Ethics committees in the rural Midwest: exploring the impact of HIPAA.

CONTEXT: Confidentiality of personal health information is an ethical principle and a legislated mandate; however, the impact of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) on ethics committees ethics committees is limited. PURPOSE: This study investigates the prevalence, activity, and composition of ethics committees located in rural central and southern Illinois. Additionally, the impact of the HIPAA Officer serving on the committee is reported. METHODS: Surveys were mailed to the "Administrator or Ethics Committee Chairperson" at rural Illinois hospitals and skilled care facilities. Survey items included committee composition and perception of HIPAA-related involvement. FINDINGS: Over one third (36.7%) of the facilities reported having formal ethics committees. Hospitals were more likely (79.3%) to have ethics committees than skilled nursing facilities (20.7%). Ethics committee members usually include an administrator, nurse, and physician. The smaller the facility (based on number of beds), the more likely it was to have a HIPAA Officer on the committee. Committees with a HIPAA Officer were more likely to be involved in monitoring and/or remediation of HIPAA privacy and security violations. Most respondents, however, did not feel the committee should be involved in these issues. CONCLUSIONS: Although the sample size is too small to generalize, HIPAA does seem to have an effect on the issues discussed by ethics committees. Furthermore, ethics committees that include a HIPAA Officer in the membership report increased committee involvement in HIPAA related issues.

Radiographic analysis of intervertebral separation with a 0 degrees and 30 degrees rope angle using the Saunders cervical traction device.

STUDY DESIGN: Radiographic analysis of cervical intervertebral separation, (IVS) while using the Saunders Cervical Traction Device (SCTD) (Chattanooga Corp., Chattanooga, TN) on a healthy population. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a rope angle of 0 degrees or 30 degrees achieves higher posterior and anterior IVS when using the SCTD. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: To our knowledge, research using a 0 degrees rope angle and the SCTD has not been documented. METHODS: A convenience sample of 15 females and 5 males, with no history of cervical dysfunction, trauma, or pain, participated in the study. Static mechanical cervical traction, using the SCTD at a 0 degrees rope angle, was applied for 2 minutes using 11.34 kg (25 lb) of force. A cross-table lateral cervical spine radiograph was obtained before traction and again at 2 minutes of traction. Two weeks later, the subjects underwent the same procedure with the rope angle set at 30 degrees . RESULTS: A 0 degrees rope angle produced a significant mean difference in anterior IVS at all cervical segments as compared to a 30 degrees rope angle. Traction measurements comparing posterior IVS at 0 degrees and 30 degrees were not statistically significant. However, the posterior IVS increased significantly at a 0 degrees rope angle, with the exception of C2-C3. CONCLUSIONS: The research findings may have treatment implications when applying cervical traction with the SCTD. Further research using subjects with cervical nerve root compression will need to be conducted to substantiate clinical outcomes.

Distance learning: investing in employees' futures.

The compassion and overall efficiency of those technologists with whom the patient interacts impacts the patient's decision to utilize the facility in the future. Because employee interaction largely influences patient satisfaction, the radiology administrator is challenged to recruit, but more importantly, retain quality employees. Benefit options designed to provide employees the latitude to achieve personal goals as well as professional obligations can be valuable recruitment and retention tools. Ultimately, the purpose of an employee benefit is to promote employee satisfaction, leading to employee retention and culminating in greater patient satisfaction. Since the "ability to influence their career" is reported to be a major area of difference in perceived agreement between the technologist and administrator, it is important to consider avenues for attaining education and skills to meet employee goals far advance. ment within the organization. Distance education, described as a method to provide educational offerings without displacing the learner from the workfarce and his or her community setting, has been successfully implemented in many allied health specialties. Distance learning farmat options include, but not limited to, written correspondence courses, audiotapes, video, Internet, and satellite. These options provide educational access to those with employment and family constraints. The funds that would be spent on recruitment or temporary help can be applied toward training or retraining current employees. Typically, one year of service is required for each year of schooling funded. In some cases, if the training is offered via distance learning, the clinical training portion of the educational program can be conducted at the facility sponsoring the student. Providing clinical training at a facility reduces the student's learning curve associated with transitioning into the open position.

R.T.s' interest in advanced-level certification and distance learning.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the interest of radiologic technologists in obtaining advanced-level certification and their acceptance of distance learning as an educational method to pursue advanced-level certification. METHODS: Researchers surveyed a random sample of 1300 registered technologists (R.Ts) certified in radiography. Data were analyzed using basic univariate statistics and logistic regression calculations. RESULTS: The majority of respondents (72%) expressed an interest in obtaining an advanced-level certification. Furthermore, 93% of those respondents indicated that distance learning was an acceptable method for obtaining the necessary course work. Interest in certification for computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance (MR) imaging was selected by nearly 25% of the respondents. Most plan to begin course work within the next 1 to 2 years, are willing to dedicate 4 to 6 hours per week and up to dollar 250 per year to obtain their goals. Although most employers (63%) do not contribute any financial assistance, most R.Ts (53%) indicated that employer support did not influence their decision to pursue a certification. CONCLUSION: This study supports the need for quality distance learning programs, particularly in the areas of CT and MR.

Acceptance of distance learning by radiologic technologists.

OBJECTIVE: A national survey of 1300 registered radiologic technologists was conducted to determine acceptance of distance learning for continuing education, advanced certification and higher academic degree requirements. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Differences between the demographic data and reported acceptance levels were compared using the chi2 (chi-square) test of significance. RESULTS: None of the demographic variables indicated statistically significant differences in acceptance levels. T tests were performed for continuous variables with no significant differences. A rank-order analysis was performed to determine the most preferred method of distance learning. Internet, correspondence and video tape courses were reported to be the most preferred methods for distance learning. CONCLUSION: Study results suggest a high level of acceptance of distance learning for continuing education (95%), advanced certification (93%) and higher academic degree requirements (87%).