Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

The Home Visiting Referral Quality Improvement Initiative (Thrive) Change Package, Elizabeth Yakes Jimenez, Theresa Cruz, Rebecca Craig, Ivan De La Rosa

Population Health Research and Scholarship

Early childhood home visiting programs improve maternal and child health outcomes but remain underutilized. Healthcare providers are well-positioned to connect families to home visiting services; however, structural barriers in clinical settings limit consistent and effective referral practices. The Home Visiting Referral Quality Improvement Initiative (THRIVE) change package was developed to provide a starting point for addressing these challenges. The THRIVE change package outlines actionable improvement strategies to test, such as standardizing referral workflows, training clinical teams, and establishing relationships and feedback loops with home visiting programs. It offers a scalable approach to strengthening clinical–community linkages and improving family engagement with …

10-21-25 Bor Hsc Committee Notice Of Meeting Revised, Patricia Serna

HSC Committee (A subcommittee of the UNM Board of Regents)

10-21-25 BOR HSC Committee Notice of Meeting Revised

10-21-25 Bor Hsc Committee Agenda, Patricia Serna

HSC Committee (A subcommittee of the UNM Board of Regents)

10-21-25 BOR HSC Committee Agenda

Improving Patient Portal Messaging Workflow, Tanya M. Fitzpatrick

All Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Problem: Inefficiencies in patient portal secure messaging between providers and patients in a large primary care practice led to delayed resolution times, averaging 5.6 days per message. Most messages were closed by physicians or advanced practice providers, resulting in imbalanced workload distribution, increased provider burden, and reduced communication efficiency. The lack of standardized guidelines for message use, character limits, or triage processes contributed to workflow disruptions, a diminished patient experience, and unreimbursed provider time.

Aim of the Project: The aim of the project was to reduce average portal message closure times by at least 38% through the implementation of standardized …

It’S Not Elementary, My Dear Ai, Mali Schantz-Feld Ma, Cde

AADEJ - The Communicator

In this issue, Associate Editor Mali Schantz-Feld cautions dental communicators about the irresponsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), highlighting three major risks. The first is the fabrication or "hallucination" of non-existent scholarly references, exemplified by submitted articles where more than half of the citations were fake. The second risk is the removal of human personality, emotion, and nuance, which causes content to feel robotic; this occurred when a profile of an inspiring dentist was run through AI, stripping away their inner light and philosophy. The third danger is the generation of statistics, charts, or figures without providing necessary data or …

October 2025, Swosu Bulldog Wellness Committee

SWOSU BULLDOG WELLNESS

• October is National Dental Hygiene Month!
• Reminder: YOGA class Oct. 14th for SWOSU employees
• Spooktacular Step Challenge
• Home Fire Safety
• Wellness Committee has three standing desks to loan out
• National Family Health Month
• Autumn Word Search

Dermatological Primary Health Care Services For Older Adults In Thailand, Chinmanat Lekhavat, Jiruth Sriratanaban

Journal of Health Research

Background: The increasing population aging worldwide poses challenges to accessibility to dermatological care, especially in rural areas with limited dermatologist availability. Establishing dermatological primary health care (PHC) services for older adults is crucial for improving access, efficiency, and equity. However, no study has systematically explored such a system.

Method: This mixed-methods study employed a participatory action research (PAR) model to identify structural and procedural requirements, patient journeys, health needs, and expectations. Data were collected through focus groups, in-depth interviews, and surveys. Design thinking workshops, guided by PAR principles, were used to develop dermatological PHC services. A survey was conducted across …

Differences In Emergency Department Imaging Modalities For Femur Fractures Based On Insurance And Demographics, Patrick De La Torre Schutz, Bryce M. Bellon, Daniel Salinas, Kelsey Baker, Hamaad Gohar

Research Colloquium

Insurance status and race have been significant predictors of delayed care and reduced imaging utilization in emergency settings, particularly among minority and Medicaid-insured populations (Moser, Shan). The reasoning for the disparities in treatment for these underserved populations is still not well understood. To further analyze these claims, this study examined whether demographic factors such as ethnicity, sex, age, insurance type, and fracture classification were associated with differences in imaging modality among patients with femur fractures. Data from the Texas Department of State Health Services Trauma Registry (2018–2022) was analyzed using logistic regression to determine the odds ratios of receiving CT, …

