Health and Medical Administration Commons^™

Humanity Is Evolving Its Consciousness: The Role Of Archetypal Energies As Guides During An Unfolding Weeding Out And Alignment Process, Carroy U. Ferguson

Psychology Faculty Publication Series

Humanity is evolving its consciousness at individual and collective levels.  Given these seemingly tumultuous times, as of this writing (January 2026), to make such a statement may sound like a strange thing to say.  However, I suggest that if you are alive today and if you are reading these words, these are the very times for which you were born—to assist Humanity as it evolves its consciousness with your unique gifts, whatever they may be.  That is, this period of our individual and collective human being-ness may be characterized as an unfolding period of weeding out and alignment with the …

Making The Most Out Of Advanced Directives: A Qi Project, Brissa Mundo-Santacruz, Joseph Freeze, Jesus Dorado, Nina Ball

Continental and Mountain Divisions GME Resarch Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Tackling Tele Box Shortage Via Educational Initiative, Guntash Khasria, Bushra Ambreen

Gulf Coast Division GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Dexmedetomidine Versus Propofol For Reducing Emergence Delirium In Pediatric Anesthesia: A Scoping Review, Hannah Laxton Bsn, Rn, Hannah Mclain Bsn, Rn, Robert Mohr Bsn, Rn, Sarah Rocha Bsn, Rn, Laura Reed Dnp, Aprn, Fnp-Bc, Cne, Dwanye Accardo Dnp, Crna, Faana

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Purpose/Background 

Propofol is widely regarded as the standard anesthetic agent for preventing and treating emergence delirium, particularly in pediatric patients. Emergence delirium presents as postoperative agitation that may escalate to self-injurious behavior that can lead to disruption of critical lines or equipment. Since its approval in 1999, dexmedetomidine has gained attention for its sedative and sympatholytic properties, offering potential advantages over propofol. This study compares the postoperative effects of propofol and dexmedetomidine in reducing emergence delirium in pediatric surgical patients.

Methods 

A scoping review was conducted using PRISMA guidelines to identify relevant literature published between 2000 and 2025. Databases searched …

Improving Inpatient Colonoscopy Bowel Preparation Quality In A Community Hospital Via Split-Dose Polyethylene Glycol Regimen, Brenden Pearce, Yashaswi Koguru, Schuyler Nebeker, Minh Nguyen, Lauren Roper, Kathleen Raynor

South Atlantic Division GME Research Days 2026

No abstract provided.

Health Literacy/Numeracy-Related Factors Affecting Interpretation In Medical Laboratory Values, Rachel L. Childs

School of Medical Diagnostics & Translational Sciences Publications

Background

Health literacy and numeracy are broad terms that relate to a patient’s understanding of their health information. While there is a substantial amount of research on this topic in a general sense as well as in relation to how deficiencies in these skills impact patients’ understanding of laboratory results, little is known regarding the extent to which underlying factors, which are impacted by health literacy/numeracy, affect how patients interpret their results. This literature review attempts to shed light on the current literature on this more focused and narrow issue, including recommendations to address these barriers.

Content

To perform this …

Education For Residents And Patients On Pain Management For Gyn Procedures, Claire Moen, Jeffrey Edwards, Dominique Rehl, Kenyon Weidle

Continental and Mountain Divisions GME Resarch Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Don't Let Them Fall, Let Ai Call, Ella Mills, Sara Barker, Andreea Ifrim, Yvette Uwase

SPARK Symposium Presentations

This project proposes a nurse-led pilot of AI-supported predictive mobility monitoring on a cardiac medical-surgical unit, to improve early identification of high-risk mobility behaviors and enhance patient safety. Current fall-prevention strategies, such as bed alarms and virtual sitters, often alert staff after unsafe movement has begun, creating a reactive cycle that contributes to alarm fatigue and delayed intervention (Abbe & O’Keeffe, 2020). This initiative uses monitors with contactless infrared sensors to identify movement before patients exit the bed, an alert system that goes straight to the nurse and PCT phones, and a central console for floor management and care coordination. …

Bringing Awareness And Education To Rural Areas About The Role Occupational Therapy (Ot) Has In Infant Care, Makenzi Richwald

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

This capstone project focused on education and advocacy. The aim of my capstone project was to provide education to parents of eastern Kentucky (KY) about what Occupational Therapy (OT) can address with infants aged 0-18 months. I saw a gap in knowledge in the eastern KY community about what OT could do for infants and wanted to address this. Through my research, consultation with my mentors, and collaboration with the occupational therapists at my site (BPT) I discerned 14 areas of development and/or common reasons of needed referral for OT services by this age group. These educational materials aimed to …

Devising A Protocol For Mri Clearance In Patients With Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices (Cied), Sienna Luk, Alvin Mathew, Darshan Bhatty, Kamran Rizvi

North Texas GME Research Forum 2026

Background: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in patients with Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices (CIEDs) remains a logistical challenge in many clinical settings. At Medical City Denton, the absence of a standardized institutional policy has led to significant inefficiencies, including prolonged hospital stays and increased healthcare costs. The primary objective of this project was to address these barriers by developing a streamlined, evidence-based protocol to improve care coordination and resource utilization for patients with CIEDs requiring diagnostic imaging.

