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  • online nursing essays, discussions and assignments papers

    Prefix

    Course 

    DNP-836

    Facilitation of Learning in Nursing Education

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    DNP-838

    Nursing Program Development and Educational Leadership

    DNP-840

    Leadership for Advanced Nursing Practice

    NRS-410V

    Pathophysiology and Nursing Management of Clients’ Health

    NRS-433V

    Introduction to Nursing Research

    NRS-451VN

    Nursing Leadership and Management

    NUR-502

    Theoretical Foundations for Nursing Roles And Practice

    NUR-504

    Health Care Research Analysis and Utilization

    NUR-508

    Ethics, Policy, and Finance in the Health Care System

    NUR-513

    Introduction to Advanced Registered Nursing

    NUR-514

    Organizational Leadership and Informatics

    NUR-550

    Translational Research and Population Health Management

    NUR-590

    Evidence-Based Practice Project

    NUR-631

    Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology

    NUR-634

    Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning With Skills Lab

    NUR-635

    Advanced Pharmacology

    NUR-637

    ACNP-AG Didactic II

    NUR-637C

    ACNP-AG Practicum II

    NUR-638

    ACNP-AG Didactic III

    NUR-638C

    ACNP-AG Practicum III

    NUR-641E

    Advanced Pathophysiology and Pharmacology for Nurse Educators

    NUR-643E

    Advanced Health Assessment for Nurse Educators

    NUR-645E

    Advanced Health Assessment for Nurse Educators

    NUR-646E

    Nursing Education Seminar I

    NUR-647E

    Nursing Education Seminar I

    NUR-648E

    Nursing Education Seminar II

    NUR-649E

    Nursing Education Seminar II

    NUR-665E

    Nursing Education Practicum

    NUR-667

    Advanced Practice Management of Women’s Health Care Issues in Primary Care

    NUR-667C

    Advanced Practice Management of Women’s Health Care Issues in Primary Care

    NUR-669

    Advanced Practice Management of Geriatric Issues in Primary Care

    NUR-669C

    Advance Practice Management of Geriatric Issues in Primary Care Clinical

    NUR-670

    Leadership Health Care Organizations Practicum

    NUR-682C

    Advanced Practice Clinical Practicum

    NUR-690

    Nursing Informatics Practicum

    NUR-699

    Evidence-Based Practice Project

    PHN-600

    Foundations of Public Health Nursing

    PHN-690

    Public Health Nursing Practicum

    NRS-410V

    Pathophysiology and Nursing Management of Clients’ Health

    NUR-631

    Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology

    NUR-641E

    Advanced Pathophysiology and Pharmacology for Nurse Educators

    PCN-370

    Psychopath & Adv.Treatment-Spec Pop w/Addiction&Substance Use Disorders

    PCN-445

    Psychopathology, Co-Occurring Disorders, and Dual Diagnoses in Counseling

    PCN-605

    Psychopathology and Counseling

    PCN-671

    Psychopathology and Treatment of Children and Adolescence

    PCN-807

    Psychopathology, Behavioral Assessment, and Interventions

    PSY-570

    Psychopathology

    PSY-622

    Psychopathology of Crime

    HCA-240

    Health Care Accounting and Billing

    HCA-255

    Health Policy and Economic Analysis Care

    HCA-360

    Health Information Technology and Management

    HCA-450

    Quality in Health Care

    HCA-455

    Organizational Behavior and Leadership in Health Care

    HCA-460

    Operations and Risk Management in Health Care

    HCA-465

    Health Care Administration and Management

    HCA-470

    Strategic Planning and Implementation in Health Care

    HCA-515

    Analysis of Contemporary Health Care Delivery Models

    HCA-530

    Health Care Policies and Economics

    HCA-545

    Organizational Structure, Dynamics, and Effectiveness

    HCA-610

    Essential Health Care Business Analysis

    HCA-615

    Human Resource Management and Marketing Communication Strategies

    HCA-620

    Business/Project Plan Evaluation and Development

    HCA-675

    Health Care Innovation

    HCA-699

    Evidence-Based Research Project

    HCA-807

    Structures and Governance in Health Care

    HCA-812

    Health Care Regulation

    HCA-817

    Professional Development and Leadership in Health Care

    HCA-822

    Building a Culture of Community in Health Care

    HCA-827

    Sustainability of Health Care Organizations

    HCI-600

    Foundations of Informatics

    HCI-655

    Electronic Health Records

    HCI-660

    Health Data Analytics

    HCI-665

    Health Information Systems Security

    HCI-670

    User Interface Design for Informatics

    HEB-501

    Elementary Hebrew I

    HIM-515

    Foundations and Concepts of Health Care Informatics

    HIM-615

    Health Care Information Systems and Technology

    HIM-650

    Health Care Data Management

  • NUR 641 Midterm Exam Study Guide

    NUR-641E Mid-Term Exam Study Guide

    Note: Read the questions: the questions
    only have one answer

    unless the question specifically states there is more than one correct answer.

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    Understand what a prodrug is, and activation/inactivation by liver enzymes, and how it differs from active drugs.

    The liver is the principal site of drug metabolism. Although metabolism typically inactivates drugs, some drug metabolites are pharmacologically active—sometimes even more so than the parent compound. An inactive or weakly active substance that has an active metabolite is called a prodrug, especially if designed to deliver the active moiety more effectively.

     

    Know what Bioavailability (BA)

    a term used in pharmacology and nutritional and environmental sciences. In pharmacology, it refers to the degree and rate at which an administered drug is absorbed by the body’s circulatory system, the systemic circulation. Bioavailability is an essential measurement tool since it determines the correct dosage for non-intravenous administration of a drug availability means

    Bioavailability. In pharmacology, bioavailability (BA or F ) is a subcategory of absorption and is the fraction of an administered dose of unchanged drug that reaches the systemic circulation

     

    Bioavailability is affected by chemical instability, solubility and first-pass metabolism

    The first pass effect- is a phenomenon of drug metabolism whereby the concentration of a drug is greatly reduced before it reaches the systemic circulation. It is the fraction of drug lost during the process of absorption which is generally related to the liver and gut wall.

    Bioequivalence does not affect bioavailability

    Bioequivalence is the similarity of two drugs that share the same desired outcome for patients. Pharmaceutical equivalence means two drugs release the active ingredient into the bloodstream at the same amount and same rate. When assessing how well a generic drug works, scientists evaluate its bioequivalence to the name-brand version.

    Understand what the Cytochrome P450 system is in the liver

    Cytochrome P450 enzymes are primarily found in liver cells but are also located in cells throughout the body. … Cytochrome P450 enzymes account for 70 percent to 80 percent of enzymes involved in drug metabolism. Cytochrome P450 enzymes also function to metabolize potentially toxic compounds, including drugs and products of endogenous metabolism such as bilirubin, principally in the liver.

     

    Clopidogrel (Plavix) is a prodrug and must be activated by hepatic CYP2C19 metabolism; individuals who are poor metabolizers may not form the active metabolite and have reduced antiplatelet response.

     

    A drug’s half-life determines how often the drug is administered?

    The elimination 
    half
    –
    life
     of a 
    drug
     is a pharmacokinetic parameter that is defined as the time it takes for the concentration of the 
    drug
     in the plasma or the total amount in the body to be reduced by 50%. In other words, after one 
    half
    –
    life
    , the concentration of the 
    drug
     in the body will be 
    half
     of the starting dose.

    Steady state of a drug is reached in approximately 5 to 6 times the half-life

    Inhalation, oral and parenteral
    drug action and onset of effects?

    Inhalational administration
    can be used. The lungs serve as an effective route of administration of drugs. The pulmonary alveoli represent a large surface and a minimal barrier to diffusion. The lungs also receive the total cardiac output as blood flow. Thus, absorption from the lungs can be very rapid and complete.

    Bioavailability of drugs administered
    orally
    varies greatly.

    Parenteral administration
    refers to any routes of administration that do not involve drug absorption via the GI tract (par = around, enteral = gastrointestinal), including the IV, intramuscular (IM), subcutaneous (SC or SQ), and transdermal routes

    Know the mechanism of action of anticoagulants (e.g., warfarin, apixaban, heparin).

    Warfarin
    competitively inhibits the vitamin K epoxide reductase complex 1 (VKORC1), which is an essential enzyme for activating the vitamin K available in the body. Through this mechanism, warfarin can deplete functional vitamin K reserves and therefore reduce the synthesis of active clotting factors

    Heparin produces rapid anticoagulation by binding with antithrombin III, and inhibits factors IXa, Xa, XIIa, and XIII.

     

    Monitor heparin with a
    PTT
    (low dose SC heparin [5000 units BID] does not require aPTT monitoring).

    Warfarin inhibits vitamin K-dependent blood factors II, VII, IX and X; takes several days for its anticoagulant effect.

    Monitor the International Normalized Ratio
    (INR) when warfarin
    is used.

    Blood Factor IIa inhibitor (direct thrombin inhibitor): dabigatran (Pradaxa).

    An antidote to dabigatran-induced hemorrhage is idarucizumab.

    Blood Factor Xa inhibitors: apixaban (Eliquis), edoxaban (Savaysa), rivaroxaban (Xarelto), fondaparinux (Arixtra).

     

    Know what pulmonary emboli are, where they come from and what these emboli do in the body

    Pulmonary embolism is a blockage in one of the pulmonary arteries in your lungs. In most cases, pulmonary embolism is caused by blood clots that travel to the lungs from the legs or, rarely, other parts of the body (deep vein thrombosis).

    Know the risk factors for cerebrovascular accident (CVA)

    Some stroke risk factors, such as gender, age and family history, can’t be controlled. Lifestyle factors that increase your risk of stroke include high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, high blood cholesterol levels, heavy drinking, high salt and high fat diet and lack of exercise.

    Know the elements involved in the action potential of myocardial tissue

    Calcium…??

    Know what tuberculosis is and its epidemiology in the world.

    Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the top 10 causes of death worldwide.

    In 2017, 10 million people fell ill with TB, and 1.6 million died from the disease (including 0.3 million among people with HIV).

    In 2017, an estimated 1 million children became ill with TB and 230 000 children died of TB (including children with HIV associated TB).

    TB is a leading killer of HIV-positive people.

    Isoniazid (INH) is famous for causing jaundice when combined with other drugs in a multidrug combination for treating TB.

    Be able to explain the side effects of multidrug therapy/polypharmacy

    3.1 Increased Healthcare Costs. Polypharmacy contributes to health care costs to both the patient and the healthcare system. …

    3.2 Adverse Drug Events. …

    3.3 Drug-Interactions. …

    3.4 Medication Non-adherence. …

    3.5 Functional Status. …

    3.6 Cognitive Impairment. …

    3.7 Falls. …

    3.8 Urinary Incontinence.

    Know the difference between vertical and horizontal transmission of organisms

    In general, transmission of viruses can occur through two pathways: horizontal and vertical transmission. In horizontal transmission, viruses are transmitted among individuals of the same generation, while vertical transmission occurs from mothers to their offspring.

     

    Know how empiric antimicrobial therapy is selected

    Empiric therapy or empirical therapy is medical treatment or therapy based on experience and, more specifically, therapy begun on the basis of a clinical “educated guess” in the absence of complete or perfect information.

    Antibiotic drugs
    that inhibit cell
    wall integrity include penicillins, ampicillin, cephalosporins, and carbapenems

    Antibiotic drugs that inhibit bacterial protein synthesis include the aminoglycoside, tetracyclines, fluoroquinolondes and tetracyclines.

    The 
    antibiotic
     penicillin works by keeping a 
    bacterium
     from building a 
    cell
     wall.
    Bacteria
     and human 
    cells
     also differ in the structure of their 
    cell
     membranes and the machinery they use to build proteins or copy DNA. Some 
    antibiotics
     dissolve the membrane of just 
    bacterial cells
    .

    Endotoxic and exotoxic bacteria

    Exotoxins are toxic substances secreted by bacteria and released outside the cell. Whereas Endotoxins are bacterial toxins consisting of lipids that are located within a cell.

    Invasion period
    is when the immune and inflammatory responses are initiated

    Explain the cause of upper and lower respiratory tract infections, especially pneumonia

    Pneumonia is an infection that inflames the air sacs in one or both lungs. The air sacs may fill with fluid or pus (purulent material), causing cough with phlegm or pus, fever, chills, and difficulty breathing. A variety of organisms, including bacteria, viruses and fungi, can cause pneumonia.

    List the antibiotics that should and should not be used in children

    SHOULD:

    Penicillins (amoxicillin and penicillin G). …

    Beta-lactamase inhibitors (amoxicillin-clavulanic acid or Augmentin). …

    Cephalosporins (cefdinir, ceftibuten, etc.). …

    Macrolides (azithromycin and erythromycin). …

    Sulfa drugs (trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole).

    SHOULD NOT:

    fluoroquinolones and tetracyclines.

    Be able to discuss antibodies in newborns.

    During the last 3 months of pregnancy, antibodies from the mother are passed to her unborn baby through the placenta. This type of immunity is called passive immunity because the baby has been given antibodies rather than making them itself. Babies produce their own antibodies every time they are exposed to a virus or germ, but it takes time for this immunity to fully develop.

     

    Know what pathophysiologic factors increase respiratory rate

    Conditions That May Result in Tachypnea. A wide range of medical conditions can result in tachypnea. … The rapid breathing rate is the body’s way of trying to increase oxygen or lower carbon dioxide levels in the blood.

     

    Know how to interpret an arterial blood gas

    Use pH to determine Acidosis or Alkalosis. ph. < 7.35. 7.35-7.45. … Use PaCO2 to determine respiratory effect. PaCO2. < 35. … Assume metabolic cause when respiratory is ruled out. You’ll be right most of the time if you remember this simple table: R O M E   Use HC03 to verify metabolic effect. Normal HCO3- is 22-26. Know the ABGs for metabolic acidosis, metabolic alkalosis, respiratory alkalosis, and respiratory acidosis   Know the causes of respiratory acidosis Be able to explain COPD and stepwise therapy (additions to current COPD medications) in its treatment Be able to explain hypoxemia at altitude (reduced oxygen inspiration) Discuss how pulmonary arterial hypertension is associated with right ventricular hypertrophy and an enlarged pulmonary artery Be able to explain fluid and electrolyte disorders Know the laboratory values of magnesium, calcium, sodium and potassium. Be able to explain how aldosterone affects sodium and water Know the effects of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) Be able to explain the relationship between edema and oncotic pressure Be able to differentiate corticosteroids by potencies, mechanism of action and pharmacokinetics. Be able to explain how angiotensin and affects the cardiovascular system Know the unique pharmacokinetics of amiodarone Amiodarone can cause thyroid and pulmonary toxicity. Know what drugs are used for angina: beta-adrenergic antagonists (beta-blockers), angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs), angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), nitrates, calcium channel blockers (CCBs). Remember that many heart failure patients have more than just heart failure; look for underlying hypertension, angina, etc.   Be able to describe how electrolyte serum levels affect digoxin serum levels Know how hyperkalemia is caused by renal failure and Addison’s Disease. Know how hypercalcemia is treated with calcitonin salmon and Kayexalate (sodium polystyrene sulfate) What is compensatory hyperplasia What are the effects of Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) An NSAID safe for use in CAD patients is naproxen NSAIDs can cause GI bleeding (indicated by darkening of stools and epigastric pain); one recommendation is switch to a COX-2 inhibitor (i.e., celecoxib). Corticosteroids include glucocorticoids (e.g., prednisone, prednisolone, dexamethasone, hydrocortisone, methylprednisolone) and mineralocorticoids (e.g., aldosterone). Patients on corticosteroids should be monitored for changes in skin, muscle wasting, blood pressure, weight gain, blood glucose and vitamin D levels, and any vision changes.

  • NUR 631 Midterm Exam Study Guide

    Study Guide for Midterm 

    This study guide provides a content outline that can be used to prepare for the topic quiz. This outline may not be inclusive of all quiz content.

