Patient Satisfaction in a Statewide Cervical Cancer Screening Program

A cross-sectional study of patients participating in the Nevada State Health Division’s Women Health Connection Program (WHC) was conducted to assess patient satisfaction for cervical cancer screening. In this study, 528 WHC program patients provided information regarding their satisfaction with the treatment services they received, accessibility issues, breast and cervical cancer health education and information, and overall program satisfaction. A large majority of patients reported high levels of satisfaction with the program services and clinic personnel. Significant positive correlations were found when comparing satisfaction with services received at the clinic to treatment received by physicians, nurses, and admissions personnel, how well information provided to patients eased their concerns, and when results were discussed with patients. Wait time for admission and to see a physician were negatively correlated to satisfaction. Those who reported that they would not use services again indicated lower levels of satisfaction with the information received and treatment from caregivers and admissions personnel when compared to those who would use the program again

Evaluation of the impact of a Health Care Administration Student Practicum

As the health care industry becomes increasingly complex, many leaders and practitioners in the field are worried about the quality and preparation of health care administration graduates (Robbins, Bradley, & Spicer, 2001). Academic health care administration programs prepare students for a professional career in the health care field. One of the biggest challenges for university health care administration programs is to meet industry needs by effectively incorporating practical skills and knowledge into the academic curricula. For students, coursework provides some insight into the demands of the industry, but they also require hands-on experience to be relevant in a highly competitive job market. Many academic institutions have incorporated student internships or practicums as a way to meet the needs of both the health care industry and graduates

The Economic Impact of the Nevada Clean Indoor Air Act in Clark County, Nevada – Preliminary Findings

Objective. The primary purpose of this exploratory study was to quantitatively evaluate the economic impact of the Nevada Clean Indoor Air Act (NCIAA) on businesses in Clark County. Methods. The goal of this research was to assess economic indicators over a ten year period utilizing measurable data points, including restaurant and drinking establishment employment rates, taxable sales, openings and closings, as well as slot gaming revenues. This ten year time period consisted of a seven year span prior to the enactment of the NCIAA, and three years post enactment. Researchers conceived this study as a means to independently evaluate and address the potential economic impact of a smoke-free law in a region dependent upon tourism and gaming. Results. Economic indicators did in fact decrease after the NCIAA was enforced but most of the declining trends began prior to the passage of the smoke-free act and are consistent with downward trends in other, non-NCIAA affected segments of our economy. Conclusion. The overall findings of this study are consistent with similar non-tobacco industry supported economic studies showing little or no statistically significant downward economic trends after passage of smoke-free legislation

Levels of Adoption of Electronic Health Records and Patient Safety: Effectiveness and Efficiency

Patient safety, including hospital acquired infections has become one of the major concerns in healthcare delivery in recent years Electronic health records are becoming an integral aspect of the health care delivery Health policies have been looking to improve quality / patient safety and efficiency of healthcare through the adoption of electronic health record (EHR) systems Can EHR adoption improve patient safety? Can EHR adoption reduce cost? H1: Patients treated at hospitals with a higher level of EHR adoption are less likely to incur poorer patient safety indicators H2: Patients treated at hospitals with a higher level of EHR adoption are more likely to incur lower costs for their respective patient safety indicator

The structure and segmentation of the Southeast Indian Ridge

The Southeast Indian Ridge (SEIR) spreads at a relatively narrow range of intermediate rates (59–75 km/Ma) but exhibits the full range of slow to fast spreading morphology and segmentation. Satellite gravity data reveal transitions in the structure of the spreading center where it is influenced by the Amsterdam and Kerguelen hotspots and at the Australian– Antarctic Discordance (AAD). Although the spreading rate between the hotspots and the AAD is nearly constant, the ridge exhibits a variety of distinct styles of morphology and segmentation not observed at fast or slow spreading centers. Recently, collected multibeam bathymetry data reveal a transition from East Pacific Rise style overlapping axial highs near 92°E to Mid-Atlantic Ridge style axial valleys with non-transform offsets near 116°E. The intervening segmentation is characterized by propagating offsets coexisting with stationary transforms, which exhibit different degrees of temporal stability. Currently, there are 10 transform offsets between the hotspots and the AAD but only five of these have persisted since seafloor spreading stabilized at 35 Ma. The other five appear to have formed since 35 Ma and several more have disappeared by transform shortening or coalesced by along-axis propagation. There is a transition from monotonic offset propagation near the hotspots to oscillatory propagation approaching the AAD. This change in offset stability corresponds to transitions in depth, axial morphology and offset structure. Through much of the transitional region, higher order segmentation is characterized by en-echelon offsets of a diffuse spreading axis that generally lacks a well-defined neovolcanic zone. Since the spreading rate is nearly constant, the regional variation in axial morphology and segmentation appears to be controlled by an upper mantle thermal gradient - possibly a result of flux of asthenosphere from the hotspots to the AAD. This is consistent with the gradual increase in average ridge flank depths along this part of the plate boundary but segment scale changes in axial depth reveal spatio-temporal variability in the dynamic topography that are not preserved on older lithosphere. Intrasegment transitions in axial morphology and en-echelon offsets within first order segments suggest that local variations in mantle thermal structure introduce short-lived instabilities in higher order segmentation and dominate the short term evolution of the plate boundary

