A number of strategies are used to improve Emergency Department (ED) flow at Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) campuses in Wallaceburg and Chatham. One of them is the using “Medical Directives”.
Medical Directives allow the ED nurses to begin or complete some treatments and diagnostic tests before the patient is seen by a physician or nurse practitioner. Empowering nurses to start these actions at the very beginning of the ED visit allows certain basic emergency procedures to be completed more quickly and efficiently, leading to safer patient care and better patient flow.
As an example, a patient with an injured wrist is assessed by the nurse at Triage by starting the directive - the patient is then sent for an x-ray of the wrist. When the patient is later seen by the physician or nurse practitioner, the x-ray has already been done and the pictures are in the computer, available for review. Without a directive, there would have been a wait to see the physician or nurse practitioner, then a wait to have the x-ray done, and then wait again to be seen to review the results.
Consider two patients arriving with chest pain, one to an ED with appropriate directives and the other to an ED with no directives. The first patient will have the nurses start an IV, apply oxygen, obtain an EKG, send standard blood work and will be given aspirin by the time the physician sees the patient. The other will only have their clothes removed and will be lying in a stretcher waiting for the physician to arrive.
The aim is to make our emergency departments function better while we provide safe and high quality patient care. Medical Directives are one of the tools we use at CKHA to achieve that aim.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Eating Disorders – Assistance for Those in Need
Did you know that February is Eating Disorder Awareness month?
Generally, eating disorders involve self-critical, negative thoughts and feelings about body weight, food, and eating habits that disrupt normal body function, and daily life activities. What causes eating disorders is not entirely clear, though a combination of psychological, genetic, social and family factors are thought to contribute to the disorder.
Canadian studies show that eating disorders are the most common chronic illnesses in the female adolescent population, and in 2005, more than 500,000 Canadians suffered from some sort of eating disorder. In Ontario, more than 90 percent of those who require hospitalization for anorexia and bulimia are women. A study done in Ontario in 2004 found that by the age of 18 years, 80 percent of girls of normal height and weight reported that they would like to weigh less.
The Mental Health and Addictions Program (MHAP) program of Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) provides mental health and addictions services to residents of Chatham-Kent. A multidisciplinary team of professionals provide individualized treatment. The treatment focuses on empowering clients with new skills and techniques that promote positive change and independence. The MHAP Chatham-Kent Eating Disorders Program offers services for Chatham-Kent residents between the ages of 13 – 25 years inclusive, who have been diagnosed with an eating disorder or disordered eating (a wide variety of irregularities in eating behavior that do not warrant a specific eating disorder). Clients receive comprehensive assessments in consultation with a physician, and group or one-on-one therapy sessions are offered for teen clients and their parents.
Eating disorders can have very serious consequences. If you or someone you know is experiencing difficulty with an eating disorder, contact your primary care physician or nurse practitioner for referral to this program. You can also call (519) 351-6144 and ask to speak to the Eating Disorders Therapist.
Generally, eating disorders involve self-critical, negative thoughts and feelings about body weight, food, and eating habits that disrupt normal body function, and daily life activities. What causes eating disorders is not entirely clear, though a combination of psychological, genetic, social and family factors are thought to contribute to the disorder.
Canadian studies show that eating disorders are the most common chronic illnesses in the female adolescent population, and in 2005, more than 500,000 Canadians suffered from some sort of eating disorder. In Ontario, more than 90 percent of those who require hospitalization for anorexia and bulimia are women. A study done in Ontario in 2004 found that by the age of 18 years, 80 percent of girls of normal height and weight reported that they would like to weigh less.
The Mental Health and Addictions Program (MHAP) program of Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) provides mental health and addictions services to residents of Chatham-Kent. A multidisciplinary team of professionals provide individualized treatment. The treatment focuses on empowering clients with new skills and techniques that promote positive change and independence. The MHAP Chatham-Kent Eating Disorders Program offers services for Chatham-Kent residents between the ages of 13 – 25 years inclusive, who have been diagnosed with an eating disorder or disordered eating (a wide variety of irregularities in eating behavior that do not warrant a specific eating disorder). Clients receive comprehensive assessments in consultation with a physician, and group or one-on-one therapy sessions are offered for teen clients and their parents.
