Implementation of Patient Centered Concepts In a VA Medical Center to Research Paper

Implementation of Patient Centered Concepts In a VA Medical Center to Improve Quality Outcomes - Research Paper Example Problem Background The U. S. has the most advanced healthcare delivery of most countries in the world. Per capita expenditure totaling to thousands of dollars annually, and more of her GDP is ranked relatively higher on healthcare than most countries in the world, at 18.5 percent of GDP in 2007. It has the most sophisticated teaching hospitals and medical research centers in the world yet it is not ranked in first position worldwide. Additional factors significantly impacting how healthcare expenditure is allocated include a few diseases that comprise the bulk of healthcare expenditures. Significant variations in spending can also be mapped by regional, race and socio-economic status. Even diet has a major impact since the US also happen to be the most obese nation on the planet and in essence, just throwing money at the problem will not fix it. Similarly, Information Technology has been applied in very sophisticated ways to deliver better care, but not in a way that makes the cost a nd decisions (as to when and how to deliver it) more efficient and transparent. This paper highlights one case study that demonstrate how health concepts can improve health quality (such as in a VA medical center), and how it can serve as a key component of effective healthcare delivery by creating the necessary data framework for practicing evidence-based medicine (EBM). EBM is gaining traction among providers for two major reasons: firstly, its promise as a tool to help contain continually rising healthcare costs and, secondly its potential to dramatically improve healthcare quality. Implementation of Patient centered Concepts According to Conway et al (2006), the healthcare industry in the United States is... The paper tells that the healthcare industry in the United States is operating at a level of quality and efficiency below the desired standards of patients’ healthcare professionals. The majority of concerns focus around access to care, quality of care, prevalence of incorrect medical diagnoses and rising costs. Furthermore, a solution for business problems can be attained by adopting return on investment (ROI) compared to value produced by addressing the problem and determining which solution is provided. Statistically, a considerable number of expensive health conditions accounted for almost half the total health care expenses, which was mostly chronic conditions and patients with multiple chronic conditions with up to seven times as much as patients with only one chronic condition. About a quarter of the total annual US expenditure on healthcare is spent on ineffective or redundant care. Healthcare premiums have arose by more than half within a decade for family premiums. T he U. S. spends more money per capita on healthcare than any other country. Similarly, organizational costs to acquire and implement electronic healthcare information systems are significantly; particularly to individual medical practitioners as most of the technology solutions currently available are not mature due to the lack of standards and other factors. Cumbersome workflows and ongoing training and maintenance costs are other barriers to acceptance. Misaligned cost burdens for individual practitioners are also an impediment to implementing electronic health information in the current environment.

Essay --

Imagine yourself for a day without being capable of communicate or understand your surroundings. In my opinion communication is the key for success in every stage of our life. My research is based in reference of disabilities associates with communication disorder in children and adults. As I can conclude the explanation of communication is when a person is able to exchange feeling, knowledge and desires with others. It can be expressed in different ways one is verbal and the other non-verbal. Language in other ways is as well important part of human communication system. It control and intervene our actions, thoughts, and behaviors. even though language and speech are sometimes inseparable they are different. I learned from the class and from my personal study that communication is essential for human development. It begins at birth and develops through life. At birth newborns act in response to involuntary noises in reaction to physical stimulus . Babies learn to communicate with their parent with face expressions and gestures. At 9 months they start imitate sounds of speech from around them. Children begin to vocalize around 18 month and in quick time they learn to speak. The importance of identifying any communication disorder of children is essential for their progress. Some of this disabilities can be diagnosed before the age of 1. Learning to speak give the ability to communicate with the world. A child’s communication is considered delayed when is clearly behind in comparison with others at their same age speech and language skills. Communications problem in some cases is generally present in children with physical impairments including hearing loss, neurological disorders , injury in their brain, mental retardation, dr... ...lso to work in group socializing between them. Some kids need to take individual session depending in their level. The interaction of family in therapies is very important. It will give the children enthusiasm to continue practicing. The importance of therapy is to continue its use in school where children are out of their home. In my opinion it help the learning process because they can try to be like other children and start to communicate with them. Children with communication disorders regularly perform inadequate academic level, having big problems with reading, trouble understanding and express verbal communication, they avoid attending school. If they participate in interactive communication with adults in the instructive situation they may succeed in school. In many cases the use of psychological and psychiatric counseling are consider very important. Essay -- Imagine yourself for a day without being capable of communicate or understand your surroundings. In my opinion communication is the key for success in every stage of our life. My research is based in reference of disabilities associates with communication disorder in children and adults. As I can conclude the explanation of communication is when a person is able to exchange feeling, knowledge and desires with others. It can be expressed in different ways one is verbal and the other non-verbal. Language in other ways is as well important part of human communication system. It control and intervene our actions, thoughts, and behaviors. even though language and speech are sometimes inseparable they are different. I learned from the class and from my personal study that communication is essential for human development. It begins at birth and develops through life. At birth newborns act in response to involuntary noises in reaction to physical stimulus . Babies learn to communicate with their parent with face expressions and gestures. At 9 months they start imitate sounds of speech from around them. Children begin to vocalize around 18 month and in quick time they learn to speak. The importance of identifying any communication disorder of children is essential for their progress. Some of this disabilities can be diagnosed before the age of 1. Learning to speak give the ability to communicate with the world. A child’s communication is considered delayed when is clearly behind in comparison with others at their same age speech and language skills. Communications problem in some cases is generally present in children with physical impairments including hearing loss, neurological disorders , injury in their brain, mental retardation, dr... ...lso to work in group socializing between them. Some kids need to take individual session depending in their level. The interaction of family in therapies is very important. It will give the children enthusiasm to continue practicing. The importance of therapy is to continue its use in school where children are out of their home. In my opinion it help the learning process because they can try to be like other children and start to communicate with them. Children with communication disorders regularly perform inadequate academic level, having big problems with reading, trouble understanding and express verbal communication, they avoid attending school. If they participate in interactive communication with adults in the instructive situation they may succeed in school. In many cases the use of psychological and psychiatric counseling are consider very important.

