Fact Sheet Essay Example for Free

Fact Sheet Essay n the United States, there are approximately 1.7 million people who are suffering from limb loss. There are around 185,000 amputation related discharges in the U.S annually. Limb loss is greatest among those who are suffering from diabetes. Most of these people resort to the use of artificial limbs and joints. The use of prosthetics or the artificial limbs and joints is not new in science. The use thereof can be traced back to ancient Egypt. However, the formal use of artificial legs and amputation as life saving measures were only recognized in 1529 through the efforts of Ambroise Pare. Despite the evolution and introduction of different kinds of prosthetics, the three main parts remain to be the same. These three basic parts are the pylon, socket and suspension system. Among the modern prosthetics used is the Micro-Processor C-leg. This type of prosthetic is quite costly but the effects thereof are satisfying. Through this leg, a disabled patient can walk, climb, ride a bicycle and even play golf. The use of prosthetics provides wide range of advantages. Among the notable advantages is the mobility that it provides to the disabled patient. Another is the restoration of self-confidence in the patient by allowing him to function normally. Â  Among the disadvantages are intrinsic and extrinsic pain, skin complications, as well as limited movement. Despite the fact that prosthetics allow one to perform his daily tasks, this does not mean that the artificial leg is as efficient as the normal arms or legs.

The JACHO 2006 Standard and its Implementation in the ER Essay Example for Free

The JACHO 2006 Standard and its Implementation in the ER Essay The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare organizations (JACHO) is known for its effort in accrediting hospitals and other medical facilities and is an independent, nonprofit organization. It is the oldest standard-setting and accrediting body in the health care in the United States, evaluates, and accredits about 20,000 hospitals and health care organizations nationwide. The JACHO’s mission is to see to it that quality care provided to the public is improve, through the provision of health care accreditation and related services supporting the performance improvement in health care organizations. The 2006 National Patient safety Goals aims to promote precise improvements in the patient safety, and to point out complicated areas in health care and illustrate consensus based on experts and on evidence, to solutions to these complicated areas. This goal is focus in general on system-wide solutions when ever and where ever possible. The 2006 Standard for Hospital Care Item 2E Item 2E of the 2006 standards for hospital care implement standardized means to â€Å"hand-off† communications, which include the chance to ask and respond to questions (The Joint Commission Perspective on Patient safety p. 3). The requirement 2E can be implemented in the ER through interactive communication, which would provide opportunity for question and answer between the giver of health care and the receiver. The 2E item can also be implemented through review of relevant patient historical information, which contains earlier care, management and services. However, it is important that health care organization defines and communicate a process in which information about patient care is communicated consistently. Meghan Pillow pointed out that when patient is handed off â€Å"care givers promote safe and effective treatment by passing along crucial information such as patient current condition, on going treatment, recent changes in condition, and possible changes or complications for which to be prepared† (Pillow 2007, p. 95). Reference List Improving Compliance with the 2006 National Patient Safety Goals Patient Safety Vol. 6 Issue 3March 2006 http://www.theschwartzcenter.org/news/news/Implementing.pdf Pillow, Meghan (2007) Improving Hand-off Communication. USA: Joint Commission Resources