From Imaging To Impact: A Multi-Disciplinary T32 Program Framework And Initial Insights For Training In Image-Guided Cancer Therapy, Kari J. Brewer Savannah, Stephen Y. Lai, Clifton D. Fuller, Kristy K. Brock

Advances in Cancer Education and Quality Improvement

As multi-disciplinary image-guided assessment and therapies become increasingly important for precision oncology, the need for comprehensive training opportunities that effectively prepare the next generation of clinician-scientists and scientists is evident. We present an innovative, evidence-based research training framework that integrates the following critical features: 1) intentional and personalized mentoring and career development, 2) immersive research in image-guided cancer therapy, 3) strategic mentored clinical exposure, 4) structured didactic learning and professional development opportunities, and 5) mentored grant writing. Designed to foster scientific rigor, translational thinking, and multi-disciplinary collaboration, the Image-Guided Cancer Therapy T32 Training Program (IGCT-T32) aims to prepare postdoctoral fellows …

Glucometer Cleanliness On A Neuro-Medical Intensive Care Unit, Abbey Camire

Operations Transformation

Glucometers on the Neuro-Medical ICU are being docked with visible reddish/brown residue, indicating they are not properly cleaned beforehand. This poses a risk of transmitting pathogens, endangering patient and staff safety, and violates hospital policy and regulatory standards. Proper disinfection of mobile medical equipment is essential for infection control and hospital accreditation.

Investigation Of The Optimal Length Of Discharge Summaries In Care Transitions: A Cross-Sectional Study, Taku Harada, Shintaro Kosaka, Aki Morishima, Seitaro Iguchi

Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives

Introduction

Discharge summaries are essential documents that support continuity of care during patient transitions between inpatient and outpatient settings. They help ensure that crucial clinical information is conveyed accurately and completely. However, while their clinical significance is well established, there is little consensus on the optimal format, particularly in terms of length and structural clarity. Excessively brief summaries may omit key details, while overly lengthy ones can hinder efficient information transfer. Despite varied suggestions in the literature—ranging from half a page to four pages—empirical data on physician preferences are limited.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional, web-based survey among physicians who …

Intensive Telemedicine Transitions Of Care Clinic: A Prospective Feasibility Study Of A Novel Ambulatory Model Serving Appalachian Patients, Jessica Thayer, Brett Miller, Marcelino Mederos Liriano, Kathryn Hoffman, Gina Baugh, Jenna Sizemore

Journal of Appalachian Health

Introduction: Hospital discharge is a complex process plagued with medical errors and poor coordination. Disjointed discharges are detrimental to Appalachian patients with access barriers and multiple chronic diseases. Telehealth is a tool used to improve access within rural Appalachia. To address this high-risk transition period, an interprofessional team deployed telemedicine to improve post-hospital care for Appalachian patients.

Purpose: Patients with uncontrolled chronic medical conditions were enrolled into the Intensive Telemedicine Transition of Care Clinic (I-TTC) with a primary outcome of 30-day Emergency Department (ED) presentations and hospital readmissions. Secondary outcomes included improved control of chronic conditions and patient cost savings. …

September 2025, Swosu Bulldog Wellness Committee

SWOSU BULLDOG WELLNESS

• SEPTEMBER is National Yoga Month
• YOGA classes September 16th and October 14th for SWOSU employees
• September is National Honey Month
• 10 Reasons to Dip into your Honey Jar
• Self Care Ideas for Stress Relief
• 3 Adjustable Desktop PC Stands to Loan

Enhancing Patient Outcomes: Developing A Comprehensive Database For Tracking Post- Dural Puncture Headache Incidence And Contributing Factors, Meredith B. Auge, Brittany Bogonovich

Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) Manuscripts

Post-dural puncture headache (PDPH) is a debilitating complication following labor analgesia, often resulting from unintentional dural puncture (UDP). While national incidence is approximately 1.5%, institutional rates may vary due to provider experience, documentation practices, and patient factors. This Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) quality improvement project aimed to improve identification and monitoring of UDP and PDPH through a revised tracking tool, retrospective review of 2024 data, and planning for an electronic registry. A multidisciplinary team of anesthesiologists, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs), Student Registered Nurse Anesthetists (SRNAs), and IT and quality specialists revised an existing tracking tool to better …

