Public Health Commons^™

A Practical Method For Integrating Community Priorities In Planning And Implementing Cancer Control Programs, Emily Bilenduke, Andrea J Dwyer, Elsa S Staples, Kristin Kilbourn, Patricia A Valverde, Maria E Fernández, Betsy C Risendal

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

PURPOSE: Community engagement is essential in effective public health programs. This paper illustrates the methods used to engage community in the development of a multi-level implementation intervention to address cancer disparities related to hereditary cancer syndromes.

METHODS: Implementation Mapping (IM), was used to guide the co-creation of an intervention. Key partners were recruited to a 13-member statewide community advisory board (CAB) representing healthcare and community-based organizations. As part of a needs assessment, a 3-round modified Delphi method with the CAB was used to identify implementation outcomes to use in later steps of IM. An anonymous online survey of a validated …

Shaping Policy And Practice: Analyzing The Reach Of Highly Cited And High Altmetrics Publications For Broader Impact On Physical Activity, Andrea Ramírez Varela, Natalicio Serrano, Juliana Mejía Grueso, Anita Nguyen, Deborah Salvo, Ross C Brownson, Adrian Bauman, Rodrigo Reis, Pedro Hallal, Michael Pratt

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: A significant gap remains between the availability of physical activity (PA) evidence-based interventions and their application in real-world settings in policy and practice areas. This study aims to describe highly cited and high altmetrics publications in PA research and explore their impact on PA policy and practice.

METHODS: Mixed-methods sequential explanatory study including the identification and description of the top highly cited and high altmetrics PA publications from the last 10 years (including study design, population, type of PA study, number of citations, and altmetrics score), and interviews with key informants regarding research dissemination and implications on PA policy …

Addressing The Analytical And Computational Challenges Using Machine Learning In Biomedical Research, Yizhuo Wang

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

In the contemporary healthcare field, professionals are confronted with an ever-growing volume of clinical data stored in electronic health records, alongside the genomic data stemming from laboratory experiments. As a response to this deluge of data, the application of machine learning (ML) techniques is gaining popularity since ML techniques have demonstrated an exceptional proficiency in processing big data and deciphering complex nonlinear patterns that are intrinsic to biomedical research.

My research leverages ML's capabilities to address the computational challenges spanning diverse areas, including adaptive clinical trial designs, survival analysis, and high-dimensional genetic data analysis. Specifically, Chapter 2 focused on the …

Influence Of Access To Public Parks On Mortality Among Older Adults In The United States, Jiaying Dong

All Dissertations

Research shows the health benefits of green spaces are universal, but there's a noticeable disparity in their distribution in the U.S., especially between urban and rural areas. Marginalized groups, particularly those of lower economic status or racial minorities, often have limited access to these spaces. This inequity could be more impactful on the elderly, who are more vulnerable to health issues. However, specific health benefits of green spaces for seniors are not well defined. This study examines the correlation between park access, mortality in those over 65, and income disparities across all U.S. counties.

The study employed a quantitative approach …

Social Media And Mental Health: The Public Health Impact And Future Policy Directives, Renae A. Merrill

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The relationship between social media use among young people and the increasing concerns of mental health problems in the U.S. and globally is on systemic agendas. Furthermore, research on social media use and mental health indicate reasons to suspect a causal relationship, but more work needs to be done. Therefore, this three-article dissertation seeks to explore (1) associations between social media use, personality, and depression; (2) associations between social media emotional support, anxiety, and personality; and (3) the relationship between social media use and mental health using Deborah Stone’s causal stories framework. Findings from this study provide an improved understanding …

Sars-Cov-2 Seroprevalence In Pregnant Women In Kilifi, Kenya From March 2020 To March 2022, Angela Koech, Geoffrey Omuse, Alex Mugo, Isaac Mwaniki, Joseph Mutunga, Moses Mukhanya, Onesmus Wanje, Grace Mwashigadi, Geoffrey Katana, Marleen Temmerman

Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health

Background: Seroprevalence studies are an alternative approach to estimating the extent of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and the evolution of the pandemic in different geographical settings. We aimed to determine the SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence from March 2020 to March 2022 in a rural and urban setting in Kilifi County, Kenya.