    Cellular biology and Alterations

    Compensatory hyperplasia after partial resections (mod 1) (51-53)

    Tumor progress from benign to malignant (364-366)

     

    Genetics

    Recurrence of autosomal diseases (152-154, 155-156)

    Autosomal dominant

    Autosomal recessive

    Klinefelter’s syndrome (mod 1) (148, 156, 914)

    Causes

    Signs and Symptoms

    Testing

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    Immunology

    Rickets disease (1599-1600)

    Epstein-Barr Virus (318t, 1078-1079, 1011)

    Human Herpes Virus (HHV) 8 (382, 383, 1645)

    Complement Cascade (197, 198f, 287f)

    Activated by 3 pathways

    C3 deficiency blocks all three pathways

    Passive-acquired immunity  (227)

    IgM and IgG and IgA and IgE (229-230, 247, 254-255)

    IgE-mediated hypersensitivity (263-265)

    SLE (Lupus) (mod 2) (277-278)

     

    Fluid and Electrolytes and Acid-base

    Treatment of Hyperkalemia (mod 3) 119

    Calcium and phosphate balance (119-120)

    Metabolic acidosis with partial resp compensation (127f-128f, 125-128, 127t)

     

    Endocrinology

    Obesity and Type 2 DM (177-178)

    Know Autoimmune disorders (262-263, 264t-265t, 277-281, 275-276)

    Hormones that cause hyperglycemia (717-767, 804-834)

    Antidiuretic Hormone (109, 696-699, 718-719)

    Diabetes Insipidus and associated labs (719-720)

    Hyperparathyroidism (731-733)

    Type 1 Diabetes (734-739, 740f)

     

    Neurology

    Fight or Flight syndrome

    Arachnoid Villi (466)

    Circle of Willis (467, 468f)

    Cranial nerves functions and abnormalities associated with them (447-448, 469, 471f, 472t)

    Trigeminal Neuralgia

    Bell’s Palsy

    Multiple Sclerosis (618-621)

    Myofascial pain syndrome (492-493, 1579t)

     

    Nephrology

    Prerenal injury (1360, 1385)

    IgG nephropathies (glomerulonephritis) (1352-1358)

     

    Oncology

    Punched out lesions on a chest x-ray (1030-1035)

    Multiple Myeloma (1030-1035)

    BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations (174, 831)

    Cancer treatment symptoms (392, 395)

    Human papillomavirus and cancer (382, 423-424)

    Hodgkin Lymphoma (1023-1027)

     

    Hematology

    Know the different types of anemias and the CBC component (986t)

    Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CLL) (1020, mod 4)

    Eosiniphil vs Neutrophils (209-210, 949 – 208-210, 212)

    Erythropoietin use (959, 960f, 993, 1334)

    Anemia after subtotal gastrectomy for gastritis

    Jaundice in hemolytic anemia (996-1001)

    Hemophilia A is what kind of inherited disorder (1071)

     

    Infection

    Wet gangrene (mod 1) 91

  • Lactobacillus casei Essay

    Lactobacillus Casei

    Relevant issue/subject identified and appropriately introduced

    In the backdrop of high cases of civilization diseases, industry and science in general direct their effort toward food products. In particular, interest is directed toward research beyond the regular nutritional function to deliver additional health benefits. In essence, science is trying to minimize risk of diseases. This has led to the emergence of what is commonly referred to as functional foods. The term encompasses a broad range of products and relates to foods that possess a potentially positive impact on health past basic nutrition. Probiotics or bifidobacteria are an example. The consumption of lyophilized or living cultures of bifidobacteriais known to have several benefits including enhancing the immune system action and prevent coronary diseases as well as cancer. The beneficial consequences of bifidobacteria on gastroeneteretis, bowel syndrome, hyperlipidemia, inflammatory bowel disease, diarrhea and hepatic disease are well known. Nevertheless, the most frequently used probiotic products include bio-yoghurts retailed by wholesalers and others. Worth noting is that besides the archetypal yoghurt strains including Streptococcus thermophilus and lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp bulgaricus, bio-yoghurts contain cultures of live bifidobacteria such as lactobacillus casei and others. This indicates a rising consumer interest in such products in addition to commercial competition that has meant that producers are competing in diversifying range of goods/products. In most cases, the assortment takes the form of new and exciting flavor achieved through adding rare fruit. Without a doubt, such actions are taken to ensure competiveness in the complex market of today’s world. However, while research on probiotics has increased over the last decades, few works exist describing the manner in which they function leading to the desired health benefits. In essence, majority of researchers are yet to establish the manner in which such probiotics as lactobacillus casei function thus affecting human health. Rather, available scientific studies on probiotics focuses on the products containing them including yoghurts. This has meant that the effects lactobacillus and others on human system has been given a peripheral role in the studies. It follows that while consumers are aware of some of the benefits derived from consuming related products, many do not know the best products to choose from the saturated market. In sum, studies are yet to provide concrete evidence on the manner in which lactobacillus casei and others function thus enhancing the human system in one way or the other.

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    Concise and clear discussion of the current status of knowledge in the chosen subject area.

    Lactobacillus casei strains represent gram-positive, facultative anaerobic, industrially significant LAB (lactic acid bacteria) that has been principally used as fibidobacterias and specialty cultures for various products development. In fact, it has been suggested that their wide commercial applications may be a reflection of their extraordinary ecological adaptability to different habitats. Nevertheless, Lactobacillus casei may be isolated out of raw as well as fermented dairy products (including yoghurts) and animal products.  Despite all these findings, many dimensions or subjects involving the topic of Lactobacillus casei are at infancy or unknown altogether. As mentioned above, few works exist describing the manner in which probiotics function leading to the desired health benefits. In most cases, such a situation results from the failure to understand the genetic basis regarding the ecological flexibility in lactobacillus casei and others. Currently, the field of probiotics is filled with comparative genomic studies suggesting extensive gene loss as well as gene acquisitions throughout evolution of lactobacilli –presumably through bacteriophage or conjugation mediated hgts (horizontal gene transfers) that may have facilitated the adaptation to different ecological niches (Makarova 2006, p 15611-15616). For instance, milk as well as vegetable-associated sub-species of lactobacillus has been found to contain high level of genetic heterogeneity. As well, correlations have been demonstrated between specific gene acquisition or loss and the capacity of the species to inhabit specific habitats. Worth noting is that these are pure attempts to explain the manner in which probiotics including lactobacillus casei may affect human system (Makarova 2006, p 15611-15616). What is more, comparative genomic examination on lactobacillus strains of different sources show genomic regions with atypical base composition pinpointing evolutionarily recent acquisitions (Makarova 2006, p 15611-15616). In sum, it becomes evident that current knowledge does not add up and the manner in which lactobacillus casei and others affect human system is far from clear.

    Worth noting is that molecular typing of Lactobacillus casei is vital to comprehending the evolutionary adaptation of the species to various ecological niches including the manner in which it helps our body system. What is more, definitive identification of Lactobacillus casei at the strain level is crucial for a range of industrial applications because it facilitates tracking of various strains with such industrially relevant characteristics as probiotic and antimicrobial elements. Currently, a number of molecular typing methods including randomly amplified polymorphic DNA, temporal temperature-gradient electrophoresis as well as pulsed-filed gel electrophoresis have been used in Lactobacillus casei (Farnworth 2008, p 49-54). The latter approach has been reported to show the highest discriminatory influence. Nevertheless, these the approaches have less effectiveness in describing underlying phylogenetic associations and thus making it difficult to establish how Lactobacillus casei and others work leading to health benefits. In essence, current approaches have proved to be of little use as far as the area of human health is concerned. In total, current knowledge in the area of probiotics is non-conclusive with regard to the manner in which it positively influences body system.

    Evidence of wide range of reading

    Most strains related to lactobacillus casei including shirota are rod-spaped and occur either singly or in pairs. In addition, they have been found to occur in short chains constituting 3 or 4 cells. Normally, lactobacillus casei strains are capable of growing at temperatures ranging from 27 through 43 degrees (Gaynor 2012, p 10). The strains can grow at low ph level of 3.5, but optimal ph is 6.5. Lactobacillus casei is a facultative homo-fermentative lactic acid bacteria, and produces 2 lactic acid molecules out of every glucose molecule – though it also generates small quantities of ethanol, acetate and diacetyl. Nevetheles, regarding the fermentative characteristic of lactobacillus casei strains, lactic acid is generated from adonitol, ribose, d-glucose, galactose, mannitol, D-mannose, salicin, turanose and sorbitol (Gaynor 2012, p 10). In addition, it is weakly generated from sucrose and inositol, but from inulin, glycerol, glycogen, starch and xylitol.

    Lactobacillus casei relates to a harmless and non-pathogenic microorganism that is broadly recognized for its properties and attributes that have been shown to be beneficial to the human body. As a type of bacteria, lactobacillus casei helps to boost human body defense system through restricting the development of certain types of dangerous bacteria that lead to infection. This means that lactobacillus casei is beneficial and occurs naturally in human’s mouth as well as intestines. Essentially, the bacteria is known to produce amounts of lactic acid which is helpful in lowering the levels of ph in human’s digestive system thus impending the development of harmful bacteria. In addition, lactobacillus casei may be present if fermented dairy as well as fermented and fresh plant products. Such sources may include yoghurt and other food sources including fermented green olives. Different findings indicate that scientists have found the bacteria to have beneficial characteristics that improve human health. In particular, the bacteria is not only able to improve but also promote digestion. In addition, some strains associated with lactobacillus casei help manage diarrhea and others have an anti-inflammatory influence on the gut (Probiotic.org 2009, web). There are several other benefits linked to the bacteria as far as human health is concerned including alleviating constipation, lactose intolerance and general modulation of human immune system. In sum, lactobacillus casei is classified under friendly bacteria that are significant to proper functioning of the immune system, digestion and absorption of nutrients as well as protection against microorganisms that lead to disease. As such, ensuring that the body receives an appropriate level of lactobacillus casei is important. Nonetheless, probiotic strains including lactobacillus casei are selected to give beneficial impacts on the host as well as on the metabolism or composition of the intestinal microbiota without necessarily inflicting adverse transformations including production of toxins and epithelial cell invasion –effects that would imperil the nutritional or health status of the host. Resultantly, lactobacilli have been ingested on a daily basis since fermentation of milk was discovered. This includes the probiotic utilization of various lactobacillus species for decades, and possibly was ingested from the earliest history since they normally inhabit green plant material (Gaynor 2012, p 20). Research indicates that lactobacilli are ever-present because they are found in virtually all carbohydrate rich substances. Several authors also report that in healthy persons, lactobacilli are normal and found in the ileum, the oral cavity as well as the colon. In addition, they are dominant microorganism in human’s vagina. In sum, their close relation with human health is evident and their long application as probiotics without risk to humans has been noted. In fact, their significance is underlined by the fact that no pathogenic characteristic has been associated with them.

    A discussion by Cabana et al (2006, p 407) observed that while probiotic’s optimal dose remains an area under investigation, there exists no reports of toxicity linked to exceeding a specific dose. This indicates that their pathogenic characteristic is quite low or non-existent altogether. On the other hand, Vandenplas et al (2007, p 46) noted that such probiotics as lactobacillus casei never colonize human’s grastro-intestinal tract because they become undetectable shortly after stopping the administration. The outcome is the absence of risks for long-term side effects. Bearnadeu et al (2008, p 157) noted that the risk –if any- of bacteremia from bifidobacteria and probiotic lactobacilli is 1 in a million. It can be concluded that the overall risk from lactobacillus and others presents a negligible imperil to consumers of such products as yoghurt. This also includes negligible risk to immune- compromised hosts. In addition, the bibliographical data has been shown to promote the hypothesis that the consumption of lactobacillus strains is not in any hazardous because lactobacillemia induced through food (including fermented dairy products) is extremely rare (Bearnadeu et al 2008, p 157).

    According to Guerin-Danan et al (2000, 111-117 am jpdf), yoghurt is explained as a fermented milk obtained through specific fermentation of lactic acid –via the action of streptococcus thermophilus as well as lactobacillus bulgaricus. Ingestion of related products induces transformations in the equilibrium as well as metabolism of the microflora and may therefore a healthful effect on the host. Nevertheless, Guerin-Danan et al (2000, 111-117) notes that fermented milks including yoghurt have substantial health benefits and can be included in human’s diet from an early age. In fact, they act as good sources of vitamins and minerals and have small amounts of lipids. What is more, fermented milks including yoghurt help control the intake of dietary nitrogen elements in human body as well as supply many lactic acids. Nonetheless, the consumed lactic acid bacteria in some measure resist gastric acidity as well as bile salts. This means that it passes live via the gastrointestinal tract in which they may regulate the metabolism and balance of endogenous microflora. The regulation of such modifications is crucial to health because microflora (mouth and intestinal) can exert either advantageous or disadvantageous effects on the host. Guerin-Danan et al (2000, 111-117) also note that other lactic acid bacteria –particularly those related to lactobacillus – can be included in yoghurt to create fermented milks with definite desirable characteristics including new flavor. Additionally, various lactic acid bacteria are incorporated for the properties – signifying that probiotics can lead to benefits beyond basic nutrition.

    According to Wu et al (2011, 1031-1039), lactobacillus casei strains have conventionally been recognized as probiotics. In addition, they have been frequently utilized as adjunct culture in fermented milks in which lactic acid stress is a commonly encountered environmental condition. Lactic acid bacteria relates to a heterogeneous group of bacteria that are applied to create fermented foods (including yoghurt), and are generally accepted as safe. In addition, lactic acid bacteria comprise a collection of microbes related via common metabolic functionality (i.e the creation of lactic acid as a major metabolic end product related to carbohydrate metabolism) and common physiological characteristics. These microbes are Gram positive, catalase-negative, non-spore forming as well as devoid of cytochromes all of which underline their potential in promoting health (Gaynor 2012, p 20). As well, they are preferential non-aerobes, but are acid- tolerant, aero tolerant and strictly fermetative. Even though they are not a closely efined group, lactic acid bacteria usually are considered to constitute a phylogenetically related general such as streptococcus and others. As a result of resemblance in its physiology, ecology and biochemistry, the genus (bifidobacterium) is frequently considered as a lactic acid bacteria – though it may be phylogenetically unrelated. With the exception of some species and strains including streptococcus and enterococcus, most lactic acid bacteria strains are deemed to have no pathogenic potential. Indeed, they are normally found in human’s oral cavity as well as digestive tract. In addition, the bacteria has conventionally known as a probiotic thus used in such commercial products as yoghurts for its health promoting as well as nutritional characteristics. Yet, similar to other lactic acid bacteria, lactobacillus casei encounters a number of stress conditions through industrial processes as well as in the gastrointestinal tract- among which acid stress is an important challenge to its survival. This means that lactobacillus strains including casei are faced with many challenges from the environment and may not survive after all. In some cases, combination of environmental factors may make them harmful altogether.

    Attempts to evaluate/appraise cited literature

    Besselink et al (2008, p 651-659) cite a publication which claimed to have found higher mortality among persons with acute pancreatitis when treated with strains from bifidobacterium species. In fact, some people questioned the safety of such probiotics as lactobacillus casei. However, a review of the study was conducted and established that- for various reasons- the findings should not make anyone call into question the usefulness of lactobacillus casei and other species. First, it was revealed that the subject in the study were critically ill with a condition that had a mortality rate of up to 30 percent (Besselink et al 2008, p 651-659). In addition, the path of probiotic administration was nasojejunal, rather than oral. In sum, sources that have attemped to disapprove the usefulness and safety of lactobacillus strains have been found to have fundamental flaws as indicated above. In fact, several reserachers have subsequently analyzed such studies and suggested that the high mortality may have been caused by the introduction of enteral solution into the intestine with a huge number of lactic acid-generating bacteria. Worth noting is that fermentation of the enteral nutrition solution via the bacteria may have resulted in the development of semi-solid mass, and lead to bowel ischemia. Besselink et al (2008, p 651-659) notes that the fermented nutrition solution could have remained in the small intestines at the optimal condition with the bacteria without being absorbed. All of this points to a widespread misunderstanding as to the manner in which lactobacillus strains function, thus improving human health.

    Other researchers have supported the fact that lactobacillus strains have little or no risk to human health. In fact, Nissen et al (2009, p 290) notes that mucins secreted for intestinal cell membrane are highly complex glycoproteins offering structures as well as viscosity to the mucus layer covering the intestinal epithelial surface. Primarily, this layer is meant to safeguard the underlying cells from such dangers as corrosive gastric acids, invasion by harmful microflora as well as shear forces created by the digestive system. Nevertheless, Nissen et al (2009) claims that probiotic lactic acid bacteria has been evaluated and found to have no ability to corrupt gastric mucin. Indeed, cases of lactic acid bacterial infection are quite rare. The safety associated with strains such as lactobacillus casei and others has been labeled as remarkable given that up to 20 billion administrations are done yearly (Reid and Hammond 2005, p 1491). In sum, as literature indicates, it is evident that lactobacillus strains including casei not only have benefits to human health but also are considered generally safe. The majority of cases questioning safety and usefulness of lactobacillus strains occur in subjects with severely compromised immune status or those with underlying conditions including diabetes, heart disease and other terminal illnesses. In particular, lactobacillus casei found in various food products including yoghurt has been shown to have additional health benefits. Lastly, while some strains of lactobacillus may lead to questions as far as safety is concerned, lactobacillus casei has been found to be quite useful in virtually all environments.

    Gap in knowledge identified which could form a project/dissertation

    As evidenced in the above literature review, there exists considerable gap in knowledge as far as safety of lactobacillus strains is concerned. In essence, existing studies are yet to link the dots and provide a conclusive report indicating the manner in which such lactobacillus strains as casei lead to improved human health. This also means that different studies often give conflicting findings as evidenced above. For instance, Besselink et al (2008, p 651-659) note cases in which studies want us to believe that some products of lactobacilli- including lactobacillus case- could lead to adverse effects. However, a closer look into the study reviews provided in this paper reveal that lactobacillus strains are rather safe. In fact, the gap in the knowledge is evidenced by studies claiming that lactobacillus species have no detrimental effect whatsoever. This means that humans should consume them is large quantities without the fear that they could affect them in one way or the other. Possibly, this gap, results from the fact that few studies have ventured into investigating the manner in which lactobacillus casei functions, and thus helping humans. In essence, studies are yet to reveal the chemical reactions and or combinations of these strains in humans leading to desired health benefits. nonetheless, this calls for further investigation or projects to test various bifidobacteria-containing products and show how they help improve one’s health.

    Specific purpose of your proposed investigation

    The purpose of the proposed investigation is to bridge the gap in knowledge specifically by illustrating whether and how lactobacillus casei –and other lactobacillus species- work to improve overall health. In turn, the investigation will provide useful information on whether we should trust lactobacilli-containing products’ safety.

