Rhode Island medical journal (2013)
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By training future physicians to care for patients with backgrounds different from their own, medical schools can help reduce health disparities. To address the need for education in this area, the leaders of the Family Medicine Clerkship at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University developed the Social and Community Context of Care project, required of all medical students rotating through this clerkship. ⋯ Some interventions are actualized in later clerkships or independent study projects; one example, a health class for pregnant and parenting teens at Central Falls High School, is described here. If made a routine part of medical education, projects such as these may help medical students address the health disparities they will encounter in future practice.
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Recent studies have shown that the incidence of bloodstream infections (BSIs) associated with arterial catheters (ACs) is comparable to that of central venous catheters (CVCs). In 2011, the CDC published guidelines recommending the use of limited barrier precautions during AC insertion. The goal of this study was to assess the attitudes and current antiseptic techniques employed by physicians who place arterial catheters in intensive care units. ⋯ Use of barrier precautions for arterial catheter insertion was inconsistent in the cohort surveyed. Less than half of physicians surveyed were in compliance with CDC guidelines. Further studies are warranted to determine the optimal preventive strategies for reducing BSIs associated with ACs.
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Quality Improvement (QI) is required in all aspects of the healthcare field. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) poses unique QI challenges. This article explores some of these challenges and provides some points to consider when performing QI in EMS services.