Methods: We obtained representative random samples of stored serum from a pregnancy cohort study for the period March 2020 to March 2022 and tested for antibodies against the spike protein using a qualitative SARS-CoV-2 ELISA kit (Wantai, total antibodies). All positive samples were retested for anti-SARS-CoV-2 anti-nucleocapsid antibodies (Euroimmun, ELISA kits, NCP, …

Greater Traditionalism Predicts Covid-19 Precautionary Behaviors Across 27 Societies, Theodore Samore, D. M. T. Fessler, A. M. Sparks, C. Holbrook, L. Aaroe, Norman P. Li, Kai Lin Lynn Tan, Et Al

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

People vary both in their embrace of their society’s traditions, and in their perception of hazards as salient and necessitating a response. Over evolutionary time, traditions have offered avenues for addressing hazards, plausibly resulting in linkages between orientations toward tradition and orientations toward danger. Emerging research documents connections between traditionalism and threat responsivity, including pathogen-avoidance motivations. Additionally, because hazard-mitigating behaviors can conflict with competing priorities, associations between traditionalism and pathogen avoidance may hinge on contextually contingent tradeoffs. The COVID-19 pandemic provides a real-world test of the posited relationship between traditionalism and hazard avoidance. Across 27 societies (N = 7844), we …

An Ace2 Decamer Viral Trap As A Durable Intervention Solution For Current And Future Sars-Cov, Hailong Guo, Bomsoo Cho, Paul R Hinton, Sijia He, Yongjun Yu, Ashwin Kumar Ramesh, Jwala Priyadarsini Sivaccumar, Zhiqiang Ku, Kristen Campo, Sarah Holland, Sameer Sachdeva, Christopher Mensch, Mohamed Dawod, Annalis Whitaker, Philip Eisenhauer, Allison Falcone, Rebekah Honce, Jason W Botten, Stephen F Carroll, Bruce A Keyt, Andrew W Womack, William R Strohl, Kai Xu, Ningyan Zhang, Zhiqiang An, Sha Ha, John W Shiver, Tong-Ming Fu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The capacity of SARS-CoV-2 to evolve poses challenges to conventional prevention and treatment options such as vaccination and monoclonal antibodies, as they rely on viral receptor binding domain (RBD) sequences from previous strains. Additionally, animal CoVs, especially those of the SARS family, are now appreciated as a constant pandemic threat. We present here a new antiviral approach featuring inhalation delivery of a recombinant viral trap composed of ten copies of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) fused to the IgM Fc. This ACE2 decamer viral trap is designed to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 entry function, regardless of viral RBD sequence variations as shown by …

Twenty Years Of Capacity Building Across The Cancer Prevention And Control Research Network, Mary Wangen, Cam Escoffery, Maria E Fernandez, Daniela B Friedman, Peggy Hannon, Linda K Ko, Annette E Maxwell, Courtney Petagna, Betsy Risendal, Catherine Rohweder, Jennifer Leeman

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

PURPOSE: to improve population health, community members need capacity (i.e., knowledge, skills, and tools) to select and implement evidence-based interventions (EBIs) to fit the needs of their local settings. Since 2002, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has funded the national Cancer Prevention and Control Research Network (CPCRN) to accelerate the implementation of cancer prevention and control EBIs in communities. The CPCRN has developed multiple strategies to build community members' capacity to implement EBIs. This paper describes the history of CPCRN's experience developing and lessons learned through the use of five capacity-building strategies: (1) mini-grant programs, (2) training, (3) …

The Special Sauce Of The Cancer Prevention And Control Research Network: 20 Years Of Lessons Learned In Developing The Evidence Base, Building Community Capacity, And Translating Research Into Practice, Stephanie B Wheeler, Rebecca J Lee, Alexa L Young, Adam Dodd, Charlotte Ellis, Bryan J Weiner, Kurt M Ribisl, Prajakta Adsul, Sarah A Birken, María E Fernández, Peggy A Hannon, James R Hébert, Linda K Ko, Aaron Seaman, Thuy Vu, Heather M Brandt, Rebecca S Williams

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

PURPOSE: The Cancer Prevention and Control Research Network (CPCRN) is a national network focused on accelerating the translation of cancer prevention and control research evidence into practice through collaborative, multicenter projects in partnership with diverse communities. From 2003 to 2022, the CPCRN included 613 members.

