...Exception or Donation? Highland Electricity is well-known for supporting community projects, and in recent years has increased its corporate giving. The company has also recently defined its giving strategy, particularly in how it relates to their business objectives. As part of this overall effort, Highland clarifies its giving guidelines. There are four broad funding areas (Job training and economic development, Education, Emergency preparedness, and Environmental stewardship), and grants are ideally awarded to organizations within the company's service area. Arts and cultural organizations, which are not included in the four funding areas, have received few grants in recent years. Numerous arts organizations have been turned down with the explanation that the company is focusing its resources in its strategic funding areas. Requests from other organizations are turned down because they are outside the utility's defined service territory. Contributions manager Clarissa Watt has recently received two funding requests from high-level managers within the company. The first is to provide a large (up to $25,000) grant to an arts center in a small town in the service territory. A chief regulatory official's wife serves on the art center's board. The second request is for a grant to a nonprofit organization outside the service territory, but within the district of a very influential state legislator. Both organizations are deserving of funding, and the activities to be funded...
Words: 594 - Pages: 3
...Vulnerable Populations in Current Events As the cold winter months approach so does another cold and flu season. Individuals, communities and the nation itself must prepare in advance for the possibility of the flu striking home. Especially susceptible are vulnerable populations unable or unwilling to provide themselves the necessary care to prevent getting the flu. Or caring for themselves in the event they do get the flu. Vulnerable populations are individuals, families, or communities ho lack the necessary resources or capabilities to protect their own health. These “populations” are vulnerable because of factors such as socio-economic resources, limited financial means, age, gender or, limited knowledge of the English language. Women, children or the elderly are especially vulnerable The flu is an extremely contagious disease passed from person to person. A society or community ill prepared or failing to act in a timely manner in regards to vulnerable populations will only tend to increase the risk of infection for all people by increasing the number of people can spread the disease (Hutchins, Truman, Merlin & Redd, 2009). Implementation of programs to provide vaccinations to vulnerable populations may help to prevent an outbreak of the flu or at least stem the tide in the event of an outbreak. In the facility that I work, Inova Mount Vernon Hospital, we have implemented such a plan. We provide free flu shots to low income families and children. All...
Words: 350 - Pages: 2
...18 Progress in Cardiovascular Nursing Winter 2008 www.lejacq.com ID: 6611 Heart failure (HF) is the leading cause of hospitalization for persons older than 65 years and often necessitates assistance from family caregivers.1,2 Approximately 40% of older adults are readmitted within 3 months postdischarge, resulting in significant health care costs.2,3 Indeed, more than one million hospitalizations attributed to HF cost the patient and United States health care system over $27 billion a year.1 Hospitalizations related to HF are complicated by the aging process, comorbidities, and psychosocial concerns that affect successful management.2 In a study of patient outcomes post– hospital discharge, Naylor and colleagues4 demonstrated that the use of advanced practice nurses (APNs) was effective in improving outcomes for patients with HF. The feasibility of adapting this approach is limited, however; costs for home visits by an APN are high, a shortage of APNs employed in home care exists, and funding for home care has decreased with the Medicare Prospective Payment System.5 An alternative strategy for promoting self-management of HF is the use of electronic home monitoring (EHM). EHM is a form of telemedicine in which medical/nursing management interventions are provided to individuals at a distance from the health care provider.6 The primary objective of this pilot study was to examine the effectiveness of postdischarge telemonitoring by an APN...
Words: 5160 - Pages: 21
...Wesley D. Pointjour Final Research Paper: Telehealth In Nursing Homes Health Quality Management April 02, 2015 Introduction In many nursing home facilities, patient safety is little to non-existent and if they are, there displayed on a need be and not obliged basis. They are displayed case by case rather than nursing home protocol. Even with changes in regulations, reporting systems, and documentation over the past couple of years, the nursing home industry still has its share of problems. Patient safety is meant to provide patients freedom from healthcare associated preventable harm, meaning when things go right, nothing bad happens. Nursing home organizations have been constantly trying to improve their reputation and the way people view them, but how? Don’t patients make up a nursing home? What about their safety? Shouldn’t we start there? How do we make improvements? Telehealth, a new approach to improving patient safety in nursing homes, will use telecommunication technologies to deliver health related services and information that support patient care, administrative activities, and health education (Dixon, Hook, McGowan, 2008). In this paper I will explore the major benefits of Telehealth and how its implications can improve patient safety in nursing home care. What is Telehealth and why is it important? Telehealth is the means and methods to improving access to care and reducing healthcare associated costs. It is also a system that can be used for education...
