A Performance Measurement Tool (PMT) to Control Maintenance-Associated Infections

Purpose Healthcare maintenance (HM) services have an important role in the control of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs). Notwithstanding, many HM managers still do not measure the performance of HM services in infection control (IC). This research, therefore, aims to establish the level of importance of critical success factors (CSFs) and performance measures in HM IC. A performance measurement tool (PMT) was also developed to improve the performance of the HM unit in IC. Design/methodology/approach The CSFs and performance measures identified in the literature were categorised into the four perspectives of balanced scorecard and analysed through Delphi. The Delphi participants were presented with 67 performance measures and asked to rate their level of importance in HM in IC. In total, they identified 53 important performance measures to control maintenance-associated HAIs. The results obtained from the Delphi study were used to categorise the performance measures into four means zones. The mean zones were assigned weights (1-4), and the level of importance of the CSFs was established through weighted average. Liaison and communication, IC practices and maintenance resource availability emerged as the most important CSFs in HM in IC. Conversely, customer satisfaction emerged as the least important. Information gathered about the CSFs and performance measures was used to develop a PMT in HM in IC. Findings The following CSFs, liaison and communication, IC practices and maintenance resource availability, emerged as the most important in HM in IC. Conversely, customer satisfaction emerged as the least important. Information gathered about the CSFs and performance measures was used to develop a PMT in HM in IC. Originality/value Through the application of the PMT, performance in IC can be estimated at different levels in the HM unit. The PMT allows managers to focus on the most crucial CSFs and performance measures that drive performance in HM in IC. The PMT could also be used for benchmarking purposes

Moving from a continuum to a community: reconceptualising the provision of support

The notion of the continuum is applied to special education in diverse contexts across many nations. This paper explores its conceptual underpinnings, drawing upon a systematic search of the literature to review recurring ideas associated with the notion and to explicate both its uses and short-comings. Through a thematic analysis of the literature the research team derived twenty-nine continua, situated within six broad groupings (space, students, staffing, support, strategies and systems). This provides a clear structure for reconsidering the issues which the notion of the continuum is supposed to describe and enables a reconceptualisation of how the delivery of services is represented. We present the initial underpinnings for a community of provision, in which settings and services work together to provide learning and support for all children and young people in their locality

Review of school vision screening guidelines

Abstract: Background: Vision screenings are important in identifying visual anomalies likely to disrupt the physical, intellectual, social and emotional development of children. School health services globally include vision screenings, complementing a variety of associated screening services. Aim: This review article provides evidence for content, provision and efficacy of the vision screening services for children of school-going age and reports on the current practice of children’s vision screenings worldwide including in South Africa. Methods: Studies were identified from PubMed, Ebscohost and Science Direct with the search terms utilised during the selection of electronic articles and journals for the review. The target population includes children of school-going age from 6 to 19 years without previously known conditions associated with visual anomalies and learning-related problems. The quality of vision screening programmes and policies for the school-going age children in different countries were evaluated using Wilson and Jungner criteria.1 Results: Vision screening programmes worldwide appear to support comprehensive vision screening methods among pre-schoolers (from birth to ≤ 6 years vs. children of school-going age). The development of vision screening procedures in some countries in the United States of America (USA) was found to be grounded on epidemiologic findings and principles. These may have contributed towards the formulation of national vision screening guidelines for preschoolers that supported the detection of amblyopia and its associated conditions such as strabismus, anisometropia and myopia. School-going children’s vision screenings are not supported worldwide as research has shown that there is lack of benefits for detecting other visual anomalies such as vergence and accommodative dysfunctions. This is despite evidence provided by the literature reviewed that an association exists between prevalent accommodation and vergence dysfunctions including poor ocular motilities and poor near-vision, among children of school-going age with poor academic performance. Conclusion: The guidelines worldwide support school vision screenings, especially for the pre-schoolers by the school health nurses, with other programs having considered the teachers, optometrists or orthoptists as the appropriate personnel to conduct the school vision screenings. There is still a need for the effectiveness of the school vision-screening programmes to be investigated related to the importance of detecting convergence and accommodative dysfunctions for the school going age children

Ohio\u27s New Learning Standards: Physical Education Standards

The Standards A physically literate individual… STANDARD 1 Demonstrates competency in a variety of motor skills and movement patterns. STANDARD 2 Applies knowledge of concepts, principles, strategies and tactics related to movement and performance. STANDARD 3 Demonstrates the knowledge and skills to achieve and maintain a health-enhancing level of physical activity and fitness. STANDARD 4 Exhibits responsible, personal and social behavior that respects self and others. STANDARD 5 Recognizes the value of physical activity for health, enjoyment, challenge, self-expression and/or social interactio

Other title: Ohio Department of Education licensing report for ...; Other title: Licensing report for ...; Other title: Title from "Early Learning and School Readiness Documents" home page: Licensing for preschool and school age child care annual report

"Office of Early Learning and School Readiness"--Cover of FY2013 report.; Harvested from the web on 2/25/1

Study of internet- or computer-based community school funding models

"December 2019."; Includes bibliographical references (page 29)This document has been prepared for Governor Mike DeWine and the Ohio General Assembly pursuant to a statutory requirement to study e-school funding, specifically competency-based and completion-based models of funding and the feasibility of implementing such models in Ohi

Other title: Review and recommendations of the Superintendent of Public Instruction as required by Ohio Revised Code Section 3302.101; Other title: Academic distress commission review March 2019

"March 2019."; Includes bibliographical reference

State report card

Annual; 2012/2013-; Harvested from the web on 9/20/1

Other title: Grades 3-8 [and] OGT alternate assessment for students with disabilities 2010-2011 administration manual; Other title: Grades three through eight [and] Ohio Graduation Test alternate assessment for students with disabilities 2010-2011 administration manual; Other title: Alternate assessment for students with disabilities 2010-2011 administration manual; Other title: Title from p. [ii] Subject line: Ohio's alternate assessments for students with disabilities

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