Other Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

The Impact Of State-Mandated Certification Of Surgical Technologists On Surgical Site Infection Rates: Evaluating Policy, Practice, And Patient Outcomes, Katherine E. Geiger

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Abstract

Chairperson: Matthew Schertz, Ph.D.

Committee Member: Morgen J Alwell, Ph.D.

Committee Member: Jill Davis, M.Ed.

As a surgical technology instructor, I have witnessed firsthand the impact that certified surgical technologists (CSTs) have on patient safety, particularly in the prevention of surgical site infections (SSIs). This professional paper investigates the relationship between state-mandated certification of surgical technologists and SSI rates, with a focus on how standardized education and credentialing influence clinical outcomes. SSIs remain a significant concern in surgical environments, contributing to increased morbidity, longer hospital stays, and greater healthcare costs. The research presented here examines certification requirements across various …

Analisis Prediktif Mutasi Egfr Pada Adenokarsinoma Paru Menggunakan Pendekatan Pembelajaran Mesin, Edwin Nugroho Njoto, Yuri Pamungkas, Atina I.W. Putri, Muhammad. Najib Haykal, Dwinka Syafira Eljatin, Edith Maria Djaputra

Jurnal Penyakit Dalam Indonesia

Introduction. Lung adenocarcinoma is a prevalent form of lung cancer, and mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene are known to play a crucial role in its pathogenesis. This study aimed to develop a machine-learning model to predict EGFR mutations in lung adenocarcinoma patients using clinical and radiological features.

Methods. A case-control study was conducted using a dataset comprising 160 patients with lung adenocarcinoma. Several machine learning algorithms, including decision tree, linear regression, Naive Bayes, support vector machine, K-nearest neighbor, and random forest, were employed to predict EGFR mutations based on variables such as smoking status, …

Ethical Aspects Of Utilising Artificial Intelligence In Clinical Settings, Jeffrey Byrnes, Michael Robinson

Philosophy Faculty Articles and Research

In response to recent proposals to utilize artificial intelligence (AI) to automate ethics consultations in healthcare, we raise two main problems for the prospect of having healthcare professionals rely on AI-driven programs to provide ethical guidance in clinical matters. The first cause for concern is that, because these programs would effectively function like black boxes, this approach seems to preclude the kind of transparency that would allow clinical staff to explain and justify treatment decisions to patients, fellow caregivers, and those tasked with providing oversight. The other main problem is that the kind of authority that would need to be …

The Revised Cdc Chronic Pain Guidelines And Payer Opioid Analgesic Policies In Michigan, Victoria Tutag Lehr, Cynthia L. Arfken

Michigan Journal of Public Health

Abstract

The 2016 publication of A Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention motivated commercial and Medicaid payers to restrict their opioid prescribing policies including the imposition of hard limits on opioid daily dosages and duration. One result of these policies was an increase in abrupt opioid discontinuation and rapid tapering events for patients receiving long-term opioid therapy. Responding to this misapplication of the 2016 guideline, the 2022 revised guidelines emphasized individualized opioid therapy and exclusion of certain chronic diseases. However, it is not known if the payers changed their policies to …

Targeting Myeloid Cell Iron Metabolism In Salmonella-Induced Colitis, Mariella Arcos Padilla

Biomedical Engineering ETDs

Salmonellosis is a severe infection caused by Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, leading to significant global morbidity and mortality.

Previous studies have shown that mice lacking the iron storage protein ferritin heavy chain (FTH1) in myeloid cells exhibit worsened Salmonella infection. Nuclear receptor co-activator 4 (NCOA4) directs FTH1 autophagic degradation to release iron from storage during conditions of low iron. However, the role of myeloid NCOA4 in regulating bacterial infections remains unclear.

Here, we found that myeloid NCOA4 deficiency augments spleen iron levels and increases cellular iron accumulation, oxidative stress, and ferroptosis in bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM) cells. This deficiency also …

Food Security And Its Impact On Hypertension In Urban Communities, Lauren M. Nobriga

Master's Projects and Capstones

The Quality Improvement Team proposed an intervention to increase enrollment in the Food Security Program, a six-month initiative that provides vouchers redeemable for fruits and vegetables. Long-term impacts of this Program include an improved food economy and enhanced patient disease management autonomy. This project aimed to increase the percentage of eligible adult medicine clinic patients enrolled in the Food Security Program by 25%, or 11 patients per month, based on the mean enrollment for the first four months of the Program (May to August) of nine patients. The intervention was based on bi-monthly performance reports, making the goal include enrolling …

Physician Assistant Students As Agents Of Change Through Service-Learning Opportunities, Kelli Frost ,Ms, Pa-C, Nour Lyon ,Ms, Pa-C, Arthur Ko ,Phd, Claire Barry ,Pa-S, Michael Martin ,Mals