    Specific data/information to be investigated identified

    Some of the data and or information making up the proposed investigation include strains and growth conditions in which lactobacillus casei, including yoghurt, growth is to be investigated. Investigation the growth of this train is crucial in understanding the manner in which lactobacillus casei influence human health positively. In addition, acid challenge and acid tolerance analysis is to be covered in this investigation to find out the manner in which acids –including those constituting lactic acid bacteria- affect species development and or functioning given different conditions. For instance, using the information, this investigation will seek to establish whether human intestinal conditions could lead to any undesirable effects on the species. As well, information on measurement of epithelial/membrane lateral diffusion will constitute part of the investigation. This will also include investigation of conditions likely to affect the membrane in one way or the other. In addition, fatty acid extraction as well as analysis will form part of the investigation. The information in this part will include a certain technique to identify the manner in which saturation and extraction of fatty acid occurs. Last but not the least, information on examination of inner membrane permeability will be included to assess the permeability through cells. Ultimately, the information will be helpful in revealing lactobacillus species’ functionality in humans and how it leads to improved health.

    How will investigation take place? Details of sampling/collection/analysis of data.

    The investigation will involve a test involving the effect of lactic acid stress (LAS) on the lactobacillus casei cell membrane as well as its acid resistant mutant (Lbz-2). The test will largely involve data sampling (Cai et al, 2007, p 2655). The two strains lactobacillus casei and acid-resistant mutant will be grown under certain conditions in chemostats.  Steady-state chemostat cells –at pH 6.5- will be harvested.

    Ethical issues surrounding the proposal

    Ethical considerations are usually part of any project, and particularly those involving laboratory tests. In the proposal, cell integrity is crucial in maintaining cell viability as well as metabolic function. For instance, the data analysis and tests will have to ensure that subjects are handled with utmost care to ensure that wastage and stress is minimized. In addition, ethical considerations surrounding the proposal will include honesty and fairness. The two aspects are crucial in ensuring that integrity of the entire project is compromised. In conclusion, lactobacillus casei and other species are known to have myriad benefits to human health. The project will reveal the way lactobacillus species, in particular casei, affect human systems including cell membrane functionality.

     

    Bibliography

    Cabana, M et al, 2006,
    Probiotics in primary care pediatrics
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    Clin, Pediatr,
    45: p 405-410.

    Vandenplas, Y et al, 2007, Probiotics in infectious diarrhoea in children: are they indicated?
    Eur J Pediatr
    166:1211-1218.

    Bernardeau M et al, 2008, The
    Lactobacillus
    genus,
    Int J Food Microbiol,
    126: p 278-285.

    Besselink, M et al, 2008, Probiotic prophylaxis in predicted severe acute pancreatitis: a      randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial,
    Lancet
    371:651-659.

    Nissen L, W Chingwaru, B Sgorbati, B Biavati, A Cencic, 2009, Gut health promoting activity

    of new putative probiotic/protective
    Lactobacillus
    spp. strains: a functional study in the

    small intestinal cell model,
    Int J Food Microbiol
    135:288-294.

    Reid G and Hammond J-A, 2005, Probiotics-some evidence of their effectiveness,
    Can Fam

                Physician
    51:1487-1493.

    Grinyer, A, 2002, The Anonymity of Research Participants: Assumptions, Ethics and        Practicalities,
    Social             Research Update
    : Issue 36. University of Surrey.

    Probiotic.org, 2009, Lactobacillus casei, [online], Retrieved:            http://www.probiotic.org/lactobacillus-casei.htm 26 Jul 2014.

    Farnworth, E, 2008,
    Handbook of fermented functional foods
    , 2
    nd
    ed, USA, CRC Press.

    Ashley, M, 2013, Top 10 UK yoghurt brands, [online],         http://www.dairyreporter.com/Manufacturers/Top-10-UK-Yogurt-Brands-Mueller-  dominates-Danone-dwindles 26 Jul 2014.

    Cho, S, 2010,
    Handbook of prebiotics and probiotics ingredients: health benefits and food applications,
    CRC Press, USA.

    Wu, C et al, 2012, lactobacillus casei combats acid stress by maintaining cell membrane     functionality, J Ind Microbiol Biotechnol, (2012) 39:1031–1039 DOI 10.1007/s10295- 012-1104-2

    Duda-chodak, A et al, 2008, The effect of antioxidants on lactobacillus casei,
    Acta Sci. Pol.,         Technol. Aliment. 7(4) 2008, 39-51

    Cats, A et al, 2003, Effect of frequent consumption of a lactobacillus casei-containing milk drink             in helicobacter pylori-colonized subjects, Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2003; 17: 429–435.

    Gaynor, P, 2012, Generally recognized as safe (GRAS) determination for the use of lactobacillus             casei strain shirota as a food ingredient, Yakult Honsha Co. ltd, Japan.

    Cai, H et al, 2007,
    Genotypic and phenotypic characterization of lactobacillus casei strains            isolated from different ecological niches suggests frequent recombination and niche          specificity
    , Microbiology (2007), 153, 2655–2665.

    Makarova, K., et al, 2006,
    Comparative genomics of lactic acid bacteria
    , Proc Natl Acad Sci U S             A, 103, 15611–15616.

    Guerin-Danan, C et al, 2014, Milk fermented with yogurt cultures and
    Lactobacillus casei           
    compared with yogurt and gelled milk,
    Am J Clin Nutr
    1998;67:111–7.

    Schiffer, C et al, 2011, A strain of lactobacillus casei inhibits the effector phase of immune           inflammation,
    J Immunol
    2011; 187:2646-2655; Prepublished online 1 August 2011;             http://www.jimmunol.org/content/187/5/2646 doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1002415

    Otles, S, 2013,
    Probiotics and prebiotics in food, nutrition and health
    , USA, CRC Press.

    Fanun, M, 2011,
    Colloids in biotechnology
    , USA, Taylor and Francis, LLC.

  • How fast food affect people’s health Essay

    Name:

    Instructor:

    Date:

    How fast food affect people’s health

    In all likelihood, we have heard of the phrase eat healthy, live healthy. The message is disseminated using various mainstream media or channels including televisions, radio stations, the Internet, print media, films and others. Without a doubt, the aim is to sensitize the public over a growing problem with regard to diet and diseases. Regrettably, modern societies including the United States have subscribed to systems or habits of food consumption that lead to adverse health effects. Indeed, the past few decades have witnessed increased consumption of fast food products as lifestyle changes continue happening in the society. Undoubtedly, urbanization and globalization have meant that people change their eating habits leading many to consume fancy, high calorie fast foods. Nevertheless, extensive research regarding these foods has been carried out giving a grim picture altogether. The effects on human health are simply devastating, and more needs to be done to curb the menace.

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    Fast food is a general term used in describing the types of food prepared in an eatery or café with limited service staff, and from which the majority of foodstuffs are taken away or consumed off premises (Smith, 1-10). The term fast food is closely associated with junk food and it is frequent to find the two used interchangeably- underlining their unhealthy nature. Nonetheless, unhealthy lifestyle including food practices has been shown to have adverse effects on health. A widespread effect on people’s health is contribution to escalating population rates of obesity in America and other developed societies around the world. In fact, the connection between fast food and obesity levels is clear because more people are opting for the easier option by preferring to consume foodstuffs prepared away from home. Worth noting, is that these foods not only are prepared quickly and easily but also accessed quickly. It also means that little consideration –if any- is given to these foods as far as health concerns are concerned. For instance, fast food are known to contain considerably high levels of saturated fat. Aloia et al (4) argues that studies indicate that a positive association exists between frequency of fast food joint use and weight gain. As a result, fast food companies are expanding at unprecedented rates as more people consume these foods. Central obesity, for instance, is becoming all too common in modern, urbanized societies as people consume more fast foods. Altogether, obesity cases have been on the rise thus placing millions of life at risk of developing other health complications. As an example, obesity has been linked to various health conditions including serious illnesses such as coronary artery disease as well as diabetes. In fact, such diseases have been on the rice in recent times and fast foods have steadily been cited as a contributing factor. This indicates that fast food can have devastating impact on human health leading to terminal illnesses among other problems.

    Perhaps, the effects of fast food on our health are best captured in M. Spurlock’s film Super Size Me. This work goes beyond the normal to explain the manner in which fast foods are dangerous because of their addictive nature leading to obesity and weight issues. The film is quite clear in delivering its message; that the United States faces an epidemic (obesity and related health challenges) all because of fast food. In essence, fast food harms your health. Indeed, this appears the obvious – but quite worrying considering the disturbing statistics. For instance, the film highlights that up to 60 percent of American have weight issues (Scott web). Such figures are used to draw attention to the fact that fast foods are not only affecting people’s lives but also the quality of life. The film depicts obese persons cruising fast food causeways as an indication that the foods have brought them health issues. In particular, the effect of these foods on people’s health is the fact that they make people eat with less of no planning. People become addicted thus engaging in what may be described as binge meals at fast food restaurants – indicating the rate at which people tend to consume these high calorie products. Often, fast foods are appealing probably because of their attractive coloring as well as dense sugar content. However, one must also know that dense sugar content and high fat content have been linked to dental cavities as well as diabetes among other health problems. In sum, the film highlights the fact that fast food should not form our diets because we are likely to suffer. Most importantly, one is likely to suffer addiction leading to high consumption of these products and hence the many health problems, which may follow in a chain.

    Elbel et al (493-500) also evidence the fact that fast foods are highly addictive, as people make these foods their choice. In particular, their study points out that children are likely to prefer these foods probably because of their attractive appearance and or tastes. The result is that obesity continues to plague United States because persons contract this health condition from an early age. More worrying is that obesity and other health related problems continue plaguing the American population despite recent efforts to curb the menace. For instance, there has been heightened public attention or alarm regarding the obesity epidemic as well as laws including calorie menu labeling (Elbel et al 493-500). Nevertheless, such measures are undertaken to help the population make better-informed as well as healthier food choices and perhaps avoid or minimize visits to fast food restaurants. In sum, increases in obesity among children and general population are significantly attributed to unhealthy nutritional habits. Fast food emerges as a well-known contributor to caloric consumption. In addition, it has been directly associated with higher obesity rates among young individuals. Franck et al (2) points out that there has been a steady rise in daily calorie consumption leading many policymakers to believe that targeting food consumption is the best means to address the epidemic.

    Smith (1-10) notes it is beyond doubt that portion sizes and waistlines are expanding throughout the country. Restaurant meals have gotten larger as the population emphasizes on getting more food for their money. The result is that people are surrounded by larger portion sizes offered at relatively low prices, and thus appealing to their economic sensibilities. More often than not, however, these foods are unhealthy despite their big sizes. Fast foods from burgers to different types of snacks fall under this category because of their unhealthy characteristics including high calorie. Altogether, the equation is quite simple because people are increasingly becoming addicted to fast foods and thus eating more than they can use. The result is many health problems including obesity and weight gain. As mentioned above, unhealthy weight gain in humans has been linked to a number of health problems including coronary artery disease as well as diabetes. Some of these diseases are terminal and their management may lead to significant costs.

    In conclusion, the issue of fast foods is a global concern even though it appears to be affecting developed nations (including the United States) at a greater rate. Perhaps, this is because globalization and or urbanization are significantly higher in such regions and the population has resulted in consuming these types of foods. Nevertheless, consumption of fast food and its impact on people’s health cannot be underestimated. Indeed, this has seen governments and other concerned institutions increase their efforts with regard to sensitizing the public over healthy eating practices for better living. People make choices about what they consume and thus knowledge highlighting the eating habits and nutritional aspects can prove handy. In essence, people equipped with necessary information are likely to make better decisions with regard to what they consume thus avoiding fast food altogether. In particular, a population aware of adverse health effects of these foods is likely to make effort to change towards good eating habits. In total, to avoid the negative health effects, humans ought to change their lifestyles including eating habits. For instance, they need to replace fast food with nutritious food and most probably prepare food at home rather than visiting restaurants offering fast foods. Worryingly, junk food companies have adopted marketing strategies that seem to make them more appealing than nutritious foods. The outcome is that people from different backgrounds are at the risk of developing grave health conditions as they consumer fast foods.

     

    Work cited

    Aloia, Christopher et al.
    Differences in perceptions and fast food eating behaviors between             Indians living in high – and low-income neighborhoods of Chandigarh, India
    . Nutrition        Journal 2013, 12:4.

    Elbel, B et al.
    Child and adolescent fast-food choice and the influence of calorie labeling
    .   International Journal of Obesity, (2011), 35, 493–500.

    Franck, Caroline et al. Taxing junk food to counter obesity.
    American Journal of Public Health,    November 2013, Vol. 103, No. 11.

    Scott, A.
    Super Size Me (2003)
    . New York Times. 7 May 2004. Available from             http://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9C0CE5DC163CF934A35756C0A9629C8B            63 03 Aug 2014.

    Smith, Lindsey et al. Trends in US home
    food
    preparation and consumption: analysis of national nutrition surveys and time use studies from 1965-1966 to 2007-2008.
    Nutrition Journal.        2013, Vol. 12 Issue 1, Special section p. 1-10.

  • Clinical Assessment Essay of Mr. Smith’s Health Case Study

    ASSESSMENT TASK 1: Case Study Part A

    Answer the questions related to the information provided in the case study

    Your research must be appropriately referenced using APA guidelines. The total word limit for your

    responses is approximately 1,500 words (+/- 10%).

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    As this unit is not directly assessed in the clinical workplace, both assessment tasks need to

    reflect a simulated clinical work environment demonstrating critical thinking applied to clinical

    conditions.

    Case Study

    William Smith is a 68 year-old man who was transferred to the Palliative Care ward three days ago

    from a surgical ward. He was admitted on 26/01/2013 for excision of a sacral abscess which had

    been causing him a lot of pain. After surgery his future management was assessed and it was

    decided that he would be transferred to the Palliative Care ward as he could not be discharged

    home.

    Social History

    Mr Smith lives alone in a unit with 23 stairs. He is unable to care for himself and refuses any

    home help.

    According to his daughter who was contacted by the Social Worker, Mr Smith has a past

    history of domestic violence and abuse towards his former wife and children. His son and daughter

    are finding it hard to visit him even at this end stage of his life and have stated that they are not

    willing to care for him at home.

    Mr Smith identifies himself as an indigenous Australian (a person of Aboriginal or Torres

    Strait Islander descent). He was born in Arnhem Land but moved firstly to a rural township in the

    Northern Territory before settling in his current home in a metropolitan city at age 65 to be nearer

    to his estranged children.

    He has a past history of alcohol abuse until his admission to hospital on 26/01/2013.

    Medical History

    Mr Smith has a past history of a primary Ca lung with liver and bone metastases.

    He also has a past history of COPD as he was a heavy smoker ( > 20 cigs a day for 45 years).

    Physical Assessment on admission

    Mr Smith has dyspnoea, ascites, pruritus and bone pain (moderate to severe at times).

    He is very thin as he has been anorexic for several weeks. According to a neighbour, he lived

    on beer and baked beans with an occasional meal at the club when he could be taken there by a

    friend.

    His skin is stretched over his distended abdomen and bony prominences.

    He is not able to walk unaided further than from the bed to the bedside chair.

    He requires oxygen at all times.

    29/01/2013 – Palliative Care Unit Admission Assessment

    Mr Smith is receiving regular analgesia for pain.

    He had not been ordered an aperient for several days and has not had his bowels opened

    since admission to hospital on 26/01/2013 and he is feeling very uncomfortable.

    He refuses to eat much as he doesn’t like the food in hospital. His fluid intake is low and he

    is showing signs of possible dehydration. His urine output needs to be monitored.

    Mr Smith is also complaining of stomatitis – he has poorly fitting dentures and evidence of

    mouth ulcers.

     

    He also suffers from hiccups which can last for 20 minutes at a time.

    He is complaining of nausea and vomiting. His weight loss is marked (5kg since admission

    26/01/2013).

    Mr Smith can be incontinent of urine at night.

    Mr Smith is finding it very hard to sleep at night and falls asleep for long periods during the day.

    He has been talking a little about his children and speaks about his former behaviour

    towards his wife and children with regret. He often asks if his children are going to visit him.

    06/02/2013

    Mr Smith has now been on the Palliative Care ward for a week. He has deteriorated in the past few days and is now bed bound.

    He is able to roll from side to side for PAC.

    His skin is intact apart from a small pressure ulcer (0.2 x 0.1cm) on his sacrum.

    He is extremely sensitive to soap because of an increase in ascites and consequent pruritus.

    He needs assistance with personal hygiene (sponge in bed).

    He refuses to wear his dentures now as his mouth is extremely painful. He has been ordered

    Nilstat and Bonjela (anaesthetic mouth gel) with limited effect as he doesn’t like the taste.

    His breathlessness has increased and he is having 4/24 Ventolin nebs.

    He is ordered soft diet, encourage fluids. Mr Smith likes ginger beer which he says helps his hiccups (next-door neighbour brought some in)

    BNO for several days. Microlax enema and Agarol 10ml given with effect.

    Can be incontinent of urine at times – pad in situ.

    Current analgesia is oral (Oxycontin 100mg bd and Tramadol 50mg bd) – Mr Smith states

    this regime is “holding pain at present”. Pain score 2 -3/10.

    He can be confused and agitated at times.