Methods: Launched in 2026, this pilot initiative utilized a multi-stakeholder approach involving hospitalists, EPs, radiology staff, and device representatives. A core component of the …

Cardiac Step-Down Unit (Csu), Two Failures Drive Suboptimal Vte Prevention: Quality Improvement, Jorim Parmar, Shakir Al-Ezzi, Anvi Manduva, Muhammad Suleman, Fahed Alsayed, Debra Medsker

North Texas GME Research Forum 2026

BACKGROUND: In the Cardiac Step-down Unit (CSU), two failures drive suboptimal VTE prevention: (1). over-ordering of SCDs in patients unlikely to benefit and (2). < 10% documented application when SCDs are truly indicated. Baseline data indicates that curbing over-ordering alone would reduce recorded non-compliance by >50%, revealing a clear opportunity for system redesign.

METHODS: To integrate the updated “3 Bucket” Risk Model assessment into the computerized physician order entry (CPOE) in order to delineate the prophylaxis for a given patient population. Once the manual risk assessment proves to be viable in increasing compliance, we can propose having the tool adopted into the CPOE system. Root Cause Analysis revealed that lack of standardized VTE risk stratification leads to inconsistent ordering practices – …

Opioid Prescribing Patterns Following Isolated Trigger Finger Release: A Single-Institution Quality Improvement Study, Brandalynn Mathis, Robert Garner, Cameron Sprong, Mark Gamadia, Alan Cornett, Steven Smith

MidAmerica Division GME Healthcare Symposium 2026

No abstract provided.

Hyperglycemia Detection From Sigle - Lead Ecg Using A Hybrid Cnn & Transformer Model, Adam Ayomikun Ogunjembola

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Abstract
Hyperglycemia Detection from Single-Lead ECG using a Hybrid CNN & Transformer Model
Adam Ogunjembola

Diabetes Mellitus is known as high blood glucose. This high blood glucose level happens when the body has a problem with producing or using insulin. Insulin is a very important hormone that the pancreas makes to control how much glucose gets into the bloodstream and cells. Diabetes Mellitus has an effect on the body if it is not treated, such as damaging the blood vessels and nerves which can lead to stroke, kidney failure, heart attack and permanent loss of vision. Since people with diabetes …

Presenteeism Among Health Care Personnel With Covid-19, James C. Crosby, Eliezer Santos Leon, Brian Chinnock, Karisa K. Harland, Anusha Krishnadasan, Nicholas M. Mohr, Ian D. Plumb, Melissa Briggs Hagen, Kelli Wallace, David A. Talan, Project Prevent Network, Anne Zepeski, Tracy Young, Howard A. Smithline, Lilly C. Lee, Stephen C. Lim, Et Al

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

IMPORTANCE: Presenteeism-defined as continuing to work during an illness-poses a public health risk in the workplace and is especially hazardous within health care institutions where vulnerable patients may be exposed to nosocomial infections. Understanding the frequency and characteristics of health care personnel (HCP) who report presenteeism while ill with COVID-19 may help mitigate SARS-CoV-2 spread in hospitals and other health care institutions. OBJECTIVES: To determine the frequency of presenteeism among HCP with symptomatic COVID-19, and to evaluate the demographic, occupational, and clinical factors associated with it. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This is an observational cohort study that uses data from …

Impact And Effectiveness Of Phq-9 Training For School Counselors On Mental Health Referrals For High School Students, Sherikee Dorice Grim Bsn, Rn, Ja’Quay Brister Dnp, Pmhnp-Bc, Margaret Harvey Phd, Aprn, Acnp, Chfn, Fhrs

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Purpose/Background

Adolescents' mental health has worsened and become a public health issue, with depression being a primary concern. There is an urgent need for early screening, school-based referral pathways, and interventions to address common problems in high schools. Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) is a validated, evidence-based tool for detecting depression; however, its systematic use in school-based counseling settings through organized training has not been studied for implementation in high schools. This review assesses the current literature on the impact and effectiveness of PHQ-9 training for school counselors on mental health referrals among high school students, with a focus on early …

Implementation Evaluation Of Blood Flow Restriction In The Rehabilitative Setting, Corbit Franks, Madison Wellborn, Matthew A. Chatlaong, Daphney M. Carter, William M. Miller, Matthew B. Jessee, Robert E. Davis