Jesuit Higher Education: A Journal

Community outreach and the integration of cultural competency are essential to the education and development of healthcare professionals. This article describes incorporating service-learning into a course at a Jesuit and Mercy institution as a method of building cultural competency into a Physician Assistant (PA) curriculum. The project examined how service-learning impacted students’ understanding of community needs and allowed students to reflect on their values. In addition, it aimed to inspire students to build connections with vulnerable populations and have concern for the poor and marginalized. Students participated in service opportunities with a community partner to identify and meet the needs …

Unilateral Tongue Atrophy In Smad3: A Case Report, Gloria Galloway

Nursing & Health Sciences Research Journal

Background: Mothers Against Decapentaplegic Homolog 3 (SMAD3) is a disorder of the protein encoded at locus 15q22.33 and involved in the transcription of growth factor-beta (TGF) signalling. In this disorder, SMAD3 encoding is impaired, resulting in a connective tissue disorder with multisystem involvement (Bertoli-Avella et al., 2015; Dulac et al., 2019). This case is the first to describe unilateral tongue atrophy as an initial presentation of SMAD3, thereby providing an important contribution to the literature. Clinical History and Exam: A 43-year-old patient described a 1–2-week history in which he noted that half of his tongue had wasted away, and he …

Improving Consistency Of Quality-Of-Life-Assessments In Schizophrenia Patients Through Structured Education For Healthcare Providers, Dorothy Stewart

Doctoral Projects

Schizophrenia is a chronic and debilitating mental disorder that significantly impacts patients' quality of life (QoL). Effective management of schizophrenia requires not only symptom control but also a comprehensive assessment of QoL to guide treatment plans. The Schizophrenia Quality of Life Scale Revision 4 (SQLS-R4) is a specialized tool designed to evaluate the unique challenges faced by patients with schizophrenia. However, inconsistencies in the administration and interpretation of the SQLS-R4 by healthcare providers have led to variability in patient care. This doctoral project aimed to address this gap by implementing a structured educational intervention for healthcare providers that focused on …

Characterizing Treatment Patterns And Associated Outcomes For Medicare Beneficiaries With Proximal Humerus Fractures, Sydney Lindros

All Dissertations

Proximal humerus fractures (PHF) are a common injury affecting older adults, though clinical decision making for these fractures remains challenging for physicians. Over the past two decades, clinical decision making has evolved with the emergence of new evidence like the ProFHER trial and the dissemination of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA). There is a need to characterize the effects of these changes across geographic areas and evaluate the impact of differences in surgical procedure utilization rates on patient outcomes. Therefore, the goal of this dissertation was to gain a better understanding of the utilization patterns and outcomes associated with different …

Analysing Efficiency In The Medical Laboratory Industry Using Stochastic Frontier Analysis, Sinan Ertemel, Levent Kutlu

School of Economics and Finance Faculty Publications

This paper focuses on the estimation of efficiency within the medical laboratories industry, a sector of vital importance in healthcare due to its provision of essential diagnostic services. To this end, we employ three distinct stochastic frontier models to evaluate the technical efficiency of the medical laboratory industry. Our benchmark model stands out by considering the presence of heterogeneity, leading to robust findings compared to alternative models. The mean efficiency estimate is determined to be 70.6%, while the median efficiency estimate stands at 70.0%. Remarkably, our results highlight that the production technology employed in US medical laboratories demonstrates constant returns …

The Influence Of Sociodemographic, Tobacco Use, And Mental Health Characteristics On Treatment Adherence Among Adults Enrolled In A Community-Based Tobacco Cessation Program, Motolani E. Ogunsanya, Summer G. Frank-Pearce, Sixia Chen, Munjireen Sifat, Amy M. Cohn, Michael S. Businelle, Darla E. Kendzor

Kimmel Cancer Center Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: While counseling and pharmacological interventions are known to facilitate smoking cessation, poor adherence can impact their effectiveness. Therefore, this study aimed to identify personal and clinical factors that influenced adherence to smoking cessation treatment among socioeconomically disadvantaged adult Oklahomans enrolled in a publicly available tobacco treatment program and observational research study.

METHODS: Adult participants (N = 442) were enrolled in a community-based tobacco treatment program. Logistic regression models identified sociodemographic, mental health, and substance use characteristics associated with treatment adherence. Adherence was measured by counseling session attendance and weeks of moderate/high medication adherence assessed via the Medication …

Nature Healing Mental Stress: What U.S. Healthcare Can Learn From Other Nations, Shannon Frank-Richter, Lindsay Gietzen

Pacific Journal of Health

The United States healthcare system lags many developed nations in healthcare access and practices, especially surrounding ecotherapy [1]. Ecotherapy is the practice of mindfulness in tandem with intentional immersion among natural spaces or with natural elements. Research from Asia, Europe and Canada indicate immense benefits from ecotherapy, or mindful nature immersion, as an effective treatment for burnout and stress. By adopting regular nature engagement, the U.S. could significantly improve mental health and reduce occupational stress. This literature review examines how nature immersion, especially with mindfulness, positively affects the brain and nervous system. Key components in nature are identified, such as …