    Mr Smith has requested a visit from the Social Worker to try to organise a visit with his

    children. He is very depressed about the current situation.

    Daily TPR and BP and girth measurement.

    PART A: Analyse the information given in the case study and answer the following questions. NUMBER

    EACH QUESTION IN YOUR SUBMISSION

    Review the following document to assist your responses to questions 1 – 2:

    Queensland Health (2011) Sad News, Sorry Business: Guidelines for caring for Aboriginal and Torres Strait

    Islander people through death and dying

    http://www.health.qld.gov.au/atsihealth/documents/sorry_business.pdf

     

     

     

    QUESTIONS:

     

    Could Mr Smith’s culture influence his pain assessment? Why? What strategies could you employ to ensure that you are adequately addressing Mr Smith’s pain?

     

    2 Consider Mr Smith’s social and medical history.

    Reflect on any judgements and prejudices that you may have when caring for Mr Smith.

    Review the following professional Australian nursing standards:

    http://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/Codes-Guidelines-Statements/Codes-Guidelines.aspx

     

    Code of Ethics for Nurses

    Code of Professional Conduct for Nurses

    EN Competency Standards

     

    Outline the standards / codes that relate to non-judgemental nursing care in this situation.

     

    Compile a list of questions you would ask Mr Smith as part of an holistic health assessment. These questions should be framed to enable collection of information on:

     

    physical health status including pain assessment

    mental and emotional status

    social and cultural issues

     

    Mr Smith asks you about planning for his future. He states that he does not want to be resuscitated.

     

    Provide Mr Smith with a brief description (with APA referencing) of the following and apply it to this scenario:

     

    Advanced Health Directive

    Enduring Power of Attorney

    Organ Donation

     

    5: Suggest alternative strategies (complimentary therapies) other than pharmaceutical pain management that could help Mr. Smith’s pain.

     

    6.List appropriate referrals for Mr Smith to other members of the multi-disciplinary team. Provide a rationale and a description of the service for each referral.

     

    7: What support / referral could be offered to Mr Smith’s family?

    Outline the pathophysiology of the following conditions ensuring you relate back to Mr Smith and his clinical presentation. Include within your answer the possible management strategies and rationale for these symptoms:

     

    Anorexia

    Ascites

    Dyspnoea

    Hiccups

     

    Note: Pathophysiology is not signs and symptoms. Pathophysiology explains the processes within the body that result in the signs and symptoms of a disease.

     

    Consider Mr Smith’s deterioration. What data provided about Mr Smith’s condition on 06/02/2013 would assist in determining if Mr Smith is at end of life?

     

    Clinical Assessment of Mr. Smith’s Health Case

    QUESTIONS

    Could Mr Smith’s culture influence his pain assessment? Why? What strategies could you employ to ensure that you are adequately addressing Mr Smith’s pain?

    Mr. Smith is a patient with a disturbing social and medical history. His social culture is such that he lives alone and does not like any person helping him out at home. These factors would interfere with his pain assessment since he would not want to reveal that he is in pain because it would mean that a caregiver would be assigned to him. One of the strategies that would ensure that I  address Mr. Smith’s pain is regular monitoring of his health condition. In this way, I will be able to know if there is any improvement in the pain therapy that is being administered.

    2)  Consider Mr Smith’s social and medical history

    Reflect on any judgements and prejudices that you may have when caring for Mr Smith

    The social history of Mr. Smith shows that he was an abusive husband who battered his own wife and children on countless occasions. Moreover, he has a past history of alcohol addiction that could have contributed to his aggressive and brutal personality. This social vices would make a physician or caregiver to develop a negative attitude towards Mr. Smith. This is because he showed no respect or concern for his wife or children and did not play the part of a responsible father or husband. His alcohol and cigarette addiction has also largely contributed to his deteriorating state of health, something that he does not show any concern for whatsoever. When caring for Mr. Smith, I would be prejudiced to show low quality care compared to other patients due to his unhealthy habits of smoking and drinking for a person of his age.

    The medical records show that Mr. Smith lived on baked beans and beer, yet he knew that it is not advisable to drink before having a healthy diet. The palliative unit care also recorded that Mr. Smith was stubborn and he refused to eat, making his body become emaciated and highly dehydrated. As a caregiver, I would be prejudiced to take care of such a patient because it would seem that they are not doing their best to get better despite being given helpful advice and care by the physicians. What’s more, Mr. Smith does not like taking any fluids which would help in rehydrating the body. A caregiver can only do as much to a patient to help them recover, but if the patient does not want to co-operate, then the caregiver would be faced with a hard time and would tend to develop a bias towards such a patient.

    Review the following professional Australian nursing standards:

    http://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/Codes-Guidelines-Statements/Codes-Guidelines.aspx

    Code of Ethics for Nurses

     
    This code documents the value that nurses have towards providing quality care for all classes of people. In addition, this code affirms that nurses value kindness and respect for themselves and for others. It is the duty of nurses to value quality based health care to all people under their care. What’s more, nurses value making informed decisions that will help in preserving the value of a culture safely while still maintaining good health care. This ethical code for nurses states that nurses highly value an environment that is sustainable both socially and economically since it is capable of promoting health and well being of patients.

    Code of Professional Conduct for Nurses

                 
    This code states that nurses should offer their services to patients in a safe and competent manner in accordance to the standards set by their professional body. Moreover, nurses are expected to respect the culture, ethnicity and dignity of the patients under their care. This includes treating any personal information with a lot of privacy and confidentiality. Nurses are also expected to preserve and promote the trust that exists between patients and health care givers. In overall, it should always be the duty of a nurse to practice nursing in an ethical and professional manner.

    EN Competency Standards

                 
    These standards apply to all enrolled nurses and they aim at demonstrating a high level of knowledge in the law that relates to the nursing practice. Secondly, these standards require nurses to show that they have knowledge in organizational procedures and policies that closely relate to nursing. Thirdly, an enrolled  nurse should fulfill their duty of providing health care during their practice. Moreover, these standards ensure that there is a safe outcome for all groups and individuals by identifying a  situation that is likely to cause harm to others. In addition, these standards are set in such a way that they liaise with others so that the rights of all individuals are maintained properly.

    Outline the standards / codes that relate to non-judgmental nursing care in this situation.

    In this situation, Mr. Smith is a patient who has a past history of domestic violence towards his family. In addition, he is also an alcoholic and a heavy cigarette smoker who does not observe a proper diet. His medical records indicate that he is stubborn and he hardly eats meals and neither does he take fluids regularly. These factors would make a caregiver or nurse to become judgmental about his current health status, leading to prejudiced health care. The standard codes that relate to non-judgmental nursing care affirm that it is the duty of a nurse to provide quality care to all people. This is regardless of their social behaviors or ethnical background. Therefore, the nurse attending to Mr. Smith is expected to show no bias despite of his difficult and stubborn nature of refusing to eat or drink fluids.

    3)
    Compile a list of questions you would ask Mr Smith as part of a holistic health assessment These questions should be framed to enable collection of information on

    Physical health status including pain assessment:

    Has the level of pain reduced since you were transferred to palliative care?

    Has the regular analgesia been working positively to relieve you of your pain?

    Do you think that if we put you on a regular diet you would try and improve your eating habits?

    Mental and emotional status:

    Do you sometimes think that your past habits are to blame for the kind of pain you are experiencing today?

    Do you think your hostile and aggressive nature is the reason why your children and wife do not come to visit you?

    Do you sometimes think that if you had someone to talk to regularly your pain and illness would go away at a faster rate?

    Social and cultural issues:

    What is the reason why you indulged in a lot of alcohol consumption and chain smoking?

    Does your cultural background have any connection with the various types of illness you have and does it conflict with the therapy that we propose to provide?

    What is the explanation for having physically abused and battered your own wife and children?

    4) Mr Smith asks you about planning for his future. He states that he does not want to be resuscitated. Provide Mr Smith with a brief description (with APA referencing) of the following and apply it to this scenario:

    a) Advanced Health Directive

                 
    This refers to a formal way of giving instructions and advice for the future healthcare and it is only applicable if a patient is unable to make their own decisions. This directive allows a person to decide what medical treatment they would prefer should they be in a position where they cannot make their won decisions. In this scenario, Mr. Smith has already decided that he does not want to be resuscitated should he go into a cardiac arrest. The Advanced Health Directive favors Mr. Smith’s decision and nurses have no choice but to abide by his choice of treatment.

    b) Enduring Power of Attorney

    This is a legal agreement that enables a person to appoint an attorney who can make legal decisions on their behalf. It is an agreement that is made by choice and can be executed by any person who is above 18 years of age. In Mr. Smith’s case, the attorney he appoints has the power to oversee that no resuscitation is conducted should he go into a cardiac arrest or any other serious condition.

    Organ Donation

                 
    This is the practice where some terminally ill patients state that they wish to give out their organs for research or to an anonymous person who is in desperate need of a major organ. Since Mr. Smith only stated that he does not wish to be resuscitated, the nurse in charge can decide whether to preserve his body after he succumbs or donate his organs for a worthy cause.

    5) Suggest alternative strategies (complimentary therapies) other than pharmaceutical pain management that could help Mr. Smith’s pain

    Mr. Smith’s pain is caused by a combination of various physical conditions such as bone pain, ascites, dyspnoea and pruritus. In addition to the use of drug therapy, there are other complementary therapies that are used to help patients relieve pain caused by physical illnesses. Ascites is a medical condition where the body has a build up of fluids which can occur due to cancer or other such like conditions. The complimentary therapy that can be used to relieve this pain would involve draining the fluid from the abdomen in order to relieve the swelling. This method does not involve the use of conventional drugs and can be quite effective if done professionally. For the bone pain, Mr. Smith can consider chiropractic which is a manipulation of the functioning of the spinal cord and body joints. Chiropractors work by aligning the bones and joints in order to relieve any form of pain. This is an established form of complimentary therapy that supports the use of chiropractic and spinal manipulation to treat bone, neck and back pain.

    6) List appropriate referrals for Mr Smith to other members of the multi-disciplinary team. Provide a rationale and a description of the service for each referral

               
    Mr. Smith is a patient who suffers from many forms of illnesses that can better be addressed by other members of the multi-disciplinary (MDT) healthcare team. To begin with, I would refer Mr. Smith to a medical oncologist to check whether he has any malignant or benign tumors. This is because ascites is mainly caused by cancer, which would be possible for Mr. Smith given his long history of tobacco smoking. Secondly, I would refer Mr. Smith to an orthopaedic surgeon who is better placed to explain the genesis of bone pain in Mr. Smith’s body. Thirdly, I would also refer Mr. Smith to a nutritionist who would help in devising the appropriate diet for Mr.Smith to enable him gain full health in the shortest time. Finally, I would also refer Mr. Smith to a psychologist to help in assessing the mental problems that cause Mr. Smith to have such wanting social behaviors.

    7)What support / referral could be offered to Mr Smith’s family?

    The best support that would be offered to Mr. Smith would be psychological counseling that would help them heal the scars caused by domestic violence and physical abuse of Mr. Smith. This would be the first step towards obtaining healing for all the wrongs that Mr. Smith did to this family. On the part of Mr. Smith, reconciling with his family would be beneficial to his health since he would be able to recover at a much faster rate.

    8)Outline the pathophysiology of the following conditions ensuring you relate back to Mr Smith and his clinical presentation. Include within your answer the possible management strategies and rationale for these symptoms

    a) Anorexia

               
    The pathophysiology of this condition begins with the person having a devastating fear of adding weight. Consequently, the person does not observe a healthy eating routine and the body then begins to develop symptoms that indicate it is being deprived of necessary nutrients. For Mr. Smith, he was severely anorexic and this was manifested by symptoms such as drying of the skin, swelling of submandibular glands that caused pain to develop in his mouth and peripheral oedema that also contributed to accumulation of fluids in his body. The management strategy for anorexia is eating healthy foods so that the body is able to function properly and have the strength to fight diseases.

    b) Ascites

                 
    This is a medical condition where the body accumulates a lot of fluids in the peritoneal cavity and is mainly caused by certain forms of  cancer. The pathophysiology of ascites is such that the rate of accumulation of body fluids is faster than the rate at which fluids are removed from the body. Mr. Smith could have developed ascites possibly due to lung cancer that would have resulted due to cigarette smoking. The possible management of this condition is drainage of the accumulated fluid so that the abdominal cavity can go back to its original size.

    c)Dyspnoea

    This is a medical condition where the patient suffers from an acute shortness of breath that becomes pathological if it occurs in unexpected circumstances. The pathophysiology of dyspnoea is such that the body receptors are not able to relay information appropriately. For instance, the lung muscles would be strained such that they do not stretch or relax as they should. Mr. Smith suffers from dyspnoea possibly because he is a chain smoker and the state of his lungs have been compromised. Consequently, his lungs are not well ventilated and this largely impairs the exchange of gases. The possible management strategy for this condition would be the use of opioids that will enhance the functioning of receptors in order to reduce the occurrence of shortness of breath.

    Hiccups

                 
    This is an involuntary action that the body uses to alert an individual that the body is dehydrated. Hiccups act as warning signs to signal the person that the body is in urgent need of water. The medical records showed that Mr. Smith suffered from regular hiccups that  would last for up to 20 minutes. Hiccups are actually quite serious and can cause death if a person does not rehydrate the body by drinking water immediately. The hiccups suffered by Mr. Smith show that he was severely dehydrated and he requires to drink lots of fluids in order to ensure that his body is hydrated to the appropriate level.

    9)Consider Mr Smith’s deterioration. What data provided about Mr Smith’s condition on 06/02/2013 would assist in determining if Mr Smith is at end of life?

    The records on this date indicate that Mr smith is actually bedridden and all the care is given to him at his bedside. He cannot be able to shower himself and he is sponge bathed by the caregivers. Moreover, his dyspnoea has worsened and he is having 4/24 Ventolin nebs to assist with his breathing. His condition is even worsened by the fact that he takes ginger beer to treat his hiccups instead of taking normal fluids. These conditions are telltale signs that he does not have much time to live.

  • Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) in Adults essay example

    The topic is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) in Adults.

    Detailed Paper (18 Pages double-spaced in APA Format. Page requirement includes title page, abstract, and reference page)

    The paper sections:

    1) the development and course of the disorder,

    2) cerebral localization,

    3) neurotransmitters involved,

    4) genetics,

    5) treatment (including pharmacotherapy),

    6) current controversies about the biology of

    the disorder and the appropriate next steps

    for researchers to take to resolve them.

     

    Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) in Adults

    The majority of psychological conditions that are observed in clinical cases are known to mainly affect adults.  People in age extremities such as the too young or the too old do not often suffer from these diseases due to their dormant lifestyle.  Adults are the main targets of psychological conditions because they have a very active lifestyle, are fully developed and have many responsibilities that they are required to accomplish.  Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or OCD is one of the most common psychological diseases that affects most adults.  This disorder is often characterized by thoughts that are intrusive, leading to constant worry, anxiety and obsession.  The affect adult will exhibit behaviors that are repetitive, so that he or she can try to reduce the anxiety or obsession being felt.  This paper is a comprehensive essay that focuses on Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in adults.  The essay will address the causes of this disorder, the treatment and the controversies that surround the biology of this disease.

    The development and cause of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

    Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or OCD is defined as an anxiety and apprehension disorder that is mostly characterized by repetitive behaviors that compel a person to behave in a bizzzare manner (Dell’Osso et al, 2013).  These behaviors are often caused by unwanted thoughts that make the actions being done to be uncontrollable (Thomsen, 2013).  Most adults who suffer from OCD have obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors which other people will define as being irrational, since they do not make sense at all (Weber et al, 2014).  For example, it is very normal for a person to counter check if they have unplugged the iron box from the socket after they have finished an ironing session.  It is also normal to go back and check if the car is locked after packing it outside a shopping mall.

    However, for a person suffering from OCD, their behaviors become too compulsive and obsessive such that they interfere with their normal daily life (Thomsen, 2013). For instance, a person with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder will check the cooker twenty times just to make sure that they have switched it off.  Another person will opt to wash their hands by thoroughly scrubbing them to a point of almost peeling the skin just to ensure that the hands are clean (Vakili and Gharraee, 2014).  In fact, OCD is so serious that if a person happens to be driving and comes across a bump, they will go round the same road fifty times just to confirm to themselves that they did not run over a person.

    The main cause of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder has been linked to both psychological and biological factors in a person’s body that lead to the development of the disease (Tucci et al, 2014). Nonetheless, these factors will differ from one individual to the next depending on the degree of emphasis on either one of the two factors. The psychological cause of OCD is brought about by overly obsessive behaviors that make a person to become pre-occupied with a certain habit or activity (Gordon et al, 2013). For example, the constant washing of hands as a way of affirming hygiene, hoarding of personal belongings, even if they are no longer useful or even making the bed after every five minutes even if no one has laid on it. On the other hand, the biological cause of OCD is linked to abnormal functioning of certain neurotransmitters in the brain (Dittrich and Johansen, 2013).

