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Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability of a comprehensive worksite-level assessment and identify which worksite wellness best practices were implemented following a workshop. Methods: Kansas worksites attended a Work Well Kansas Phase 1 workshop from 2012 through 2014 and completed a 155-item assessment before the workshop and 1 year later. Cronbach alpha measured the internal consistency of the WorkWell KS Phase I Assessment, and McNemar test assessed differences in proportions from baseline to follow-up. Results: Two hundred eighty five worksites completed a baseline assessment, of which, 109 completed the follow-up assessment (32%). The internal consistency of the instrument was 0.96, and worksites reported significant improvements at follow-up from baseline for nine variables. Conclusions: Improvements predominantly included creating a wellness committee, assessing needs, and developing goals. There was a lack of policy and systems level improvements at the worksite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seven distinct National Training Strategy programs were developed to meet the needs of the nation's community healthcare providers. Data on barriers and challenges, lessons learned, and best practices of the seven programs were collected from unpublished grant reports written by National Training Strategy awardees. Commonly reported themes were reviewed and compiled into these collective lessons learned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study describes the evaluation of a 2-year plan to train 10 percent of Kansas' multidisciplinary health professionals for response to terrorism and emerging infections. This project was part of a national effort covering 19 states funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration in 2003. Methods: The initial training occurred in six 2-day workshops. A terrorism preparedness questionnaire was developed to assess Health Resources and Services Administration terrorism response competencies/learning objectives. These were measured before, after, and 3 months after training in a hybrid cross-sectional and cohort follow-up design. Results: Health professionals' mean scores significantly improved on all four Health Resources and Services Administration terrorism self-reported competencies from pretest to posttest. Three months posttraining, health professionals' mean scores decreased slightly but remained significantly higher than their pretest scores. Conclusions: This project prepared healthcare professionals to respond to the medical consequences of terrorism. The integration of core competencies into the evaluation plan allowed for trainees to evaluate their confidence and abilities. The evaluation plan and curriculum may serve as useful tools for preparation of healthcare workers nationwide, with the potential to rebuild the public health infrastructure to assume preparedness responsibilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study examined the underlying variables that contribute to patient and provider satisfaction with Project Access, a physician-driven program that connects low-income, uninsured adults (aged 18-64) to denoted specialty care and hospital services. Subjects and Methods: Of the 550 physicians and 1400 patients participating per year, 125 physicians and 164 patients completed and returned the 14- and 15-item satisfaction questionnaires, respectively. The data from both surveys were factor analyzed. Results: Patient satisfaction data factored into 4 dimensions: respect from program implementation staff, respect from pre-Project Access enrollment staff, practical health-related issues, and the level of understanding of Project Access guidelines and expectations. Provider satisfaction data factored into 3 dimensions: external services available to patients, receiving recognition and respect, and the administration of Project Access. Conclusions: Patients' feelings of respect seemed to be closely associated with their satisfaction with Project Access, in addition to the helpfulness of the program. Providers also considered respect and recognition an important factor contributing to their satisfaction, in addition to ease of administrative duties and services available to patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Community-based organizations often capacity build to successfully enable themselves to he adaptable and responsive to constantly changing environments. However, community-based organizations are stretched for time, staffing, and funding, and the added obligation of regularly performing management planning tools, such as strategic planning, needs assessments, program evaluations, or market demand forecasting. strain limited resources. Through case studies, this article illustrates how collaborations between universities and community-based organizations can result in the development of successful management planning tools through the use of geographic information systems and secondary resources. Such collaborations produced maximization of production and effectiveness in an environment characterized by limited resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses research which investigated stress levels of hospital employees in Kansas. Topics explored include the use of the Stanford Presenteeism Scale-6 to evaluate workplace presenteeism and health of these employees, factors which encouraged employees to work such as recognition for a job well done, yoga classes, and flexible work schedule, and the effectiveness of stress reduction strategies such as increase in staffing, exercise therapy, and counselling sessions.

The article focuses on the National Training Strategy (NST) which aimed at extending the training of community-based providers on emergency preparedness in the U.S. The NTS was designed to develop and evaluate a training program for all community-based healhtcare provides in the nation to respond to public health emergency. Seven sites were awarded NTS funding in which awardees conducted monthly meeting to discuss strategies for developing national training methods, competencies, and standards.

Public health care practitioners and organizations are a part of community readiness for, response to, and recovery from emergencies and disasters of all kinds. Although response to health threats, particularly communicable disease outbreaks, have long been a part of public health practice, 2 advancements in preparedness, including the integration of public health into the broader community emergency response system and the clarification of exactly what knowledge, skills, and attitudes a public health professional brings to the response, have been made since 2001. This article presents the newly affirmed core competencies to be attained and maintained by the majority of the public health workforce and discusses some of the many ways in which these competencies influence practice, research, and education.

Background: Emergency preparedness training is crucial for all health professionals, but the physiologic, anatomic, and psychologic differences between children and adults necessitates that health professionals receive training specific to pediatric emergencies. Before a standardized, nationally disseminated pediatric curriculum can be developed or endorsed, evidence-based evaluations of short- and long-term outcomes need to be conducted., Methods: A review of literature was conducted to identify developed courses and any evaluation of these courses., Results: Much has been published that supports the need for pediatric emergency preparedness, and many resources have been developed. However, very little literature presents evaluations of training courses., Discussion: To achieve evidence-based pediatric emergency preparedness training, existing training programs must be evaluated, standardized training guidelines need to be developed, and critical components of pediatric disaster response need to be captured in the academic literature.

Introduction: To assess the impact of regionalization of Kansas counties associated with emergency preparedness since 2002 via local health departments (LHDs)., Methods: Three focus groups were conducted in May 2005 with 31 Kansas health department employees. Most participants were public health administrators, women, and 40 years or older., Results: Regionalization was perceived as "absolutely necessary" by participants and resulted in improved collaboration and communication among LHDs. The process supported the development of relationships, trust, and mutual respect among LHDs and other governmental agencies. Participants agreed that LHD functioning has improved the delivery and availability of public health services, increased the efficiency and timeliness of operations, and enhanced public health's visibility in emergency preparedness efforts. Moreover, regionalization added resources to LHDs including personnel, knowledge, technology, technical expertise, and fiscal resources. Dissatisfaction with regionalization was associated with insufficient funding, frustration with changing preparedness guidelines, and differences between state and local expectations. Participants identified four issues necessary to sustain regions: funding, documented benefits, commitment from LHDs and their communities, and engagement from local elected officials., Discussion: The regionalization process has been beneficial for LHDs and produced tangible and intangible benefits. Barriers to regionalization expansion should be addressed for additional collaborative ventures.