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Anesthesia and Analgesia Jun 2020Patients with frailty experience substantial physical and emotional distress related to their condition and face increased morbidity and mortality compared with their... (Review)
Review
Patients with frailty experience substantial physical and emotional distress related to their condition and face increased morbidity and mortality compared with their nonfrail peers. Palliative care is an interdisciplinary medical specialty focused on improving quality of life for patients with serious illness, including those with frailty, throughout their disease course. Anesthesiology providers will frequently encounter frail patients in the perioperative period and in the intensive care unit (ICU) and can contribute to improving the quality of life for these patients through the provision of palliative care. We highlight the opportunities to incorporate primary palliative care, including basic symptom management and straightforward goals-of-care discussions, provided by the primary clinicians, and when necessary, timely consultation by a specialty palliative care team to assist with complex symptom management and goals-of-care discussions in the face of team and/or family conflict. In this review, we apply the principles of palliative care to patients with frailty and synthesize the evidence regarding methods to integrate palliative care into the perioperative and ICU settings.
Topics: Aged; Anesthesiology; Critical Care; Frail Elderly; Frailty; Humans; Intensive Care Units; Interdisciplinary Communication; Palliative Care; Patient Care Team; Perioperative Period; Psychological Distress; Quality of Life; Terminal Care; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 32384340
DOI: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000004763 -
The Journal of Head Trauma... 2019To characterize the indications, timing, barriers, and perceived value of rehabilitation currently provided for individuals with moderate or severe traumatic brain...
OBJECTIVE
To characterize the indications, timing, barriers, and perceived value of rehabilitation currently provided for individuals with moderate or severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) based on the perspectives of providers who work in the ICU setting.
PARTICIPANTS
Members (n = 66) of the Neurocritical Care Society and the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine.
DESIGN
An anonymous electronic survey of the timing of rehabilitation for patients with TBI in the ICU.
MAIN MEASURES
Questions asked about type and timing of rehabilitation in the ICU, extent of family involvement, participation of physiatrists in patient care, and barriers to early rehabilitation.
RESULTS
Sixty-six respondents who reported caring for patients with TBI in the ICU completed the survey; 98% recommended rehabilitative care while patients were in the ICU. Common reasons to wait for the initiation of physical therapy and occupational therapy were normalization of intracranial pressure (86% and 89%) and hemodynamic stability (66% and 69%).
CONCLUSIONS
The majority of providers caring for patients with TBI in the ICU support rehabilitation efforts, typically after a patient is extubated, intracranial pressure has normalized, and the patient is hemodynamically stable. Our findings describe current practice; future studies can be designed to determine optimal timing, intensity, and patient selection for early rehabilitation.
Topics: Brain Injuries, Traumatic; Clinical Decision-Making; Hemodynamics; Hospitalization; Humans; Intensive Care Units; Intracranial Pressure; Occupational Therapy; Patient Care Team; Physical Therapy Modalities; Speech Therapy; Surveys and Questionnaires; Time-to-Treatment
PubMed: 30829824
DOI: 10.1097/HTR.0000000000000477 -
Clinical Interventions in Aging 2019After hospitalization, 11% of the older patients are referred to rehabilitation facilities. Nowadays, there is a trend to formalize the rehabilitation process for these... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
After hospitalization, 11% of the older patients are referred to rehabilitation facilities. Nowadays, there is a trend to formalize the rehabilitation process for these patients in a Challenging Rehabilitation Environment (CRE). This concept involves the comprehensive organization of care, support and the environment on a rehabilitation ward. However, since literature on the principles of CRE is scarce, this review aimed to explore and describe the principles of CRE.
METHODS
A search was made in PubMed for relevant literature concerning CRE. Then, articles were hand searched for relevant keywords (ie, task-oriented training, therapy intensity, patient-led therapy, group training), references were identified, and topics categorized.
RESULTS
After evaluating 51 articles, 7 main topics of CRE were identified: 1) Therapy time; ie, the level of (physical) activity; the intensity of therapy and activity is related to rehabilitation outcomes, 2) group training; used to increase practice time and can be used to achieve multiple goals (eg, activities of daily living, mobility), 3) patient-regulated exercise; increases the level of self-management and practice time, 4) family participation; may lead to increased practice time and have a positive effect on rehabilitation outcomes, 5) task-oriented training; in addition to therapy, nurses can stimulate rehabilitants to perform meaningful tasks that improve functional outcomes, 6) enriched environment; this challenges rehabilitants to be active in social and physical activities, and 7) team dynamics; shared goals during rehabilitation and good communication in a transdisciplinary team improve the quality of rehabilitation.