Thermal and cold flow properties of bio-derived rejuvenators and their impact on the properties of rejuvenated asphalt binders

Rejuvenators are widely used to improve the properties of asphalt binders particularly low temperature and fatigue cracking behavior. Rejuvenators vary significantly in terms of their physical properties and chemical composition. The nature of the interaction between the rejuvenators and the base asphalt binders is very complex and an extensive study into the chemical and thermal properties of the rejuvenators and how they impact the rheological properties of rejuvenated binders is of paramount importance. In this research, a neat PG58-28 binder is rejuvenated with three different materials produced from soybean oil at a dosage of 6% by total weight of binder. The rheological properties of the control and rejuvenated binders are assessed using performance grades showing a drop in both the critical low and high temperature grades with rejuvenation. The oxidative stability of the rejuvenators as well as the rejuvenated binders is studied using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The crystallization and melting points of the rejuvenators are observed using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). DSC is also used to examine the glass transition temperatures of the control and rejuvenated binders. The TGA results showed one of the rejuvenators to be susceptible to oxidation which agreed with the rolling thin film oven (RTFO) mass loss results. The glass transition temperature of the rejuvenated binders decreased denoting improved low temperature cracking properties in line with the performance grade results

Physician Satisfaction in a Cancer Prevention Program for Low-Income Women in Nevada

Physicians and health care organizations that provide services to low-income patients are valuable partners in improving health care access for the uninsured and medically underserved. In this pilot study, we explored physicians' needs and factors for satisfaction in the Women's Health Connection (WHC), a breast and cervical cancer-screening program for low-income women in Nevada. Of the 126 physicians in the WHC program, 50 physicians completed a needs-and-satisfaction questionnaire. Survey data were subjected to factor analysis using Varimax rotation. The results yielded three components, which accounted for 65% of the variance. The three components or dimensions for physician satisfaction were: (1) appropriate administrative support and documentation, (2) availability of support for medical management, and (3) timeliness of diagnostic reports. Amount of reimbursement was not a significant factor. The respondents serving in this cancer prevention program for low-income women were satisfied in their involvement in the program. Further attention should be given on the identified issues for satisfaction among physicians, which could lead to quality improvement and serve as a model for other programs that serve low-income patients in cancer prevention

Morphology of a 'Superfast' Mid-Ocean Ridge Crest and Flanks: The East Pacific Rise, 7°- 9° S

Detailed bathymetric data from a Hydrosweep multibeam sonar survey of a 250 km-long portion of the 'superfast'- spreading southern East Pacific Rise crest and flanks show that the along-axis variation in morphology and axial depth differs significantly from that observed at the fast-spreading northern East Pacific Rise. While the deep mantle upwelling pattern is similar under the northern and southern East Pacific Rise, our observations require that the connectivity of the shallow, subcrestal plumbing system be more efficient beneath the 'super-fast' spreading southern East Pacific Rise than beneath the slower spreading northern East Pacific Rise

Factors for Satisfaction Among Providers of Ancillary Health Services in a Community-Based Cancer Prevention Program: A Pilot Study in Nevada

Providers of ancillary health services are essential members of any health care delivery system. They supply laboratory, radiology, and other diagnostic modalities necessary for quality medical care. Assessment of the providers' factors for satisfaction in participating in cancer prevention programs can contribute to better services and can serve as a model for other community-based health programs.We conducted a pilot survey of providers of ancillary services in the Nevada Women's Health Connection, a community breast and cervical cancer prevention program. Of the 93 participating providers, a total of 44 providers completed the survey. We subjected the survey data to factor analysis using iterative principal axis factoring with Varimax rotation. Three components of satisfaction were identified, comprising satisfaction with the (1) reimbursement process, (2) positive perception of the program, and (3) familiarity with program's requirements. All three components accounted for 72.08% of the total variance before the rotation. Amount of financial gain was not a significant factor for satisfaction among participating providers. Providers of ancillary health services were satisfied in their participation in this community-based cancer prevention program. There were three components of satisfaction identified. Further attention should be given on these issues as they have implications for quality improvement in health services for community-based programs dealing with low income and uninsured patients