    Neurotransmitters are chemicals that are involved in the transmission of a synapse or chemical message from one neuron to another target nerve cell (Gordon et al, 2013).  In the case of OCD, the defective neurotransmitter is usually serotonin, which is very important in the regulation of anxiety in the body (Dittrich and Johansen, 2013). Therefore, a person or adult who suffers from OCD will always be in constant fear that something is not right and will go ahead to try and make it well by performing a given task infinite times (Gellatly and Molloy, 2014). Common Obsessive Compulsive Disorder symptoms can include the fear of being contaminated with dirt or germs or even passing these contaminants to others. This is why most patients with OCD will wash their hands so seriously that they can even cause them to have sores (Gellatly and Molloy, 2014).  Other people will have excessive thoughts on morally upright or pious issues that they will often regard other people as impure, sinners or evil. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder becomes a problem because it interferes with the daily life and normal relationships, causes immense distress and takes up a lot of useful time.

    b) Cerebral localization of the disorder

    Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is a disease that is capable of afflicting a person throughout their entire lifetime. The brain of people suffering from OCD is somewhat different from their normal counterparts. People with OCD have significantly less white matter in their brain as compared to normal subjects. This was evidenced through a preliminary study that was conducted in parts of the brain of people with OCD using Magnetic Resonance Imaging or MRI (Souza et al, 2014). The white matter is an important component of the central nervous system within the brain and the spinal cord as well. It contains important cells, such as the glial cells and axons that contain the myelin sheath. It is through the white matter that signals are transmitted from one end of the cerebrum to other places within the brain center (Fairfax et al, 2014).

    The white matter in OCD patients is usually much less and that is why it interferes with functioning, cognition and processing. What’s more, the white matter acts as a relay that passes on information from the brain’s cerebrum to different areas of the body (Fairfax et al, 2014).

    The white matter lies beneath the cerebral cortex and contains nerve cells that connect other neurons within different areas in the brain. People suffering from OCD often have abnormal rates of cerebral activity that directly affects their metabolic rates. The severity of this disorder attacks the frontal lobe and the basal ganglia within the orbital cortex, which then stimulates a worry circuit or signal (Fairfax et al, 2014). This is what is seen as the obsessive disorder that makes most OCD patients worry a lot about their hygiene, safety or even property. The orbital cortex is able to stimulate and ignite a worry circuit because is contains a caudate nucleus that helps it to switch from one line of thought to another (Moradi et al, 2014). This process is then enhaced by the thalamus which processes the body’s sensory inputs. Researchers have also postulated that Obsessive Compulsive Disorder can result from lower levels of neurotransmitters in the brain.

    c) Neurotransmitters involved in OCD

    It is clear that Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is caused by certain biological disorders that affect the functioning of the brain (Moradi et al, 2014).  In particular, these disorders affect the neurotransmitters in the brain and cause them to transmit the wrong information. Neurotransmitters or NTs are chemicals that are involved in the relaying of information or signals across a synapse (Moradi et al, 2014). They do this through the use of nerve cells or neurons that are located within the brain. Once they are released from the brain, NTs are packaged in the form of a synaptic vesicle that is then clustered under the membrane in the axon terminal. From here, they are able to bind to receptors in the synaptic cleft and they can then pass across the opposite side of the synapse (Souza et al, 2014).

    The most common neurotransmitter is acetylcholine which is involved in controlling most of the body’s synapses. In healthy or normal people, information is usually transmitted through the central nervous system through the combination of chemical and electrical signals (Souza et al, 2014).  The neurotransmitters are able to travel from one neuron to the next and in the process, they relay information relating to moods, emotions and feelings. There are special receptor chemicals that are prepared to receive these messages from the neurotransmitters  (Souza et al, 2014).  This process continues from one nerve cell to the other until the relevant signal is relayed. In adults with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, the neurotransmitters are defective and are not able to function as they should. The main neurotransmitter involved is usually serotonin, which is usually under some form of chemical imbalance. It is capable of cutting of the normal sequence of signal communication within the brain so that comminucation failure results.

    This is because serotonin is reabsorbed or sucked into the nerve cells before it is able to  cross over to the synapse. This then causes chemical signals and messages to be lost due to the sucking back of the serotonin neurotransmitter. This is what causes the symptoms of OCD to develop due to the malfunctioning of the transmission of a synapse. The brain scans of people who suffer from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder show varied patterns of brain activity when compared to their normal counterparts. In OCD patients, there is a very different form of  neurotransmitter circulation within specific parts of the brain. In other cases, the neurotransmitter dopamine has been linked to the cause and development of OCD. Research has also shown that people with OCD can have inconsistent levels of dopamine and serotonin in certain parts of the brain’s cerebrum. Scientifically, these conditions are termed as hypofunctioning of the serotonergic activity within the basal ganglia and the hyperfuctioning of dopaminergic activity in the frontal cortex.

    Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that is responsible for the regulation of anxiety. This chemical is normally found in the platelets of the blood, the brain and nervous system as well as the gastrointestinal tract or GIT (Peterson, 2012). In addition to anxiety, serotonin is believed to be responsible for making people feel happy and excited with themselves. However, most of the serotonin is located in the brain where it regulates other activities such as sleep, appetite, mood and happiness. The depletion of serotonin is what is responsible for the Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Some researchers in an Italian university have linked the depletion of serotonin in people who have recently fallen in love (Peterson, 2012).  Such people normally exhibit symptoms of obsessive behavior in the early stages of love. For instance, some people will call their partner every five minutes, send them text messages in an overly frequent manner or keep checking on them if they work or study in the same place.

    On the other hand, dopamine is responsible for a number of functions within the human body. For instance, dopamine regulations the activity of most hormones so that people can behave in a normal manner. For people with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, the neurotransmitter dopamine is not well produced and these results to abnormal functioning of most hormone dependant activities. This then translates to the patient feeling bad about themselves, insecure and even unclean (Peterson, 2012). This is what becomes visible as the obsessive habit of trying to make themselves feel good about themselves by washing excessively, counter checking on people and even confirming if things are in  the right place in an excess manner.

    d) Diagnosis and Treatment of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

                                        (including pharmacotherapy)

    The treatment for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder can only be done if the clinical psychologist or clinician understands the symptoms very well. The signs of this disorder include both the compulsive and obsessive symptoms. In general, the symptoms of OCD  are normally persistent, repetitive and highly unwarranted. The person suffering from OCD often thinks that getting rid of the obsession is the best way to solve the issue. Instead, this becomes a problem because it becomes an intrusion, especially when other things have to be done. Obsessive symptoms can include the fear of being contaminated with dirt, having horrific and aggressive thoughts that can lead to some people harming themselves, wanting things to be always perfect, symmetrical and orderly and even having unwanted thoughts on religious and sexual issues. These signs are what makes OCD patients to fear shaking other people’s hands because they will be contaminated. It is also the reason why some people will doubt they have switched of the kettle or shut the windows at night.

    For the perfectionists, they are obsessed that their things must face a certain way. Some people will want their clothes to be arranged facing a certain direction in the wardrobe. When it comes to foods, they will want the canned or bottled goods to face the same way. Interestingly, most adults with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder think that  their behaviors make a lot of sense.

    The most effective treatment for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is cognitive behavioural therapy. This mode of treatment involves two main components which are the cognitive therapy bit and the second part  is exposure and response prevention. Cognitive therapy focuses its efforts on the distractive and horrific thoughts that most OCD patients normally have.

    This mode of therapy aims at helping the patient to fill their minds and thoughts with more positive content so that they can avoid resorting to compulsive behavior. On the other hand, exposure and response prevention involves the constant exposure of the person to the source of a given obsession. For example, if a person has the obsession of hygiene and they are always cleaning their hands, the person can be made to touch a dirty surface then be prevented from washing their hands. Next, the patient can be made to sit somewhere for a while and with time, the urge to wash their hands will gradually fade away. With time, the person will realize that their compulsive behavior can be controlled without employing any obsessive or compulsive behaviors.

    Pharmacotherapy is also another mode of treatment for adults with obsessive or compulsive behaviors. The modern approach used in pharmacotherapy began in the late 1960’s when some drugs such as clomipramine was shown to be effective in treating OCD (Klein et al, 2013). This mode of treatment was later adopted to involve the mechanism of drug action of clomipramine  (Lihua et al, 2014).  This is a non-selective chemical that enhances the re-uptake of serotonin during a synapse. Pharmacotherapy can also involve selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs such as paroxetine, fluoxetine and citalopram (Jacob and Storch, 2013).

    Both the selective and the selective re-uptake inhibitors where developed due to the deficiency in the functioning of serotonin among OCD patients  (Lihua et al, 2014). Therefore, these drugs normally function by blocking the uptake of serotonin during the pre-synaptic stage. In turn, this increases the availability of serotonin at the postsynaptic receptors.

    Clomipramine is the most intensively studied drug for the treatment of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder  (Lihua et al, 2014).  This drug has a couple of chemical properties that give it the ability to enhance the functioning of serotonin within the body. Apart from clomipramine, several other selective re-uptake inhibitors have been tested and proven effective in treating OCD. For instance, celexa has shown to be highly effective in treating Obsessive Compulsive Disorders in adults  (Lihua et al, 2014). Pharmacotherapy can also involve the use of anti depressants although not all of them are effective in treating this disorder. Desipramine is a very effective antidepressant that has been used to treat symptoms related to compulsive and obsessive disorders.The rate of success of this drug has led to most psychologists recommending this drug to people with OCD related symptoms. However, the use of any drug is bound to have its own adverse drug reactions that differ depending on the efficacy of the drug and the lethal dose.

    Clomipramine is the most effective selective re-uptake inhibitor for serotonin, but it has its own share of side effects. For example, this drug is known to cause seizures and some forms of heart conductivity problems. The risk of clomipramine related seizures increases if the lethal dose of the drug exceeds 250 milligrams. On the other hand, antidepressants such as desipramine have been known to cause nausea, constipation and dryness of the mouth. Therefore, the  preferential drug to be used for pharmacotherapy should be evaluated based on the adverse drug reactions of each medication as well as the body metabolism of a patient. The common denominator for all of these drugs is to enhance the activity of serotonin in the nervous system. Since most neurons are normally separated from each other by a synapse, a neurotransmitter has to be released into this synapse so that a signal is passed across it. Therefore, when this process is blocked or restricted, it results in a number of disorders one of which is OCD.

    As such, both selective and non-selective re-uptake inhibitors have the mechanism of inhibiting serotonin being drawn back into the pre-synaptic membrane. Ultimately, these drugs have been shown to be effective in the treatment of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. There are other alternative methods that are used in the treatment of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in adults. Most psychologists as well as psychiatrists recommend a number of activities that can help a person to overcome OCD. First, they should relabel themselves by recognizing that the intrusive actions and obsessive thoughts are being caused by the disorder. Therefore, such a person should try telling himself or herself the opposite of what they always feel compelled to do. For instance, a patient with OCD can train their minds to say that their hands are not dirty and they should not have the urge to wash them.

    Secondly, the Obsessive Compulsive Disorder patients should reattribute themselves and realize that the severity of the thoughts or urges they have are actually caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. In such a case, the person should confront the disease by saying that the obsessive thoughts are not being caused by themselves. Instead, they are being caused by false messages being transmitted from the brain, making them act in a bizarre manner. It is also important for OCD patients not to take the thoughts caused by the disorder at face value and instead focus on things that are more productive. They should regard these thoughts as senseless obsessions that have no meaning at all. Therefore, they should ignore them and pay no attention to them. Clinical psychologists have also developed different forms of family therapy, since this disease usually affects families and societies.

    The symptoms that are exhibited by OCD are known to cause heart aching problems that affect the life of the individual, the immediate family members and society as a whole. Consequently, family therapy can be helpful in promoting the understanding of this disorder and help affected family members to reduce conflicts with the affected person. Psychologists encourage family members to treat the sick member in a lovable way, motivate them to become better and heal from the disorder. There are also self-help tips that can be applied in combination with pharmacotherapy or cognitive therapy. Patients with OCD should divert their attention from the strong urges and obsessions to other helpful activities. For instance, they can listen to music, read, go for a walk or jog or even prepare a favorite dish. The importance of doing this is to delay the response to that particular compulsive though that the patient can have.

    The outcome of this delay is that the urges become less intense than it was in the first place. Therefore, the longer this urge is delayed, the easier it becomes to forget and eventually refrain from engaging in the habit. Since the disorder is often caused by problems of anxiety, a healthy lifestyle should be adopted to try to reduce this fear and anxiousness. Patients with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder should exercise regularly, have ample rest and observe a healthy balanced diet. Cognitive behavioral therapy is a form of cognitive therapy that can be used to regain the control of the behavior of OCD patients. This mode of treatment works under the principle that thoughts are responsible for causing anxiety. Therefore, these thoughts can be altered by using a number of behavioral responses that will eliminate anxiety. Different forms of therapy will work at varying levels depending on the patient. Some patients will respond successfully to one mode of treatment will others may show no change at all. The first step in successful treatment of this disorder is accepting that one has the disease. This will then be followed by searching for the appropriate mode of treatment that will be effective in the end.

    e) Genetics of Obsessive Compulsive Disorders

    The psychological condition of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder has been shown to be hereditary and can be passed down from a parent to the progeny. Genetically speaking, OCD is caused by a mutation in the gene that is responsible for anxiety and worry. This mutation has been located in the human serotonin transporter gene, which is known as hSERT and occurs in families with OCD. Identical twins can also be at risk of developing OCD because they contain a hereditary factor that controls neurological anxiety. Patients with ICD are much more likely to have their firstborns developing the disorder since they are the first progeny in the hereditary tree. If Obsessive Compulsive Disorder develops during the childhood stage, the genetic links become much stronger than if the disorder was to develop during adulthood.

    The genetic factors of OCD  account for approximately seventy percent of the symptoms that are observed among adults. The genetic factors of OCD  are also affected by environmental parameters, which interfere with how the signs of this disorder are expressed. There is a genetic link between this disease and its occurrence in different environments  (Gomes et al,  2014).

    OCD has also been shown to affect close relatives of people who previously suffered from this disease. The genes that are of great intrest in OCD are those that control and regulate the serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitters in the brain. The genes behind these neurotransmitters can be linked to the strong inheritance of this disorder  (Gomes et al,  2014). There is also a group of researchers  who have identified a genetic marker that is responsible for causing Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

    The cause and mechanisms of  OCD are poorly understood despite the disorder being the fifth common psychological condition in the world. A genome related study has been conducted where the genomes linked to OCD have been scanned and compared to those of healthy people  (Gomes et al,  2014).  The findings revealed that there is a deletion mutation in the genes of people with OCD that caused them to have obsessive and anxious moments. OCD as a psychological disorder has a genetic architecture that has many different genes and they can be as many as one hundred in one individual.  The identification of the specific genes that predispose a person to the risk of inheriting OCD are still being researched on to date. These studies involve a genome wide research that endeavors to find the specific target genes and compare them to the controls. In addition, there is also the genome wide trait analysis that compares genetic variation across the entire OCD genome.             This method is able to test multiple OCD  sites at one go and can also estimate the proportion of  heredity of this disorder.  The preliminary results of this study have showed that the level of heredity of this disorder is as close as what was predicted in the families of people with a history of OCD .

    f) Current controversies about the biology of the disorder and the appropriate next             steps for researchers to take to resolve them.

    The biggest controversy behind the biology  of OCD lays the medical approaches that have been used to treat the condition. While some researchers believe that the re-uptake inhibitors are highly successful, others believe that the chemicals only worsen an already serious condition. Obsessive Compulsive is a condition that has had numerous clinical explorations in an exponential manner. However, the research in the biological factors of the disease continues to witness disagreements in the advances that have already been made. The recent findings concerning the heredity of this disorder and the identification of certain presumed subtypes continues to elicit different reactions. In addition. The development of sophisticated theoretical models to help understand OCD has until recently been the topic of discussion.

    Despite these controversies, the efforts research has put into understanding the nature of the disease should be appreciated. The advances in its treatment now range from medical attention to changes in cognitive behavior. However, these modes of treatment are not always effective to every OCD patient and that is why they have brought a lot of controversy.

    There are a couple of steps that researchers are taking to ensure this disorder is transformed from the unmanageable condition it is to a problem that can be managed. Psychologists now view OCD as a disease that can be treated and help increase the quality of life of the affected individual. The disciplinary lines between cognitive behavior and biology of OCD remain the most common areas that are researched on when it comes to this disease.

    Scientists are aware that medical approaches have been highly valuable in explaining the biological processes of OCD. In addition, the psychological formulations of OCD only emphasize the vital role of dysfuctional and  learning cognitions. Regardless of these facts, the empirical findings from each theoretical speculation are gaining a diverse range of perspectives.

    There have also been controversies surrounding some of the symptoms that come with OCD in adults. Compulsive hoarding is one of the serious signs of this disorder and involves the storage of unnecessary items. This usually results in cluttering and untidiness of the living area and is brought about by distress or impairment by the OCD patient. This symptom causes a lot of controversy since there are many people who have the habit of hoarding their items and yet do not suffer from OCD.

    It is this controversy that has led to a fresh line of new and  exciting research so as to increase the understanding of this syndrome. This issue has since continued to be debated upon and has led to newer advances regarding compulsive hoarding. Researchers have concluded that this hoarding is usually brought about by the obsession to collect as much property and items as possible. People with OCD will often believe that throwing away their belongings makes them evil and inhuman. Therefore, their thoughts will always tell them that keeping these things is a sure way of showing the world that they are good people. However, this behavior should not be confused with people who often prefer to keep their belongings in the garage as a way to remember their valuables.

