Developing a theoretical model and questionnaire survey instrument to measure the success of electronic health records in residential aged care

Electronic health records (EHR) are introduced into healthcare organizations worldwide to improve patient safety, healthcare quality and efficiency. A rigorous evaluation of this technology is important to reduce potential negative effects on patient and staff, to provide decision makers with accurate information for system improvement and to ensure return on investment. Therefore, this study develops a theoretical model and questionnaire survey instrument to assess the success of organizational EHR in routine use from the viewpoint of nursing staff in residential aged care homes. The proposed research model incorporates six variables in the reformulated DeLone and McLean information systems success model: system quality, information quality, service quality, use, user satisfaction and net benefits. Two variables training and self-efficacy were also incorporated into the model. A questionnaire survey instrument was designed to measure the eight variables in the model. After a pilot test, the measurement scale was used to collect data from 243 nursing staff members in 10 residential aged care homes belonging to three management groups in Australia. Partial least squares path modeling was conducted to validate the model. The validated EHR systems success model predicts the impact of the four antecedent variablesÐtraining, self-efficacy, system quality and information qualityÐon the net benefits, the indicator of EHR systems success, through the intermittent variables use and user satisfaction. A 24-item measurement scale was developed to quantitatively evaluate the performance of an EHR system. The parsimonious EHR systems success model and the measurement scale can be used to benchmark EHR systems success across organizations and units and over time

Possibility of generating the Λc3^3_{\Lambda_c}H in the quark-delocalization color-screening model

We probe the existence of the $^3_{\Lambda_c}$H where the $N\Lambda_c$ potentials are derived from the quark-delocalization color-screening model (QDCSM). The $N\Lambda_c$ system is studied and the $N\Lambda_c$ scattering length so as the effective range are obtained in the QDCSM. We construct effective Gaussian-type $N\Lambda_c$ potentials which reproduce the $N\Lambda_c$ scattering data given by the QDCSM. By solving the $NN\Lambda_c$ three body Schr\"odinger equation with the Gaussian expansion method, we calculate the energies of the $^3_{\Lambda_c}$H with isospin $I=0$, $J^P=1/2^+$ and $I=0$, $J^P=3/2^+$ under different color screening parameter $\mu$. The $J^P=1/2^+$ and $J^P=3/2^+$ states are both bound when the color screening parameter $\mu$ is set to 1.0 or 1.2, where the $J^P=1/2^+$ state is bound by $0.08\sim0.85$ MeV and the $J^P=3/2^+$ state is bound by $0.15\sim1.31$ MeV with respect to the deuteron-$\Lambda_c$ threshold.Comment: 7 pages, 6 gigure

Factors influencing nursing time spent on administration of medication in an Australian residential aged care home

Aims: To examine nursing time spent on administration of medications in a residential aged care (RAC) home, and to determine factors that influence the time to medicate a resident. Background: Information on nursing time spent on medication administration is useful for planning and implementation of nursing resources. Methods: Nurses were observed over 12 morning medication rounds using a time-motion observational method and field notes, at two high-care units in an Australian RAC home. Results: Nurses spent between 2.5 and 4.5 hours in a medication round. Administration of medication averaged 200 seconds per resident. Four factors had significant impact on medication time: number of types of medication, number of tablets taken by a resident, methods used by a nurse to prepare tablets and methods to provide tablets. Conclusion: Administration of medication consumed a substantial, though variable amount of time in the RAC home. Nursing managers need to consider the factors that influenced the nursing time required for the administration of medication in their estimation of nursing workload and required resources. Implications for nursing management: To ensure safe medication administration for older people, managers should regularly assess the changes in the factors influencing nursing time on the administration of medication when estimating nursing workload and required resources

Study of Ammonia Concentration Characteristics and Optimization in Broiler Chamber during Winter Based on Computational Fluid Dynamics

Poultry breeding is one of the most significant components of agriculture and an essential link of material exchange between humans and nature. Moreover, poultry breeding technology has a considerable impact on the life quality of human beings, and could even influence the survival of human beings. As one of the most popular poultry, broiler has a good economic benefit due to its excellent taste and fast growing cycle. This paper aims to improve the efficiency of raising broilers by understanding the impact of ammonia concentration distribution within a smart broiler breeding chamber, and the rationality of the system’s design. More specifically, we used computational fluid dynamics (CFD) technology to simulate the process of ammonia production and identify the characteristics of ammonia concentration. Based on the simulation results, the structure of the broiler chamber was reformed, and the ammonia uniformity was significantly improved after the structural modification of the broiler chamber and the ammonia concentration in the chamber had remained extremely low. In general, this study provides a reference for structural optimization of the design of broiler chambers and the environmental regulation of ammonia