A Process of Acceptance of Patient Photographs in Electronic Medical Records to Confirm Patient Identification.

Appropriate patient identification is a critical component of safe health care delivery. With increasing reliance on electronic medical records (EMRs), errors of test ordering and documentation have become commonplace. Incorporating patients' photograph in the EMR has considerably decreased error frequency and improved health care delivery by making it easier for physicians to identify a patient. We conducted a survey of all 35 physicians working in the Executive Health Program to determine the importance of having patient photographs in the EMR. Of the 35 physicians who received the survey, 26 (74.3%) responded, 24 (92.3%) of whom agreed that it was important to improve patient identification, care, and safety. Based on these data, we implemented a quality improvement project to increase the percentage of new patients having a photograph included in the EMR. Our goal was to increase photograph inclusion by more than 20% from baseline within 6 months without any unintended consequences (ie, not slowing down any of the workflow during the intake process). The intervention took place between June 1, 2015, and February 8, 2016. Using Define-Measure-Analyze-Improve-Control models, the baseline rate of photographs in the EMR was 49.5% (302 of 607). We initiated 3 Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles targeting awareness and data sharing campaigns. After the Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles, the weekly rate of patient photographs incorporated into the EMR was at 71.4%, which was significantly improved compared with baseline (F test, P<.001). No unintended consequences were identified. Increased inclusion of patient photographs in the EMR aided in patient identification and improved staff satisfaction with minimal interruption to workflow.

Implementation of an interprofessional clinical pharmacology selective learning experience for pharmacy residents and medical students.

PURPOSE: The implementation of an interprofessional clinical pharmacology selective (CPS) learning experience for pharmacy residents and medical students is described. SUMMARY: The opportunity for pharmacy residents to provide didactic lectures at a college of pharmacy and to develop teaching and preceptor skills with experiential pharmacy students may be limited by institution-specific affiliations and geographic location. In order to overcome these barriers, the Mayo Clinic Hospital postgraduate year 1 (PGY1) pharmacy residency program implemented an interprofessional learning experience in which pharmacy residents serve the role of preceptors for first- and second-year medical students on a CPS. Medical students at the Mayo Medical School (MMS) work alongside the PGY1 resident to develop patient-specific, medication problem lists and gain an appreciation for pharmacy-focused interventions. Medical students teach pharmacy residents diagnostic, pathophysiologic, and patient-assessment considerations related to the medical school's curriculum. The clinical rounds component of the CPS allows for resident achievement of ASHP competency area R4, which focuses on the design of an effective educational activity; selection of a preceptor role; employment of instruction, modeling, coaching, and facilitation; use of effective presentation skills; generation of objective-based learner assessment questions; and identification of areas for continuous improvement. CONCLUSION: The Mayo Clinic Hospital PGY1 pharmacy residency program and MMS successfully implemented an innovative learning experience to promote interprofessional education between pharmacy residents and medical students. The program establishes collaborative relationships early in students' professional careers and allows for attainment of the ASHP-required competency area R4 through delivery of a CPS to medical students.

The Aging Game: improving medical students' attitudes toward caring for the elderly.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a modified aging game to enhance medical students' attitudes toward caring for elderly patients, enhance empathy for elderly patients, and improve general attitudes toward the elderly. DESIGN: Preintervention and postintervention study PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: All 84 students from 2 first-year medical school classes INTERVENTION: The aging game takes place over a period of 3 hours with a group of 10 to 12 students and 5 to 6 facilitators, and includes experiential learning about polypharmacy, medication cost, loss of functional status, semi-independent living, and living in a long-term care facility. MEASUREMENTS: Scores obtained through a modified Maxwell and Sullivan questionnaire, and the Aging Semantic Differential (ASD). RESULTS: There was a statistically significant improvement in 6 of the 8 attitudes toward caring for elderly and a statistically significant increase in empathy towards elderly patients following the aging game. There was a statistically significant change on 23 out of 32 ASD questions. There was no evidence of differences in the scores from pre-course to post-course by gender age group, interest in Family/Internal Medicine, or prior geriatric experience. Following the game, 77 (93%) of the students said they would take the course if not mandatory (P = .0001). A majority stated the aging game added significantly (61.5%) or moderately (37.3%) to their knowledge and skills in patient care for the elderly. CONCLUSION: A simulation experience like the aging game is an effective method of increasing the empathy and attitudes toward caring for the elderly early in the medical school curriculum. Longitudinal assessment of the effect of the aging game in maintaining the positive effect on empathy and attitudes toward caring for the elderly and especially in clinical practice needs to be done.