METHODS: We: (1) characterize the extent and nature of collaborations through a bibliometric analysis of 20 years of Network publications; and (2) describe key features and functions of the CPCRN as related to organizational structure, productivity, impact, and focus on health equity, partnership development, and capacity building through analysis of 22 in-depth interviews and review …

Type 2 Diabetes Modifies The Association Of Cad Genomic Risk Variants With Subclinical Atherosclerosis, Natalie R Hasbani, Kenneth E Westerman, Soo Heon Kwak, Han Chen, Xihao Li, Daniel Di Corpo, Jennifer Wessel, Joshua C Bis, Chloè Sarnowski, Peitao Wu, Lawrence F Bielak, Xiuqing Guo, Nancy Heard-Costa, Gregory L Kinney, Michael C Mahaney, May E Montasser, Nicholette D Palmer, Laura M Raffield, James G Terry, Lisa R Yanek, Jessica Bon, Donald W Bowden, Jennifer A Brody, Ravindranath Duggirala, David R Jacobs, Rita R Kalyani, Leslie A Lange, Braxton D Mitchell, Jennifer A Smith, Kent D Taylor, April P Carson, Joanne E Curran, Myriam Fornage, Barry I Freedman, Stacey Gabriel, Richard A Gibbs, Namrata Gupta, Sharon L R Kardia, Brian G Kral, Zeineen Momin, Anne B Newman, Wendy S Post, Karine A Viaud-Martinez, Kendra A Young, Lewis C Becker, Alain G Bertoni, John Blangero, John J Carr, Katherine Pratte, Bruce M Psaty, Stephen S Rich, Joseph C Wu, Rajeev Malhotra, Patricia A Peyser, Alanna C Morrison, Ramachandran S Vasan, Xihong Lin, Jerome I Rotter, James B Meigs, Alisa K Manning, Paul S De Vries

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) have an increased risk of coronary artery disease (CAD), but questions remain about the underlying pathology. Identifying which CAD loci are modified by T2D in the development of subclinical atherosclerosis (coronary artery calcification [CAC], carotid intima-media thickness, or carotid plaque) may improve our understanding of the mechanisms leading to the increased CAD in T2D.

METHODS: We compared the common and rare variant associations of known CAD loci from the literature on CAC, carotid intima-media thickness, and carotid plaque in up to 29 670 participants, including up to 24 157 normoglycemic controls and 5513 …

Anaerobic Pathogens Associated With Osa May Contribute To Pathophysiology Via Amino-Acid Depletion, Michael Elgart, Ying Zhang, Yuan Zhang, Bing Yu, Youngmee Kim, Phyllis C Zee, Marc D Gellman, Eric Boerwinkle, Martha L Daviglus, Jianwen Cai, Susan Redline, Robert D Burk, Robert Kaplan, Tamar Sofer

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: The human microbiome is linked to multiple metabolic disorders such as obesity and diabetes. Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a common sleep disorder with several metabolic risk factors. We investigated the associations between the gut microbiome composition and function, and measures of OSA severity in participants from a prospective community-based cohort study: the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL).

METHODS: Bacterial-Wide Association Analysis (BWAS) of gut microbiome measured via metagenomics with OSA measures was performed adjusting for clinical, lifestyle and co-morbidities. This was followed by functional analysis of the OSA-enriched bacteria. We utilized additional metabolomic and transcriptomic associations …

Biological Age Mediates The Effects Of Perceived Neighborhood Problems On Heart Failure Risk Among Black Persons, Ganga Bey, James Pike, Priya Palta, Anthony Zannas, Qian Xiao, Shelly-Ann Love, Gerardo Heiss

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

OBJECTIVE: We assessed whether biological age, measured by the epigenetic clock GrimAge, mediates the association of objective and subjective neighborhood disadvantage with incident HF among Black persons.

