Strategies for Patient Safety Concerns

Strategies for Patient Safety Concerns Describe strategies in detail that you will use to confidently discuss patient safety concerns with your hospital administrator and colleagues.

Many view quality health care as the overarching umbrella under which patient safety resides. For example, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) considers patient safety “indistinguishable from the delivery of quality health care.”1 Ancient philosophers such as Aristotle and Plato contemplated quality and its attributes. Rather it is constructed based on an interaction among relevant actors who agree about standards (the norms and values) and components (the possibilities). Theses standards are not necessarily in terms of the possibilities or conceptual clusters for these indicators.

Cancer and Women and Men Health

Cancer and Women and Men Health The American Cancer Society estimates that by the end of 2012, more than 226,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and more than 241,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer (American Cancer Society, 2012a; American Cancer Society 2012b).

With such prevalence of women’s and men’s cancers, patient education and preventive services are essential. In clinical settings, advanced practice nurses must assist physicians in educating patients on risk factors, preventive services, and for patients diagnosed with cancer, on potential drug treatments. The clinical implications of women’s and men’s cancer greatly depend on early detection, which is primarily achieved through preventive services.

Cancer and Women and Men Health Assignment Requirements

In this Assignment, you consider the short-term and long-term implications of cancer and drug treatments associated with women’s and men’s health, as well as appropriate preventive services.
To prepare:
Select a type of cancer associated with women’s or men’s health such as breast, cervical, or ovarian cancer in women and prostate cancer in men.
Locate and review articles examining the type of cancer you selected.
Review the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force article in the Learning Resources. Think about available preventive services that providers might recommend for patients at risk of this type of cancer.
Select two of the following factors: genetics, gender, ethnicity, age, or behavior. Reflect on how these factors might impact decisions related to preventive services.
Consider drug treatment options for patients diagnosed with the type of cancer you selected including short-term and long-term implications of the treatments.
Write a 2- to 3- page paper that addresses the following:
Describe available preventive services that providers might recommend for patients at risk of the type of cancer you selected.
Explain how the factors you selected might impact decisions related to preventive services.
Describe drug treatment options for patients diagnosed with the type of cancer you selected. Explain the short-term and long-term implications of these treatments.
Week 11: Pediatrics
Children deal with variety of health issues similar to adults, but they also have issues that are more prevalent within their population. One issue that significantly impacts children is the prescription of drugs for off-label use. Consider the case of Rebecca Riley. When she was two years old, Riley was diagnosed with ADHD, and by age three, she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. In the span of two years, Riley’s doctor prescribed four drugs off-label: Clonidine, Depakote, Zyprexa, and Seroquel. Riley’s doctor also approved 13 increases in drug dosages. Then, at age four, Riley died from pneumonia combined with a toxic level of prescription drugs (Lambert, 2010). Cases such as this have brought attention to the off-label use of drugs in pediatric patients, as well as the importance of monitoring patient reactions to prescribed drugs and evaluating the effects of drug-drug interactions. As an advanced practice nurse, how do you determine the appropriate use of off-label drugs in pediatrics? Are there certain drugs that should be avoided with pediatric patients?
This week you examine the practice of prescribing off-label drugs to children. You also explore strategies for making off-label drug use safer for children from infancy to adolescence as it is essential that you are prepared to make drug–related decisions for pediatric patients in clinical settings.