"Improved Obstetric Hemorrhage Care Through Toolkit Revision: A Quality Improvement Project", Amber M. Woodring, Samantha Kalkstein

Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) Manuscripts

Obstetric hemorrhage (OBH) remains a leading cause of preventable maternal morbidity and mortality in the United States. Accurate risk identification is critical for initiating timely interventions; however, current risk assessment practices vary significantly. This quality improvement (QI) project aimed to implement the California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative (CMQCC) OBH Risk Assessment Tool on the labor and delivery (L&D) unit of a community-based hospital to standardize risk stratification and improve interdisciplinary communication. Guided by the Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice model, the project involved a gap analysis, staff education, and the introduction of a paper-based CMQCC tool formatted for visibility and …

Vitamin B12 Deficiency: Confidence, Perspectives, And Practices Among Registered Dietitian Nutritionists, Avery Miller Adams

Master's Theses

Vitamin B12 deficiency is common in the United States, occurring in 20% of adults aged 60 and above (Andres et al., 2004). Veterans are susceptible to B12 deficiency due to tobacco product usage, alcohol consumption, and poor diet quality. Megaloblastic anemia is the second most prevalent vitamin deficiency disorder recorded in military personnel from 1997 to 2015 (Knapik et al., 2021). This exploratory, analytic research aims to assess registered dietitian RDN nutritionists’ (RDN) knowledge, perceptions, and intentions regarding treating vitamin B12 deficiency in a clinical setting. Due to population prevalence differences, responses from VA and non-VA practicing registered dietitian-nutritionists (RDNs) …

Enhancing Cataract Surgery Outcomes: Optimal Use Of Pre- And Post-Operative Eye Drops, Keith Skolnick M.D., Anu Valiaveedu

Mako: NSU Undergraduate Student Journal

Many preoperative and postoperative cataract patients struggle with comprehending the use of prescription medication as directed. Language barriers and low health literacy levels are major factors contributing to improper use of prescriptions. To increase patients comprehension, the Fort Lauderdale Eye Institute employed an educational intervention consisting of a live presentation and an instructional video. Results found that 44% of patients were hesitant to ask questions to clinical staff, 32% felt overwhelmed, and nearly 70% lacked confidence in using their prescribed eye drops. Following the intervention, 91% of patients reported increased confidence in their medications, and most indicated that the video …

The Impact Of Physician Precepting On Medical Education And Healthcare Delivery: A Qualitative Secondary Analysis, Hannah E. Gutjahr, Steven A. Fasko

SIU Journal of Medical Science Scholarly Works

This qualitative study investigates the impact of physician precepting on medical education and healthcare delivery, prompted by the need for consistency in precepting practices across various institutions and specialties. Physician preceptors, who bridge the gap between theoretical learning and practical application, play a critical role in shaping competent and compassionate healthcare professionals. However, inconsistencies in precepting quality and challenges such as time constraints, inadequate training, and balancing clinical duties with teaching responsibilities necessitate a comprehensive evaluation of precepting's effectiveness.

A systematic literature review was conducted to explore these issues, focusing on secondary data from peer-reviewed journals, case studies, and policy …

Empowering Independence: Strategies For Safe Aging In The Home And Community For The Older Adult Population, Madelyn Rashford, Becky King, Keegan Mckay

Summer 2025 OTD Capstone Symposium

This capstone project created an occupational therapy–based guidebook to promote safe aging in place for community-dwelling older adults. The guidebook includes fall prevention exercises, home safety strategies, and community resources to support independence in daily activities. Implementation showed increased safety awareness and confidence, reinforcing occupational therapy’s role in fostering independence and quality of life.

August 19, 2025 — Coalition Letter - Reauthorization Of The Health Resources And Services Administration (Hrsa) Title Vii Health Professions And Title Viii Nursing Workforce Development Programs, American Dental Association

Advocacy in Action letters

No abstract provided.