Words: 2886 - Pages: 12
...treatment for physical, mental, or age associated illnesses. Long-term care is also known as personal assistant services and is defined as an individual who requires health care assistance for more than 90 days. Personal assistants provided to a patient help them with the activities of daily living (ADL) as well as instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). These activities may include personal care services like bathing, doing household chores, and other activities to help the patient remain independent while still residing in or near his or her home while maintaining the quality of care the person is accustomed to if there are no medical hindrances preventing it. Long-term care also includes community services, such as meals, adult day service programs, and transportation services (Austin & Wetle, "The long term care continuum, Who needs long-term care?," 2012). Residential facilities, such as skilled nursing facilities and assisted living facilities, also provide long-term care services along with housing ("National Clearinghouse For Long Term Care Information,” n.d.). Continuum of care services are utilized by elderly individuals, individuals that have a chronic illness, or may be disabled either physically or mentally. It is estimated that 80% of the individuals who use long term care services are over the age of 65 (Austin & Wetle, "Chapter 8, Who uses LTC?," 2012). A facility-based service provides housing and housekeeping services. Some facilities manage...
Words: 2715 - Pages: 11
...are many different parts to Medicare, some requiring out of pocket expenses, and/or deductibles. Medicare Part A The rules for Medicare are often complex, requiring the nursing and/or social work staff to get involved, and help navigate the system. The hospitalization portion of Medicare is “Part A,” which will cover the acute care hospitalization, and the skilled nursing facility (SNF) portion, of Mrs. Zwick’s illness. If, at a later time, Mrs. Zwick was in need of home health care, and/or hospice care, Part A would also be responsible for the coverage of these services. Services, not covered, would be any long-term custodial or unskilled nursing care. After meeting the insurance deductible, Part A is usually a premium-free service, assuming the spouse, or patient, has paid into the system, while employed. As of 2013, the monthly cost for Part A is $441, for those who are not eligible for a premium-free policy. Mrs. Zwick, a permanent United States resident, who has been hospitalized for five days following a stroke, will require further care from a SNF, once she is discharged from the hospital. The deductible for her hospital stay, assuming that she has a premium-free policy, would be $1,184, because she stayed less than sixty days, as set forth in the Medicare guidelines. The skilled nursing portion would cost her no money, up to day 20, and then she would be assessed $148 per day, up to day 100. Medicare Part B Unlike Medicare Part A, “Part B” does have a monthly...
Words: 2089 - Pages: 9
...LTC 352 Unit 2: Lessons 4-6 G Garrett Lesson 4 1. Use the information you have gained in this lesson to identify key resident right issues in the case below: The resident is an alert, 65-year-old male. A fractured hip occurred when he fell at home. He lived alone up until this time. He was hospitalized following surgery and received physical therapy while in the hospital. He is alert and oriented. He shows no signs of mental illness. He suffers from COPD, occasional CHF, and osteoporosis. The nursing home facility’s physician explains the treatment plan to the resident, which includes physical therapy, occupational therapy, and a low salt diet. The resident has no complaints, except that he is happy to be wheeled around in the wheelchair by the staff. He refuses PT and OT. Also, he keeps a salt shaker in his shirt pocket and takes his meals in his room. What is your plan as the Administrator in the nursing home in caring for this resident while balancing his resident rights? As the Administrator I will ensure the resident rights for this resident are provided and that the facility’s staff follows policies and procedures. Upon Admissions the resident would be provided a copy of the facility’s admission packet/contract, including payment sources and written information regarding his rights and facility policies. At the time of admissions the resident would be given written information concerning his rights to make decision concerning medical care, including...