    In another angle, controversies also exist in areas where literature concerning the disease remains unclear, under-developed and contradictory. For instance, it still remains unclear if OCD  should be categorized purely as an anxiety disorder or it should be considered as a different type of disorder. Secondly, there are many controversies that surround the existence and understanding of paediatric OCD. In addition, psychologists are yet to agree on an optimal mode of treatment for this disorder since different patients will respond differently to all the various types of treatment. Some people are still in doubt when it comes to combining pharmacotherapy with other ways of psychological treatment (Melca et al, 2013). Researchers are of the view that this approach is highly successful as it combines both biological and psychological healing (Melca et al, 2013). It has already been shown that the use of chemical drugs to compensate for the failure of serotonin neurotransmitter aids in the reduction of OCD  (Martinelli et al, 2014).

    In addition, it is able to contain anxiety and feelings in OCD patients, which is the main cause of the disorder. Despite these disagreements, research is looking at how best to disseminate the results of the evidence-based treatments (Melca et al, 2013).

    The potential role of autoimmune related disorders that are associated with certain bacterial infections has also been linked to OCD. This is quite contradicting since literature states that the only biological cause of this disease lies in the malfunctioning of the neurotransmitters (Melca et al, 2013). What’s more, the structure of the disorder as well as the subtypes are a source of disagreements among most psychiatrists. The relative contributions of genetics versus the environmental factors are well known to be risk factors for an individual to develop OCD. However, this knowledge is not entirely conclusive and it is still under close scrutiny (Thomsen, 2013).

    g) Conclusion

    Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is a  serious psychological condition that affects mainly adults across the globe. The condition is mainly characterized by a severe obsession and compulsive behavior that makes people engage in weird behavior. In addition, this disorder causes the affected person to perform a certain habit or activity in a repetitive or persistent manner without getting any form of returns from it. For example, most OCD patients will wash their hands so thoroughly that they can end up getting blisters and serious scars. They wash their hands to a serious extent because they think that their hands are dirty and may contaminate their bodies or people around them. OCD usually begins as an obsession that simply refuses to go away. It arised from the need to eradicate a given urge that is brough about by inner feelings that the person wants to sustain. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder can be caused by psychological factors as well as biological problems. The psychological cause is brough about by the paerson feeling inadequate, dirty, insecure and threatened. That is why a person can counter check if they have switched off the kitchen cooker twenty times even if they stopped cooking more than six hours ago.

    In terms of biological causes, OCD is attributed to the malfunctioning of certain neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine. Neurotransmitters are important chemicals that relay information between the pre and post synapse. These chemicals are usually released from the cerebrum of the brain and their absence results in serious mood, feeling and emotion disorders. For the case of OCD, serotonin is the most common neurotransmitter that usually malfunctions in most people. It is released from the brain, but is not able to pass across the post synapse. Therefore, most treatment options focus on enhancing the role of serotonin in OCD patients. Selective and non-selective re-uptake inhibitors work by restricting serotonin from being drawn back to the pre-synaptic membrane. Instead, they ensure that this chemical messenger is able to pass through the fluid filled synapse into the postsynaptic area.

    Several forms of therapy such as pharmacotherapy have been used to treat OCD. This form of treatment employs drugs that enhance the activity of serotonin and dopamine. However, these forms of treatment can only be effective if the patient adopts a healthy lifestyle. In addition, they can also engage in activities that will divert their attention from the obsessive habits. There are current controversies about the biology of this disorder that have made researchers focus their time in resolving them. For example, the genetic issues regarding OCD are yet to become fully conclusive. The genome for OCD is being sequenced so that the active genes responsible for the disease can be identified. However, it is clear that this disorder is hereditary and can be passed on from parent to offspring. What’s more, a close relative is at risk of developing this disease since they are within the family tree of the OCD patient. It is anticipated that ongoing research will bring a lasting solution to solve the fourth common psychiatric illness across the globe.

     

     

     

    References

    Dell’Osso, B., Camuri, G., Benatti, B., Buoli, M., & Altamura, A. (2013).  Differences in latency to first pharmacological treatment (duration of untreated illness) in anxiety disorders: a     study on patients with panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and obsessive-          compulsive disorder.  Early Intervention in Psychiatry, 7(4), 374-380.       doi:10.1111/eip.12016

    Dittrich, W. H., & Johansen, T. (2013).  Cognitive deficits of executive functions and decision-    making in obsessive-compulsive disorder.  Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 54(5),           393-400.  doi:10.1111/sjop.12066

    Fairfax, H., Easey, K., Fletcher, S., & Barfield, J. (2014).  Does Mindfulness help in the treatment           of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)?  An audit of client experience of an OCD            group.  Counselling Psychology Review, 29(3), 17-27

    Gellatly, J., & Molloy, C. (2014).  Psychological interventions in obsessive-compulsive      disorder.  Nursing Standard, 28(51), 51-59.

    Gomes, J., Van Noppen, B., Pato, M., Braga, D., Meyer, E., Bortoncello, C., & Cordioli, A.         (2014). Patient and family factors associated with family accommodation in obsessive- compulsive disorder.  Psychiatry & Clinical Neurosciences, 68(8), 621-630.          doi:10.1111/pcn.12172

    Gordon, O. M., Salkovskis, P. M., Oldfield, V. B., & Carter, N. (2013).  The association between            obsessive-compulsive disorder and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder: Prevalence      and clinical presentation.  British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 52(3), 300-315.         doi:10.1111/bjc.12016

    Jacob, M. L., & Storch, E. A. (2013).  Pediatric Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Review for    Nursing Professionals.  Journal of Child & Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing, 26(2), 138-       148.  doi:10.1111/jcap.12029

    Klein Hofmeijer-Sevink, M., van Oppen, P., van Megen, H. J., Batelaan, N. M., Cath, D. C., van der Wee, N. A., & … van Balkom, A. J. (2013).  Clinical relevance of comorbidity in    obsessive-compulsive disorder: The Netherlands OCD Association study.  Journal of   Affective Disorders, 150(3), 847-854.  doi:10.1016/j.jad.2013.03.014

    Lihua, M., Tao, Z., SiYong, H., Suwen, W., Xiaoxuan, Y., Yichen, G., & … Yan, B. (2014).         Obsessive-compulsive disorder in general hospital outpatients: Prevalence, correlates, and comorbidity in Lanzhou, China.  Asia-Pacific Psychiatry, 6(3), 308-318.          doi:10.1111/appy.12113

    Martinelli, M., Chasson, G. S., Wetterneck, C. T., Hart, J. M., & Björgvinsson, T. (2014).              Perfectionism dimensions as predictors of symptom dimensions of obsessive-compulsive disorder.  Bulletin of the Menninger Clinic, 78(2), 140-159.doi 10.1521 bumc.  2014.

    Melca, I., Rodrigues, C., Serra-Pinheiro, M., Pantelis, C., Velakoulis, D., Mendlowicz, M., &        Fontenelle, L. (2013).  Delusional Misidentification Syndromes in Obsessive-Compulsive             Disorder.  Psychiatric Quarterly, 84(2), 175-181.  Doi:  10.1007/s11126-012-9237-z

    Moradi, M., Fata, L., Abhari, A., & Abbasi, I. (2014).  Comparing Attentional Control and           Intrusive Thoughts in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder   and Non-Clinical Population.  Iranian Journal of Psychiatry, 9(2), 69-75.

    Peterson, R, N. (2012).  Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Therapeutics – Pipeline     Assessment and Market Forecasts to 2019.  PR Newswire US.

    Souza Vivan, A., Rodrigues, L., Wendt, G., Giaretton Bicca, M., Tusi Braga, D., & Volpato         Cordioli, A. (2014).  Obsessive-compulsive symptoms and obsessive-compulsive disorder          in adolescents: a population-based study.Revista Brasileira De Psiquiatria, 36(2), 111-   118.  Doi:  10.1590/1516-4446-2013-1113

    Thomsen, P. (2013).  Obsessive-compulsive disorders.  European Child & Adolescent       Psychiatry, 2223-28.  Doi:  10.1007/s00787-012-0357-7

    Tucci, M., Dvorkin-Gheva, A., Sharma, R., Taji, L., Cheon, P., Peel, J., & … Szechtman, H.          (2014). Separate mechanisms for development and performance of compulsive checking       in the quinpirole sensitization rat model of obsessive-compulsive disorder       (OCD).  Psychopharmacology, 231(18), 3707-3718.  Doi:  10.1007/s00213-014-3505-6

    Vakili, Y., & Gharraee, B. (2014).  The Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy    in Treating a Case of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.  Iranian Journal of         Psychiatry, 9(2), 115-117.

    Weber, F., Hauke, W., Jahn, I., Stengler, K., Himmerich, H., Zaudig, M., & Exner, C. (2014).       Does “thinking about thinking” interfere with memory?  An experimental memory study    in obsessive–compulsive disorder.  Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 28(7), 679-686.           doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2014.07.009

  • Federal Public Health Service, Surgeon General and CDC Essay Example

    a topic report about the following

     

    Health

    What are the roles of the federal Public Health Service?What does the Surgeon General do? What does CDC do? How is each organized? What regulations do they each enforce and what policy do they each make?

     

    Topic Report Format:

    14-page (double spaced)report using 12 point Times New Roman font, standard margins

    Proper in-text citations
    and list of Sources Consulted in
    A
    P
    A
    f
    o
    rma
    t
    .
    Pages will be numbered and each section will have the heading in
    bold print.
    Be sure that all the points in each section listed below are covered in your paper.

     

    The paper will have the following topic headings typically found in academic reports, and be used as dividing points within the paper:

     

    Background:
    description of issue or program (
    typically 4 pages
    )

    Methodology:
    description of the method you used to create the analysis(see Rosenbloom’s

    discussion of program evaluation methods, lecture on program analysis) (
    1-2 paragraphs
    )

    Literature Review: 
    what did you read about your topic that was written by other authors? Write it as an essay with citations, not as an annotated bibliography (
    2-3 pages
    )

    Analysis:
    the impacts of this issue in the context of the political situation, community situation, societal concerns, preceding/ existing policies or programs; who were the stakeholders involved in the policymaking and how was the balance of power represented in the policy development outcomes so far. The analysis must both
    support your recommendation and acknowledge all sides of the issue
    (e.g., opposition, alternatives)(
    6-

    8 pages
    )
    .
    Be sure to include appropriate references to C
    onsti
    tu
    t
    i
    on
    a
    l and l
    ega
    l
    i
    ssues
    re
    lat
    e
    d to
    y
    our topic.
    Remember that this is a RESEARCH REPORT, not an argument or legal brief, so you are providing a balanced and supported view, not arguing!

    Conclusion:
    Summarize the significance of the topic
    tied to your analysis
    . (
    1
    p
    a
    r
    ag
    r
    a
    ph
    ).

     

    The paper will be evaluated using the following criteria:

     

    Criteria

    P
    oints

    a) The professionalism with which the report is presented: clarity, appearance, grammar,

    spelling, appropriate word choice, “voice”.

    3

     

     

    b)The comprehensiveness and care with which the topic being analyzed is described,

    including citing the appropriate Constitutional and legal issues.

    4

     

     

    c) The demonstration of understanding of relevant public administration concepts that

    can be used to explain the topic and its context, impact, and policy outcomes.

    5

     

     

    d)The quality of
    analysis providing links between class discussion and readings 
    and the topic

    6

     

     

    e) The quality of critical thinking demonstrated in the Analysis section
    .

    6

     

     

    f)The
    appropriateness of the references
    selected
    and the analytical bridge to the paper

    topic, including correct in-text and sources consulted citations.

    4

    g) The APA format was properly used for all citations

    2

    TOTAL

    30

     

    EACH STUDENT WILL WRITE AN INDEPENDENT PAPER

    Topics Report   

     

    Because the text focuses on federal public administration, the research papers will have a
    state and local government focus
    . Resources include academic journal articles,credible non-academic periodicals such as
    The Economist, NewYorker, Time
    , academic analytical books, staff reports and government documents on the topic, newspaper articles and editorials about the topic, and interviews of elected and appointed officials familiar with the topic. The paper will be written in academic report format,
    with a “Sources Consulted” list and appropriate citations throughout.

     

     

     

     

     

    Federal Public Health Service, Surgeon General and CDC

    Name:

    Instructor:

    Date:

     

     

    Background

    The health system in the United States has witnessed tremendous growth over the years. We have come know it is a system that is perhaps the most developed as well as effective across the world. However, what most individuals within the United States and beyond do not understand is that the health system is complex as it can get. Indeed, one could say that this has contributed to its success in ensuring a healthy nation while also putting the country at risk. This is because the many interconnected components must function as expected at all times to ensure that we have a healthy nation. Often, the health systems comes out as involving all public and private as well as voluntary entities that have contributed to the delivery of vital public health services within the United States jurisdiction. In fact, the concept of health system oversee that the various components or entities contribute to the health as well as wellbeing of the society. Once, the health system in the country was viewed as consisting of official/government public health entities but such a perception has transformed over the years to include other public sector entities (for instance schools, land-use agencies, environmental protection entities) as well as private-sector agencies. This has meant that the health system in the country is involved in various works meant to ensure public health. From educating the public on injury prevention through monitoring outbreaks of diseases and implementing initiatives to curb their spread, the public health system make the lives of those living in the United States safer as well as healthier. People may not realize it but the health system is ever-present in citizens’ lives. Indeed, at some point in one’s life health system is all but important. This includes pregnancy, at birth, and throughout childhood and adulthood. This is because health system involves the efforts, art, science, as well as approaches that are used by different sectors of society to oversee assurance, maintenance, protection, promotion, and improvement of people’s health. In fact, the health system in the United States goes past assuring the conditions of public health because the inclusion of private-agencies means that businesses and employers, academic, the media and others play a critical role.

    As signified above, the mission of the health system revolves around promoting the physical and psychological health of communities as well as populations, to prevent ailments, injury, and disability. This means that the health system may focus of a smaller number of individuals as evidenced through the integration of local/state level agencies. The health system in developed countries such as the United States becomes a complex as well as multi-faceted web with the common aim of protecting the health of a population. It is noted that this system comprises of an infrastructure that enables delivery of services to the masses. In the United States, the infrastructure allows the crucial public health functions to be undertaken and comprises of myriad units and or organizations. For instance, within federal’s department of HHS (Health and Human Services) there are various agencies including the primary ones for public health such as the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), the NIH (National Institutes of Health), HRSA (Health Resources and Services Administration), FDA (Food and Drug Administration), as well as AHRQ (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality). As far as public health policy is concerned, primary leadership rests with the Surgeon General –the chief of the United States Public Health Service- as well as the CDC (California Health Policy Forum, 2007). Whilst most federal public health activity falls under HHS department, a number of agencies in public health are also involved. This includes USDA (United States Department of Agriculture), OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration), EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), Department of Defense and others. Worth noting, is that there are responsibilities for public health functions at various levels of government including state and federal. Most authority, however, is at the state level. Often, the federal government influences public health practice by funding decisions as well as setting national policy. This translates into providing leadership as well as shifting focus on public health challenges. On the other hand, states engage in numerous activities to protect public health. These activities range from safety enforcement as well as sanitary codes to carrying out inspections and mandating the reporting of various illnesses to state authorities. In addition, such activities as compelling quarantine or isolation and licensing facilities and workers are undertaken at the state level. Regularly, states delegate authority for various functions to local governments at the forefront in responding to health emergencies.

    Evidently, the public health system governing the country is complex and inter-agency relationships are at the core of its success. In fact, not one agency functions in isolation because the core aim remains to protect the population against diseases that continue to threat societies across the world. The department of HHS thus works together with various agencies meant to ensure public health. An in-depth look at some of the agencies and their roles in ensuring overall public health can reveal the manner in which the agencies are interlinked. Worth noting, is that their policies may seemingly be structured differently but the core aim of ensuring public health overrides. Some of the components that will be explored in this paper include the Surgeon General, the federal Public Health Service, as well as the CDC. These agencies lie at the center of United States’ health system and are some of the most important in protecting the public against diseases and ensuring wellness. Altogether, public health remains a global issue and the United States is no exception. It is in the best interest of a country to ensure that her citizens remain healthy. The United States is among the many nations that adopted United Nation’s declaration on health (California Health Policy Forum, 2007). The declaration accepts that citizens’ health is a human right that ought to be preserved by the governments.

    Methodology

    The methodology used in this paper to analyze the aforementioned agencies involves exploratory research. This methodology has been chosen because the areas of study are not only wide but also the fact that the intention is to merely explore the given questions. Often carried out to determine the nature of a problem, the methodology used in this paper is meant to provide a clear picture of the agencies under focus. This means that such a methodology is crucial to making people understand a problem and or answers to a question. A number of considerations are made when using this methodology including the researcher’s willingness to change direction due to revelation of fresh information and or insights. In particular, exploratory methodology of research is handy in situation where a researcher has an idea about a given topic (s) and embarks on a journey to understand it better. This has seen exploratory methodologies of research labeled as initial research because they involve laying the groundwork for better understanding of an issue or a topic. Often, exploratory methodology of research involves questions that necessitate insight and this may include new topics. Worth noting, is that new angles about a topic can result out of fresh information found through exploratory methods of research. This includes new theoretical perspectives as well as fresh ways of measuring something. Nevertheless, the tactic that will be employed in this case involves article reviews. The tactic will include extensive search for related materials in academic databases as well as respectable publications over the Internet. Such sources often provide researchers with rich sources of information that can be built upon to answer questions. This will be helpful in providing insight into the agencies including their roles, organization, relationships, as well as the kind of policies they make or enforce.

