Planning for Health in the Resettlement Colonies of Delhi, India

55 pages. A thesis presented to the Department of Planning, Public Policy and Management and the Clark Honors College of the University of Oregon in partial fulfillment of the requirements for degree of Bachelor of Arts, Spring 2014.In modern day Delhi, India, much research has been conducted on understanding the past and present of urban planning as well as the epidemological profile of Delhi, however, there is a significant gap in research focused on understanding the steps of the planning process and how they can improve public health. In this thesis I explore the use of the rational planning model and its use in the development of reesttlement colonies in New Delhi, and use case studies from resettlement colonies to provide examples of how the model's shortcomings have led to health disparities in the colonies. My research concludes that each step of the Rational Planning models, as applied in Delhi, has opportunity to cause or enhance public health threats when used to plan resettelment colonies, and future slum relocation programs would benefit from alternative planning theories

A stepwise guide for healthcare professionals requesting compassionate release for patients who are incarcerated

PurposeCompassionate release is a process that allows for the early release or parole of some incarcerated people of advanced age, with life-limiting illness, complex medical care needs or significant functional decline. Despite the expansion of State and Federal compassionate release programs, this mechanism for release remains underutilized. Health-care professionals are central to the process of recommending compassionate release, but few resources exist to support these efforts. The purpose of this paper is to provide a guide for health-care professionals requesting compassionate release for patients who are incarcerated.Design/methodology/approachThis study is stepwise guide for health-care professionals requesting compassionate release for patients who are incarcerated.FindingsThis study describes the role of the health-care professional in requesting compassionate release and offers guidance to help them navigate the process of preparing a medical declaration or request for compassionate release.Originality/valueNo prior publications have created a step-wise guide of this nature to aid health-care professionals through the compassionate release process

"No One Wants to Die Alone": Incarcerated Patients' Knowledge and Attitudes About Early Medical Release.

ContextDeaths among incarcerated individuals have steadily increased in the U.S., exceeding 5000 in 2014. Nearly every state has a policy to allow patients with serious life-limiting illness to apply for release from prison or jail to die in the community ("early medical release"). Although studies show these policies are rarely used, patient-level barriers to their use are unknown.ObjectivesTo assess incarcerated patients' knowledge of early medical release policies and to identify patient-level barriers to accessing these policies.MethodsA cross-sectional survey of 46 male patients in two state prisons and one large urban jail who had visited a primary care provider at least three times within three months was conducted.ResultsParticipants' average age was 64 years, and 89% had more than one chronic illness. Fewer than half (43%) demonstrated the knowledge needed to apply for early medical release and 22% demonstrated no relevant knowledge. Participants with sufficient knowledge were significantly more likely to endorse anxiety (35% vs. 0%, P = .003) and loneliness (65% vs. 30%, P = .017).ConclusionMany medically complex incarcerated patients in this study did not demonstrate sufficient knowledge to apply for early medical release suggesting that patient education may help expand access to these policies. Moreover, seriously ill patients with knowledge of early medical release may benefit from enhanced psychosocial support given their disproportionate burdens of anxiety and loneliness. Our findings highlight the pressing need for larger studies to assess whether improved patient education and support can expand access to early medical release