Muscular Dystrophy: Symptoms, Causes and Treatments

Muscular Dystrophy: Symptoms, Causes and Treatments Muscular Dystrophy Background Information: Muscular dystrophy (MD) is a genetic disorder that causes the deterioration of skeletal muscles, the muscles that enable the human body to move. People with muscular dystrophy have missing or incorrect information within their genes, which prohibits the development of the proteins they need for healthy muscles. Due to fact that muscular dystrophy is genetic, it is not contagious or contractible from another person; a person must be born with the problem. Muscular dystrophy breaks down muscles over a period of time, causing the patients of the disease to gradually lose their ability to do daily and simple tasks, like sitting up or bending down. A patient with muscular dystrophy may have symptoms as a baby or later on in their life. Duchenne muscular dystrophy, also known as DMD, the most common type of muscular dystrophy, is caused by the incorrect information with the gene called dystrophin. The function of this gene is to help muscle cells keep their strength and shape. Without the presence of this gene, muscles begin to deteriorate and a person’s health becomes weaker. Duchenne muscular dystrophy is one of the types that affect boys, and symptoms of the disease begin to show between the ages of two and six. Most children with duchenne muscular dystrophy will require transportation by wheelchair by the age of ten or twelve. Patients with duchenne muscular dystrophy may experience heart complications, and need to be meticulously monitored by pulmonologists and cardiologists. They can also develop scoliosis and tightness in their joints. DMD is a muscle degenerative disease. Muscles that control essential tasks, like breathing may grow weak, requiring the patient to use a ventilator. Treatments Diagnosis: A basic physical exam will be performed by the doctor to look for the general signs of muscular dystrophy. Following this examination, the doctor will request information about your medical history. This includes any concerns you have, your past health, any medications you are currently taking, your immediate family’s health, any allergies you may have, and other matters. Blood tests can help the doctor narrow down which type of muscular dystrophy a person has and eliminate the possibility of other genetic diseases that damage nerves or muscles. One blood test analyzes the components of the patients blood, including, the levels of the enzyme, serum creatine kinase, and the levels of certain proteins that are responsible for chemical changes in the body. Abnormally high levels of serum creatine kinase in the blood from muscle cells indicates that the enzyme is causing damage to the muscle. Other blood tests are used to identify the presence of dystrophin, which is a gene that regulates muscle health and its shape. Blood tests are available to create a diagnostic from some of these disorders. There are also a few types of tests that look into the DNA of the patient. Different types of blood tests can be useful in diagnosing duchenne muscular dystrophy, and also a numerous amount of different types of muscular dystrophy. In some cases, a muscle biopsy is recommended. This procedure includes the doctor detaching a small sample of muscle tissue and analyzing it under the lens of a microscope. If a person is ill with muscular dystrophy, the sample of muscle tissue will visually show some abnormally enlarged fibers, and also evidence of fiber deterioration in different areas. How Is MD Treated? There is not a cure yet for muscular dystrophy, but any doctors and scientists are researching different methods to find a cure. Some scientists are trying to repair the abnormal genes that lead to muscular dystrophy so they will make the right proteins. Another group of scientists are trying to make chemicals and new medicines that will carry out the functions of the abnormal proteins in the body. Every single one of these scientists are working hard so that these chemical and genetic fixes will assist and hopefully cure the frail muscles to work properly in people with muscular dystrophy. There are a few activities children and adults alike can do by themselves to help their muscles. Certain stretches and therapy can help people with muscular dystrophy avoid stiffening of the muscles near the joints, also called contractures, which make mobility difficult and lock the joints in painful positions. In many cases, teenagers are equipped with custom braces to protect flexible joints and tendons. In a few cases, surgery is used to reduce the amount of pain and increase mobility that was reduced from contractures. Some of our body functions, like breathing, depend on certain muscles to properly work. A few patients with muscular dystrophy need artificial respiratory aids, such as a ventilator, to enable them to breathe. If a person was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy during childhood, that child may suffer complications including scoliosis, as a result of weakened muscles and joint inflexibility. For some variations of muscular dystrophy medication can be beneficial. For example, males with duchenne muscular dystrophy may be helped by a prescription called prednisone, and patients of myotonic muscular dystrophy might use the drug, mexilitine, to relax very tight muscles. Currently no scientific cure has been found for Muscular Dystrophy, disregarding its specific form. However, this is not a cause to be disheartened as various types of therapy and drugs are available and can assist a patient with DMD into their adult years. In order for you as a parent to fully develop an understanding about therapies available to your child, as this article continues, we will further discuss a rough outline of the benefits your child will be offered under the care of a specialist. Please keep in mind that these are only possible options that your child may choose from depending on how strongly he is being affected. These therapies also coexist with a clean diet and moderate exercise so as to keep your child as happy and healthy as possible. Most medical care for cases of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy include steroids such as glucocorticoids, prednisolone, and deflazacort.These medications are meant to delay muscle deterioration among other things and could quite possi bly be taken in repetitive or continuous periods of time. Before giving your child these medications, we humbly advise you to further research about their side-effects that they might hold. Some people with DMD acquire osteoporosis or thinning of the bones which may be caused by steroid treatment. This can be prevented by allowing your child’s intake of Vitamin D to increase whether by taking him out to enjoy the sunlight, by drinking lots of milk, by taking dietary supplements, or by taking bisphosphonates. If your child faces complications towards breathing, you might consider non-invasive ventilation which is simply a mask which delivers pressurised air to your child with minimal intervention in daily activities. Your child will have occasional ECG’s and may have to take certain drugs like beta-blockers to assist a weakening heart. Physical and occupational therapy are both liable and recommended courses of action for your child. For further information about DMD tr eatment please contact your local specialist. We are here to inform you, not discourage. If you have any troubles please feel free to contact us and talk it out. We are always willing to listen to your troubles. Please contact your doctor right away if any unusual symptoms or worsening occurs. Current Research: Although frustrating, current research has not yielded very many breakthroughs on new treatments and therapy for muscular dystrophy. Many treatments are short-term and are only able to prolong the lives of patients with MD. There are many research facilities as well as non-profit organizations currently involved in the development of new forms of medical care but drug development is somewhat delayed due to all the complicated processes needed to ensure its safety. In the lead is the NINDS (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) and the other institutes that fall under the umbrella of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). They are working diligently so that your child may benefit from modern-day technological advancements that will soon cleanse him of DMD. Recently, small scientific discoveries have been made that might lead to treatment production progress. Santhera, a pharmaceutical company, announced that Catena/Roxone might contribute to the delay of weakening abilities to respire. Another recent study was testing drugs commonly known as cialis and viagra. In a trial, young boys diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy were given a single dose of this drug and their blood flow to their muscles shot up. It is believed that this surge of blood flow may contribute to the delay of muscle deterioration, but has yet to be scientifically proven. Just a couple days ago a biotech company, Prosensa updated the scientific world about its latest program. They are planning to begin giving out doses of Drisapersen which is shown to skip over exon 51 in dystrophin and has shown promising results. For further updates on medical treatment for DMD and when it will be readily available to the global market, please feel free to contact us at our toll-free number during office hours and/or subscribe to our weekly emails in which we discuss the latest news concerning your child’s shining future. Why is its name Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy? What is the definition of Muscular dystrophy? Duchenne muscular dystrophy was named after its discoverer, the French neurologist, Guillaume-Benjamin-Amand Duchenne. The term muscular dystrophy is created by several numbers of medical terminology prefixes, word roots, and suffixes. Firstly, the word â€Å"muscular†, contains the word root â€Å"musc† which means muscle. The suffix of â€Å"muscular†, is â€Å"-ar,† which can be defined as â€Å"pertaining to.† The word â€Å"muscular,† means â€Å"pertaining to muscle.† Secondly, the word â€Å"dystrophy,† is composed of the prefix, â€Å"dys-,† and the suffix â€Å"-trophy.† The prefix â€Å"dys-â€Å"has the definition of â€Å"painful/difficult,† and the suffix â€Å"-trophy,† means â€Å"development.† In full, muscular dystrophy can be defined as â€Å"painful and difficult development that pertains to the muscle.† What are Genes A gene is the one sided unit that is passed down from generation to generation. A person can have changes (or mutations) in their genes which have the ability to cause many health problems for the person hosting the malfunctioning genes. Depending on the type of change, the effect can be small; like a change in eye color, or it can lead to major health issues. Mutations in a person’s genes results in the malfunctioning of genes. Within biology, we have learnt that in certain cases, there is a dominant gene that can hide the defective gene, which may also be called a recessive gene. In these cases, the dominant gene is strong enough to dampen the recessive trait, and keep the body functioning as it is supposed to. A person or any other organism can be born with gene mutations, or they can develop mutations over the years in their lives. If the gene mutation is present within the egg or sperm cells of the parents, the children/offspring can have the gene mutation passed down to them by their parents. When such a case as this occurs, the mutation is present within every cell of the body, and the human body is not able to fix the mutation on its own.