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Blood flow restriction refers to a training/rehabilitation method consisting of an external pressure system applied to a limb to partially inhibit blood flow to the tissues. Though much research has been conducted concerning the use of blood flow restriction, there is limited research concerning why clinicians may or may not utilize it. Objective: The current qualitative study utilized the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research to investigate why clinicians may or may not implement blood flow restriction in the clinical setting. Methods: A semi-structured interview addressing twelve implementation constructs within four domains (Intervention Characteristics, Outer Setting, Inner Setting, and Characteristics …

Learning From Covid-19: Clinical Trials, Health Information Technology, And Patient Mortality, Christos Nicolaides, Avinash Collis, Seth Benzell, Indranil Bardhan

Economics Faculty Articles and Research

During the COVID-19 pandemic, deaths per case in the United States decreased from 7.46% in April 2020 to 1.76% in April 2021. One mechanism that could explain this decline is a learning effect associated with testing of new treatments by hospitals. Hospitals that participated in clinical trials developed better organizational capabilities to diagnose and treat COVID-19 patients. Simultaneously, hospitals used health information technologies (IT) that integrated health information across healthcare providers to facilitate greater learning and sharing of best practices. Using US county-level data on clinical trial participation, use of health IT, and COVID-19 cases and deaths, we show that …

Implementing A Pap Smear Tracking Tool For Increased Compliance, Meghan Marie Madea Msn, Cnm, Whnp-Bc, Katherine Ferrell Fouquier Phd, Cnm, Facnm, Bobby Bellflower Dnsc, Nnp-Bc, Faan, Faanp, Fnap

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Purpose/Background

The Papanicolaou “pap” smear screens for cervical cancer in women ages 21-65 with a cervix. Inconsistent locations for lab results lead to a decrease in provider efficiency, and patients are unaware of results or recommended follow-up. This quality improvement project implemented a tracking tool within the electronic medical record (EMR) in a busy midwifery clinic. The outcomes are the identification of patients overdue for pap smears, scheduling the procedure, recording of results, and patient notification with recommended follow-up.

Methods

A one-month chart review was performed of fifty gynecology patients within a midwifery clinic. Results of pap smears were located …

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, …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Implementation Of A Triage System For The Residents At A Residential Facility To Improve Triage Assessment Skills Of The Staff As Well As Improve The Level And Timeliness Of Care, Andrew J. Choi Rn, Neha Gopal Rn, Andres N. Padilla Rn, Dana Son

Master's Projects and Capstones

Triage is an integral part of the clinical process which involves assessing patients and determining their level of care in order to get them appropriate, timely treatment. Several countries utilize a standardized triage system with established criteria to aid staff in their decision-making during assessments (Peta et al., 2023). The Nursing and Residential Triage (NaRT) tool, from the Manchester Triage System (MTS), was shown to enhance staff clinical assessment skills and help avoid inappropriate ED transfers during a study among older adults in a residential facility (Markey et al., 2024). For this project, the main issue identified at the residential …

Efficacy Of Infliximab Versus Vedolizumab In The Management Of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Induced Colitis: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis., Shreya Shambhavi, Harmanjeet Singh, Ganesh Ramaprasad, Murod Khikmatov, Varun Vankeshwaram, Kumar Ashish, Carlos Valladares, Tanushree Bhatt, Seth D Cohen

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

BACKGROUND: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) can cause severe gastrointestinal immune-related adverse events (irAEs), often leading to treatment interruption and increased morbidity. Immune-mediated colitis (IMC) ranges from mild diarrhea to life-threatening colitis, sometimes requiring urgent intervention. While corticosteroids are the first-line treatment, selective immunosuppressive therapy (SIT) with either infliximab or vedolizumab is used for steroid-refractory or dependent cases. However, standardized practices are lacking, and treatment decisions are largely left to provider discretion. This study compares infliximab and vedolizumab for IMC, focusing on remission rates, recurrence, SIT dosing, and systemic steroid exposure duration.

METHODS: We identified six retrospective cohort studies that compared …

Case Report: Solitary Adrenal Metastasis From Esophageal Adenocarcinoma, Riddhi Machchhar, Ahmed Dawood Al Mahrizi, Fatima Mossolem, Mariam Abdeen, Ujjwala Jain, Jyotibala Jain, Prashant Desai

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

INTRODUCTION: Solitary adrenal metastasis from a primary esophageal malignancy is relatively rare. While there are case reports of aggressive treatment with esophagectomy and adrenalectomy providing long-term survival, the treatment paradigm is not well defined. Complications from esophageal adenocarcinoma and its treatment can significantly impact the patient's quality of life and prognosis.