Words: 5671 - Pages: 23
...Should laws governing Nursing Homes be changed? S University Course: ENG 215 Instructor: 25 Oct 2012 Should laws governing Nursing Homes be changed? Are the current laws governing nursing homes effective enough for the safety of residents? My research on this issue is partly personal as my parents are getting to the age that my wife and I will have to make a decision to care for them or place them in a nursing home. My other reason is an article I read about Maine nursing homes. It was a very short article in the Bangor Daily News about a nursing home that simply forgot to give medication to the residents. This simple act of going to a room and providing the necessary medications for people that cannot ask for it themselves. If you would ask me today what my view of care elderly receive I would say it is poor. I remember years ago seeing my grandmother at her nursing home and it seemed like no one cared and it broke my heart. I would go to see when I could which was not near enough and every time I had to speak to the staff about her care. I hope things have changed since then but I do not feel that is the case. I believe it is not always the nurse’s fault as most of them are great at their jobs and very caring people to haven chosen that profession. In my opinion most of the time it comes down to the money the Nursing Facility either makes or is trying to make as most business are there to make a profit and every small item removed saves a nickel. The laws...
Words: 655 - Pages: 3
...front of the State include: • An aging population; • Geographic mismatch between the places where services exist today and the places where the elderly population is expected to grow over the next 20 years; • Historically low utilization of home and community based services that can help seniors fulfill their desire to remain independent and in their homes; • Aging skilled nursing facilities; • Shortages of front-line health care workers; • Sharply rising costs of care coupled with tightening of Federal dollars for program support and provider reimbursement; and Inadequate individual planning and financing of long-term care costs. Limited use of long-term care insurance with a growth in the Elderly Population fueling a Rising Demand for Services Demand for long-term care services is projected to grow sharply over the next two decades. Predicting by 2025, residents in South Dakota: • The number of elders (over age 65) will double: increasing by 92,000-105,000 and reaching 24% of the State’s population; • Disabled elders will increase by 42,000-50,000, reaching over 10% of the State’s population; • The number of disabled elders living in the community will rise by 20,000-40,000, depending upon the availability of home and community based care. Growth is not evenly balanced across the State: • Elder-population growth is greatest in the West River, and slowest in the East River regions; • The regions that encompass the Sioux Falls metropolitan area and the...
Words: 666 - Pages: 3
...In: Other Topics Qualitative Research Study Running head: Qualitative Research Study Qualitative Research Study Grand Canyon University NRS433V 5/30/10 Qualitative Research Study Introduction The qualitative research study that I chose to critique is on infections related to Nursing home-acquired pneumonia. Pneumonia care and the nursing home: a qualitative descriptive study of resident and family member perspectives. Soo Chan Carusone,1 Mark Loeb,1,2 and Lynne Lohfeld1,3 1Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada2Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Canada 3Program for Educational Research and Development, McMaster University, Canada Corresponding author. Soo Chan Carusone: chansy@mcmaster.ca; Mark Loeb: loebm@mcmaster.ca; Lynne Lohfeld: lohfeld@mcmaster.ca Received September 19, 2005; Accepted January 23, 2006. Pneumonia is the inflammation of the lung parenchyma, build up fluid in the tissue of the lungs and then this infection spread in to whole body. The causes are mainly by Viruses, Bacteria, often caused by parasites or fungi. Pneumonia is the 5th leading cause of death in elderly. It may be unrecognized due to many factors such as it may be asymptomatic, or may be confused with other medical Pneumonia and other lower respiratory infections occur frequently among older adults residing in long-term care facilities...
Words: 1135 - Pages: 5
...risk of developing pressure ulcers and healing those nosocomial pressure ulcers that were acquired. Currently, our facility has a total of 11 nosocomial pressure ulcers that were acquired in house. Of those 11 nosocomial pressure ulcers, they can be accounted for as previously healed areas and patients who have risk factors predisposing them to the acquisition of a pressure ulcer, and some were avoidable. The plan to purchase alternating air mattresses from H & R Healthcare will prove beneficial to the facility and will help to heal nosocomial pressure ulcers. Currently, we have 29 patients in house who currently have pressure ulcers of various stages and grades. The acceptability of purchasing the mattresses starts with the upper nursing management and the administrator. These management staff must keep in mind the regulations of the federal guidelines and the financial implications they hold with regards to pressure ulcers. Furthermore, survey results are...