Workplace Observation Essay -- essays research papers

My paper will talk about the communication in our department and company wide. The next topic my paper will talk about is culture that exists in our organization for safety in the workplace and home. Then we will move into a process that our company have which address conflict in the workplace. Finally, the technology enhancements that we have changed to improve our process, address customers concerns, and automation of some of our service we offer to our customers, which include our meter reading department. Communication   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  PECO Energy offers various types of communication in our organization. The types of communication can range from emails to voice mails depending on the type of information communicated to the timeliness of the information. We have company wide monthly meeting in which senior management communicate to the employees, what went well, what are the opportunities that exist and finally and pertinent information that would relate to company goals and objectives in each area. In our department we have setup a communication specialist. The role of the specialist is to be the liaison between the Call Center and the other departments in our organization who wish to communicate information to our employees. The specialist also transforms the information to a more clear, concise tool in which our employees can understand and utilize in the daily assignment or functions. The information for our employees can be communicated in several ways: A banner, which roles across the bott om of their computer screen, next is through a written bulletin which is number for identification, topic and what the purpose of the bulletin. We have several other methods that we utilize either daily or monthly. These methods are our newsletter, team meetings, tailgate meetings, which are held at the beginning of our employees’ shift, and all hands meeting which we discuss diversity, safety and any other topics that are on the agenda. Voice mail is another avenue of communication used company wide to pass along information. The last type of communication would be our intranet site for our employees and our Internet site, (www.exeloncorp.com) for our customers. Both sites contain pertinent information to either assist our employees with information on HR issues, processes and procedures and other types of information and our customers site address our services we... ...eading can now go through a wireless system to obtain daily readings. Summary In review, the information and processes we have in place to communicate with our employees, we are able to deliver the information in a timely, effective and efficient manner. Our culture for safety not only focuses on safety in the workplace but also focus on safety in the home. This offers reminder that we must not only remain focus in the workplace but we also must remain focus outside the workplace. In order to keep safety as a top priority we offer fire drills, emergency preparedness and the STAR principle for our employees to reinforce safety at all times. PECO Solve is the method in which we use to address our conflict in the workplace. In observing the various times this process has been utilize it seems to work well for the employee and the company in which it give the employee options to remember they company fosters an open door policy to address all issues with no retaliation to the employee. The technology in our company has moved from the manual and dark ages to a mode rn way of processing information across the board. Work that was previously done manually can now be performed online.