DISCUSSION
This is the first description of CRE based on literature; however, the included studies discussed rehabilitation mainly after stroke and for few other diagnostic groups.
CONCLUSION
Seven main topics related to CRE were identified that may help patients to improve their rehabilitation outcomes. Further research on the concept and effectivity of CRE is necessary.
Topics: Activities of Daily Living; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Female; Health Services for the Aged; Humans; Patient Care Team; Rehabilitation; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 31496672
DOI: 10.2147/CIA.S207863 -
European Journal of Public Health Oct 2019As digitalization is progressively permeating all aspects of society, how can be it fruitfully employed to sustain the public health goals of quality, accessibility,...
BACKGROUND
As digitalization is progressively permeating all aspects of society, how can be it fruitfully employed to sustain the public health goals of quality, accessibility, efficiency and equity in health care and prevention? In this paper, we reflect on the potential of applying digital tools to public health and discuss some key challenges.
METHODS
We first define 'digitalization' in its broader sense, as well as applied to public health. We then build a conceptual framework where key public health domains are associated to available digital technologies in a matrix that help to identify digital features that bolster public health action. We also provide illustrative data and evidence on the application of digital solutions on selected public health areas. In the second part, we identify the strategic pillars for a successful European strategy for public health digitalization and we outline how the approach being pursued by the European Public Health Association (EUPHA) applies to digital health.
RESULTS
From a public health perspective, digitalization is being touted as providing several potential benefits and advantages, including support for the transition from cure to prevention, helping to put people and patients at the center of care delivery, supporting patient empowerment and making healthcare system more efficient, safer and cheaper. These benefits are enabled through the following features of digital technologies: (i) Personalization and precision; (ii) Automation; (iii) Prediction; (iv) Data analytics and (v) Interaction.
CONCLUSION
A successful European strategy for public health digitalization should integrate the following pillars: political commitment, normative frameworks, technical infrastructure, targeted economic investments, education, research, monitoring and evaluation. EUPHA acknowledges digitalization is an asset for public health and is working both to promote the culture of "public health digitalization", as well as to enable its planning, implementation and evaluation at the research, practice and policy level.
Topics: Artificial Intelligence; Europe; Health Equity; Health Services Accessibility; Humans; Patient Care; Patient-Centered Care; Public Health; Public Health Informatics; Technology; Telemedicine
PubMed: 31738441
DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckz161 -
Journal of General Internal Medicine Aug 2019Clinical reasoning is a core component of clinical competency that is used in all patient encounters from simple to complex presentations. It involves synthesis of... (Review)
Review
Clinical reasoning is a core component of clinical competency that is used in all patient encounters from simple to complex presentations. It involves synthesis of myriad clinical and investigative data, to generate and prioritize an appropriate differential diagnosis and inform safe and targeted management plans.The literature is rich with proposed methods to teach this critical skill to trainees of all levels. Yet, ensuring that reasoning ability is appropriately assessed across the spectrum of knowledge acquisition to workplace-based clinical performance can be challenging.In this perspective, we first introduce the concepts of illness scripts and dual-process theory that describe the roles of analytic system 1 and non-analytic system 2 reasoning in clinical decision making. Thereafter, we draw upon existing evidence and expert opinion to review a range of methods that allow for effective assessment of clinical reasoning, contextualized within Miller's pyramid of learner assessment. Key assessment strategies that allow teachers to evaluate their learners' clinical reasoning ability are described from the level of knowledge acquisition, through to real-world demonstration in the clinical workplace.
Topics: Clinical Competence; Clinical Decision-Making; Education, Medical; Humans; Patient Care; Patient Simulation; Problem Solving
PubMed: 31025307
DOI: 10.1007/s11606-019-04953-4 -
AMA Journal of Ethics May 2021This drawing considers how healers' abilities to help patients grow come from their partnerships with patients and from their capacity for self-care.
This drawing considers how healers' abilities to help patients grow come from their partnerships with patients and from their capacity for self-care.
Topics: Humans; Patient Care; Self Care
PubMed: 34038353
DOI: 10.1001/amajethics.2021.428 -
PloS One 2019To understand how different methodologies of qualitative research are able to capture patient experience of the hospital journey.