The Silent Epidemic: Equipment Maintenance Failures And Patient Outcomes In Ghana's Healthcare System, Ramseyer Adekorang Asamoah, Celene Dzreke, Evans Dzreke, David Kanzin

Health & Biomedical Sciences Faculty Publications

Broken tools indicate a broken system. This new study reveals how medical equipment failures destroy Ghana's public hospitals, turning life-saving technologies into silent murderers that disproportionately affect rural areas. Moving beyond technical diagnostics, we study the cascading systemic failures, chronic underfunding, critical staff shortages, and fragmented supply chains that leave 40% of vital equipment, such as ventilators, MRI scanners, and dialysis machines, inoperable at any given time. We quantify the devastating human toll through rigorous mixed-methods analysis of equipment downtime records across ten regional hospitals (2018-2023) and profound narratives from 50 frontline stakeholders, doctors forced to improvise without working incubators, …

Optimizing Inventory Management To Reduce Medication Waste At A Low-Resource Clinic, Maqadus A. Khan

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

Introduction

This project implemented standard operating procedures for inventory management in a low-resource clinic, incorporating First Expired, First Out (FEFO), Just-in-Time (JIT) ordering, and barcode scanning to reduce medication waste and optimize inventory processes. The aim was to reduce medication waste and optimize inventory processes.

Methodology

The Lean Six Sigma framework guided this project. Root causes of waste included inaccurate demand forecasting, lack of expiration tracking, insufficient staff training, poor stock rotation, and absence of standardized procedures. Baseline waste and practices were recorded. Medications were organized with nearing expirations upfront (FEFO), PAR levels were set, and JIT ordering implemented. Waste …

A Qualitative Analysis Of The Lived Experience Of Active-Duty Servicewomen Receiving Perinatal Care Within The Military Health System., Caitlin Russell, Emily Balog, Anne Teitelman, Rosemary Polomano

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

OBJECTIVES: We explored the lived experiences of active-duty servicewomen (ADSW) accessing and receiving care during the perinatal period (from discovery of pregnancy to 1 year postpartum) within the Military Health System.

STUDY DESIGN: Using qualitative methods, we conducted semi-structured interviews between September 2022 and February 2023 with 23 ADSW participants who were pregnant or within their first year postpartum. Data were analyzed using inductive coding and thematic analysis techniques.

RESULTS: Participants reported bureaucratic hurdles and long wait times for accessing care, too little choice in providers, and inadequate coordination between civilian and military care providers. Those who experienced perinatal complications …

Risk Management Practices In The Healthcare Supply Chain: A Cross-Sectional Survey Of Professionals In Saudi Arabia, Maha Ghamedi

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Healthcare supply chain disruptions threaten the quality of patient care, and can increase costs, particularly in systems reliant on global suppliers. This study examined the risk management practices of healthcare supply chain professionals in Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional survey of 72 professionals from hospitals, regulatory agencies, and other healthcare organizations revealed that 72.2% experienced supply shortages in the past year, most often involving general medical supplies, specialty medicines, and essential medicines. The most frequently reported risks were supplier shortages, reliance on single-source suppliers, and logistics disruptions, while cybersecurity threats were rarely cited. Although 76.4% of organizations reported having formal risk …

Patterns And Implications Of Electronic Messaging Use In Clinical Communication: Insights From A Single-Center Survey., Basil George Verghese, Rupinder Buttar, Prakash Upreti, Kaiwen Zhu, Tamer Salhab Altamimi

Advances in Clinical Medical Research and Healthcare Delivery

Background: Efficient communication in healthcare is critical, significantly impacting patient outcomes. Electronic messaging tools, like Epic Secure Chat, are increasingly integrated into healthcare settings to enhance interactions among professionals. However, the practical implications of these tools on workflow and care quality are underexplored.

Methods: We conducted a comprehensive cross-sectional survey involving 309 healthcare professionals, including hospitalist physicians, advanced practice providers (APPs), and internal medicine residents, to evaluate Epic Secure Chat's usage patterns, satisfaction levels, and communication preferences.