Nervous System :: essays research papers

Nervous System The two types of the nervous system are the Central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. They are responsible for integrating, processing, and coordinating Sensory data and motor commands the central nervous system, which interprets sensory input and carry information to maintain homeostasis. CNS canà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t be regenerate because a CNS consists of the spinal cord that mean if ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s break the spinal cord is break also. The peripheral nervous system consists of the nerves that branch from the brain and spinal cord. It is a thick bundle of nerve fibers located within the spinal cord. The PNS can be regenerate and it will regrow. The brain and spinal cord are the main parts of the nervous system. The brain controls every part of your body and is located top of our head inside our skull. The spinal cord with controls our movement. Nerve cells contain 3 parts: dendrites, cell body and the axon. Dendrite is the receiving part of the neuron. It is a short extension of the cell body And send signals toward the cell body and the cell body conducts nerve impulses which in the transmission of the nerve impulses from the region to the other cell. The axon is a single extension carries the message to the next neuron, which controls all of the nerves. The nerve impulse is response of the neuron. There are 3 classes of neurons: sensory neurons, motor neurons, and interneurons. Neurons are also called nerve cells. A sensory neuron takes information from a receptor to the CNS. A motor neuron takes information away from the CNS. An interneuron transfer information between neurons in the CNS. It also sending out signal to the muscles resulting in contraction or movement. Nerves impulse occurs when an action potential changes rapidly. When action potential occurs, the sodium gates will open as Na+ flowing into the axon the changes from à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å"65mV to +40mV, this is call depolarization and during repolarization the charge as k+exits the axon from +40 mV to à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å"65mV.

Freud Meets World Essay -- essays research papers

Sigmund Freud, physiologist, medical doctor, psychologist, and father of psychoanalysis, is recognized as one of the most influential thinkers of the twentieth century. Freud articulated the concepts of the unconscious, of infantile sexuality, and of repression. He proposed a tripartite account of the structure of the mind, as part of a radically new therapeutic reference for the understanding of human psychological development, and the treatment of abnormal mental conditions. Freud is also known as the â€Å"Father of Psychoanalysis.† Psychoanalysis refers to the method of investigating unconscious mental processes, and is also a form of psychotherapy. Not regarding the multiple manifestations of psychoanalysis as it exists today, it can, in almost all respects, be traced directly back to Freud’s original work (Brome 12). Sigmund Freud was born on May 6, 1856, at Freiberg in Moravia, which is now a part of Czechoslovakia. He was born into a family full of enough complexity and confusion to give him significant material for his ruminations on the individual mind and its connections with others. His mother, Amalia, an assertive, good-looking woman, was twenty years younger than her husband Jacob. Freud’s father was Jewish, and was said to be a wool merchant. His siblings were two half-brothers, who were already grown-up, which provided a constant reminder of the oddity of his position. His own confusions, hatreds, loves, and desires from this period appear to have had significant impact on his later work on development. The decline of the textile market, and an increase of anti-Semitism in the city, forced his family to relocate to Vienna, the capitol of Austria when he was four. While in Vienna, Freud developed a liking for the medical field, especially the nervous system, and the works of the mind. He graduated from the medical school of the University of Vienna in 1881. Freud later decided to specialize in neurology, the study Kevin Mechtley 2 and treatment of disorders of the nervous system (Brill V). He left the University, secretly engaged, and found a job at the Vienna Hospital in hopes of earning enough money to get married. While at the hospital, he concentrated on the study of cerebral anatomy and also conducted research on the possible clinical uses of cocaine. In September 1886 he married Martha Bernays after a... ...He is at once the principal writer and the principal thinker of our century. If one seeks the strongest authors in the West in our time, most readers would agree upon the crucial figures; Proust, Joyce, Kafka, Yeats, Mann, Lawrence, Eliot, Rilke, Faulkner, Valery, Stevens, Montale, Beckett certainly would be among them. The essential thinkers might constitute a shorter and more controversial canon, whether of scientists or philosophers, and I will not venture to list them here. Freud is unique in that he would dominate the second group and successfully challenge even Proust, Joyce, and Kafka in the first. Nor can one match him with any of the religious figures or scholars of the century. His only rivals indeed are Plato, Montaigne, Shakespeare, or even the anonymous primal narrator of Genesis, Exodus and Numbers, called the â€Å"J† writer of Yahwist in biblical scholarship. Sigmund Freud is generally recognized as one of the most influential and authoritative thinkers of the twentieth century. Even today, a century after Freud lived, all of his theories are debated and discussed, and some are still practiced in the psychotherapy field.

