ABSTRACT
The presidential candidates for the 2008 election have outlined health care proposals that will ultimately impact the health status of Americans. Highlights focus on access to health care coverage, cost containment, improvement of the quality of care, and financing. This article provides a glimpse into the inherent challenges faced and the impact that nurses can make by casting their vote in this election as consumers and providers of health care.
Subject(s)
Health Care Reform/organization & administration , Politics , Cost Control , Health Policy , Health Services Accessibility/organization & administration , Humans , Insurance Coverage , Quality of Health Care , United StatesABSTRACT
The I PREPARE environmental exposure history mnemonic is a quick reference tool created for primary care providers. Health care providers (N = 159) were asked to evaluate a prototype mnemonic, to suggest new health history questions, and to propose the deletion of less relevant questions. The goal of this evaluation was to create a practical and clinically relevant mnemonic, rather than to obtain quantitative estimates of validity. The final I PREPARE mnemonic cues the provider to "Investigate potential exposures;" ask questions related to "Present work," "Residence," "Environmental concerns," "Past work," and "Activities;" provide "Referrals and resources;" and "Educate" the patient by reviewing a checklist of strategies to prevent or minimize exposures. The sequence of I PREPARE makes intuitive sense by cueing the provider to ask specific questions and provide educational materials to the patient. National improvements in the quality of environmental exposure history data are predicated in part on the creation of simple and convenient tools for use in clinical practice.