Impact Of Computer Technology On Communication Essay

1. ABSTRACT Technological development has had a strong impact on the way society communicates, particularly with its acceleration in the last few centuries. From the invention of the telegraph and telephone to the advent of the Internet, technology has given people tools to not only keep in touch with each other, but also express their feelings and opinions to a broader audience than would otherwise have been impossible. Everything has both a positive and negative impact, and the impact of technology on the communication process also comes as mixed baggage. It is the purpose of this paper to discuss the positive and negative impacts of computer technology on communication. In this article, we would be discussing the impact of popular technological elements like emails, telephones, cellphones etc. on our means of communication. INTRODUCTION Communication is an essential part of life. The use of technology can be a great help to people in communicating, reducing the time it takes. But technology can have consequences of reducing person-to-person interaction without the device as an intermediary. Email Electronic mail, or email, was one of the first changes in how people use technology to communicate with individuals. The ability to release information to many different people at once, without calling a meeting or requiring printing of the materials, turned into a money- and time-saving device. Text Messaging Text messaging also has its own language, an abbreviated form of speech that has found its way into classrooms and businesses. People are more likely to pull out their phone and start texting while sitting at the table for dinner or while having a conversation in person. The actions of texting may seem rude under conventional social norms, leading to misunderstandings. Instant Messaging Instant messaging has been around since the 1990s. It was primarily used by people to communicate while doing homework and just to keep in touch. It was texting before text messaging became affordable. Businesses realized the potential of real-time communication at the computer between employees and implemented it. Instant messaging, or IM, has allowed people to reach other people without having to use the phone. Social Media Social media have been a revolution in how people plan events and communicate with one another. Rather than talking to their friends in person, they can post a comment about their life. The revolution of social media has allowed people to rekindle friendships, make new friends and gain new interests. 1. Positive Effects of Technology on Communication Technology has transformed the once big and far world into a tiny global village. Thanks to technology, we now have the power to communicate with anybody on the other side of the world. The points below summarize these benefits. 1.1. Keeping in Touch For more than a century now, technological advances have brought the world closer, making communication across long distances easier. Telegrams are faster than letters; phone calls, in turn, are faster than telegrams, as well as easier and more pleasant, since they require no go-between and allow users to hear each other’s voice. Cell phones take this one step further, allowing people to call and speak with each other regardless of their location. Online communication of all types is the most efficient yet, with email being a near-instantaneous version of the paper letter; webcams, paired with communication programs such as Skype, iChat or Google Video  Chat, make it possible to see the person you are speaking with rather than just hear his voice. 1.2. Doing Business The same technological advances that have simplified and improved personal communication have also had the same beneficial effects on business. Communication between colleagues is near-instantaneous whether they are a few rooms or a few countries apart; video conferencing allows companies to have workers scattered around the globe while but still hold efficient meetings and discussions; business networking is made easier by social media and online networks designed specifically for that purpose, such as LinkedIn. Perhaps most importantly, companies can expand beyond their local market and gain a wider customer base simply by maintaining an active online presence. 1.3. Overcoming Disabilities Technology has both improved communication for disabled people and made it possible where it previously wasn’t. Hearing aids boost the hearing of partially deaf people, making it easier to understand speech, while cochlear implants restore hearing to the completely deaf. Speech-generating devices give people with severe speech impairments a way to express themselves: perhaps the most famous user of such a device is scientist Stephen Hawking. Further advances in technology may result in functional brain-computer interface systems, restoring the ability to communicate to people who have lost it entirely, such as sufferers of locked-in syndrome. 1.4 Reaching a Broader Audience As people’s ability to communicate improves, the reach of their messages widens. This can be especially important in politics and activism. For instance, photos and video recorded covertly through a cell phone can be quickly and easily shared online through websites such as YouTube, making it harder for oppressive regimes to keep control; social networks such as Facebook and Twitter can be used to organize and coordinate meetings and protests. The Egyptian revolution of 2011-2012 was spurred greatly by social media. 2. The Negative Effects of Technology on Communication 2.1. Privacy Communicating via computers can help people bridge large geographical gaps and access remote information, but doing so may open up a person’s privacy more than he might want. With an in-person meeting or phone conversation, there is a relative assurance that details of those exchanges will remain private. However, with email, text messaging or message boards, there is a record of what people say. Information is not just thrown out into the air like speech, but it stored as a permanent record. There is an inherent danger when third parties can access these online â€Å"conversations.