“Satisfaction” is a word long associated with consumerism. With every receipt you receive from Target, every time you call your bank, and every confirmation of an Amazon order, there is some customer satisfaction survey attached. How then, does the situation change when the satisfaction survey is not for a store or retailer, but a hospital […]
In the conclusion of this three-part series comes the most comforting subject: solutions. Though shift work has proven disadvantages and risks, there are ways to improve the situation for those working them. Below is a brief list and explanation of methods to combat the struggles that shift workers frequently face, particularly when it comes to
After being introduced to the negative effects shift work has on those who work them, part two of this series brings us to the other group affected by shift work: patients. The effects a lack of sleep and circadian disruption have on nurses not only affect their bodies, they also affect how they interact with
Humans are not creatures of the night. Even if you are the type to find yourself binge-watching a TV show or working on a project at 3:00am, this doesn’t change the fact that we were never intended to be nocturnal. Staying awake through the night requires combating our bodies’ natural rest period, and even sleeping
Imagine your client had a routine blood screen ten weeks into her pregnancy, and the results come back clear. Your client rejoices and goes on with her life. However, seven months later, her child is born with a blood disorder that kills him three weeks later. This was the case for C. S., who not
If the history of the word was compressed into a 24-hour period, the human race would not emerge until the last 77 seconds.[1] With a single human lifespan a mere blip on the timeline of the Earth, it’s overwhelming to consider how little time we have to achieve our goals, to foster relationships, to make an
Preserving the most precious commodity-making the most of your time Read More »
It is not surprising that the leading causes of death in the US are heart disease and cancer; that is a statistic that is not hard to understand, especially considering the health care practices or lack thereof of Americans in general. What is of interest is that the third leading cause of death in the
Medical errors the third leading cause of death Read More »
The patient (AC) was complaining of chest pain, however it was easily explained by over exertion in physical therapy. His lung exam was entirely normal, except for the minor complaints of chest pain relieved with Tylenol and thought to be from pushing himself in PT after his recent orthopedic surgery. Fortunately for this patient, he
How did they miss it or possible delay in diagnosis… embolism Read More »
Outpatient surgery and surgery centers can provide another option from the traditional hospital setting. However, for an individual with numerous pre existing conditions (specifically obstructive sleep apnea), these settings might not be the best or safest location. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) most commonly affects middle aged and older adults, especially those who are overweight. OSA
Obstructive sleep apnea- increased risk of surgery morbidity and mortality Read More »
When you have your blood pressure taken, does your provider and staff take your blood pressure on both sides? You might want to consider this, because of the potential for poor cardiovascular health and increased mortality risk. According to literature1, patients with a substantial difference in blood pressure between the right and left arm can
