Removing as much of a brain tumor as possible during neurosurgery can make a critical difference in preventing recurrence. Philips has introduced a new MR-OR intraoperative neurosurgery solution based on its Ingenia MR system that allows a neurosurgeon to quickly perform a magnetic resonance imaging (MR or MRI) scan to check the results of a resection during the surgery and remove additional tumor mass if necessary — without first closing the patient’s skull. This reduces the number of repeat surgical procedures, shortens hospital stays, and improves neurosurgery success rates.
Healthcare Organizations Using RFID in the Emergency Department
Most busy emergency departments (EDs) share the same goals of improving patient flow, shortening the length of stay until the patient is admitted or discharged, and reducing the number of patients who leave the ED without being treated. Healthcare organizations, including Christiana Care Health System in Wilmington, Delaware, are tackling all these problems using data from radio frequency identification (RFID) enabled real-time locating systems or RTLS. When patients arrive at one of Christiana Care’s two EDs, they are pinned with an RFID badge that tracks their movement. With real-time tracking, interval data can be measured — such as the time between a patient’s arrival to the time the doctor orders an x-ray, or to the time that the results are available or when the patient is discharged. Each of these separate data elements is fed into a central database that is integrated with data from other systems in the hospital including the computerized physician order entry (CPOE), laboratory, and radiology systems. The tracking data is then used to redesign operational processes to eliminate bottlenecks and improve patient flow.
Safe Patient Handling Programs Gaining Momentum in the U.S.
Healthcare organizations around the world recognize the risks that manual lifting poses for healthcare workers. Canada and the United Kingdom, for example, have national programs focused on safe-patient handling. Momentum has been slow in the U.S. since the American Nurses Association launched its Handle With Care Campaign in 2003. However, as of April 2012, ten states have enacted ”safe patient handling” legislation. Key factors that are responsible for the current focus include the aging population, growing obesity epidemic, and prevention of patient injury. A major driver, however, is the need to prevent injuries to healthcare workers ― particularly with the aging of the nursing work force.
Use of Interactive Technology Boosts Patient Satisfaction
Hospitals within six healthcare systems saw dramatic increases in their patient satisfaction scores when using interactive monitors that allow patients to access information about their care and to communicate with staff. The hospitals provided patients with in-room monitors that allowed them to ask clinicians questions about their care, inquire about food menus, request help with minor tasks, read about their medical condition, and access their post-discharge instructions. Satisfaction with educational materials increased by 42 percent and overall patient satisfaction scores increased by at least 10 percent. The healthcare systems included El Paso Children’s Hospital (El Paso TX), Palisades Medical Centre (North Bergen NJ), and University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center (Cleveland OH).
Source: Fierce Healthcare (www.fiercehealthcare.com).
Psychiatrists Replace Talk Therapy With Drugs
Talk therapy has dominated the psychiatric profession since the days of Sigmund Freud. Because of changes in how much insurers will pay, most of the nations 48,000 psychiatrists are forced to prescribe medications instead, usually after only a brief consultation with the patient.
Historically, psychiatrists often saw patients ten or more times before arriving at a diagnosis. But things have changed ― now they must make a decision in the first 45-minute visit. Without a diagnosis, they cannot get paid. Their patients are referred to a less costly therapist to explore their personal crises. Psychologists and social workers ― who unlike psychiatrists do not attend medical school ― can often afford to charge less which has driven down the price of talk therapy. There is no evidence that psychiatrists provide higher quality talk therapy than psychologists or social workers.
Hospitals Rethink Spiritual Spaces and Create Meditation Rooms
At least three Northern California hospitals have plans to open meditation rooms — or to expand and update what were once known as chapels — for nondenominational observance. This is in response to the changing needs of hospital staff and the evolving view that the body and soul can heal together. These new meditation rooms do not have pews or religious symbols. Instead they are sanctuaries where families can pray for patients, space for prayer rugs and windows facing east, or a quiet area where doctors can pause for spiritual refreshing. According to a chaplain who manages spiritual care for Kaiser North Valley hospitals “When people are facing the ultimate spiritual and existential crisis, such as illness, they need a quiet place to go. These rooms should meet the needs of all faiths.” Some hospitals do not call the rooms chapels because that label invokes the Judeo-Christian tradition. Hospitals have staff from a wide variety of faith backgrounds including Muslims who need a place to pray five times a day.