Public Health Emergencies Offer Teachable Moments
Responses during times of medical emergencies and stress offer opportunities for adults and children to teach and learn. Educational resources available from the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress (CSTS) of the UniformedServicesUniversity of the Health Sciences (USU) at http://www.cstsonline.org/pandemicflu.shtml, may be helpful in understanding and explaining the risks and prevention of exposure to the H1N1 virus.
Among the available Courage to Care resources are: "Mental Health and Behavioral Guidelines for Response to a Pandemic Flu Outbreak"; "Adherence: Addressing a Range of Patient Health Behaviors"; "Caring for Children During Flu Season"; "Flu Season: A Teachable Moment"; and "Health Behaviors to Decrease Risk of Flu Transmission." The CSTS also has fact sheets specific to military families.
“The recent increase risk of exposure to this unique virus strain reminds us that the world is much more interconnected today,” said Dr. Robert Ursano, director of the CSTS. “A virus today can travel from Mexico, to the United States and even to the most remote parts of the world very efficiently. Fortunately this same interconnection allows us to recognize when this is happening and to take proper precautions to reduce the level of exposure. This also provides us another opportunity to remind our children about the importance of proper hygiene, including good handwashing.”
Courage to Care is an ongoing health communication initiative of USU and CSTS, which is part of the USU Department of Psychiatry and a partnering center of the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury.
Courage to Care disseminates timely and important issues to enhance and sustain the well-being of our military community. Courage to Care fact sheets are in the public domain and are available for reposting on outside organization’s Web sites and for redistribution. Each installment includes a fact sheet for healthcare professionals and a fact sheet for families and patients. Courage to Care can be distributed in office waiting areas, or on an organization’s Web site.
Point-of-Care Engagement in Long-Term Care Decreasing Infections
November 26th 2024Get Well’s digital patient engagement platform decreases hospital-acquired infection rates by 31%, improves patient education, and fosters involvement in personalized care plans through real-time interaction tools.
The Leapfrog Group and the Positive Effect on Hospital Hand Hygiene
November 21st 2024The Leapfrog Group enhances hospital safety by publicizing hand hygiene performance, improving patient safety outcomes, and significantly reducing health care-associated infections through transparent standards and monitoring initiatives.
Infection Intel: Revolutionizing Ultrasound Probe Disinfection With Germitec's Chronos
November 19th 2024Learn how Germitec’s Chronos uses patented UV-C technology for high-level disinfection of ultrasound probes in 90 seconds, enhancing infection control, patient safety, and environmental sustainability.
The Importance of Hand Hygiene in Clostridioides difficile Reduction
November 18th 2024Clostridioides difficile infections burden US healthcare. Electronic Hand Hygiene Monitoring (EHHMS) systems remind for soap and water. This study evaluates EHHMS effectiveness by comparing C difficile cases in 10 hospitals with CMS data, linking EHHMS use to reduced cases.
Clean Hospitals Corner With Alexandra Peters, PhD: The Issues Around Outsourcing
November 7th 2024Outsourcing environmental hygiene in health care facilities offers cost benefits but often compromises quality. Effective oversight, training, and standards are essential for ensuring patient safety.