Results: The survey yielded insightful data from 156 complete responses, revealing a notable issue with misdirected messages: 64.1% of hospitalists, 52.6% of residents, …

Can Implementation Strategies Diminish Infection Prevention Barriers And Reduce Cardiac Surgical Site Infections, Jennifer West, Jennifer Gutowski, Jarvis Mcgrath, Kristen Paliani, Emil P. Lesho

Advances in Clinical Medical Research and Healthcare Delivery

Background:

Surgical site infections (SSI) can affect up to 26.8% of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). In New York State (NYS), hospitals are evaluated by comparing their risk-adjusted CABG SSI rates to the NYS average rate. In 2021, our facility’s rate was significantly higher than the NYS average at 3.40 and 1.51, respectively. We sought to reduce infection rates using a multidisciplinary Implementation Science (IS) approach across the continuum of care.

Methods:

Standardized definitions from the National Healthcare Safety Network were utilized in a 24-month before and after study at a 528-bed hospital that averages 468 CABG/year. In …

Reducing Nulliparous, Term, Singleton, Vertex Cesarean Birth Rate, Roseanna Juarez

Master's Projects and Capstones

Abstract

Problem: Cesarean birth rates for nulliparous, term, singleton, vertex (NTSV) pregnancies in the United States continue to exceed the Healthy People 2030 goal of 23.6%, resulting in preventable maternal and neonatal complications and higher healthcare costs.

Context: This quality improvement (QI) initiative was conducted in a high-acuity labor and delivery unit in California’s Central Valley, an area characterized by maternal health disparities, high rates of comorbidities, and limited access to prenatal care. The goal was to reduce the NTSV cesarean rate to 18.0% by July 31, 2025.

Interventions: Guided by Kotter’s 8-Step Change Theory and the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) framework, …

Partnership, Collaboration, And Co-Production To Improve Patient Experience Beyond Conducting Surveys – Lessons From The Quebec Model, Canada, Marie-Pascale Pomey, Catherine Wilhelmy, Myriam Fournier-Tombs, Vincent Dumez, Cécile Vialaron, Monica Nelea Iliescu, Karina Prevost, Simon Courtemanche, Louise Normandin, Geneviève David

Patient Experience Journal

Objective: The objectives of this article are to present how, in the province of Quebec (Canada), healthcare and service partnerships have been implemented, to take stock of the current situation and to suggest ways to continue strengthening the model over the coming years, in Quebec and elsewhere in the world. Methods: Three methods were mobilized: (1) a review of the literature and reports published in recent years on implementations of partnerships in Quebec; (2) a survey sent to the persons responsible for partnerships in Quebec’s health and social services establishments; and (3) a working committee comprised of patient experts, partnership …

Peer Mentoring, Camaraderie, And Support (Pmcs) Of Southern New Jersey: Suicide Prevention Using Human Experience And Social Determinants Of Health, Ali A. Poorani, Matthew Jacobs, Patrick Carney, Jaclyn Tomasetti

Patient Experience Journal

Suicide prevention is a high priority for Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Recent data show an increase in suicide rates, especially among Veterans that had not used VHA health services and nor had received any VHA benefits. Meanwhile, data collected for the past two decades reveals a decline in suicide rates among Veterans who were recent VHA users with mental health or substance use disorders. The objective of the Peer Mentoring, Camaraderie, and Support (PMCS) Program was to explore novel ways to reengage and reintegrate Veterans into their earned VA healthcare benefits, and examine the effectiveness of this new initiative by …

“All Together”: A Case Study Demystifying Patient And Public Involvement (Ppi) In Brief Psychological Interventions Within A Community Mental Health Service For Adults In The Uk, Molly H. Nadel, Katherine Parkin, Stephanie Casey, Rachel Maciag, Alice Xie, Mu-Yin Chang, Youngsuk Kim

Patient Experience Journal

The importance and value of involving patients and the public in the decision-making processes within services designed to support them, and research projects aimed at understanding and improving those services, have long been established. This is often referred to as Patient and Public Involvement (PPI). However, establishing good quality involvement work in practical terms is often less well understood and therefore, the uncertainty surrounding this can lead to hesitation by clinicians in practice. In this paper, we will share our lessons learned and the practical outcomes of PPI when applied in an NHS community mental health service for adults. We …