† Similarly, social networks and other Internet-based communication tools are vulnerable to privacy breach, as users often engage in these activities on public networks, leaving personal information, potentially, out in the open. 2.2. Misinterpretation The fact that most communication taking place on computers comes in the form of text can actually be a negative in terms of our ability to understand things clearly. Even with email, it is possible for information to be misconstrued or the emotion of a statement to be missed. Saying â€Å"thanks a lot† to someone in an e-mail message, for instance, could be used to genuinely relay gratitude. On the other hand, it could indicate a negative feeling of someone being put in a tough position. The context clues that a person provides with their body language and tone of voice are lost in this scenario. Users get around some of this confusion by using emoticons — keyboard characters that serve as a shorthand for mood and feeling — but a great deal of subtlety can be missed without seeing how someone reacts with their body language and voice. 2.3 Dependency Society’s dependency on computers for communication is also a dangerous game, as outside forces can prevent communication in a variety of ways. Earthquakes, floods and hurricanes have caused various slowdowns and stoppages of Internet connectivity for people all over the world. Additionally, reliance on social networks and email can have the unintended consequence of opening a person up to identify theft attempts and email scams. Even the outside force of political unrest can threaten a user’s ability to communicate, as the 2011 demonstrations in Cairo and Libya  resulted in government shutdowns of the Internet, drastically curtailing each country’s ability to communicate, both nationally and internationally. 2.4. Impact on children The minds of children are like blank pages. As we know that the generation of this era has a high level of dexterity. Their elevated cleverness allows them to fill those pages very fast with the provided information. Such information can be extracted not only from books and other educational materials but also from games, TV shows and texting. . Now, more and more people are interacting with others through different platforms like apps, role-playing online games, social networks, etc. This advancement has hampered the physical interaction skills of many children. Due to that they don’t know how to interact with others when they meet them in-person or what gesture they should carry. A limited use of gadgets can be quite useful for children as it will allow them to be up to date with the current technology. However, the overuse of these advancements can really hamper or even damage their development in the personal growth, communication and educational department. 2.5 Elevated Exasperation These days, children indulge themselves in internet, games or texting. These activities have affected their psyche negatively, consequently leading to increased frustration. Now they get frustrated whenever they are asked to do anything while playing games or using internet. For instance, when their parents ask them to take the trash out, they get furious instantly. This behavior has shattered many parent-children relationships. 2.6. Deteriorated Patience Patience is a very precious virtue and its scarcity could deteriorate a person’s Will. Determination is a necessity that comes with patience and without it no individual can survive the hardships of life. According to studies, tolerance in children is vanishing quite increasingly due to the improper use of technology. For example, children get frustrated quickly when they surf internet and the page they want to view takes time to load. 2.7. Declining Writing Skills Due to the excessive usage of online chatting and shortcuts, the writing skills of today’s young generation have declined quite tremendously. These days, children are relying more and more on digital communication that they have totally forgot about improving their writing skills. They don’t know the spelling of different words, how to use grammar properly or how to do cursive writing. CONCLUSION While technology did make communications faster and easier, it has also made, at times, communication more distracting and less clear.With any technological innovation and use of computer, communication issues of privacy, trust, security, and social control have been raised as computers have become more pervasive.. As you can see, the impact is both positive and negative. But logically thinking, technology has bettered the communication process and has done negligible harm. The positive points of the technological advancements cover up the negative points. It all depends on how we use these means; use the technological means of communication for sane purposes, and don’t abuse them for malicious motives REFERENCES [1.] Kiesler, S., Siegel, J., McGuire, T. W. (1984). Social psychological aspects of computer-mediated communication. American Psychologist, 39(10), 1123-1134 [2] Smilowitz, M., Compton, C. D., & Flint, L. (1988). The effect of computer mediated communication on an individual’s judgement: A study based on the methods of Asch’s social influence experiment. Computers in Human Behavior, 4,311-321. [3] Freeman, S.C. and L.C. Freeman 1979 â€Å"The networkers network: a study of the impact of a new communications medium on sociometric structure†. Social Science Research Reports, No. 46. University of California,Irvine. [4] Tanis, M. (2003). Cues to Identity in Computer Mediated Communication. The impact on Person Perception and Subsequent Interaction Outcomes. Thesis University of Amsterdam. Enschede: Print Partners Ipskamp.