Inappropriate medication use in the elderly.

Medications are commonly used in the elderly population. Because of a variety of treatments now available, many disease states now have very effective treatment. As a result, our elderly patients often take multiple medications. Due to various changes that occur, the elderly are at increased risk of adverse drug effects and drug toxicity potentially resulting in serious complications. Some medications have a greater potential to cause harm and these should be made aware to those who prescribe to elderly patients. Some of these medications should not be used if at all possible, while others, if used, need to be used with great caution, watching carefully for signs of problems. This article describes a variety of medications which have an increased potential for causing harm in elderly patients and gives alternatives of safer medications consideration.

Caregiver and clinician shortages in an aging nation.

Despite a burgeoning elderly population, the number of nurses and other providers of direct care has declined to critical levels at many health care facilities. There are also insufficient medical clinicians to meet the demand for health services. A shrinking workforce, an aging population, financial pressures, and increased consumer demand will translate into severe personnel deficits in the future. Similarly, family fragmentation and the trend toward bureaucratization of long-term care have reduced the availability of informal caregivers. Younger workers should be considered a scarce resource for health care organization and planning purposes. The ability of the United States to meet its entitlement promises is likely to be compromised by a reduced labor pool and simultaneous budgetary constraints. Because good geriatric care is often labor-intensive, meeting this goal poses an increasing challenge.

A cultural and economic history of old age in America.

The lives of today's elderly population have deep historical precedents by which we can better understand current social policies, health care, and retirement. The history of old age in America is more complex and varied than most people realize. This history has been shaped largely by the search for economic security. In the agricultural economy of preindustrial America, few individuals saved sufficient resources for their declining years, and most elderly people either continued to work or lived in dependent poverty. More than any other factor, the lack of family members willing or able to provide for an elderly relative resulted in the relative moving to the dreaded poorhouse. Passage of Medicare and Medicaid legislation resulted in the rapid development of commercial nursing homes, accelerating the trend away from nonprofit and government facilities. However, serious deficiencies in care have continued to occur, prompting additional federal legislation. Knowledge of the history of aging in America can provide a useful touchstone: it can expose past problems that could happen again, identify what is worth preserving from the past, and help us avoid relearning painful lessons.

Inappropriate medications for elderly patients.

The use of medications is common in elderly persons, and this population has the highest risk of medication-related problems. Elderly persons are more susceptible to the effects of various medications for a number of reasons. It is well known that polypharmacy is one of the most serious problems in caring for elderly persons; however, many of these patients continue to receive medications that have an increased risk of causing harm. In 1991, an important article was published about inappropriate medication use in the elderly population. This article raised awareness of the problem and presented explicit criteria for determining which medications were inappropriate for elderly patients residing in long-term care facilities. This list of drugs is still used for evaluating medications taken by elderly persons and for determining whether satisfactory prescribing practices are being used. We reviewed the medications described as inappropriate for elderly persons and searched the scientific literature to determine whether evidence exists to defend or refute the labeling of particular drugs. At times, evidence was difficult to find, and many of the original studies were dated. For most medications listed as inappropriate, we found evidence to support these designations.

Perspective: a practical approach to defining professional practice gaps for continuing medical education.

The Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education mandates that continuing medical education (CME) be developed around professional practice gaps. Accordingly, CME course directors must identify the intended learners, assess learners' needs, identify gaps in knowledge, and evaluate their CME activities. Writing gap statements is challenging for CME course directors because there is not a universally accepted format for writing these statements. The authors describe a practical approach to defining gaps for CME accreditation, which involves four steps indicated by the mnemonic LASO (learner, assessment, standard, outcomes): (1) define the learner population's characteristics, (2) create a learning needs assessment, (3) determine if the standard is met, and (4) state educational outcome for the CME activity. Based on this model, the difference between the practice standard and the current practice represents the gap in practice. The LASO approach has assisted in making CME content learner centered, relevant, and measurable at the authors' institution. The authors anticipate that LASO will be able to provide all CME course directors with a practical approach to defining educational gaps for CME accreditation.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia: treat or wait?

Talk to every male patient over the age of 50 about urinary function. Utilize questionnaires, such as the International Prostate Symptom Score to evaluate the patient's perception of symptom severity and quality of life. Rule out potential causes of lower urinary tract symptoms with a thorough medical history, focused physical exam (including digital rectal examination and neurological assessments), and appropriate laboratory evaluations. When choosing treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia, remember that quality of life is generally more important than symptom severity.