Cancer and Women and Men Health Learning Objectives

students will:
Evaluate the practice of prescribing off-label drugs to children
Analyze strategies to make the off-label use of drugs safer for children
Understand and apply key terms, concepts, and principles related to prescribing drugs to treat pediatric patients
Photo Credit: XiXinXing/Getty Images
Learning Resources
This page contains the Learning Resources for this week. Be sure to scroll down the page to see all of this week’s assigned Learning Resources. To access select media resources, please use the media player below.
Required Readings
Arcangelo, V. P., Peterson, A. M., Wilbur, V., & Reinhold, J. A. (Eds.). (2017). Pharmacotherapeutics for advanced practice: A practical approach (4th ed.). Ambler, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Review Chapter 4, “Principles of Pharmacotherapy in Pediatrics” (pp. 53-63)
This chapter explores concepts relating to drug selection, administration, and interaction for pediatric patients. It also compares age-related pharmacokinetic differences in children and adults.
Chapter 17, “Ophthalmic Disorders” (pp. 221-243)
This chapter examines the causes, pathophysiology, diagnostic criteria, and drug treatment for four ophthalmic disorders: blepharitis, conjunctivitis, keratoconjunctivitis sicca, and glaucoma. It also explores methods of monitoring patient response to treatment.
Chapter 43, “Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder” (pp. 743-756)
This chapter explains the process of diagnosing Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). It also identifies drugs for treating patients with ADHD, including proper dosages, selected adverse events, and special considerations for each drug.
Chapter 51, “Immunizations” (pp. 906-926)
This chapter explores vaccines that are licensed for use in the United States and provides a recommended vaccination schedule for pediatric patients and adults.
Chapter 52, “Smoking Cessation” (pp. 927-943)
This chapter examines clinical implications of smoking. It also covers various approaches for aiding patients who are dependent on nicotine but want to stop smoking.
Chapter 54, “Weight Loss” (pp. 945-956)
This chapter begins by reviewing patient factors that contribute to obesity. It also examines drug therapy for initiating weight loss in patients, as well as alternative non-drug treatments.
Bazzano, A. T, Mangione-Smith, R., Schonlau, M., Suttorp, M. J., & Brook, R. H. (2009). Off-label prescribing to children in the United States outpatient setting. Academic Pediatrics, 9(2), 81–88.
Note: Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
This study examines the frequency of off-label prescribing to children and explores factors that impact off-label prescribing.
Mayhew, M. (2009). Off-label prescribing. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 5(2), 122–123.
Note: Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
This article reviews the prevalence of off-label prescribing, including its benefits and risks. It also explores issues regarding the safety of off-label prescribing and when it is unavoidable.
Drugs.com. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.drugs.com/
This website presents a comprehensive review of prescription and over-the-counter drugs including information on common uses and potential side effects. It also provides updates relating to new drugs on the market, support from health professionals, and a drug-drug interactions checker.
Required Media
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2012). Advanced pharmacology – Final course review. Baltimore, MD: Author.
This media is an interactive final review covering course content.
Note: Although this media piece references Week 12, the content associated with Week 12 is a review of Week 1. Optional Resources
Refer to the Optional Resources listed in Week 1.

Antimicrobial Agents Components in Bacterial Treatment

Antimicrobial Agents Components in Bacterial Treatment Antimicrobial agents are essential components in the treatment of various bacterial infections as they help to kill or prevent the growth of microbes such as bacteria, fungi, and protozoans.

Prior to the discovery of antimicrobial agents, treatment options for patients with bacterial infections were limited.

Antimicrobial Agents Components in Bacterial Treatment Assignment Description

For many patients, treatment often resulted in the amputation of limbs or even death. Today, treatment options for bacterial infections typically have a more positive prognosis. Due to the various types of infections presented in patients, it is essential to be able to identify the underlying cause of the infection—whether bacterial or viral—before recommending drug treatments. This will help you identify whether or not an antimicrobial agent would be appropriate and which specific agent would target the infection. In this Assignment, you consider the appropriate use of antimicrobial agents for infections.
To prepare:
Review this week’s media presentation on principles of antimicrobial therapy, as well as Chapter 8 of the Arcangelo and Peterson text.
Consider the categories of antimicrobial agents.
Think about differences between viral and bacterial infections.
Reflect on why proper identification of the infection is key to selecting the proper antimicrobial agent.

Antimicrobial Agents Components in Bacterial Treatment Essay Paper Requirement

Write a 2- to 3- page paper that addresses the following:
Describe the categories of antimicrobial agents.
Describe differences between viral and bacterial infections.
Explain why proper identification of viral and bacterial infections is key to selecting the proper antimicrobial agent.
Week 9: Hematologic System
Once properly diagnosed, many hematologic disorders are very manageable with the appropriate treatment plan (Cancer Institute of Florida, n.d.). As an advanced practice nurse, it will be your responsibility to diagnose, treat, and/or recognize when to refer patients with these disorders. Many patients, however, struggle with diagnoses related to hematologic disorders that require extensive treatment and long-term care such as cancer or hemophilia prompting them to seek second opinions or alternative care. In your role as advanced practice nurse, you must be able to ease these concerns by answering patient questions about the disorders, related drug therapies, and effects of drug therapies based on individual patient factors.
This week you examine drugs prescribed to treat hematologic disorders, as well as the impact of patient factors on the effects of the drugs. You also explore ways to improve patient treatment plans including suggested drug therapies.

Antimicrobial Agents Components in Bacterial Treatment Learning Objectives

students will:
Analyze types of drugs prescribed to treat hematologic disorders Evaluate the impact of patient factors on the effects of prescribed drugs for disorders of the hematologic system
Evaluate drug therapy plans to treat disorders of the hematologic system
Analyze patient education strategies for treatment and management of hematologic disorders
Understand and apply key terms, concepts, and principles related to prescribing drugs to treat hematologic disorders
Photo Credit: N/A – Laureate Image

Drug Treatments for HIV and AIDS

Drug Treatments for HIV and AIDS While HIV/AIDS is still currently incurable, the prognosis for patients with this infectious disease has improved due to advancements in drug treatments.

