Insects of Western North America. 2. The cicadas of Colorado (Homoptera: Cicadidae, Tibicinidae)

May 15, 2002

The National Adult Inpatient Survey conducted in the English National Health Service from 2002 to 2009: how have the data been used and what do we know as a result?

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>When it was initiated in 2001, England's national patient survey programme was one of the first in the world and has now been widely emulated in other healthcare systems. The aim of the survey programme was to make the National Health Service (NHS) more "patient centred" and more responsive to patient feedback. The national inpatient survey has now been running in England annually since 2002 gathering data from over 600,000 patients. The aim of this study is to investigate how the data have been used and to summarise what has been learned about patients' evaluation of care as a result.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Two independent researchers systematically gathered all research that included analyses of the English national adult inpatient survey data. Journals, databases and relevant websites were searched. Publications prior to 2002 were excluded. Articles were also identified following consultation with experts. All documents were then critically appraised by two co-authors both of whom have a background in statistical analysis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We found that the majority of the studies identified were reports produced by organisations contracted to gather the data or co-ordinate the data collection and used mainly descriptive statistics. A few articles used the survey data for evidence based reporting or linked the survey to other healthcare data. The patient's socio-demographic characteristics appeared to influence their evaluation of their care but characteristics of the workforce and the. At a national level, the results of the survey have been remarkably stable over time. Only in those areas where there have been co-ordinated government-led campaigns, targets and incentives, have improvements been shown. The main findings of the review are that while the survey data have been used for different purposes they seem to have incited little academic interest.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The national inpatient survey has been a useful resource for many authors and organisations but the full potential inherent in this large, longitudinal publicly available dataset about patients' experiences has not as yet been fully exploited.</p> <p>This review suggests that the presence of survey results alone is not enough to improve patients' experiences and further research is required to understand whether and how the survey can be best used to improve standards of care in the NHS.</p

Progress along developmental tracks for electronic health records implementation in the United States

The development and implementation of electronic health records (EHR) have occurred slowly in the United States. To date, these approaches have, for the most part, followed four developmental tracks: (a) Enhancement of immunization registries and linkage with other health records to produce Child Health Profiles (CHP), (b) Regional Health Information Organization (RHIO) demonstration projects to link together patient medical records, (c) Insurance company projects linked to ICD-9 codes and patient records for cost-benefit assessments, and (d) Consortia of EHR developers collaborating to model systems requirements and standards for data linkage. Until recently, these separate efforts have been conducted in the very silos that they had intended to eliminate, and there is still considerable debate concerning health professionals access to as well as commitment to using EHR if these systems are provided. This paper will describe these four developmental tracks, patient rights and the legal environment for EHR, international comparisons, and future projections for EHR expansion across health networks in the United States

Report on the health of Colorado's forests

The reports describes "an annual investigation of critical forest health issues, including the identification of priority areas across the state where current forest conditions demand timely action." They are intended to "expand Coloradans' knowledge of and interest in our state's forest resources.".Reports produced by the Colorado State Forest Service in conjunction with Colorado Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry.Includes bibliographical references.February 2009The 2008 Report on the Health of Colorado's Forests focuses on our high country forests and the insects and diseases that threaten them. It also takes a look at the connection between humans and these forests, which provide unparalleled recreational opportunities, food and shelter for a diverse array of animals, and raw material for homes. They also capture, purify, and release water for our use. Recent aerial surveys confirm that our high elevation forests are being threatened by spruce beetle, sudden aspen decline, and mountain pine beetle. But change in our forests is inevitable. To truly understand what is occurring in Colorado's high elevation forests, it is important to understand how these forests die, renew, grow, and function. That is the purpose of this report.This is the eighth in a series of forest health reports developed by the Colorado State Forest Service with guidance from stakeholders who share our concern for Colorado’s forests. As you begin reading the report, you will notice that we took a different approach in telling the story about our high country forests. The report still contains the latest scientific forestry information that readers have come to expect, but it also tells a story that considers the human connection with our forests. During my travels around the state, I have been reminded about the importance of that connection. Many of us choose to live here because of the quality of life our forests provide. And it is up to each of us to take the necessary action to protect them. The action we take now will shape the forests of the future - and the benefits they provide

Insects associated with Ponderosa Pine in the Rocky Mountains and the Southwest /

no.9

Insects associated with ponderosa pine in Colorado /

Issued July 1980.Bibliography: p. 39-40.Mode of access: Internet

Insects associated with ponderosa pine in Colorado /

no.7

The increasing need for biomarkers in intensive care unit-acquired weakness - are microRNAs the solution?

There is an increasing focus on intensive care unit-acquired weakness, its underlying mechanisms and therapeutic options. In this article we offer a commentary on the paper by Bloch and colleagues entitled 'MiR-181a: a potential biomarker of acute muscle wasting following cardiac surgery'. There is a need for biomarkers for intensive care unit-acquired weakness, not only in clinical practice but also in order to streamline future therapeutic trials. MicroRNAs are attractive biomarkers, and may have an important role in this disease. We highlight the significance of the authors' finding of miR-181a, a novel plasma biomarker for the development of acute muscle wasting in post-operative cardiac surgery patients and discuss future research that is needed in this field following on from the study findings.</p