Increasing LGBTQ+ Cultural Competency in OB/GYN Units

Approximately 13% of people giving birth in the United States identify as LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, or other). When seeking obstetric and gynecological (OB/GYN) care, this population may feel uncomfortable, may refrain from disclosing their LGBTQ+ identity, or may forgo healthcare altogether. Healthcare workers in OB/GYN units often do not receive adequate training regarding providing culturally competent care for clients who are LGBTQ+. These authors ask: Does providing LGBTQ+ education and training for healthcare workers improve their knowledge, skills, and confidence in their ability to provide culturally competent care to LGBTQ+ clients in OB/GYN units, when compared to not providing this education and training? We utilized the CINAHL and PubMed databases to conduct our literature search and used the following search terms from 2018-present: lgb*, lesbian, gay, homosexual, bisexual, transgender, queer, sexual minority, labor and delivery, obstetrics, birth, nurs*, training, education, development, learning, yielding 97 articles. Eleven articles were selected for review based upon topic relevance. The literature review revealed that providing mixed-modality education and training regarding LGBTQ+ definitions, health disparities, and care delivery was the most effective method for increasing healthcare workers’ knowledge, skills, and confidence in their ability to provide high quality, culturally competent care for LGBTQ+ clients. There is a need for additional research regarding whether this can actually lead to improved satisfaction and health outcomes for LGBTQ+ clients. We recommend the creation of an evidence-based curriculum on LGBTQ+ care to be required for educators, nursing students, and healthcare organizations

Got Diabetes? With Us, You\u27ll Have Complete Diabetic Care

AIM: By April 2016, we aim to improve Complete Diabetic Care of Thursday JHAP Clinic\u27s patients with diabetes by 50%. * These authors contributed equallyhttps://jdc.jefferson.edu/patientsafetyposters/1007/thumbnail.jp

Editorial: Anticipating and adapting to the impacts of climate change on low elevation coastal zone (LECZ) communities

[Scholarcy Abstract] The rates of sea level rise in coastal Virginia and the Chesapeake Bay significantly exceed the global rate and weakening of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation adds to the annual rates. The original vision was to enhance future resilience of Low-Elevation Coastal Zone communities by advancing understandings and approaches to better anticipate and mitigate hazards to human health, safety and welfare and reduce deleterious impacts to coastal residents and industries. The goal of the thematic Research Topic has been to assemble interdisciplinary papers that contribute to better understanding of the couplings among physical, ecological, socioeconomic, management and policy factors involved for different regions and under contrasting environmental conditions. The finding that nearly ten percent of the US population is at risk from coastal flooding by severe storms and sea level rise highlights the need for improved adaptation measures. The rates of sea level rise in coastal Virginia and the Chesapeake Bay significantly exceed the global rate and weakening of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation adds to the annual rates. Many Australian estuaries have been degraded by human activity and are threatened by climate change. Ten Caribbean small-island developing states were studied with respect to sustainability of their water-energy-food nexus with climate change

Anticipating and Adapting to the Future Impacts of Climate Change on the Health, Security and Welfare of Low Elevation Coastal Zone (LECZ) Communities in Southeastern USA

Low elevation coastal zones (LECZ) are extensive throughout the southeastern United States. LECZ communities are threatened by inundation from sea level rise, storm surge, wetland degradation, land subsidence, and hydrological flooding. Communication among scientists, stakeholders, policy makers and minority and poor residents must improve. We must predict processes spanning the ecological, physical, social, and health sciences. Communities need to address linkages of (1) human and socioeconomic vulnerabilities; (2) public health and safety; (3) economic concerns; (4) land loss; (5) wetland threats; and (6) coastal inundation. Essential capabilities must include a network to assemble and distribute data and model code to assess risk and its causes, support adaptive management, and improve the resiliency of communities. Better communication of information and understanding among residents and officials is essential. Here we review recent background literature on these matters and offer recommendations for integrating natural and social sciences. We advocate for a cyber-network of scientists, modelers, engineers, educators, and stakeholders from academia, federal state and local agencies, non-governmental organizations, residents, and the private sector. Our vision is to enhance future resilience of LECZ communities by offering approaches to mitigate hazards to human health, safety and welfare and reduce impacts to coastal residents and industries

Interlocal Emergency Management Collaboration: Vertical and Horizontal Roadblocks

This study, based on a statewide survey of local officials in Florida, examines the degree to which vertical and horizontal roadblocks to interlocal cooperation persist well after the 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina mega-disasters. Respondents evaluate the degree to which vertical constraints (state and federal mandates) and horizontal constraints (political tensions and competition for funding; incompatible communication equipment and inconsistent information-sharing; and local cost-sharing complexities and training and personnel qualification differences) still deter collaboration. Incompatible communication equipment is the most cited barrier, followed by the rules and legal complexities inherent in state and federal mandates and interlocal cost-sharing agreements. Today, local EM officials judge horizontally generated deterrents to collaboration to be nearly equal to vertically imposed roadblocks. Perceptions differ significantly by jurisdiction, population size, MSA location, and position. Copyright , Oxford University Press.

Application of multi-stage biofilter pilot plants to remove odor and VOCs from industrial activities air emissions

This study includes trials that were conducted to evaluate the performances of two biofiltration pilot plants for industrial applications. The first experimentation analyzed the removal of high concentrations of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) from discontinuous gas emissions resulting from the flexographic printing section of a plastic packaging production factory. The adopted layout for the experimentation was a multi-stage plant filled with two different packing materials (shells and peat). The second trial examined the biofiltration of exhaust air from a Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF) drying process treating the dry fraction of municipal solid waste (MSW). Such exhaust streams are characterized by low VOCs content but high odorous compounds, such as H2S and NH3. The pilot plant used for the experimentation had two stages that used shells as packing material. In both cases, the multi-stage biofilter performances indicate that the solutions are suitable as well as applicable for use in industrial plants