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With the adoption of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) programs, patients are being discharged earlier and require more post-discharge teaching, educational materials, and information. The purpose of this study is to assess satisfaction, discharge needs, and follow-up concerns of patients within an ERAS implementation program (iERAS). Between 2012 and 2015, the iERAS program was undertaken at an academic hospital where 554 patients having elective colorectal surgery were enrolled. After discharge, patients were sent a survey containing multiple choice questions, preference ranking, and open-ended questions. Free-text responses were analyzed through a thematic approach. Overall, 496 patients were mailed surveys and 219 (44.2%) completed the survey. Ninety-three percent were satisfied with the discharge information, and 90% felt they were ready for discharge. Eighty-six percent of patients saw their surgeon at 6 weeks, and 88% were satisfied with this follow-up plan. Some patients felt they had inadequate post-operative information, including how to resolve complications while at home and lack of reliable information for common post-operative occurrences. Patients with ostomies wanted more information about what to expect post-discharge and what symptoms were normal. Support from the homecare team and having a surgical nurse available were considered to be essential. Improved post-operative education for surgical patients prior to discharge within iERAS is required to facilitate patient-centered discharge planning. Such interventions may help decrease unplanned hospital visits during the immediate post-discharge period.

Atmospheric ozone concentrations have been monitored at a subalpine forest ecosystem site, 3180m above mean sea level (msl), and at a 2680m msl forest-steppe ecotone site 15km to the southeast. Ozone concentrations were monitored at three heights above the ground on a 30m tower at the higher elevation site, and on a 10m tower in a large meadow downwind of this site.

A study of mean wind speeds and directions has been completed in the Snowy Range of Southern Wyoming, U.S.A. It was conducted in a subalpine ecosystem at an altitude of 3 200 m to 3 400 m above sea level during the summers of 1988 and 1989. Indexes of deformation and axes of asymmetry due to wind shaping of Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii) and subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa) are related to wind speeds and directions on a 100 m × 100 m grid spacing over the 300 ha research site. Isotach and airflow patterns are drawn to represent climatological near-ground-level winds.