An Electronic Mail List for a Network of Family Practice Residency Programs: A Good Idea?

The use of an electronic mailing list as a means of communication among faculty in a network of university-affiliated family practice residency programs was evaluated. Faculty were automatically subscribed to the list by the list owner. Messages were tracked for one year and a written evaluation survey was sent. Ninety two messages were sent, with 52% of the messages being posted information. While most (65%) survey respondents reported reading 61% or more of the messages, with only 33% ever actually posted at least one message to the list. Given that faculty were automatically subscribed and that there were only 84 total members, the list may have failed to reach a critical mass of active participants. It is concluded that an email list for network faculty did not function as an online discussion group, although it was extremely beneficial as a way of posting information to affiliated residency faculty

A Guide to Potentially Inappropriate Medications for the Elderly: Description of the Beers Criteria 2003

The following information was compiled to serve as a quick reference document for researchers working with the Beers Criteria. This compilation should not be considered or used as a substitute for medical advise, diagnosis, or treatment. The first section lists medications that are potentially inappropriate medications for individuals over the age of 65 regardless of health condition or medical diagnoses. The generic name or category is listed first, followed by phonetic pronunciation, and then followed by an example of trade name(s) for the drug. Some explanation follows of what the drug may be prescribed for (many medications are prescribed for a variety of purposes or indications) and finally, a reason that the medication is considered potentially inappropriate. A second section lists drugs that have a maximum dosage or duration according to the Beers Criteria. An additional list of medications that are potentially inappropriate dependent on diagnosis or condition is not included here. These may be found through reference to the original journal article listed at the end of this document

Barriers to Medicare Hospice Utilization: A Qualitative Study of Maine\u27s Medicare Hospice Providers

This report, prepared for the Maine Hospice Council and funded by the Carpenter Foundation, presents findings of a qualitative study of barriers to hospice utilization. This study includes the perspectives of all 26 Medicare certified hospice providers in Maine. Significant findings of the qualitative study include: A continuing need to educate the general public about hospice and the Medicare benefit. Maine health care providers have low referral rates to the hospice programs and often misunderstand the regulations and guidelines of the hospice benefit. The referral process to hospice programs is based on fragile systems of communication, fraught with potential miscues, misunderstandings, and missed opportunities. Providers indicate a strong interest in coming to the table to collectively address the underutilization of the Medicare hospice benefit in Maine. Active consumerism may be an important key to increased dialogue and acceptance of end-of-life care--demand for hospice services may not increase until the consumer is engaged in the conversation. Certain components in the Medicare hospice benefit appear open to varying interpretation and application, causing confusion for consumers and referring physicians, and may be a potential source of tension between certified agencies. Significant workforce issues impact the ability of Maine hospice programs to meet even the current demand for services. Provision of hospice in long-term care facilities is both an opportunity and a challenge

Establishing the Acquired Brain Injury Trust Fund in Maine: Background Information, Experiences in Other States, and The Needs of Maine Individuals and Their Families

The Acquired Brain Injury Advisory Committee requested this report to inform members of its committee, consumers, service providers, legislators, and state agencies as legislation to create the Acquired Brain Injury Fund is considered. Contained in the report is a review of the development of trust funds as a funding stream to provide services to individuals with brain injury with unmet needs. There are currently 19 active state trust funds. Trust fund revenue sources and the uses of those funds vary from state-to-state. Revenues from trust funds generally support the access and delivery of cognitive rehabilitation, registries, education, community supports and case management. Cognitive rehabilitation is recognized as central to the treatment and long-term recovery of individuals with a brain injury, yet private and public healthcare coverage of this service remains under-funded across states. Case management for individuals with brain injury is not a usual covered benefit for MaineCare members and coverage of cognitive rehabilitation is limited. The unmet needs and barriers of Maine residents with brain injury and their service providers were detailed in a recent state-wide needs assessment. In particular, case management, supported housing, vocational, and education are identified as high priority areas for resource development. The needs assessment recommendations include policy development, collaboration and coalition building to strengthen the service delivery system, coordination of services and supports, and the development of educational opportunities for clinicians, service providers, employers and general public. The Department of Health and Human Services was recently designated as the Lead State Agency for the coordination of brain injury services in Maine and the new position of Director of Brain Injury Services was created. Recent developments in Maine such as a decreasing number of brain injury service providers, the implementation of a new medical model of reimbursement under MaineCare, and an expected return of recent military veterans with brain injury have prompted the Acquired Brain Injury Advisory Committee to renew focus on the development of a new funding stream to support unmet needs

Course Review Self Assessment

The goal of this course review self-assessment is to help faculty reflect on course format and design and it may be completed by the course instructor alone or with input from other faculty, adjuncts or lab assistants. The findings in this review may serve as the basis for discussion with faculty and/or administrators to identify potential changes in course format or design that can enhance student outcomes