MORE CARE Overview

International audienceThis paper provides an overview of MORE CARE, a European R&D project financed within the 5th Framework Energy Programme. This project has as main objective the development of an advanced control software system, aiming to optimize the overall performance of isolated and weakly interconnected systems in liberalized market environments by increasing the share of wind energy and other renewable forms, including advanced on-line security functions. The main features of the control system comprise advanced software modules for load and wind power forecasting, unit commitment and economic dispatch of the conventional and renewable units and on-line security assessment capabilities integrated in a friendly Man-Machine environment. Pilot installations of advanced control functions are foreseen on the islands of Crete, Ireland and Madeira

A treatment evaluator tool to monitor the real-world effectiveness of inhaled aztreonam lysine in cystic fibrosis

Background: Studies are required that evaluate real-world outcomes of inhaled aztreonam lysine in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Methods: Our treatment-evaluator tool assessed the effectiveness of inhaled aztreonam in routine practice in 117 CF patients across four time periods (6–12 (P2) and 0–6 months (P1) pre-initiation, and 0–6 (T1) and 6–12 months (T2) post-initiation). Outcomes were: changes in %-predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), body-mass index (BMI), hospitalisation days and intravenous antibiotic usage. Results: Median FEV1% predicted for each 6-month period was 38.9%, 34.6%, 37.1% and 36.5%; median change was − 2.0% between P2 and P1, increasing to + 0.6% (p < 0.001) between P1 and T1. Annualised hospital bed-days was reduced (p = 0.05) post-initiation, as was intravenous antibiotics days (p = 0.001). BMI increased over 6 months post-initiation (p ≤ 0.001). Conclusions: In patients with CF in routine practice, inhaled aztreonam lysine is associated with improved lung function and weight, and reduced hospitalisation and intravenous antibiotic use

Early School Leavers: Reform of the Junior Certificate, Educational Achievement and Employment Chances

This report reports the main results of analyses of the likely impact of the introduction of ?Foundation? levels in the Junior Certificate examination in 1992 on school leavers? educational achievements and employment chances one year after they had completed their second level education. By comparing the results of regression analyses of the effects of basic ?passing? on the educational achievement and employment outcomes amongst two cohorts of schools leavers ? 1991+1992 versus 1993+1994 ? we attempt to test for the effects of passing grades achieved, incorporating the new ? Foundation? levels, on employment chances. We estimate whether these employment effects are significantly smaller than similar minimum ?passing grades? in the preceding Intermediate/Group Certificate examinations, before Foundation levels had been introduced. Our preliminary results show that despite increased unemployment rates in 1993/1994, securing a ?passing? grade (5 Ds) in the Junior Certificate examination ? one grade of which at least was at Foundation level ? grade as high a ?rate of return? in employment chances as had equivalent grades in the preceding (1991/1992 school leavers) ?ordinary? or ?general? levels in the Intermediate/Group Certificate examinations. Consequently, it would appear that employers have accepted the validity of the new level/grades system and treated it equivalently to the preceding one. However, sample sizes of those with such basic junior cycle ?passing? grades are very small so these results should be treated with some caution.

Potential benefits of wind forecasting and the application of more-care in Ireland

International audienceThe Irish Electricity System and its future developments with regard to the integration of wind energy is described. The importance of an accurate wind forecasting tool and the development of the More-Care wind modules for use by the Transmission System Operator (TSO) in Ireland is outlined. An accurate tool for wind forecasting is anticipated to greatly help in permitting greater penetration of renewable energy sources in our island system

Problem list completeness in electronic health records: A multi-site study and assessment of success factors.

OBJECTIVE: To assess problem list completeness using an objective measure across a range of sites, and to identify success factors for problem list completeness. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of electronic health record data and interviews at ten healthcare organizations within the United States, United Kingdom, and Argentina who use a variety of electronic health record systems: four self-developed and six commercial. At each site, we assessed the proportion of patients who have diabetes recorded on their problem list out of all patients with a hemoglobin A1c elevation >= 7.0%, which is diagnostic of diabetes. We then conducted interviews with informatics leaders at the four highest performing sites to determine factors associated with success. Finally, we surveyed all the sites about common practices implemented at the top performing sites to determine whether there was an association between problem list management practices and problem list completeness. RESULTS: Problem list completeness across the ten sites ranged from 60.2% to 99.4%, with a mean of 78.2%. Financial incentives, problem-oriented charting, gap reporting, shared responsibility, links to billing codes, and organizational culture were identified as success factors at the four hospitals with problem list completeness at or near 90.0%. DISCUSSION: Incomplete problem lists represent a global data integrity problem that could compromise quality of care and put patients at risk. There was a wide range of problem list completeness across the healthcare facilities. Nevertheless, some facilities have achieved high levels of problem list completeness, and it is important to better understand the factors that contribute to success to improve patient safety. CONCLUSION: Problem list completeness varies substantially across healthcare facilities. In our review of EHR systems at ten healthcare facilities, we identified six success factors which may be useful for healthcare organizations seeking to improve the quality of their problem list documentation: financial incentives, problem oriented charting, gap reporting, shared responsibility, links to billing codes, and organizational culture