Eating disorders can have very serious consequences. If you or someone you know is experiencing difficulty with an eating disorder, contact your primary care physician or nurse practitioner for referral to this program. You can also call (519) 351-6144 and ask to speak to the Eating Disorders Therapist.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Tis the Season! Flu season that is
On January 27th, 2010 Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) issued a media release announcing an influenza outbreak. The outbreak has had a rippling effect through out the hospital which prompted me to write this blog. Many of us think that catching the flu is someone else’s problem. The truth is that it can happen to anyone of us and there are measures to protect ourselves.
Did you know that between 2,000 to 8,000 Canadians die every year from the flu? Symptoms of the flu include fever, chills, cough, runny nose, stuffy nose, sore throat, headache, muscle aches, extreme weakness and fatigue. Much of Canada is reaching its peak for experiencing influenza and influenza-like illnesses. Many local healthcare facilities and long term care homes are experiencing outbreaks of influenza.
As a result of the influenza outbreak at CKHA: visitor screening and restrictions were instituted; children under 12 were unable to visit; only patients with influenza like symptoms were admitted to Medicine A; and everyone worked around the clock to help mitigate any further spread. The teamwork involved during any sort of emergency always amazes me. Special thanks to the Medicine Team, Infection Control Team, Occupational Health & Safety Team, Communication Team; Support Services Team; and our Physician Leaders.
After some reflection, the influenza outbreak at CKHA has instilled in me the importance of the annual flu shot and our responsibility as health care professionals to encourage the flu shot with our families, friends, and patients.I would like to share a quote from Best Practices for Prevention of Acute Respiratory Infection in All Health Care Settings, as I found it quite powerful: “Influenza immunization for staff involved in direct client/patient/resident care (including physicians, nurses, emergency response workers, employees of long-term care homes who have contact with residents, providers of home care, visiting nurses and volunteers) is a standard of care. In the absence of contraindications to the vaccine, refusal to be immunized against influenza is a failure in staff’s duty of care to patients.”If you have not already been vaccinated, it’s not too late to do so. Clinics are available for staff at CKHA, and for the public through Public Health (519-352-7270). For general information about flu visit: http://www.chatham-kent.ca/community+services/Public+Health/immunization/childrens+immunization/Influenza+%28Flu%29+Vaccine.htm
Remember - the best thing you can do to protect yourself is to get influenza vaccine, cover your cough, clean your hands often and stay home when you are sick.
Did you know that between 2,000 to 8,000 Canadians die every year from the flu? Symptoms of the flu include fever, chills, cough, runny nose, stuffy nose, sore throat, headache, muscle aches, extreme weakness and fatigue. Much of Canada is reaching its peak for experiencing influenza and influenza-like illnesses. Many local healthcare facilities and long term care homes are experiencing outbreaks of influenza.
As a result of the influenza outbreak at CKHA: visitor screening and restrictions were instituted; children under 12 were unable to visit; only patients with influenza like symptoms were admitted to Medicine A; and everyone worked around the clock to help mitigate any further spread. The teamwork involved during any sort of emergency always amazes me. Special thanks to the Medicine Team, Infection Control Team, Occupational Health & Safety Team, Communication Team; Support Services Team; and our Physician Leaders.
After some reflection, the influenza outbreak at CKHA has instilled in me the importance of the annual flu shot and our responsibility as health care professionals to encourage the flu shot with our families, friends, and patients.I would like to share a quote from Best Practices for Prevention of Acute Respiratory Infection in All Health Care Settings, as I found it quite powerful: “Influenza immunization for staff involved in direct client/patient/resident care (including physicians, nurses, emergency response workers, employees of long-term care homes who have contact with residents, providers of home care, visiting nurses and volunteers) is a standard of care. In the absence of contraindications to the vaccine, refusal to be immunized against influenza is a failure in staff’s duty of care to patients.”If you have not already been vaccinated, it’s not too late to do so. Clinics are available for staff at CKHA, and for the public through Public Health (519-352-7270). For general information about flu visit: http://www.chatham-kent.ca/community+services/Public+Health/immunization/childrens+immunization/Influenza+%28Flu%29+Vaccine.htm
Remember - the best thing you can do to protect yourself is to get influenza vaccine, cover your cough, clean your hands often and stay home when you are sick.
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