A Review of Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe

Have you ever wondered what you would do if you washed up on a deserted island? Daniel Defoe dramatizes such an experience in Robinson Crusoe! Daniel Defoes Robinson Crusoe was inspired by the story of Alexander Selkirk, a Scottish sailor who went to sea in 1704. Selkirk requested that his shipmates put him ashore on Juan Fernandez, where he remained until he was rescued by Woodes Rogers in 1709. Defoe may have interviewed Selkirk. Also, several version of Selkirks tale were available to him. He then built on the story, adding his imagination, his experiences, and a whole history of other stories to create the novel for which he has become so well-known. Daniel Defoe In his lifetime, Defoe published more than 500 books, pamphlets, articles, and poems. Unfortunately, none of his literary endeavors ever brought him much financial success or stability. His occupations ranged from spying and embezzling to soldiering and pamphleteering. He had started out as a merchant, but he soon found himself bankrupt, which led him to choose other occupations. His political passions, his flare for libel, and his inability to stay out of debt also caused him to be imprisoned seven times. Even if he wasnt financially successful, Defoe managed to make a significant mark on literature. He influenced the development of the English novel, with his journalistic detail and characterization. Some claim that Defoe wrote the first true English novel: and hes often considered to be the father of British journalism. At the time of its publication, in 1719, Robinson Crusoe was a success. Defoe was 60 when he wrote this first novel; and he would write seven more in the years to come, including Moll Flanders (1722), Captain Singleton (1720), Colonel Jack (1722), and Roxana (1724). The Story of Robinson Crusoe Its no wonder the story was such a success... The story is about a man who is stranded on a desert island for 28 years. With the supplies hes able to salvage from the wrecked ship, Robinson Crusoe eventually builds a fort and then creates for himself a kingdom by taming animals, gathering fruit, growing crops, and hunting.The book contains adventure of all sorts: pirates, shipwrecks, cannibals, mutiny, and so much more... Robinson Crusoes story is also Biblical in many of its themes and discussions. Its the story of the prodigal son, who runs away from home only to find calamity. Elements of the story of Job also appear in the story, when in his illness, Robinson cries out for deliverance: Lord, be my help, for I am in great distress. Robinson questions God, asking, Why has God done this to me? What have I done to be thus used? But he makes peace ​and goes on with his solitary existence. After more than 20 years on the island, Robinson encounters cannibals, which represent the first human contact hes had since being stranded: One day, about noon, going towards my boat, I was exceedingly surprised with the print of a mans naked foot on the shore, which was very plain to be seen on the sand. Then, hes alone — with only the brief far-off view of a shipwreck — until he rescues Friday from the cannibals. Robinson finally makes his escape when a ship of mutineers sail to the island. He and his companions help the British captain to take back control of ​the ship. He sets sail for England on December 19, 1686--after spending 28 years, 2 months, and 19 days on the island. He arrives back in England, after being gone for 35 years, and finds that he is a wealthy man. Loneliness and the Human Experience Robinson Crusoe is the tale of a lonely human being who manages to survive for years without any human companionship. Its a story about the different ways that men cope with reality when hardship comes, but its also the tale of a man creating his own reality, rescuing a savage and fashioning his own world out of the untamed wilderness of a desert island. The tale has influenced many other tales, including The Swiss Family Robinson, Philip Quarll, and Peter Wilkins. Defoe followed up the tale with his own sequel, The Further Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, but that tale was not met with a much success as the first novel. In any case, the figure of Robinson Crusoe has become an important archetypal figure in literature — Robinson Crusoe was described by Samuel T. Coleridge as the universal man.