CASE PRESENTATION: Our patient was treated with systemic therapy and, although he initially had a complete response, he later experienced local disease progression along with the development of additional metastatic sites. The patient began FOLFOX, a standard chemotherapy regimen for esophageal/gastric cancer. He experienced side effects such as fever, …

Educating Healthcare Providers To Prevent And Mitigate The Effects Of Zoom Fatigue, Andrea Lima

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Zoom Fatigue (ZF), or physical and neuropsychological responses to excessive videoconferencing (VC), increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Like burnout, ZF can compromise patient safety by causing decreased job satisfaction, social isolation, disrupted focus, and difficulty empathizing with patients. This Plan-Do-Study-Act quality improvement project aimed to assess feelings about VC, raise awareness of the adverse effects of overuse, and empower primary care providers (PCPs) to improve their work experiences. A group of on-site PCPs at a tertiary care medical center in the Southwest, who continued holding exclusive virtual team meetings after the pandemic, was asked to complete the 15-question Zoom Exhaustion …

Quality Over Quantity-Current Challenges Of Robotic Surgery In Poland, Marcin Kubiak, Jacek Doniec, S Vincent Grasso, Andrew Gumbs, Amir Nour Mohammadi, Katarzyna Sędłak, Zuzanna Pelc, Stanisław Góźdź, Wojciech Załuska, Artur Bachta, Paweł Rybojad, Kamil Torres, Timothy M Pawlik, Marek Zawadzki, Andrzej Budzyński, Karol Rawicz-Pruszyński

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

Since its introduction in 2010, a dynamic growth of robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) has been observed in Poland. The number of healthcare institutions implementing RAS has tripled in the last 36 months, with 80 surgical robots currently utilized on a national scale. While urological procedures dominate RAS utilization (73%), adoption in gynecology (12.2%) and gastrointestinal surgery (8.5%) is rising, driven by recent National Health Fund reimbursement policies. However, significant fragmentation and alarmingly low numbers of individual RAS procedures were identified: 47.7% of surgeons perform less than 40 cases annually. Parallel to expanding the robotic surgery reimbursement program, several standardized actions are …

5x-Multiplier Vs 3-Tier Model For Discharge Opioid Prescriptions After Intra-Abdominal Cancer Surgery: Randomized Clinical Trial Protocol, Brittany C. Fields, Timothy E. Newhook, Heather A. Lillemoe, Wei Qiao, Jose A. Karam, Surena F. Matin, Larissa A. Meyer, Ching-Wei D. Tzeng

Advances in Cancer Education and Quality Improvement

Background

Surgeons provide up to 10% of total opioid prescriptions across all specialties, and more than one-third of surgeon-prescribed medications are opioids. Patient-reported opioid consumption and risk of persistent opioid use beyond the postoperative recovery period correlate with the initial opioid quantity prescribed at discharge. Interventions to reduce postoperative opioid prescribing have demonstrated no adverse effects on pain control or increased need for prescription refill; however, in the absence of standardized prescription protocols, opioid prescribing practices vary widely.

Objective

The study objective is to identify the opioid prescribing model that provides the lowest oral morphine equivalents (OME) volume prescribed at …

Persistent Improvement In Opioid Perceptions And Prescribing For Cancer Surgery: 5-Year Follow-Up, Brittany C. Fields, Timothy E. Newhook, Heather A. Lillemoe, Jessica E. Maxwell, Jose M. Soliz, Keyuri U. Popat, Christina L. Roland, Jean-Nicolas Vauthey, Matthew H. G. Katz, Ching-Wei D. Tzeng

Advances in Cancer Education and Quality Improvement

Background and Objectives

We previously reported that implementation of a department-wide opioid education program led to post-education improvements in opioid perceptions and prescription recommendations, with one-month and one-year retention. With ongoing programmatic and quality improvement efforts, we sought to re-evaluate the retention of these improvements five years after initial efforts.

Methods

Attending surgeons, clinical fellows, and advanced practice providers were surveyed five years after implementation of a comprehensive, departmental opioid reduction framework in August 2018. This framework initially consisted of dedicated opioid education sessions and retrospective assessment of prescribing practices, and subsequently expanded over time to include prospective quality improvement …

Integrating Positive Psychology And Spirituality To Foster Meaning And Well-Being In Older Adults, Crystal Morris

Adultspan Journal

This perspective article explores the integration of positive psychology interventions (PPIs) and spirituality in therapy to foster meaning and well-being in older adults. It highlights exercises such as the positive introduction, positive legacy, character strengths, mindfulness, mindful-based yoga, and a manifestation prayer journaling. The interventions presented are tools to support older adults that may experience depression, difficult life transitions, and the search for renewed meaning. Therapists who integrate PPIs and spirituality into therapy can promote a holistic, non-pathological approach to treatment.