Characterization Of Aromatic Stationary Phases For Uses In High Performance Liquid Chromatography, Anastasia Davis

Honors Theses

High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) is an analytical chemist technique used to separate a sample into its components to characterize and study a specific molecule or compound. Traditionally, High-Performance Liquid Chromatography in different industries, such as the environmental and pharmaceutical fields, uses stationary phases that are already well characterized, such as the C18 stationary phase for separation. However, aromatic stationary phases have recently been produced, which have phenyl groups bonded to the interior surface of the column. Still, they have not been well characterized because of how modern they are. This project characterized several aromatic stationary phases (Biphenyl, pentafluorophenyl, and …

Engineering The Coherent Phonon Transport In Polar Ferromagnetic Oxide Superlattices, In Hyeok Choi, Seung Gyo Jeong, Do-Gyeom Jeong, Ambrose Seo, Woo Seok Choi, Jong Seok Lee

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

Artificial superlattices composed of perovskite oxides serves as an essential platform for engineering coherent phonon transport by redefining the lattice periodicity, which strongly influences the lattice-coupled phase transitions in charge and spin degrees of freedom. However, previous methods of manipulating phonons have been limited to controlling the periodicity of superlattice, rather than utilizing complex mutual interactions that are prominent in transition metal oxides. In this study on oxide superlattices composed of ferromagnetic metallic SrRuO3 and quantum paraelectric SrTiO3 , phonon modulation by controlling the geometry of superlattice in atomic-scale precision is realized, demonstrating the coherent phonon engineering using structural and …

Assessment Of The Bioaccumulation Of Nicotine And Cotinine By The Crustacean Daphnia Magna, Ana Maria Vlasceanu, Daniela Luiza Baconi, Octavian Tudorel Olaru, Daniela Grădinaru, Viorela Gabriela Nitescu

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

Objectives. This study aimed to investigate the toxicity of nicotine and its metabolite cotinine on crustacean D. magna, and evaluate the quantity of compounds accumulated by D. magna. Materials and Methods. The bioassays involved the exposure of D. magna to varying doses of nicotine and cotinine, for 24 h and 48 h. The amount of bioaccumulated nicotine and cotinine was determined by an HPLC-DAD method. Results. The study has revealed that nicotine is more toxic than cotinine on D. magna, as the medium lethal concentration (LC50) values were higher for nicotine compared to cotinine. After 24 hours of exposure, D. …

Thank You To Our 2023/2024 Reviewers, Paul Freeman, William Miller

Optometric Clinical Practice

Reviewers

Applying Multimodal Imaging In The Evaluation Of A Rare Complication Of Retinal Cavernous Hemangioma, Mariana Ferraz Od, Julie Rodman Od, Msc, Jose Diaz Md

Optometric Clinical Practice

Abstract

Background: Retinal cavernous hemangiomas are rare, benign vascular tumors usually encountered incidentally on routine examination. Although usually asymptomatic, complications have been reported and can result in vision loss. Ancillary imaging modalities such as fundus photography, fluorescein angiography, optical coherence tomography, and optical coherence tomography angiography provide valuable information about the lesion and possible associated findings. Case Report: A 66-year-old Caucasian female presented to the clinic for a comprehensive exam with mild blurry vision in both eyes with current spectacles. Her ocular history was remarkable for a retinal cavernous hemangioma along the superior-temporal arcade of the left eye. Dilated fundus …

Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus Associated With Ipsilateral Bell's Palsy, Patricia Salazar Od

Optometric Clinical Practice

Abstract

Background: Herpes zoster is caused by reactivation of the varicella zoster virus with spread along the dorsal root ganglion and sensory nerve to a dermatome. In herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO), involvement of the ophthalmic (V₁) branch of the trigeminal nerve results in ocular sequelae and often presents with a characteristic pseudodendrite. Reactivation within cranial nerve VII can lead to the neurologic complication of facial nerve palsy on the affected side. Case Report: This case report describes a patient diagnosed with HZO and subsequent same-sided facial nerve palsy (Bell’s palsy) and discusses the potential link between the two …

Ocular Myasthenia Gravis; A Case Report, Amy Garbo Maxey Od, Kristin Wilson Od

Optometric Clinical Practice

Abstract

Background: Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease disorder that affects the skeletal muscles causing increased fatigability and weakness. When it affects the ocular muscles only, it is known as ocular myasthenia gravis (OMG). Patients with OMG will often have symptoms of diplopia and ptosis, which will be worse towards the end of the day. This case report will discuss the common symptoms of OMG as well as the appropriate treatment and management. It will also review the diagnostic tests used to aid in the diagnosis of OMG and discuss the prognosis of OMG. Case Report: A 67-year-old male …