    Literature review

    Scutchfield and Keck (2003) claim that one of the most crucial federal organizations in public health, involves the public health service. This is an arm of the federal security agency. In fact, the public health service assisted the creation of state health departments through giving grants-in-aid, providing advice and consultation on various problems, as well as loaning expert personnel. For instance, if a specific state was witnessing an unprecedented outbreak of disease the public health service would make available exerts to trace the starting place. This included suggesting means of dealing with the spread of an illness. Scutchfield and Keck (2003) insist it must be said that a key stimulus to the growth of public health practice came in response to the challenges associated with the Great Depression through the New deal as well as 1935s Social Security Act. Out of the public health viewpoint, the Social Security Act signified a significant step forward. As Scutchfield and Keck points out, title v of this act provided for an initiative of grants to states including child health services among others. In addition, title vi expanded financing of the public health service as well as allotted federal funds to states assisting them to develop the public health services. Nevertheless, Halverson et al (1998) claim the public health service in the United States has an established history of providing health care services. Established in 1798, the agency grew to become the predominant unit in charge of developing public health programs, sub-agencies, as well as services at a federal level. This underlines its role in the public health system, and it is evident that the agency is among the most crucial in the U.S. in fact, the services are designed to not only examine the health status of the nation but also to meet the identified needs in the health system. In 1996, the public health service agency was recognized and placed under the DHHS to play the role of creating a more efficient as well as client service-oriented unit. Altogether, these are some of the key roles played by public health service agency.

    The Surgeon General’s role in the American health system is also crucial. A longstanding docket in U.S government history, Surgeon General previously played the role of heading the Public Health Service including all programs, financial management, as well as administrative duties. Satcher (2015) notes that this changed in 1968 and in modern times, the Surgeon General serves as United States’ chief health educator through providing citizens the best scientific information on improving health as well as minimizing injury and illness risk. According to Ray (2014), the modern roles associated with Surgeon General include articulating scientifically based health policy examination as well as advice to the government (especially HHS secretary) on the full variety of crucial public health system challenges facing the country. Another crucial role played by Surgeon General involves administering PHS commissioned corps – a uniquely flexible and expert career force of health professionals- who are ready to respond to long-term and short-term health needs of the public. Ray (2014) also notes that Surgeon General’s roles include providing leadership as well as management supervision for commissioned corps’ involvement in emergency preparedness as well as research properties. Another role involves fulfilling statutory as well as regular departmental representational responsibilities on a range of federal panels and governing units of non-federal health agencies such as the National Library of Medicine, American Medical Association, Armed forces Institute of Pathology, and Association of Military Surgeons. Altogether, these are some of roles for Surgeon General.

    CDC is renowned in the country and beyond for its crucial role in ensuring public health. Halverson et al (1998) contends that the agency mission revolves around promoting health as well as quality of life through preventing and controlling injury, disease, as well as disability. It has centers across the country and some of its roles include providing statistical information for guiding actions as well as policy to support the health of the citizens. This role is through a division known as the National Center for Health Statistics. What is more, CDC’s roles include running the all-important National Center for STD (sexually transmitted disease), HIV (human immune-deficiency virus), and TB (tuberculosis) prevention (Brunette, 2011). This division plays a particularly crucial role in the health system because it provides surveillance, prevention studies, as well as programs to prevent and or control STDs, HIV infection, and TB. Halverson et al (1998) also notes that CDC’s roles include prevention as well as control of disease, birth defects, and disability resulting out of association between individuals and the environment. This is achieved through its division known as the National Center for Environmental Health. In addition, the agency has a division named the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, which establishes programs for reducing injury, disability and related costs, as well as death outside the workplace. Another role associated with CDC is strengthening the community observation of public health via information networks, overseeing laboratory quality, and via conducting practice research. This is achieved through CDC’s International Health Program division or office. The National immunization program, on the other hand, is tasked with immunization programs throughout the country. In sum, CDC roles are wide-ranging and sometimes may focus on such groups as infants and adolescents with the core aim of promoting health. This includes promoting healthy personal behaviors among citizens.

    Analysis

    The federal public health service, as aforementioned, is crucial to the functionality of the health system as a whole. Its roots can be traced back to the colonial period in the United States when there were repeated epidemics of such diseases as cholera, smallpox, and yellow fever. For instance, an epidemic in Philadelphia in late 17
    th
    century nearly shutdown the federal government and such health crisis brought about the idea of municipal boards of health. These boards comprised of respected citizens who were authorized to act in society’s interest in implementing quarantine, evacuation, as well as other public health interventions. Indeed, early role of the federal government in combating diseases led to modern-day U.S public health service. It was established as the Marine Hospital Service that continued to evolve to include a range of public health services including sub-agencies, programs, as well as services. The services were designed to examine nation’s health status. In the mid-1990s, the goal accelerated towards a more efficient as well as client service-oriented agency and the public health service was not only reorganized but also placed under the all-inclusive domain of DHHS. As far as its organization is concerned, the agency is well placed in the health system of the nation to assess public health needs and provide for means to meet them. The agency is directed through the Office of the Secretary as well as the Deputy Secretary who oversee the Assistant Secretary of Health, the Assistant Secretary of Management and Budget, Planning, and Evaluation Assistant secretary, Legislation Assistant Secretary, as well as the Assistant Secretary of Public Affairs. Worth noting, is that the Office of the Secretary directs several key public health agencies including Administration on Aging and Administration for Children and Families. The organization can be classified into four major units including the NIH, the Office of the Surgeon General, the Bureau of Medical Services, as well as the Bureau of State Servicers. The federal public health service has come a long way to its present state in terms of regulations involves. The New Deal as well as the Social Security Act of 1935 can be viewed as some of the foundations leading to this agency. As an example, title VI of the Social Security Act provided for expanded financing of the public health service agency. In fact, federal as well as state expenditures for public health increased significantly immediately following the Great Depression. In turn, this fueled expansion of local or state health units. In recent times, the agency was recognized trough the Public Health Service Act (1944) in which the federal government sought to introduce compact as well as orderly arrangement of existing regulations related to public health. Thus, some of the regulations that are made and or enforced by the agency include providing authority to make grants in aid to research companies for study of a disease. What is more, the agency authorizes expansion of all federal-state public health programs including calling for the establishment of specific control programs such as those involving tuberculosis. Altogether, it is evident that the federal public health service occupies a central role in the public health system because its policies are far-reaching both at federal and state levels.

    An analysis of the Surgeon General docket ought to include public health service agency because for many years it headed the agency. The focus revolved around controlling infectious diseases, which was significant to safeguard American soldiers who were located in endemic areas and to safeguard the American public once infected soldier returned home. However, the focus of Surgeon General changed after the creation of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare –later the DHHS. The Surgeon General reported to the secretary of Department of Health, Education, and Welfare and later to the assistant of Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. Eventually, Surgeon General was awarded back the responsibility for the public health service. The aim was to ensure that an office in the long administrative line of the health system would assume the role of overseeing public health focus (Haley and Kreek, 2015). In fact, the modern office of the Surgeon General involves issuing reports from time to time calling to action or communicating on matters of significance to the health of the citizens. In essence, Surgeon General is within the health system to help it focus on matters that continue affecting the public health system. For instance, modern times have seen Surgeon General associated with helping the American public to act on such matters as alcoholism and smoking. Without a doubt, these represent some of the key issues affecting the health of American people. In terms of organization, Surgeon General’s office falls under the Public Health Service agency within the all-inclusive DHHS. In fact, Surgeon General’s office is one of the several administrative units under the Public Health Service. What is more, the organization of this office includes a Deputy Surgeon General as well as up to three Assistant Surgeons General who are tasked with several bureaus. Staff officers with the position of Surgeon General’s assistant are responsible for the administration of sanitary and dental engineering activities. Indeed, U.S Coast Guard’s Medical Director has the position of assistant Surgeon General within the Public Health Service. This reveals the fact that the Surgeon General occupies a significant position in the country’s health system. Seeing that Surgeon General’s office is within the Public Health Service agency, laws or regulations governing the latter apply to Surgeon General. These include the Public Health Service Act, which has far reaching significance as far as public health matters are concerned. The Surgeon General is associated with creation of virtually all policies on public health in the country. This is because the office is expected to generate reports from time to time detailing the challenges the public health system faces. Nevertheless, the fact that the Surgeon General is involved in public health leadership at the highest level by serving as an advisor to the government (especially the secretary of Health and Human Services) indicates the office’s involvement in policy enactment. In addition, the office oversees regulations governing Public Health Service’s commissioned corps and informs the country about crucial public health issues. In fact, all Surgeon Generals have been involved in public health policy formulation through championing specific issues. For instance, Talley and Travis (2014) note that Surgeon General J. B. Richmond championed for formulation of “Healthy People” policy on exercising, environmental factors, and nutrition.

    CDC is among the most crucial agencies in the public health system of the nation. This is because the agency can be attributed to health practitioners needs to improve association between academic and the practice community as well as to ensure competent public health. This includes a competent workforce capable of delivering public health services. It opened the doors in mid-1940s as the Communicable Disease Center. It was a new component of the Public Health service. Initially, the agency was concerned with controlling the spread of malaria in the country but it great to include many other crucial roles over the years. In fact, the agency is the leader in public health matters as enshrined in its mission to collaborate to develop the expertise, information, as well as tools that communities require safeguarding their health (Public Health Reports, 1944). In particular, the 19
    th
    century saw the agency come of age through continuing applications of classic field-oriented epidemiology and via the development of fresh methodologies. As an example, the disciplines of decision sciences and health economics were merged to generate a fresh area of emphasis in prevention effectiveness. Worth noting, is that such an approach involved making rational choices about public health interventions. This indicates that recent years have seen the agency more involved in prevention strategies of public health. Nevertheless, a number of legislations over the years have contributed to CDC’s emergence as a leader in public health locally and globally. These include the crucial Public Health Service Act, which has far-reaching significance in U.S public health system. In fact, under section 361 of the act the Secretary of Health and Human Services has authority to undertake measures meant to safeguard the entry as well as spread of communicable diseases. In turn, the authority for undertaking such functions has been delegated to CDC. Indeed, the federal regulations authorize CDC to not only detain but also medically analyze as well as release individuals entering the U.S. This also includes individuals travelling between nations who may be suspected to have communicable diseases. On the other hand, states have police authority functions to safeguard the health, safety, as well as welfare of citizens. This implies that states have regulations to enforce the use of quarantine and isolation, and breaking such orders is often a criminal misdemeanor. What is more, if quarantinable illnesses are identified or suspected, CDC enforces policies on federal isolation and or quarantine order. The agency is falls under Health and Human Services domain, which is an inclusive department with secretaries and deputy secretaries. As with other agencies and units in the Public Health Service line, the core aim is to oversee public health improvement. In sum, CDC occupies a key area in American health system and collaborates with other agencies in DHHS to protect the health of all citizens.

    Conclusion

    The Health and Human Services domain in the U.S is wide-ranging and it remains crucial to the wellbeing of Americans and beyond. More so, it contains such crucial divisions as the Public Health Service, Surgeon General, as well as the CDC. These agencies, as evidenced in this paper, are crucial to delivery of health services to the population. They play numerous roles in delivery of health services to the public including developing as well as applying illness prevention and control, occupational safety as well as health, and environmental health. This includes injury prevention as well as overall health promotion. Worth noting, is that the various agencies collaborate to ensure that quality healthcare is delivered to American population. The various divisions must function as one entity to ensure that the core aim of ensuring a healthy America is realized. This brings in the idea of a system in which the federal public health service, Surgeon General, as well as the CDC play crucial roles in ensuring effectiveness. Nonetheless, the role are often undertaken at the federal level but can be delegated to state levels in which actors or sub-units engage target groups and communities. This paper has evidenced that the different divisions or agencies have evolved over the years to become effective, as we know them. Thus, it can be predicted that transformations in their roles will continue to evolve as the country seeks to come up with a model most likely to minimize or eliminate issues facing the health system.

     

    References

    Scutchfield, F and Keck, W. (2003). Principles of public health practice.USA: Cengage    Learning.

    Halverson, P et al. (1998). Managed care and public health. USA: Aspen Publishers.

    Talley, R and Travis, S. (2014). Multidisciplinary coordinated caregiving. USA: Springer Science & Business Media.

    Public Health Reports. (1944). Public Health Service Act, 1944. Retrieved from             http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1403520/pdf/pubhealthrep00059-   0006.pdf

    California Health Policy Forum. (2007). Understanding the United States public health system.    Retrieved from             ttp://www.cahpf.org/godocuserfiles/207.chi%20brief%20united%20states.pdf

    Satcher, D. (2015). The past and future office of the Surgeon General. Annals of Internal             Medicine, Vol. 162 Issue 6, p 450-451.

    Ray, L. (2014). The role of the Surgeon General. Retrieved from http://woman.thenest.com/role-  surgeon-general-14602.html

    Haley, S and Kreek, M. (2015). A window of opportunity. American Journal of
    Public

    Health
    ,     Vol. 105 Issue 3, p 457-463.

    Brunette, G. (2011). CDC health information for international travel 2012. USA: Oxford University Press.

    Plein, C. (2014). An uncertain federalism. Journal of
    Health
    &
    Human
    Services
    Administration.   Vol. 37 Issue 3, p 350-377.

  • Ontario health care system Essay- Primary Care Research Paper Assignment

    TOPIC: Primary Care

    Research Paper Assignment

     

    Primary care has been touted as the answer to real transformational change

    and improved integration of 
    Ontario’s health care system
    .

    –    Discuss the definitions of primary (health) care and primary medical

        care and the similarities and differences between them.

    –    Describe the rationale behind the belief that primary care is a critical component of improved integration.

    –    Discuss the key roadblocks that must be addressed and what can/should be done

    Evaluation Criteria

    .Application of the concepts and frameworks from lectures and readings

    .Ability to synthesize and incorporate course ideas

    .Ability to construct a coherent and well-informed argument based on a review of the literature (new articles beyond the course readings are required).

    .Clarity of the research paper

    .Note that descriptive papers are not sufficient as the teaching team wants to see an understanding and not merely a regurgitation of information.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    PRIMARY CARE

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

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    Primary Care

    The state of complete mental, physical and social well being of a person combined with the absence of disease and infirmity is what constitutes good human health. The health care sector is mandated with the task of overseeing that its citizens are able to remain in a state of complete physical health. There are different departments and sections within the health care department that serve these functions at a variable level. One of these departments is the primary care sector that forms the core foundation of most health care systems. Primary care is one of the sections within health care that serves the umbrella function of providing very basic care to patients. This care is often  provided on a daily basis by either a physician, health worker or a nurse. The person offering this kind of care is usually the first person of contact with the patient and they are supposed to coordinate all other involvements with this sick person. Due to the basic nature of primary health care, many countries and states have put in place measures to improve the service delivery.

    In Ontario, primary care has been touted as the answer to real transformational change and improved integration of its health care system. This is because primary care is regarded as one of its fundamental pillars in the health system. Therefore, this state thrives to foster the improvement of quality medical and health care to its people. It does this by providing the appropriate and adequate resources, strategies and initiatives to help primary care to become more efficient. The primary care providers such as the nurse practitioners and the physicians are also given additional training so that they can be competent at what they do. In any case, the core aim of primary care is to make sure that patients receive the most basic treatment and care in a quality and effective manner. This paper is an incisive and descriptive essay that discusses the importance of primary care by focusing on Ontario’s health care system.

    Discuss the definitions of primary (health) care and primary medical care

    Primary health care or PHC is a segment of health care that deals with scientific and socially accepted methods of providing health care to individuals. This type of care is tasked with the duty of ensuring that health care is accessible to everyone within the community, society or even country (Chrystal et al, 2015). As such, primary health care strives to become universal, so that every person can at least have access to a medical facility. PHC is also an approach that strives to see that health is achieved through additional medical and social policies. This bracket of health care includes all the areas that play a very instrumental role in health (Phillips et al, 2014).

    This means that primary health care is intertwined with the individual’s lifestyle, their environment and how they access health care. Consequently, primary health care can be considered as a cornerstone that can be used to achieve the ideal health system on a universal scale. The ultimate goal and objective of primary health care is to improve health accessibility and ensure that all people can be able to visit a health facility (Pype et al, 2014). PHC is able to do this by reducing the gap that exists between social classes and disparities in the health care sector. Secondly, PHC also strives to organize and deliver health services that are within the needs and expectations of the people. This is normally considered as part of service delivery reform. Thirdly, primary health care aims at integrating health into all the available sectors of the economy (Thomas et al, 2015).

    This includes both the public and private policies of reforms. In addition, PHC also pursues the collaborative models of policy and dialogue so that it can increase the participation of the respective stakeholders (Thomas et al, 2015). On the other hand, primary medical care aims at providing the highest quality of medical care to all sick people and patients. In addition, primary medical care or PMC endeavors to prevent illnesses, diseases and health conditions in the patients themselves. The overall aim of PMC is to work together with the health professionals to provide quality care that is also comprehensive and integrated as well (Giltenane et al, 2015). The practice of PMC includes the promotion of health, prevention of diseases, maintaining health and diagnosis of diseases. In addition, primary medical care also deals with counseling and educating the patient, providing in-patient and out patient care as well as offering other medical forms of care such as home care and day care.

