Search

The increasing need for remote and distributed methods to provide medical care for People with Parkinson Disease has increased the importance of additional tools to monitor symptoms of interest. We present data from a randomized trial of followup care delivered via traditional face to face visits with symptom diaries versus telehealth followup with wearable sensors.

In contrast to sagittal plane spine biomechanics, little is known about the response of the cervical spine to axial compression with lateral eccentricity of the applied force. This study evaluated the effect of lateral eccentricity on the kinetics, kinematics, canal occlusion, injuries, and flexibility of the cervical spine in translationally constrained axial impacts. Eighteen functional spinal units were subjected to flexibility tests before and after an impact. Impact axial compression was applied at one of three lateral eccentricity levels based on percentage of vertebral body width (low = 5%, medium = 50%, high = 150%). Injuries were graded by dissection. Correlations between intrinsic specimen properties and injury scores were examined for each eccentricity group. Low lateral force eccentricity produced predominantly bone injuries, clinically recognized as compression injuries, while medium and high eccentricity produced mostly contralateral ligament and/or disc injuries, an asymmetric pattern typical of lateral loading. Mean compression force at injury decreased with increasing lateral eccentricity (low = 3098 N, medium = 2337 N, and high = 683 N). Mean ipsilateral bending moments at injury were higher at medium (28.3 N·m) and high (22.9 N·m) eccentricity compared to low eccentricity specimens (0.1 N·m), p

Aim The aim of the Royal College of Pathologists of Australia Quality Assurance Program (RCPA QAP) Performance Monitoring Project is to develop key performance criteria across all disciplines which can be used to identify suboptimal laboratory performance earlier than the usual 3 year NATA accreditation cycle. In Cytopathology, a review of retrospective data from both gynaecological slide surveys and Performance Measures was undertaken to assist in developing criteria relating to gynaecological cytopathology. The aim of the review was to determine any relationship between results from QAP gynaecological slide surveys and Performance Measures data. Method Seven years of Australian participant data from conventional gynaecological surveys (GYN), liquid-based gynaecological surveys (LBC) and Performance Measures (PM) were extracted from the Cytopathology QAP database (2004–2010). Results from participants with one or more major error in any year in GYN or LBC surveys were compared with their PM data. Results from participants with one or more Performance Measure outside the National Standard in any year were compared with their GYN and LBC survey results. Results Participants with one or more major error in any year in the GYN or LBC surveys had more PerformanceMeasures outside the national standard compared to those with no major errors (GYN 36% vs 26%; LBC 39% vs 23%). Participants with one or more Performance Measure outside the standard in any year returned twice as many GYN major errors compared to those with no Performance Measures outside the standard (1% vs 0.5%). There were twice as many major errors for LBC than for GYN survey results (1.27% vs 0.7%). While there is a tendency for participants with one or more major errors or Performance Measures outside the standard to do more poorly in all indicators, it did not preclude participants in the better performing group from returning major errors or having Performance Measures outside the standard. Conclusion This retrospective study showed a relationship between results from routine gynaecological slide surveys and Performance Measures data. The RCPA Cytopathology Performance Monitoring Committee proposes to establish performance monitoring criteria using results from both gynaecological slide surveys and Performance Measures data. These results will be utilised in the pilot phase of the project planned for 2012. The outcomes of the pilot phase will help determine the effectiveness of these criteria in assisting NATA to identify laboratories that may require early review. Conflict of interest statement This research was supported by the Department of Health and Ageing. The Department had no role in analysing the data or preparing this abstract.

Aim In 2010 the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia Quality Assurance Programs (RCPA QAP), received Quality Use of Pathology Program funding to determine if regular external quality assurance that laboratories perform could be used to identify unacceptable performance earlier than the usual 3 year NATA accreditation cycle, to help minimise risk to patients. Method Criteria for unacceptable performance have been established to identify laboratories that maybe underperforming in external quality assurance (EQA). New frameworks have also been developed that outline the process of actions to be taken by the RCPA QAP when participant results and IVDs fall outside levels of acceptable performance. The frameworks proactively notify participants or manufacturers or their sponsors to assist them early. Results When unacceptable performance is identified, according to the set criteria, a letter will be sent to the participant outlining the result(s) falling outside the criteria for acceptable performance and offer assistance to review the QAP results. Persisting unacceptable performance will be referred to a Committee for review and results referred to the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) or Therapuetic Goods Administration (TGA) for follow-up. Conclusion The RCPA QAP has established a performance monitoring system using the EQA results. The early warning system will identify laboratories of concern and assist them to obtain their accreditation. Conflict of interest statement This research was supported by the Department of Health and Ageing. The Department had no role in analysing the data or preparing the abstract.