Predicted work-related injuries for nurses and home healthcare workers are on the rise given the many risk factors in the home environment and the escalating demands for home healthcare workers in the United States. Fort...Predicted work-related injuries for nurses and home healthcare workers are on the rise given the many risk factors in the home environment and the escalating demands for home healthcare workers in the United States. Fortunately, safe patient handling and mobility programs can dramatically decrease injuries. Despite strides being made to promote safe patient handling and mobility programs in acute care, more can be done to establish such initiatives in the home care setting.
The purpose of this study was to (a) determine how effective the state's campaign has been in informing rural and urban residents who are reliant on electronic medical equipment about the campaign and (b) determine how e...The purpose of this study was to (a) determine how effective the state's campaign has been in informing rural and urban residents who are reliant on electronic medical equipment about the campaign and (b) determine how effective the state campaign has been in informing medical suppliers about the campaign. Approximately 2,000 residents were interviewed about their understanding of the emergency preparedness campaign. Results indicate that approximately 74% of the rural residents and 82% or the urban residents using electronic medical equipment were unaware of the state's disaster preparedness program. Implications for home health clinicians are discussed.
Informal caregiving is a prevalent phenomenon in the United States. A review of the literature reveals that, although much research has been done regarding the areas of informal caregiver burden and the effect of sleep d...Informal caregiving is a prevalent phenomenon in the United States. A review of the literature reveals that, although much research has been done regarding the areas of informal caregiver burden and the effect of sleep disruption on healthy adults, little has been done in the area of caregiving and sleep disruption, especially as it relates to older informal caregivers. Older informal caregivers represent a significant portion of the informal caregiving population and are a population at risk for high levels of sleep disturbance. Further research designed to investigate sleep disruption in older informal caregivers is needed to move toward the development of evidence-based assessment tools for practice and interventions aimed at restoring normal sleep patterns in this vulnerable population.
Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM), or broken-heart syndrome, is a form of cardiomyopathy (CM) that is significantly different from other common types. This form of CM occurs spontaneously and can be easily reversed. TCM is...Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM), or broken-heart syndrome, is a form of cardiomyopathy (CM) that is significantly different from other common types. This form of CM occurs spontaneously and can be easily reversed. TCM is seen primarily in postmenopausal women with a recent stressful event. Patients with TCM often present with symptoms suggestive of a myocardial infarction. Home health-care and hospice clinicians interact frequently with caregivers and other family members who are living under stressful circumstances. It is important that home care clinicians be familiar with TCM and understand the relationship that may exist between stress, stressful events, triggers, and TCM.
This article introduces the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) MedWatch adverse event reporting program that consumers and healthcare professionals can use to voluntarily report potential problems associated wit...This article introduces the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) MedWatch adverse event reporting program that consumers and healthcare professionals can use to voluntarily report potential problems associated with medical devices. It discusses devices commonly used in the home and other "nonclinical" environments and suggests what clinicians can do when encountering device problems or issues. With the increasing use of medical devices in the home and other nonclinical environments, it is becoming more important for users and caregivers to participate in voluntary reporting to help the FDA best address medical device problems that may be unique to these environments.
Patients who choose care in a home setting at the end of life may be at risk because of their declining cognitive or physical abilities, environmental hazards in the home, or caregiving issues. Although safety concerns i...Patients who choose care in a home setting at the end of life may be at risk because of their declining cognitive or physical abilities, environmental hazards in the home, or caregiving issues. Although safety concerns in hospitals have been well documented, knowledge about safety issues in the home setting is limited. This qualitative, focused-ethnographic study was conducted to understand the safety issues that occur in the home setting from the perspective of home care clinicians who manage these issues for end-of-life patients.