Public Health Commons^™

Increasing Patient Engagement In The African American Community Through Personal Health Record Use, Andrea Perkins

Applied Research Projects

Personal Health records have many potential benefits to patients, caregivers and institutions. In order to meet meaningful use standards EHR systems must allow patients to be able to access and easily download their healthcare records and images for their own use. Previous studies have shown that African Americans are less likely to enroll in a personal health record than other ethnic populations. This study was done to research and identify possible barriers the have limited the utilization of personal health record use in the African American community. A preliminary survey and focus group were convened to discuss issues affecting PHR …

Analysis Of Out-Of-Pocket Expenditures Of Oral Oncologics For Tennessee Recipients Of Medicare Part D, Eve Carolyn Elias

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Background: There are few studies that examine patients' costs of oral oncology drugs from Medicare Part D plan providers. These drugs can impose a financial burden to beneficiaries, and, due to their cost, place beneficiaries in the coverage gap in a short period of time. In addition to examining costs, there is little published concerning the potential impact of drug utilization management techniques on access to these drugs in Medicare Part D plans. This study examined the roles of prior authorization, step-therapy, and placement of drugs in higher formulary tiers on patients' out-of-pocket costs, and access to therapy.

Methods …

The Influence Of Patient-Reported Provider Availability Factors On Nonurgent Emergency Department Use, Cheryl Anne Dewood

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of patient‑perceived provider availability on nonurgent emergency department use (NUEDU). The study population consisted of a nationally‑representative population of non‑elderly adults who were continuously privately insured (CPI) for at least a year before an emergency department visit that was determined to be nonurgent, and who reported having a regular source of care (RSC).

Methods. Data were obtained from a nationally‑representative longitudinal survey, the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS). The classification of ED visits as nonurgent was based on patient report using a method developed for this study. Patient­‑perceived provider …

Impact Of Parent’S Hiv Status On Their Uninfected Child—A Comparative Analysis Of The Child’S Healthcare Utilization, Access And Health Outcomes, Arijit Ganguli

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

With the advent of effective antiretroviral medication and increased expectancy of life span among HIV-infected individuals has lead to an increase in the at-risk population of uninfected children living with their HIV-infected parent(s). The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of parent’s HIV status on their child’s access to healthcare resources, healthcare utilization and health outcomes.

This was a cross-sectional study in which the information on the children of HIV seropositive parent(s) was collected through a face-to-face interview of the HIV-infected parents having children currently residing with them. The comparative group comprising of children of HIV seronegative …

The Changing Role Of Physicians In Disaster Management And Hospital Incident Command, F. Matthew Mihelic, M. David Stockton, Stephen A. Cole, Gregory H. Blake

Faculty Publications

Recent changes in governmental policy toward disaster medicine and hospital incident command foreshadow a significant change in the role that physicians will play in disaster preparedness and response. The distinct discipline of Disaster Medicine has received authoritative recognition and promotion in the recent Homeland Security Presidential Directive 21, and recently established guidelines for incident command within hospitals have included a new position designated as “Medical/Technical Specialist(s)” that will assist the Incident Commander in disaster-related decision-making. This is a multidisciplinary position, and its functions can be filled by one or more individuals. As physician training and competency in Disaster Medicine increases, …

A Relationship Between Us Healthcare Worker Smallpox Vaccination Rates In 2003 And Presidential Election Results In 2004, F. Matthew Mihelic, David G. Schultz Jr., Melinda R. Mihelic

Faculty Publications

A statistical relationship exists between state per capita smallpox vaccination rates of healthcare workers in 2003 and state presidential election results in 2004. The potential implications of political influence on national biosecurity decision making are discussed.

Pain And Hospital Patients Perception Of Quality, Kathy L. Beck

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Each year pain disables approximately 50 million Americans. These patients seekhealth care for the relief of pain and its underlying cause. Many of those seeking relief from pain are hospitalized and others experience pain during their hospitalization. All of these patients have the right to relief of their pain and none should suffer pain needlessly. Yet, often nurses fail to accurately assess and adequately manage patients' pain.

Adequate pain management may increase patient perception of nursing care quality. The purpose of this study is to determine the relationships between pain relief and patients' and nurses' perceptions of quality. The relationship …