Words: 1027 - Pages: 5
...Company Profile Physician Sales & Service THE COMPANY PSS World Medical was founded in 1983 with a mission to fulfill the inventory needs of office-based physicians and assisted living facilities by providing unique and innovative services. The elder-care division, Gulf South Medical Supply, provides supplies, equipment and billing services for long-term facilities, home health care and hospice providers. Physician Sales & Service, Inc. focuses on the physician market distributing medical supplies, diagnostic equipment, pharmaceutical related products and healthcare information technology. Based in Jacksonville, Fla., PSS has evolved into the country's largest provider of medical supplies through its commitment to fast service and the belief that "The customer is everything." The company’s founder, Patrick Kelly, grew up in a Richmond, Virginia, boys’ home. Growing up with both forgiving and strict guardians helped develop his penchant for risk-taking, which he brought to PSS. “People here will never get in trouble for making a mistake,” he told Inc. in 1995. As a result of his philosophy, PSS has received numerous recognitions which include Fortune Magazine’s “Most Admired Companies in America and Forbes.com “Most Trustworthy Companies 2009.” CUSTOMER Today, Physician Sales & Service distributes products to approximately 598,000 physicians practicing at an approximate 234,000 offices in the United States. These physicians are defined as internal medicine...
Words: 1043 - Pages: 5
...Demographic Paper Kris Schumacher HCS/490 Sept. 24, 2011 Marcia A Thompson Demographic Paper The aging population are making more doctors visits to offices and hospitals. Hospitals are seeing in increase in older people than they were ten years ago. The aging population have more complications and have to have more tests and more care that results in a longer wait time in hospitals due to the nurse shortgage. The average length of a hospital stay for older people 65 years and older was 5.6 days. Older people average more office visits with doctors but most do not seek medical care due to financial barriers. Hospital staff needs to be able to spend more time with each patient due to more and more people are using emergency rooms to get their health care needs. In smaller rural areas the wait is usually shorter than that of a larger urban hospital (Hellmich 2008). The demographics of the aging population is changing. In the year 2009 persons 65 years old or older were numbered at 39.6 million. They represent 12.9% of the U.S. population. In 2007 people over the age of 65 had an average life expectancy of an additional 18.6 years. Also the mortality rate decreased. The baby boomers will reach the age of 65 between the years of 2010 and 2030 (“Admistration of aging”, 2011). By the year 2030 28% of the American economy will be spent on healthcare. Seniors will likely live outside of Urban areas and change their living arrangements. Seniors are finding themselves...
Words: 696 - Pages: 3
...(TITLE PAGE) Abstract: Like the rest of the world, the US is an ageing society (CITE SOMETHING). Between 2000 and 2050, the number of older people is projected to increase by 135% (CITE SOMETHING). Moreover, the population aged 85 and over, which is the group most likely to need health and long-term care services, is projected to increase by 350% (CITE SOMETHING). Over this time period, the proportion of the population that is over the age of 65 will increase from 12.7% in 2000 to 20.3% in 2050; the proportion of the population that is age 85 and older will increase from 1.6% in 2000 to 4.8% in 2050 (CITE SOMETHING). (WRITE 3-4 MORE SENTENCES DESCRIBING THE PAPER) Introduction: There are two points that are noteworthy about this demographic change. First, while a significant proportion of the US is elderly, much of Europe already has a higher proportion of its population that is over the age of 65 (CITE SOMETHING). For example, in 2000, 16.0% of the population in the UK and 16.4% of the population of Germany was over the age of 65. Thus, other countries already have to cope with the impact of an ageing society to a greater extent than the US (CITE SOMETHING). Largely as a result of higher fertility rates and immigration, America’s population, while ageing, is nonetheless likely to remain distinctly younger than other developed countries (CITE SOMETHING). Second, the future strains of population ageing in the US derive not so much from the growth in the elderly population...
Words: 1423 - Pages: 6
...should communicate with one another about any quality issues that may arise. Quality management requires top management commitment and a flow down through all other employees of the organization. It is a planned, organized, and systematic approach to the improvement, monitoring, and analysis of an organization’s performance. Purpose The purpose of quality management is to help organizations improve their performance by eliminating poor quality of service rather than by trying to fix the results after the service has already been given. Quality management allows an organization to continually improve the quality of patient care and services provided and increase the outcome of the patient’s experience being desired and successful. In home health care uses quality control, quality assurance, and quality improvement to focus on the quality of the services offered as well as the means by which the quality is achieved. Focus on the customer by putting quality first and foremost, teamwork, and continuous...
Words: 1672 - Pages: 7
