How economic, social service and housing policies impact homelessness : a case study of Manchester, New Hampshire

How do economic and housing policies affect a City? Homelessness is a reflection of the impact that a city's economic, housing and social service policies has on its residents. Manchester has limited amounts of affordable housing, living wage jobs, and a limited and stigmatizing social service network. On the positive side, Manchester has obtained three reports that could change its policy and value systems that impact on its housing dilemma. The City of Manchester's homeless population is affected by many different trigger factors that have created a housing crisis and homelessness. These include: 1. Economic development policies that influence a person's ability to afford or obtain permanent housing. 2. Service delivery policies that either prevents homelessness or assist people who, due to lack of skills and knowledge, are unable to maintain their housing. 3. Housing policies that influence the spectrum of available permanent housing opportunities. This report examines the existing residual policies of Manchester and how, the adoption of certain policy recommendations can create an institutional social welfare system that co-exists within a developmental model. (Author abstract)Jacobs, E. L. (2006). How economic, social service and housing policies impact homelessness: a case study of Manchester, New Hampshire. Retrieved from http://academicarchive.snhu.eduSchool of Community Economic Developmen

Language Barriers in Health Care Settings: An Annotated Bibliography of Research Literature

Provides an overview of resources related to the prevalence, role, and effects of language barriers and access in health care

Fracture diagnostics, unnecessary travel and treatment: a comparative study before and after the introduction of teleradiology in a remote general practice

Background Teleradiology entails attainment of x-rays in one location, transfer over some distance and assessment at another location for diagnosis or consultation. This study documents fracture diagnostics, unnecessary trips to the hospital, treatment and number of x-rays for the years 2006 and 2009, before and after the introduction of teleradiology in a general practice on the island of Ameland in the north of the Netherlands. Methods In a retrospective, descriptive, observational before and after study of the introduction of x-ray facilities in an island-based general practice, we compared the number of accurately diagnosed fractures, unnecessary trips, treatments and number of x-rays taken in 2006 when only a hospital x-ray facility was available 5 hours away with those in 2009 after an x-ray facility became available at a local general practice. All patients visiting a general practice on the island of Ameland in 2006 and 2009 with trauma and clinical suspicion of a fracture, dislocation or sprain were included in the study. The initial clinical diagnoses, including those based on the outcomes of x-rays, were compared for the two years and also whether the patients were treated at home or in hospital. Results A total of 316 and 490 patients with trauma visited a general practice in 2006 and 2009, respectively. Of these patients, 66 and 116 were found to have fractures or dislocations in the two years, respectively. In 2006, 83 x-rays were ordered; in 2009, this was 284. In 2006, 9 fractures were missed; in 2009, this was only 2. In 2006, 15 patients with fractures or dislocations were treated at the general practice; in 2009, this had increased to 77. Conclusion Since the introduction of teleradiology the number of missed fractures in patients visiting the general practice with trauma and the number of the unnecessary trips to a hospital are reduced. In addition more patients with fractures and dislocations can be treated in the general practice as opposed to the hospital