PURPOSE
To understand how different methodologies of qualitative research are able to capture patient experience of the hospital journey.
METHODS
A qualitative study of orthopaedic patients admitted for hip and knee replacement surgery in a 250-bed university hospital was performed. Eight patients were shadowed from the time they entered the hospital to the time of transfer to rehabilitation. Four patients and sixteen professionals, including orthopaedists, head nurses, nurses and administrative staff, were interviewed.
RESULTS
Through analysis of the data collected four main themes emerged: the information gap; the covering patient-professionals relationship; the effectiveness of family closeness; and the micro-integration of hospital services. The three different standpoints (patient shadowing, health professionals' interviews and patients' interviews) allowed different issues to be captured in the various phases of the journey.
CONCLUSIONS
Hospitals can significantly improve the quality of the service provided by exploring and understanding the individual patient journey. When dealing with a key cross-functional business process, the time-space dynamics of the activities performed have to be considered. Further research in the academic field can explore practical, methodological and ethical challenges more deeply in capturing the whole patient journey experience by using multiple methods and integrated tools.
Topics: Aged; Attitude to Health; Female; Hospital-Patient Relations; Hospitalization; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Patient Care; Patients; Quality of Health Care
PubMed: 31805061
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0224899 -
The Medical Clinics of North America May 2021Comprehensive patient care requires an integrated approach that often includes different specialties. Of these specialties, Ophthalmology stands out with its variable... (Review)
Review
Comprehensive patient care requires an integrated approach that often includes different specialties. Of these specialties, Ophthalmology stands out with its variable pathologic conditions, unique tools, and special examination techniques, which are not part of the standard training of internal medicine or other specialties. The authors review prior studies focused on inpatient ophthalmology consultations, common reasons for inpatient ophthalmology consultation, and the recommended approach to the most common ocular complaints that could present to the inpatient provider. They also shed light on the basic ocular history and eye examination that should be obtained before requesting an ophthalmic evaluation.
Topics: Eye Diseases; Hospitalization; Humans; Ophthalmology; Patient Care; Referral and Consultation
PubMed: 33926647
DOI: 10.1016/j.mcna.2021.02.006 -
Journal of the American College of... Oct 2019
2019 ACC Expert Consensus Decision Pathway on Risk Assessment, Management, and Clinical Trajectory of Patients Hospitalized With Heart Failure: A Report of the American College of Cardiology Solution Set Oversight Committee.
Topics: Cardiology; Comorbidity; Consensus; Continuity of Patient Care; Decision Making; Diuretics; Heart Failure; Hospitalization; Humans; Palliative Care; Patient Discharge; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Risk Assessment; Societies, Medical; United States
PubMed: 31526538
DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2019.08.001 -
Revista Brasileira de Terapia Intensiva 2019Immobility can cause several complications, including skeletal muscle atrophy and weakness, that influence the recovery of critically ill patients. This effect can be...
Immobility can cause several complications, including skeletal muscle atrophy and weakness, that influence the recovery of critically ill patients. This effect can be mitigated by early mobilization. Six key questions guided this research: Is early mobilization safe? Which patients are candidates for early mobilization? What are the contraindications? What is the appropriate dose, and how should it be defined? What results are obtained? What are the prognostic indicators for the use of early mobilization? The objective of this guideline was to produce a document that would provide evidence-based recommendations and suggestions regarding the early mobilization of critically ill adult patients, with the aim of improving understanding of the topic and making a positive impact on patient care. This guideline was based on a systematic review of articles conducted using the PICO search strategy, as recommended by the Guidelines Project of the Associação Médica Brasileira. Randomized clinical trials, prognostic cohort studies, and systematic reviews with or without meta-analysis were selected, and the evidence was classified according to the Oxford Center for Evidence-based Medicine Levels of Evidence. For all the questions addressed, enough evidence was found to support safe and well-defined early mobilization, with prognostic indicators that support and recommend the technique. Early mobilization is associated with better functional outcomes and should be performed whenever indicated. Early mobilization is safe and should be the goal of the entire multidisciplinary team.
Topics: Adult; Brazil; Critical Care; Critical Illness; Early Ambulation; Humans; Intensive Care Units; Practice Guidelines as Topic
PubMed: 31967216
DOI: 10.5935/0103-507X.20190084