METHODS: Participants were 1448 self-reported Black adults (mean age (standard deviation, SD) = 64.3 (5.5)) dually enrolled in two community-based cohorts in Jackson, Mississippi, the ARIC and JHS cohorts, who were free of HF as of January 1, 2000. Incident HF events leading to hospitalization through December 31, 2017, were classified using ICD-9 discharge codes of HF. Multilevel age- and sex-adjusted Cox causal mediation models were used to examine whether biological age (at …

Machine Learning To Predict Mortality For Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage (Asah) Using A Large Nationwide Ehr Database, Gen Zhu, Anthony Yuan, Duo Yu, Alicia Zha, Hulin Wu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) develops quickly once it occurs and threatens the life of patients. We aimed to use machine learning to predict mortality for SAH patients at an early stage which can help doctors make clinical decisions. In our study, we applied different machine learning methods to an aSAH cohort extracted from a national EHR database, the Cerner Health Facts EHR database (2000-2018). The outcome of interest was in-hospital mortality, as either passing away while still in the hospital or being discharged to hospice care. Machine learning-based models were primarily evaluated by the area under the receiver operating characteristic …

Alignment Between 24-H Light-Dark And Activity-Rest Rhythms Is Associated With Diabetes And Glucose Metabolism In A Nationally Representative Sample Of American Adults, Qian Xiao, John Durbin, Cici Bauer, Chris Ho Ching Yeung, Mariana G Figueiro

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

OBJECTIVE: The alignment between environmental stimuli (e.g., dark, light) and behavior cycles (e.g., rest, activity) is an essential feature of the circadian timing system, a key contributor to metabolic health. However, no previous studies have investigated light-activity alignment in relation to glycemic control in human populations.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: The analysis included ∼7,000 adults (aged 20-80 years) from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) (2011-2014) with actigraphy-measured, multiday, 24-h activity and light data. We used phasor analysis to derive phasor magnitude and phasor angle, which measures coupling strength and phase difference between the activity-rest and light-dark cycles, …

The Potential Predictive Value Of Cardiac Mechanics For Left Ventricular Reverse Remodelling In Dilated Cardiomyopathy, Ao Kan, Qimin Fang, Shuhao Li, Wenying Liu, Xinwei Tao, Kaiyao Huang, Mengyao Hu, Zhaofeng Feng, Lianggeng Gong

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

AIMS: Left ventricular reverse remodelling (LVRR) is an important objective of optimal medical management for dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) patients, as it is associated with favourable long-term outcomes. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) can comprehensively assess cardiac structure and function. We aimed to assess the CMR parameters at baseline and investigate independent variables to predict LVRR in DCM patients.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Nighty-eight initially diagnosed DCM patients who underwent CMR and echocardiography examinations at baseline were included. CMR parameters and feature tracking (FT) based left ventricular (LV) global strain (nStrain) and nStrain indexed to LV cardiac mass index (rStrain) were measured. The …

Patient, Provider, And Interpreter Perspectives On Interpreter Modality And Barriers To Interpreter Use In A Pediatric Inpatient Setting, Brooklyn Leitch

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

There are a growing number of patients and families in the United States who use a language other than English (LOE). Standard of care for best patient outcomes requires that these families receive professional interpretation for every encounter, preferably in the interpreter modality that they are most comfortable with and that provides the best communication. Unfortunately, they often do not receive this. Objectives of this research include learning how interpreter services are selected and used as well as which modality (in-person, video, or phone) is preferred by patients and families, providers, and interpreters. We aim to better understand the experiences …

Barriers And Facilitators To Enrollment For Free And Reduced Price Meals In The School Nutrition Program Among Lawrence Public School Families, Emily Brinkman