Research And Ethics Essay

Conducting a qualitative research is not an easy task. Aside from considerations regarding gathering data, looking up literature and other sources related to the study, and such, researchers engaged in qualitative studies should also consider ethical issues in order to provide results that are not only reliable and valid but also acceptable in terms of morality and standard principles. For qualitative researches to exhibit the qualities of ethically accepted studies, they should comply with certain principles and guidelines. These principles and guidelines include simple yet socially acceptable rules such as respecting the rights and human dignity of other people, providing research results that are highly beneficial and contributive, adhering to fairness and equality, and presenting the truth and nothing but the truth. (Gonzales-Perez, 2007) One specific ethical issue in qualitative research is exploitation. This is a highly significant matter because it is related to the researcher’s relationship to the participants. Researchers should always respect participants avoiding exploitation, such that researchers do not impose power over them. (Gonzales-Perez, 2007) For instance, a researcher takes advantage of the vulnerability of child or female participants by imposing power and authority and drawing from them personal and sensitive information that violates the privacy of human beings. (Gonzales-Perez, 2007) Exploitation does not meet the responsibility of researchers over the security and welfare of the participants. Personal and sensitive information that will be presented in the research obtained from exploitation will not make the research study ethically or morally acceptable, annulling its reliability and validity as a research case. (Ethical Issues in Qualitative Research, 2008) Another ethical issue is the researcher’s responsibility to inform participants of the true nature of the research. This is based on the founding principles of qualitative research which states that the researcher should always protect participants from harm. Researchers should be able to inform participants of events that will follow the research process, such as the processes, operations, requirements, and such, in order for both the participants and the researcher to become aware of possible risks or threats. Considering the health of a participant is one possible consideration. For instance, the research study focuses on the effect of food to mood or emotions. The participant should be informed of the process, as a standard operating procedure, in order to determine problems, such as food allergies, and such. In addition, researchers should also obtain consent from participants before continuing the operation of the research process. This is one of the major responsibilities of the researcher as an advocate for human rights and dignity in terms of personal safety and wellbeing. In doing so, harm and catastrophes will be avoided. (Gonzales-Perez, 2007) The third ethical issue concerning qualitative research is misrepresentations of information covered by the research study. Opportunities for misrepresentations will not make the research study valid and reliable, simply because its content is open to many interpretations and points of view. The purpose of the research process is to provide information that is clear and direct, stating facts that represent the preciseness of data. Misrepresentation defeats this purpose. This violates ethical standards and guidelines because misrepresentations hold risks and threats, especially if data or information is interpreted in the wrong way. (Gonzales-Perez, 2007) Imagine a research study focusing on health practices that will protect the safety and wellbeing of the patients. Suppose the research study concludes with suggestions that will assist health care professionals in caring for their patients. If the information is interpreted wrongly, health care professionals might commit mistakes that will endanger the lives of their patients. Abiding by ethical issues and considerations, when conducting qualitative research, is highly important. Following ethics in qualitative research determines the nature and quality of the results and the research itself – whether it is acceptable, conducted in good faith, and is beneficial to the public. Researcher should always keep in mind that they are highly responsible for the results, whether desirable or undesirable, that might arise from the research study. Therefore, following ethical standards and guidelines is a must in order to go about the research process in a correct, accurate, and appropriate way. Resources Ethical Issues in Qualitative Research. (2008). Retrieved October 18, 2008, from SA Health Info. Website: http://www. sahealthinfo. org/ethics/ethicsqualitative. htm Gonzales-Perez, M. A. (2007). Ethical Issues in Qualitative Research. Retrieved October 18, 2008, from The Community Knowledge Initiative. Website: http://www. nuigalwaycki. ie/admin/documents/Ethical_Issues. pdf