Search

"Embodiment and Everyday Cyborgs" by Gill Haddow is a book that explores the concept of cybernetic organisms and their implications. The book consists of an introduction, four chapters, and a conclusion, each offering unique insights into the subject. The second chapter presents survey data on human preferences and feelings regarding different types of implantation. The third and fourth chapters focus on the author's research with individuals living with implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs), examining macro-level issues and personal experiences. The book's contributions are particularly relevant to medical sociology and technology studies. [Extracted from the article]

This is a methodological article intended to demonstrate the integration of multiple goals, multiple projects with diverse foci, and multiple funding sources to develop an entrepreneurial program of research and service to directly affect and improve the quality of care of older adults, particularly nursing home residents. Examples that illustrate how clinical ideas build on one another and how the research ideas and results build on one another are provided. Results from one study are applied to the next and are also applied to the development of service delivery initiatives to test results in the real world. Descriptions of the Quality Improvement Program for Missouri and the Aging in Place Project are detailed to illustrate real-world application of research to practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe the processes of care, organizational attributes, cost of care, staffing level, and staff mix in a sample of Missouri homes with good, average, and poor resident outcomes. Design and Methods: A three-group exploratory study design was used, with 92 nursing homes randomly selected from all nursing homes in Missouri and classified into resident outcome groups. Resident outcomes were measured by use of quality indicators derived from nursing home Minimum Data Set resident assessment data. Cost and staffing information were derived from Medicaid cost reports. Participant observation methods were used to describe the care delivery processes. Results: In facilities with good resident outcomes, there are basics of core and processes surrounding each that staff consistently do: helping residents with ambulation, nutrition and hydration, and toileting and bowel regularity; preventing skin breakdown; and managing pain. The analysis revealed necessary organizational attributes that must be in place in order for those basics of care to be accomplished: consistent nursing and administrative leadership, the use of team and group processes, and an active quality improvement program. The only facility characteristic across the outcome groups that was significantly different was the number of licensed beds, with smaller facilities having better outcomes. No significant differences in costs, staffing, or staff mix were detected across the groups. A trend in higher total costs of $13.58 per resident per day was detected in the poor-outcome group compared with the good-outcome group. Implications: For nursing homes to achieve good resident outcomes, they must have leadership that is willing to embrace quality improvement and group process and see that the basics of care delivery are done for residents. Good quality care may not cost more than poor quality care; there is some evidence that good quality care may cost less. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deals with a study which tested whether a quality improvement intervention of comparative quality performance information feedback influenced quality of care delivered. Methodology; Results and discussion.

The article focuses on cost of care in nursing homes. Number of factors are leading to increased interest in the nursing home industry. For one, the population is aging, and increased life expectancy will increase the need for long-term care services. In 1980, 11.3% of the population was age 65 and over, with 8.8% of that population age 85 and over. In 1994 12.7% of the population was 65 and over, while 10.6% were 85 and over. Expenditures for nursing homes reached $72.3 billion in 1994 accounting for 8 7% of all personal health money spent. INSET: Executive Summary.