Consider the case of Kristy Aney. Kristy was diagnosed with HIV in 1992 and was told she would survive, at most, 10 more years. Despite unfavorable odds, Kristy is still alive 20 years later. Since her diagnosis, she has witnessed tremendous improvements in HIV/AIDS treatments which have helped patients live longer with fewer side effects. While she acknowledges that these drug treatments have kept her alive, she fears that improvements in drug therapy have led to more people becoming complacent about the disease (Idaho Statesmen, 2012). In fact, the number of people living with HIV/AIDS in the United States is higher than it has ever been (CDC, 2012). This poses the question: Is there a relationship between drug advancements, societal complacency, and infection?
To prepare:
Review Chapter 49 of the Arcangelo and Peterson text, as well as the Krummenacher et al. and Scourfield articles in the Learning Resources.
Reflect on whether or not the prevalence of HIV cases might be attributed to increased complacency due to more advanced drug treatment options for HIV/AIDS.

Drug Treatments for HIV and AIDS and Healthcare

Consider how health care professionals can help to change perceptions and make people more aware of the realities of the disease.
Think about strategies to educate HIV positive patients on medication adherence, as well as safe practices to reduce the risk of infecting others.
With these thoughts in mind:
Post an explanation of whether or not you think the prevalence of HIV cases might be attributed to increased complacency due to more advanced drug treatment options. Then, explain how health care professionals can help to change perceptions and increase awareness of the realities of the disease. Finally, describe strategies to educate HIV positive patients on medication adherence, as well as safe practices to reduce the risk of infecting others.

Health Insurance and the Affordable Care Act

Health Insurance and the Affordable Care Act Suppose you have been tasked with purchasing health insurance for your organization that has fifty full-time employees.

Use the Internet or Strayer databases to research different types of health insurance.
Write a 2-3 page paper in which you:
Suggest one (1) plan that you would use to purchase health insurance for your organization. Determine the extent to which employee lifestyle choices and health economics would factor in to your chosen plan. Provide a rationale for your response.
Analyze the implication of the Affordable Care Act on your decision to purchase insurance. Debate two (2) advantages and two (2) disadvantages of purchasing health insurance for your employees, as opposed to having your employees receive governmental insurance.

Health Information and Data Portal

Health Information and Data Portal Question 1
Look at these websites and answer the following questions:
Note the first 2 websites go together – one is a FAQ page and the other is the actual reports.
https://www.cihi.ca/sites/default/files/faq_portal_en.pdf (Information page about the CIHI portal)
https://www.cihi.ca/en/access-data-and-reports (data reports)
http://www.definitivehc.com/ (look around the website, all the menus & links).

1. What is a health data portal (HDP)?
2. What is the purpose/why would you use a portal?
3. Compare the two websites.
a) What is the same about each portal?
b) What is different?
c) Describe one unique feature of each.
d) Which site do you prefer, and why?

Question 2
Read the indicated articles and provide a summary of the following questions (in your own words):
1. Define Activity Based Funding (elaborate)
2. Define Global Budget (elaborate)
3. Summarize your understanding of the 3 Activity Based Funding models and indicate the pros & cons of each one.
4. How do CMGs play a role in Activity Based Funding? What is your opinion on using CMGs in this type of funding?
5. Why is the quality of coding so important in this methodology?
6. Activity based funding vs Patient level costing? Refer back to HIMII 201 Lessons 31 & 32 (Take note of Variable & Fixed costs)

Question 3 Health Information and Data Portal and Internet Review

Review the internet and search ABF (Activity Based Funding) for the provinces in Canada.

Provide me with the names of the provinces, and a summary (in your words) for each of them, that describes something about their adoption of ABF (perhaps when they started, any date milestones they hit, how they adopted it, types of programs/care types they use it for, etc.). Also provide the links to each document you referenced to find this information. This assignment can be in table format or a written paper.
Question 4
This assignment is focused on regionalization of health care in Canada. For this assignment, you are to research regionalization in 2 provinces other than your own.
A. You must provide/identify the provincial structure (meaning list the different health regions/authorities in the province) AND the links to your source documents. THEN,
B. Pick one regional structure from each province (for example you would choose Vancouver Coastal Health for BC instead of BC Health, or Toronto Central LHIN instead of Ontario as a whole), and answer the following questions.
1. Are each of the following services part of the regional service (Y/N):
1. Long Term Care
2. Pediatric Care
3. Cancer Care
4. Mental Health Services
5. Community Care
2. Regarding the Regional board:
1. Are members appointed, or elected, or a combination of both on the Board? If appointed, by whom? If elected, by whom?
2. Is a member of the public on the board?
3. Does the Board allocate the funding (other than physician payments and drug costs) to facilities?
3. Identify and explain one benefit and one drawback to the specific regional structure selected.
Your answer should not exceed 2 pages.
Remember to include the name of the regional authority AND the links to the information you provide.

