A Transition Quick-Guide for Educating Youth with Hemophilia

A 2009-2010 National Assessment Survey of youth with special needs such as hemophilia showed that 40% of youth between the ages of 12 and 17 had a transition plan before transitioning to adult care services. The lack of a transition plan caused youth to fall into a fragmented care gap when transition services are inadequate. During the gap, youth with hemophilia increased use of the emergency room and were hospitalized for complications such as frequent joint or muscle bleeding and joint disability. As a result, the health status of affected youth becomes fragile and health care costs escalate. The practice problem for this DNP project was the need for transition education and planning for youth with hemophilia. The practice-focused question asked whether a transition quick guide for youth (aged 12-17) with hemophilia enabled them to increase their knowledge of self-care management skills as evidenced by increased post-test scores of transition readiness. The purpose of the project was to prepare youth with hemophilia who are 12 to 17 years old to make a smooth transition from pediatric to the adult hemophilia clinic by using a transition quick guide to educate them about hemophilia and self-care management. The model used to inform this project was the plan-do-study-act (PDSA), a quality improvement method used to test a relatively small change of transition services within the hemophilia clinic. Sources of evidence were taken from 10 participants with hemophilia. Data to assess the project outcome was collected from pre and post educational interventions, along with demographic data to characterize the sample population from participants\u27 clinic records. A descriptive statistics approach to obtain percentage differences between pretest and post test outcome data was used to answer the project question. Pretest data scores on a 10-point scale were between 19% (lowest score for pretest), and 58% (highest score for pretest). Post test scores after educational session were between 42% (lowest score for post test scores), and 95% (highest post test score). The percentage differences between pretest and post test showed a 14% increase in knowledge, showing that knowledge increased using the transition quick guide. The implication for positive social change was that youth who are adequately prepared for the transition to adult care services will avoid unnecessary health complications and enjoy an improved quality of life

Selection and Use of Aquatic Vegetation by Migratory Waterfowl in North Central Texas

Assessment of aquatic plant selection by waterfowl has been conducted during the winters of 1997-2000 on 49 0.2-0.79 ha research ponds in north central Texas. Ponds were categorized by dominant plant species into eight habitat types. Census with waterfowl species identification were performed to investigate impacts of aquatic vegetation and water depth on waterfowl. Eighteen waterfowl species were observed. Peak migration occurred in late December/early January. Mixed native ponds and mixed native/hydrilla ponds were the most frequently selected habitat types. The study included correlation analysis between pond water levels and waterfowl use. Full ponds received greatest use followed by half full ponds, while almost empty ponds received minimal use. Time activity budgets were conducted on waterfowl utilizing mixed native and hydrilla ponds to compare waterfowl time partitioning on native aquatic vegetation versus hydrilla. Although only minor differences were found in time budgets, social status appears to be strongly related to habitat selection. Ducks on native ponds were paired (86%), conversely no ducks on hydrilla ponds were paired. Hydrilla pond although frequently utilized, were populated by lower status birds mostly single hens

Colorado Homestead Ranches – Our Success Story: How Do We Sell Branded Beef Direct to the Consumer

Colorado Homestead Ranches (CHR) markets natural beef, pork and lamb direct to Western Slope consumers. CHR is a partnership of six ranches that own their own USDA packing plant, a wildgame processing facility, and two storefronts. CHR markets direct to consumers via retail and farmers markets, restaurants, and wholesale distributors. CHR produces and markets value added sausage, jerky, meat sticks, and ready to cook entrees. The current strategic position of CHR is marketing of a niche, differentiated line of beef products, targeted at consumers who want a consistent quality product, raised on Colorado ranches, with natural production practices