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Many low-income families are facing nutrition insecurity, meaning they do not have consistent and equitable access to healthy, safe, affordable foods to meet needs for optimal health and well-being. The impact of nutrition insecurity is especially concerning for children as they are more likely to face adverse outcomes that can limit physical, intellectual, and emotional potential across the lifespan. The U.S. Department of Agriculture administers the School Nutrition Programs that can help improve access to nutritious foods. Eligible families can apply for their children to receive free or reduced-price school meals based on income level and household size. However, many …

Spotlight On Mental Health On A Healthcare Campus: An Assessment Of Psychological Trauma Awareness, Training, And Treatment In The University Of Nebraska Medical Center College Of Public Health Community, Jenny E. Mueller

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Background: Psychological trauma has been recognized as a public health concern of epidemic proportions globally. Public health community awareness of and education in trauma is likely to be integral to preparing future public health professionals to work effectively and safely in the field. Currently, the extent of trauma awareness, training, and treatment on the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Public Health (UNMC COPH) campus is not known.

Aims: The aims of this project are to investigate and assess the level of psychological trauma awareness, training, and treatment on the UNMC COPH campus; and to provide recommendations for actions …

Substance Use Patterns Among High School Students - A Replication Study Of The 2020 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, Haley Irons

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

The study selected for replication is “Prescription Opioid Misuse and Use of Alcohol and Other Substances Among High School Students” by Christopher Jones and colleagues published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report Supplement in August 2020. The original report used data from the Centers for Disease Control’s 2009-2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), which is a cross-sectional survey administered every two years to a sample of public- and private-school students in 9th–12th grade in the United States. Researchers from the original report aimed to use the 2009-2019 YRBS data to examine substance use among high school students, characterize the …

From Vapor To Vice: Unraveling The Links Between Vaping And Traditional Substance Abuse Among Youth, Ayana Powell

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

ABSTRACT:

Objective: To evaluate whether vaping or using e-cigarettes is associated with the use of traditional substances, such as cigarettes, alcohol, and marijuana.

Methods: Using data from the Monitoring the Future surveys, a multivariable logistic regression model was performed, and prevalent odds ratio were calculated to evaluate the association between vaping and traditional substances.

Results: Vaping use among U.S. adolescents and teenagers was found to be an associated with use of traditional substances (cigarette use [OR]= 6.36 [CI]= 4.84, 8.38; alcohol use [OR]=5.80 [CI]= 5.28, 6.38; and marijuana use [OR]= 7.77 [CI]= 6.95, 8.70).

Conclusion: This study will assist …

Strategies To Encourage Recall And Prevent Relapse After Full Mouth Rehabilitation Under General Anesthesia In Children, Claire Koukol

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Background: Dental caries are preventable. Dentists utilize many prevention strategies in the office and provide at-home education to families. However, once a child develops Early Childhood Caries (ECC), especially in more severe cases, they may need general anesthesia (GA) to complete treatment. While this is an effective way to achieve full mouth dental rehabilitation (FMDR), this burdens the healthcare systems and families and does not come without risk to the patient. Patients with high caries experience remain at high risk of caries relapse after FMDR under GA, sometimes necessitating additional FMDR under GA. While there has been a significant amount …

The Power Of An Effective Safety Culture, Justin B. Negley

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Workplace injuries and illnesses have continued to decrease significantly through increased regulations, awareness, and technological advances. These enhancements are not enough to continue to drive these rates lower. A robust safety culture within an organization is required to truly affect change that will continue to diminish the occurrence of injuries and illnesses within the workplace. This project seeks to define the key aspects and elements that are fundamental to a culture of safety as a top priority amongst competing demands. The foundations of a robust safety culture were identified through a systematic literature review, a site comparison example of safety …

Exploring The Mental Health Experience Of Perinatal Military Spouses Based In Sigonella, Italy, Lyndsey Dannenberg

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

The perinatal period can have a profound impact on the mental health of women, their infants, and their families, especially when it comes to depression and anxiety disorders. This study aims to delve into the experiences of perinatal mental health among military spouses stationed overseas, on Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy, and contribute to the limited research on active-duty military spouses and their perinatal mental health while stationed overseas. The research uses a qualitative phenomenological approach, seeking to provide valuable insights into the lived experiences of military spouses and their perinatal mental health. Risk factors associated with perinatal mental illness …