Question 5 Health Information and Data Portal Assignment Guidelines

This assignment is focused on understanding Impact Analysis. Answer either question 1 or 2.

Question 1
Scenario: You are the Data Analyst for the provincial Department of Health. Up until 2015, Zika virus did not have its own ICD 10-CA code; effective 2016, a new code exists for Zika.
Assignment: Discuss the impact that this change will have on provincial reporting, and on disease monitoring and tracking. Consider the impact on managing the health of the population.

Question 2
Scenario: You are the Data Analyst for the provincial Department of Health. Because of the provincial wait-times in Orthopaedics, the provincial government has actively supported the recruitment of additional Orthopaedic surgeons. Sunshine General Hospital has recruited a new Ortho Surgeon who specializes in knee replacements, bringing their total number of Orthopods to 3. Discuss how the addition of this resource will impact both the organization and the management of the wait list.

Your answer should not exceed 500 words

Question 6
Use the internet and any other resources you find (Ministry of Health websites, CMG materials, etc)
1. Describe your province’s funding formula for acute care facilities/health authorities. This means “how is your province funded”? I am not looking for a specific mathematical formula.
2. Does the funding formula rely on CMG or CACS grouping methodologies (case costing)? Explain in your own words how the grouping methodology/case costing impacts the healthcare funding mechanisms of your province.
3. Compare the use of case costing/patient focused funding versus block funding (what are they, similarities/differences, reasoning, etc.).
4. From question 3, which do you prefer, and why?

A Controversy Issue in Health or Sanitation

A Controversy Issue in Health or Sanitation Show how the diagnosis, treatment, or technology has changed over time, OR Identify an element of controversy relating to the issue, and the principal antagonists.

National water policies are shifting to community-based management approach because local authorities are in daily contact with users, of whom about 50% are women. Historically, national policy shifted from attention to distribution of investments in the water sector to reorganization of water agencies and to building up the capacity of private or voluntary agencies. The local context allows for more efficient and effective responses to local conditions. Infrastructure is also poorly maintained.

Substance Abuse Treatment Facility

Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Imagine you are the head of a local, non-profit, facility and you have just received a grant that will allow you to expand the different types of treatment offered at your facility.

You have the option of either hiring a psychoanalytic therapist, a cognitive behavioral therapist, or you can use the money to acquire more medication that can be used to treat your clients (i.e. methadone, suboxone, etc.). Also, you can instead choose to donate the money to local agencies that provide aid in the form of food, clothing and shelter to the underprivileged members of the population in the area.

Down Syndrome a Chromosomal Disorder

Down Syndrome a Chromosomal Disorder Down syndrome is a chromosomal disorder caused when an error in cell division results in an extra 21st chromosome.

There can be impairments in cognitive ability and physical growth, mild to moderate developmental disabilities, and a higher risk of some health problems. Down syndrome is a chromosomal condition that is associated with intellectual disability, a characteristic facial appearance, and weak muscle tone (hypotonia) in infancy. All affected individuals experience cognitive delays, but the intellectual disability is usually mild to moderate. Digestive abnormalities, such as a blockage of the intestine, are less common.

Health and Illness in Contemporary Society

Health and Illness in Contemporary Society Directions/General Guidelines: Your final paper must be well organized in standard paragraph form.

Health and Illness in Contemporary Society Assignment Directions

The paper, as noted on the syllabus, should be approximately 5-6 pages in length (double-spaced, 12 point font) and should include at least three academic references (i.e. no popular literature references, no Wikipedia, and no websites) that you will need to cite in a bibliography. One of these references must be a journal article. Additional references (beyond the first three) can include your textbook and class films. Because the paper length is short, try to avoid using direct quotations. Instead, you should generally try to paraphrase citations. See Syllabus for due date. I Be sure to keep a copy of the final paper for your own records.

Health and Illness in Contemporary Society and Health Goals

Option One: Cross Cultural Variations in Health The goal of the first paper option is to expand your sociological understanding of the impact of culture on health. For this option, you will choose a health issue, such as menopause, and compare this across at least three different cultures. Depending on the extent of information on a given topic, you may decide to research additional cultures as well. Be very careful if you choose this option to remember that this is not a book report about three different countries. Critical to your analysis will be a discussion of how cultures and societies influence social experiences of health.