurity (FI) is a lack of access to nutritious food. FI has been linked to multiple preventable diseases from behavioral disorders to asthma to obesity and its sequelae. In San Diego County, 14 percent of families are food insecure. The AAP recommends screening for FI at all well appointments using the two-question FI screening tool. The aim of this project was to implement this tool at a multi-clinic, low income population community health center where ninety-five percent of patients meet qualification for SNAP benefits.

Methods: Stakeholders chose one week to screen all patients presenting to clinic for FI …

Chad : Hepatitis E, Hanna Pegarsch

Global Public Health

Contaminated drinking water in Chad is the main source for a Hepatitis E outbreak, leading Chad citizens to develop severe illness including jaundice, liver-failure, miscarriage, and death. There are 0.4 physicians for every 10,000 people living in Chad needing healthcare. Of the citizens in Chad, only 42% have access to uncontaminated drinking water. With such a long incubation period for Hepatitis E, the citizens don’t know they are spreading the illness to the rest of their community. Even with the symptoms, the citizens don’t have the access or the capacity for treatment, making Hepatitis E an epidemic in Chad.

Assessing Skills And Capacity For Informatics: Activities Most Commonly Performed By Or For Local Health Departments, Kate Drezner, Lisa Mckeown, Gulzar H. Shah

Health Policy and Management Faculty Publications

Objective: To describe the informatics activities performed by and for local health departments.

Design: Analysis of data from the 2015 Informatics Capacity and Needs Assessment Survey of local health departments conducted by the Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health at Georgia Southern University in collaboration with the National Association of County & City Health Officials.

Participants: 324 local health departments.

Main Outcome Measure(s): Informatics activities performed at or for local health departments in use and analysis of data, system design, and routine use of information systems.

Results: A majority of local health departments extract data from information systems (69.5%) and …

Pharmacy Use By Dual-Eligible Non-Elderly Veterans With Private Healthcare Insurance, Brian C. Lund, Mary E. Charlton, Alan N. West

Dartmouth Scholarship

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest nationally integrated healthcare system in the United States, operating 168 medical centers and more than 1000 community based outpatient clinics. However, many veterans seek care outside the VHA system, particularly when they are also covered by state or federal programs such as Medicare or Medicaid, or have access to private health insurance, often through employment. Concerted efforts have been made to facilitate communication and coordinate care between VHA and private sector healthcare, but concurrent use of these systems adds to an already fragmented U.S health care system.

Summary Of Results From The 2016 National Health Security Preparedness Index, Glen P. Mays, Michael T. Childress, Pierre Martin Dominique Zephyr, Anna Goodman Hoover

Health Management and Policy Reports

The National Health Security Preparedness Index tracks the nation’s progress in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from disasters and other large-scale emergencies that pose risks to health and well-being in the United States. Because health security is a responsibility shared by many different stakeholders in government and society, the Index combines measures from multiple sources and perspectives to offer a broad view of the health protections in place for nation as a whole and for each U.S. state. The Index identifies strengths as well as gaps in the protections needed to keep people safe and healthy in the face …

Measuring Multi-Sector Contributions To Public Health Delivery Systems & Population Health, Glen P. Mays

Health Management and Policy Presentations

The National Longitudinal Survey of Public Health Systems has followed a nationally-representative cohort of U.S. communities since 1998 to measure the scope of public health activities implemented in each community and the range of organizations and sectors that contribute to each activity. With 16 years of follow-up observations, this survey allows us to study the effects of demographic, economic, and policy shocks on public health delivery systems, and estimate the health effects attributable to delivery system change.