    Primary medical care is performed and provided by a personal physician, doctor or health practitioner. This person works with the collaboration of other important parties such health professionals (Jenstad and Donnelly, 2015). This ensures that the provision of PMC is such that there is a total utilization of the appropriate processes so that medical care is of utmost quality. In addition, PMC strives to become cost-effective so that virtually all people can afford it. Primary medical care is a practice that is considered as the first point of entry of the patient to the health care system. What’s more, it also serves as a continuing focal point for the medical care services that are needed (Mundt et al, 2015).

    This means that primary medical care also has a mission of providing patients with the access to the physician or doctor that they want to treat them.  In overall, primary medical care is generally structured to provide medical attention to the larger majority. The state of Ontario is striving hard to provide quality primary medical and health care. ­Presently, Ontario does not have a well coordinated or comprehensive approach  that deals with the performance of this medical sector. In fact, statistics show that Ontarios primary medical and health care compare quite poorly with other states and cities (Ngiap et al, 2014).

    This means that the health care sector in Ontario also falters if it is compared to other states on the same level. As such, a lot of effort is being placed towards the primary care sector in Ontario so that areas and loopholes of possible improvement are identified. This began when the health quality unit in Ontario saw the dire need to have a large-scale approach that can measure the performance of both primary medical and health care (Ngiap et al, 2014).

    This measurement can be done at the practice and system levels where specific programs are usually launched. These performance initiatives are undertaken together with the collaborative efforts of key stakeholders in the medical fraternity. The end product of these efforts is to ensure that health care is available and affordable for all.

    Similarities and differences between primary (health) care and primary medical care

    Both primary medical care and primary health care are perceived to be the most comprehensive rationale behind the provision of health and medical services. However, the two fields of care have a number of similarities and differences. Primary medical care and primary health care are two terms that are used interchangeably on a very regular basis. However, it should be noted that the two terms are used to denote and refer to very different concepts. These two terms describe very distinct and unique entities that relate to aspects within the medical field. Primary medical care deals with approaches that include policies and regulations that can reform the sector. One of the similarities between PMC and PHC is that both of these terms deal with the process of providing medical attention in the best way possible (Chrystal et al, 2015).

    Both of these disciplines strive to ensure that medical attention is available to people at an affordable cost. Additionally, both PMC and PHC are governed by some policies and rules, some of which are formulated by the World Health Organization. If the focus is placed on Ontario, the PHC sector supports families and individuals so that they can make the best and informed decision concerning their health. In addition, PHC in Ontario includes the provision of advice on the best and suitable strategies of promoting health and preventing diseases (Phillips et al, 2014). In as much as there are similarities between PMC and PHC, There are also a couple of differences that exist between primary health care and primary medical care. To begin with, primary medical care is often used in describing a family practice where a small number of individuals are given urgent attention. On other other hand, primary health care is a broader term that usually encompasses the wider selection of people such as providers of health care (Phillips et al, 2014). PHC also includes the function and services of other stakeholders and how they aspire to achieve these goals. Sometimes, primary health care is regarded as a bracket of health care that is founded on the principles of offering fair and accessible to almost all people.            Secondly, PHC endeavors to remain relevant to the people by ensuring that their medica needs are met (Pype et al, 2014). Primary health care differs from primary medical care in that it is more cost effective and uses various forms of technology to provide quality care to patients. The World Health Organization plays a very instrumental role in ensuring that all children and adults can be able to access quality and affordable health care (Pype et al, 2014).  This is achieved by following their policies and rules that are part of their mission. PHC also takes into account the demographics and population index of various places so that it can know how best to serve people in a given area (Jenstad and Donnelly, 2015).  There are numerous explanations that continue to be given for both primary medical or health care. The fact remains that both are distinctly different and they should not be used interchangeably.

     

     

    Describe the rationale behind the belief that primary care is a critical component of improved integration.

    The Ontario health care system is amid one of the best medical systems in the world. Residents who qualify for this health system have the privilege  to access various kinds of health care facilities in their community (Jenstad and Donnelly, 2015).  In Ontario, citizens are given a medical health cover insurance that will cater for their medical needs during emergencies. There are various ways of getting non-emergency medical care in Ontario. One of them is by trained medical staff answering the patients’ questions via phone (Giltenane et al, 2015). Family doctors, nurses and other health care providers are usually the ones in most cases concerned with checking out and attending to patients’ medical complications. Primary health care is a necessity for an improved medical integration, and an example can be seen in treatment for chronic diseases like cancer, heart complications, kidney failures, and many other diseases.

    In most countries, primary health care is practiced by nurses, and other health providers (Thomas et al, 2015).  In preventing chronic diseases, multiple guidelines have been developed to help general physicians in the avoidance of Chronic diseases. The prospective role of general practice comprises the identification and delivery of brief interventions to avert chronic disease and also the referral to other facilities and programs. A number of industrialized nations have introduced and embarked on healthcare reforms, these reforms is aimed at improving their systems of delivering primary health care (Jenstad and Donnelly, 2015). With the introduction of medical reforms, many people are able to access primary medical care and the rate of their attendants increased.

    Launching a more rational basis for referrals and taming the coordination between primary care and specialist doctors making primary care practice more interesting and rationally fulfilling. Nations should embrace the distribution of both primary care and specialists by modifying their authorizing rules to health requirements in different areas or by providing financial enticements for practicing in harsh areas, as is done in some other nations. Primary care is a necessity and so ways of improving it must be incorporated (Mundt et al, 2015).  Allocating more funds to facilitate research in primary health care will be of great help in the expansion of this service, as this will benefit many people in the community.

    Discuss the key roadblocks that must be addressed and what can/should be done

    Delivering worthy patient care is aim number one for most medical practices, but good objectives are not constantly enough if your management progressions keep falling apart (Ngiap et al, 2014).  Fort Wayne Medical Education Program (FWMEP),  family health program in Indiana came up with several road blocks that hindered the administration of primary health care, and possible ways on how to overcome them  Some of these roadblocks that must be addressed within the Ontario health and reform system are presented below:

    Scheduling visits more effectively

    As a busy practice seeing 100 patients a day, FWMEP has to quickly look for possible solutions on how to attend to patients and especially those with acute health problems. First, and foremost, WMEP created fifteen appointment slots, each taking place morning and afternoon hours (Jenstad and Donnelly, 2015).  Secondly, The exercise established two brochures that focus on the need for preventive  care, one for young teenagers and the other for adults (Ngiap et al, 2014). Usually, these services were offered to patients and parents during their  appointment periods, and the exercise plans to widen delivery services to patients who are not planning on performing preventive exams frequently.

     

    Providing two visits in one

    One major obstacle to executing a double visit procedure was the absence of coding and reimbursement skills amid the medical practice. To curb this, doctors were taught how to clearly deal with both services in the patient’s electronic health record and correctly code them with the use of modifier 25 to show that a major, separately distinguishable service was delivered on the same day (Jenstad and Donnelly, 2015). At first, this resulted to consternation, but after few weeks of practice, a careful evaluation discovered that adding ten minutes to accommodate well-child checks was not troublesome and in fact improved the treatment time.

    Reducing missed appointments

    To handle the  roadblock of missed appointments, the practice should take a detailed overview of mails sent by patients to their physicians for those who did not make for their ideal appointment day.  For instance, FWMEP found out that though they requested patients to reorganize for their appointments, the mails did not have any information on how to contact these patients (Mundt et al, 2015).  The practice came up with a new mail highlighting the practice’s contact numbers and e-mail address, so that the doctors could communicate with patients and know why they missed their appointments. FWMEP also got the support of AmeriHealth Mercy of Indiana, which promised to handle communications when patients missed three or more appointments (Mundt et al, 2015). The practice also reviewed its method for appointment approval phone calls. Even though patients will get appointment notices from an automated system two days before their planned appointment, they must be reminded on that specific day their appointment will occur, and most patients will be contacted in the morning.

     

     

    Increasing newborn care

    To avoid postpartum and preliminary newborn care from subsiding through the cracks, the doctors deliver hospital care to moms and children (Thomas et al, 2015). In addition, they have to use the discharge paperwork for each of their patients to one of the two triage nurses employed by the practice. The nurse follows up straight with the patient to program the newborn and postpartum appointment (Ngiap et al, 2014). Patients get an automated an approval call two days prior these appointments. The practice is making an allowance for the emergence of a postpartum and nursery standing-order sheet to train hospital ward workers to review the exercise earlier before the patient is cleared from the hospital to plan for the postpartum and newborn check-ups (Ngiap et al, 2014).

    Positive results

    The new scheduling conventions which include welcome calls to new patients, approval calls for all well-child checks and postpartum follow-up calls, were tabled in by earlier staff after reshuffling and relocating jobs. Using a system that makes enhanced utilization of  providers’ time, instead of the addition of more hours, the practice’s volume and revenue both improved (Chrystal et al, 2015). Most significantly, kids are getting the preventive, primary care they require. This advantage has proved that refining outcomes may contain much more than revising what goes on in the exam room (Phillips et al, 2014). Enhanced aftermaths may well depend upon uncovering and eradicating the barriers a practice makes, and  how it succeeds in accessing it.

    Conclusion

    Primary care is vital for building a durable health care system that warrants positive health outcomes, usefulness and competence, and health impartiality. It is the first interaction in a health care system for people and is embracing coordination and completeness. It offers  individual, community-oriented and family-focused  care for treating, preventing, or improving common infections and disabilities, and supporting health. In both developed and developing countries, primary care has been proven to be connected with enriched access to health care services, improved health aftermaths, and a reduction in hospitalization and use of emergency unit visits. Primary care can also aid in offsetting the negative effect of poor economic conditions on health. Thus, the research recommends the necessity to intensify the supply of primary care physicians globally.

    Alternatively, research has pointed out that nations and regions more focused on the primary care have lesser healthcare expenses, but improved health outcomes, though advance studies using formal cost-effectiveness ways need to be piloted. Cost-effectiveness of primary care has been purposely recognized through a limited interventions performed in primary care settings, and embracing of health information systems in primary care settings may lead to improved  financial achievements.

     

    References

    Chrystal, J. G., Glover, D. L., Young, A. S., Whelan, F., Austin, E. L., Johnson, N. K., &             Kertesz, S. G. (2015). Experience of Primary Care among Homeless                                               Individuals with Mental Health Conditions. Plos ONE, 10(2), 1-14.                                       doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0117395

    Giltenane, M., Kelly, M., & Dowling, M. (2015). Public health nurses’ (PHNs) experiences of                   their role as part of a primary care team (PCT) in Ireland. Australian Journal Of             Advanced Nursing, 32(3), 6-15.

    Jenstad, L. M., & Donnelly, M. (2015). Hearing Care for Elders: A Personal Reflection on                        Participatory Action Learning With Primary Care Providers. American Journal Of Audiology, 24(1), 23-30. doi:10.1044/2014_AJA-14-0051

    Mundt, M. P., Gilchrist, V. J., Fleming, M. F., Zakletskaia, L. I., Tuan, W., & Beasley, J. W.                     (2015). Effects of Primary Care Team Social Networks on Quality of Care and Costs for Patients With Cardiovascular Disease. Annals Of Family Medicine, 13(2), 139-148.          doi:10.1370/afm.1754

    Ngiap Chuan, T., Chirk Jenn, N., Rosemary, M., Wahid, K., & Lee Gan, G. (2014). Developing               a primary care research agenda through collaborative efforts — a proposed      “6E” model.     Asia Pacific Family Medicine, 13(1), 1-13. doi:10.1186/s12930-014-0017-9

    Phillips, J. P., Petterson, S. M., Bazemore, A. W., & Phillips, R. L. (2014). A Retrospective           Analysis of the Relationship Between Medical Student Debt and Primary Care Practice in             the United States. Annals Of Family Medicine, 12(6), 542-549. doi:10.1370/afm.1697

    Pype, P., Peersman, W., Wens, J., Stes, A., Van den Eynden, B., & Deveugele, M. (2014). What,             how and from whom do health care professionals learn during collaboration in palliative       home care: a cross-sectional study in primary palliative care. BMC Health Services        Research, 14(1), 247-266. doi:10.1186/s12913-014-0501-9

    Thomas, K., Krevers, B., & Bendtsen, P. (2015). Implementing healthy lifestyle promotion in                   primary care: a quasi-experimental cross-sectional study evaluating a team initiative.            PMC Health Services Research, 15(1), 650-669. doi:10.1186/s12913-015-0688-4

  • Hypersensitivity Therapy PICO – immunotherapy and medication Essay

    HYPERSENSITIVITY

     

     

     

     

     

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    Hypersensitivity

    The human immune system is often tasked with the physical obligation of protecting the body from foreign pathogens that may invade it. The instigation or onset of a hypersensitivity reaction is often as a result of an abnormal reaction of the immune system towards a foreign pathogen or antigen. Hypersensitivity is often used to describe allergies, which arise out of the body detecting the presence of a foreign object that the body is not used to normally. There are various methods of treatment and therapy that have been devised to tackle the diverse types of hypersensitivity reactions or conditions. This paper is a brief essay that compares two therapeutic measures for hypersensitivity and which one works best for research.

    Therapeutic Measures for Hypersensitivity.

    There many different methods that are employed in the treatment of hypersensitivity or allergic reactions. The mode of treatment that is chosen depends on the extent of the hypersensitivity as well as the causative agent (Legendre et al 2014, p. 145). The two therapeutic measures that can be adopted for both hypersensitivity and research purposes are immunotherapy and use of medication (Karnoub et al 2015, p. 2). The latter is the most common method that is used to treat hypersensitivity. However, the medicine that is administered to the patient depends on the nature of the allergic reaction they have (Jones et al 2015, p. 198). Both immunotherapy and medications can be evaluated as a treatment regimen for allergies based on the PICO approach.

    PICO deals with the patient or population receiving the treatment, the intervention used, control and the resultant outcome. In this case, PICO can be used to ascertain if these two therapeutic methods are effective for the patient, the nature of their intervention, the control measures employed and whether there are any side effects from their usage (Medical Literature, 2015). The medication approach is often used for the control of hypersensitivity reactions which are mostly allergens. Antihistamines and decongestants are the most common medicines prescribed for patients with allergic symptoms (Stone et al 2014, p. 12). Decongestants are known to control allergies such as asthma or stuffy noses. Likewise, antihistamines and corticosteroids are also prescribed when a patient has a hypersensitivity inflammation. On the other hand, immunotherapy is a different form of hypersensitivity treatment that makes use of small doses of the allergen to which the patient is allergic to presently (Berroa et al 2014, p. 276).

    Immunotherapy is mainly used to treat allergies such as pollen, dust, bee venom or even flower and coffee pheromones. The use of minimal or small doses of the allergen is meant to trigger the immune system into becoming less sensitive to this foreign substance (Legendre et al 2014, p. 145).   Consequently, the immunity of the person responds by hindering the release of antibodies, which means that allergic reactions with then be avoided. Immunotherapy is very effective in treating conditions such as rhinitis, anaphylaxis and other frequently occurring allergies. Both medication and immunotherapy are effective because they are able to minimize the production of antibodies within the immune system (Legendre et al 2014, p. 145).

    Additionally, both of these therapeutic interventions are known to have very minimal side effects or adverse drug reactions that can at times be acute. Instead, they usually restore the health of the patient with little damage to the physiological functioning of the body (Medical Literature, 2015). The success of these forms of treatment lies in first establishing the factors that strongly trigger the hypersensitivity reactions. Blood tests as well as skin tests are known to give the main allergens that cause one to be hypersensitive. Hence, after this is diagnosed, it then becomes easier to decide whether to use medication or immunotherapy interventions.           Conclusively, both medication and immunotherapy are effective therapeutic measures for treating hypersensitivity and research into both modes of treatment has revealed their numerous advantages to the affected patient.

     

     

     

    References

    Berroa, F, Lafuente, A, Javaloyes, G, Ferrer, M, Moncada, R, Goikoetxea, M, Urbain, C, Sanz, M, & Gastaminza, G 2014, ‘The usefulness of plasma histamine and different tryptase cut-off points in the diagnosis of peranaesthetic hypersensitivity reactions’, Clinical & Experimental Allergy, 44, 2, pp. 270-277, Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost, viewed 14 September 2015

    Jones, J, Richter, L, Alonto, A, & Leedahl, D 2015, ‘Desensitization To Ceftaroline In a patient with multiple medication hypersensitivity reactions’, American Journal Of Health-System Pharmacy, 72, 3, pp. 198-202, Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost, viewed 14 September 2015

    Karnoub, M, Zairi, F, Aboukais, R, & Assaker, R 2015, ‘Delayed Hypersensitivity Reaction: An Increasingly Recognized Complication of Metal-on-Metal Total Disc Replacement’, Case Reports In Orthopedics, 2015, pp. 1-3, Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost, viewed 14 September 2015

    Legendre, D, Muzny, C, Marshall, G, & Swiatlo, E 2014, ‘Antibiotic Hypersensitivity Reactions and Approaches to Desensitization’,Clinical Infectious Diseases, 58, 8, pp. 140-148, Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost, viewed 14 September 2015

    Medical Literature. (2015).
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    Stone, S, Phillips, E, Wiese, M, Heddle, R, & Brown, S 2014, ‘Immediate-type hypersensitivity drug reactions’, British Journal Of Clinical Pharmacology, 78, 1, pp. 1-13, Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost, viewed 14 September 2015