Nutrition Needs Assessment For A Produce Prescription Program In The Pediatric Dental Setting, Zachary Houser

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

More than half of young people in the U.S. aged 2-19 have a poor-quality diet, including low fruit and vegetable (FV) intake (Liu et al., 2020). Poor nutrition increases health risks, including chronic diseases such as dental caries and obesity, low-income households experience higher rates of poor nutrition and subsequent health burdens (AAPD, 2022b). Produce prescriptions (PPR) are a type of financial incentive program that can improve FV intake among low-income populations (Ridberg et al., 2019). PPR programs are often conducted in a primary medical setting (Little et al., 2022); however, no literature describes PPR programs conducted in a dental …

Environmental Exposure Effects To Humans And Trends Of Harmful Algal Blooms In Nebraska, Ericka Sanders

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Harmful algae blooms (HAB) are becoming more of a human health concern. Humans are exposed to harmful algae blooms from freshwater bodies used for recreational activities. The presence of harmful algae blooms has been increasing across the United States. Aerosol, dermal, and ingestion routes of exposure are ways humans can develop an illness when around a HAB. Environmental exposure to humans above 8 ppb per liter of surface water can cause mild to severe symptoms and, in rare cases, may be fatal. Exposure can be acute or chronic. The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE) has implemented a monitoring …

Antibiotic Prescribing Patterns In The Emergency Department, Maddison Mcconnaughhay

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Purpose: Antibiotic resistance is a major public health problem in the United States, resulting in significant morbidity and mortality (CDC, 2019). This study seeks to understand how antibiotic use for dental problems may contribute to antibiotic resistance and adverse drug reactions while only temporarily relieving the underlying oral health condition. Previous research suggests differences in prescribing patterns for pain management by provider type, but little is known about antibiotic prescribing patterns, especially for diverse groups of pediatric patients (Chua, et al., 2019). This study aims to characterize antibiotic prescribing patterns in a midwestern children's hospital emergency department for non-traumatic dental …

Body Mass Index And Acute And Chronic Work-Related Injuries; A Random Sample Analysis Of Occupational Health Clinic Records, Nicole M. Lundy

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Workplace injuries are detrimental because they impact the productivity and wellbeing of workers. The ultimate goal is to minimize job-related injuries due to workplace exposure. This study examines the relationship between body mass index (BMI), age, gender, and injury patterns. Data was collected through a chart review of patients from an occupational medicine health clinic in Grand Rapids, Michigan from January 2022 through December 2022.

This was an exploratory study with no population sample control group. Variables investigated were body mass index, gender, age, and type of injury sustained. The injuries were classified by body part into head, back, lower …

Evaluating The Utility Of Hospital Full-Scale Exercises In Veteran Health Administration's Emergency Departments, Brian Barhorst

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

The Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) Veterans Health Administration (VHA) serves nine million veterans annually. Preparing for and responding to emergencies locally and nationally remains one of its critical missions. While VA policy requires the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) methodology to conduct national-level exercises, local medical facility exercises mandated by The Joint Commission do not hold the same requirement. This evaluation assesses the effectiveness of hospital-based exercises within the Veterans Health Administration in preparing VA Emergency Departments (EDs) and Urgent Care Centers (UCCs) for local disasters by querying ED/UCC Medical and Nursing Directors about their experiences with …

Nurse Initiated Standing Orders: A Process Improvement At An Emergency Department In Interior Alaska, Justin D. Melberg

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Emergency Departments (EDs) are a valuable and limited public health resource. In addition to treating acute medical emergencies, EDs bridge the gaps in urgent care and primary care accessibility, operating twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, providing care regardless of an individual’s ability to pay. EDs across the country operate at or above capacity regularly, and overcrowding is projected to increase due to decreased facilities and available inpatient beds. Innovative measures are necessary to increase patient throughput and decrease length of stay while maintaining quality care. Nurse initiated standing orders, also known as nurse driven protocols, standing orders, …