Search

This paper explores the well-being ['well-being' and 'wellbeing' are used interchangeably in the literature. Well-being is used in this paper (except in the reference list where exact wording is maintained)] benefits of participation in a workplace choir for health service staff. A mixed method study, this project combines quantitative measures of work engagement, perceived stress, resilience levels and work absences with qualitative interviews with choir participants. It is the first study of workplace choirs in Ireland and one of very few studies internationally that research health service staff choirs. There is some preliminary evidence of benefits that choir attendance may increase positive perception of workers' mental health as well as effect depression rates. However, evidence is limited quantitatively and difficulties in measuring the health benefits of arts interventions are noted. Qualitative data, however, confirms previous study findings, namely that a workplace choir can promote social connectedness, enjoyment at work and staff engagement. Work place choir was also noted to appeal mainly to a limited demographic of work place staff and people with relatively positive health and well-being. Efforts must be made to engage staff from lower socio-economic backgrounds, diverse cultural backgrounds and male staff in work place health promotion activities, as these groups were found less likely to join a work place choir. Given the low cost and low risk of this activity, and the qualitative benefits reported, it is recommended to continue to develop and evaluate health service workplace choirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. Results of the 2013 ASHP national survey on informatics are presented. Methods. Pharmacy directors from all types and sizes of U.S. hospitals were included in the sample of 4893 individuals invited to participate in an online survey. The survey contained over 600 data elements that addressed the adoption and use of a variety of pharmacy informatics and technology. Data were analyzed by hospital type and size, accounting for sampling procedures and differences in response rate. Results. Of the 4893 surveys distributed, 465 usable surveys were returned, yielding a response rate of 9.5%. Nearly 33% of hospitals reported having a complete electronic health record (EHR) (i.e., no paper charts). Adoption rates for computerized prescriber order entry, clinical decision support, electronic prescribing, and barcode- assisted medication administration indicated that these technologies are clear priorities. Nearly half of respondents indi- Brent I. Fox, Pharm.D., Ph.D., is Associate Professor, Department of Health Outcomes Research and Policy, Harrison School of Pharmacy, Auburn University, Auburn, AL. Craig A. Pedersen, B.S.Pharm., Ph.D., FAPhA, is Pharmacy Manager, Confluence Health—Central Washington Hospital, Wenatchee. Karl F. Gumpp er, B.S.Pharm., BCPS, CPHIMS, FASHP, is Pharmacy Informatics Manager, Department of Pharmacy, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA; at the time of writing he was Director, Section of Pharmacy Informatics and Technology, American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Bethesda, MD. Address correspondence to Dr. Fox (foxbren@auburn.edu). The authors have declared no potential conflicts of interest. Copyright © 2015, American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. All rights reserved. 1079-2082/15/0402-0636. DOI 10.2146/ajhp140274 cated using solely paper-based medication reconciliation processes, while almost as many reported using processes that combined electronic and paper methods. Overall, automated dispensing cabinets were more common in U.S. hospitals than were carousels and dispensing robots. The adoption of patient portals and personal health records is becoming common. Technologies identified as enablers of the Pharmacy Practice Model Initiative (PPMI) were found in at least 25% of hospitals. The average total number of pharmacy information technology full-time equivalents was 3.12. Conclusion. This survey found widespread use of pharmacy informatics and technology across the entire medicationuse process. Considerable progress was demonstrated in meeting meaningful-use measures for EHRs and meeting the recommendations of the ASHP PPMI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]