by Howard Gerber on February 16, 2012
When you walk into a hospital or a doctor’s office, one of the first things a person sees is the office staff, then a nurse, and finally a doctor. For years now, hospitals and private practices have been moving toward allowing everyone to wear scrubs to work. Staff members and patients tend to love the policy or completely hate it, and there are good points to be made for either side.
Love the Scrubs Trend
There is certainly something to be said for uniforms. Schools, athletic teams, and almost every other organized group have some sort of uniform that allows people to recognize members easily. This same premise is the reason matching scrubs have become so popular. They allow patients to instantly recognize who in the area may be able to help them. It also allows for a sense of unity and can increase teamwork between coworkers. Another positive feature of matching scrubs is that they are relatively inexpensive and you never have to think much about getting dressed for work. Instead of spending valuable time before work choosing just the right outfit, you can look for a clean pair of scrubs and be on your way. Comfort is another key factor. It is much easier to move and accomplish daily tasks in scrubs. This is true whether you are seeing patients or having to climb up ladders for patient files.
Hate the Scrubs Trend
The only people in a hospital or doctor’s office who should be discussing medical issues are nurses and doctors. However, when everyone looks the same, it is easy for patients to get confused and ask office staff about medical issues. This tends to be frustrating for both the patient and the office worker. Another annoyance is that if the administrators choose a color that is less common, it may be difficult to find options that are flattering for all staff members. Finally, if all staff members have to wear matching scrubs, it greatly reduces the individuality each person is able to express through their clothing. Many nurses purposefully wear cartoon characters or animals to cheer patients up or to make the day more enjoyable for themselves. By having to conform to a strict dress code this creative outlet is removed potentially making the workplace less enjoyable.
How do you feel about mandated matching scrubs in the workplace? Do you think it makes life easier or do you prefer standing out from the crowd?
by Howard Gerber on February 9, 2012
What better time to raise heart health awareness than the month that has an entire day devoted to love. Hearts will be everywhere this month making it easy to find decorations and inexpensive ways to bring heart health to your client’s attention.
Heart Disease
According to the American Heart Association, heart disease is the number one killer of women in America. It kills more women than all forms of cancer combined partially because it is underdiagnosed. Cardiovascular disease is the overall leading cause of death in America according to the CDC. The easiest way to reduce this number is to raise awareness among the general population. Million Hearts is a government initiative with the goal of preventing 1 million strokes and heart attacks in the United States over the next 5 years. The website has a variety of tools for individuals and health care providers and also allows individuals to pledge to change their lifestyles in order to improve their overall heart health.
Decorate
This health observance is probably the easiest to decorate for and the most fun. Who doesn’t love the pink and red of Valentine’s Day? Retailers have everything in these colors and with hearts all over them. Use heart shaped streamers, balloons, signs, and window clings to decorate your office or waiting room. Buy decorations that don’t mention Valentine’s Day specifically and use the empty area inside of the hearts to write catch phrases such as:
- February is Heart Month
- Heart Disease Warning Signs
- Tips for Heart Disease Prevention
- Healthy Heart Habits
Educate
National Wear Red Day was February 3rd, but the AHA fully supports companies and groups using the materials to celebrate on a day of their choosing. They offer a variety of materials including posters, a planning guide, flyers, and education materials. This is a great resource to begin planning the best way to educate your patients or clients.
Encourage
Promoting heart health shouldn’t just be for your clients or patients. You also need to encourage your staff to take their heart health seriously. Often it is the caregivers who have the most trouble taking care of themselves. Promote a Wear Red Day and offer small prizes for the most unique outfit. If you manage a large facility encourage the various departments to decorate their area, sponsor fundraising walks, and provide resources for free employee screenings.
How do you as a health care provider plan to celebrate and promote American Heart Month?
by Howard Gerber on February 2, 2012
It has been common knowledge for about three decades that children should not be given aspirin because it can lead to the development of Reye’s syndrome. Around the time this discovery was made doctors and parents began giving infants and children acetaminophen to reduce fever instead. However, about a decade later some doctors began to think that the increase in childhood asthma might be linked to the increased use of acetaminophen. A 1998 paper indicated the link and recommended further testing in animals and studies in other countries where childhood asthma was increasing.
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by Howard Gerber on January 26, 2012
Everyone makes mistakes in their personal life and in their professional life. This is true for all people in all professions. However, it is more important when a mistake is made in the field of medicine because it can result in the death of a patient. It can be scary to admit to someone that you have made a mistake, and terrifying if that mistake may have negatively affected their health. However, it is one of the most important parts of a nurse’s job. [continue reading…]
by Howard Gerber on January 19, 2012
Congress was in the news quite a bit in December because of the many extensions that were set to expire the first of January if they were not extended. The therapy cap provision was especially concerning for those in speech, physical, and occupational therapy positions. Fortunately, it has been extended until February. However, it could still be eliminated unless Congress makes a more permanent decision. Had the legislation not been extended there would have been a 27.4% reduction in the fee schedule and exceptions for the early $1,880 therapy cap would have been removed. Just how important is it that these measures not be removed? [continue reading…]
by Howard Gerber on January 12, 2012
by Howard Gerber on January 9, 2012
There are several reasons why many schools have begun to adopt a co-teaching model in their classrooms. Class size laws in many states require a lower student to teacher ratio as do many individualized education plans. Co-teaching can even result in a better teaching experience for the teachers and the students, as long as the teachers get along. [continue reading…]