Currently browsing Blog

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among American women, second only to certain types of skin cancer. Although primary care providers do not diagnose breast cancer or treat it, they are involved in several stages, the first being a trusted resource for their patient.

PCPs are often the first line of defense when it comes to detecting breast cancer. Commonly, a PCP may be who a patient goes to first if they feel a lump in their breast and are usually involved in routine screenings. It is important that providers recommend routine mammograms or other breast cancer screenings in order to avoid missing a diagnosis.

However, in many cases the primary care physician’s work is not done after screening. If diagnosed by an Oncologist with breast cancer, many women choose to go to their primary care providers (PCP) seeking more personal support through the process. The role of the PCPs in the breast cancer treatment conversation is a relatively unexpected one for many members of the medical field, as that role generally falls to an oncologist or specialist. However because of a likely longer and more personal relationship with a patient, many PCPs find themselves involved in conversations around treatment.

In a recent study, 1 in 3 primary care providers reported discussing breast cancer treatment options with their patients who are newly-diagnosed with early stage breast cancer. Many PCPs report feeling uncomfortable or that they do not have the necessary knowledge to help patients make treatment decisions. It is important for PCPs to remember that although they do serve as an important part of their patient’s support network, they are not responsible for guiding the patient’s cancer treatment choices.

Dr. J. Leonard Lichtenfeld, MD, MACP, interim chief medical and scientific officer at the American Cancer Society in Atlanta, Georgia reminds PCPs that they don’t need to be experts to be an excellent physician for their patients, and frequently a close relationship with a patient can be beneficial. He adds that even just listening and advocating for the patient can play an important role in ensuring a patient feels supported and confident in their treatment plan. 

Consider the points made about Informed Consent in the video below. 

Overall, a primary care practitioner’s duty in the event of a breast cancer diagnosis is one of support, comfort, and advocacy. In a troubling time, patients often trust the physician that has known them the longest. It’s important to be present for patients while leaning on the expertise of a team of specialists to ensure that your patient receives the best care possible. Whenever questions about risk and patient safety arise, you have OmniSure for advice on-demand in tough situations.

Due to the nature of their jobs, healthcare professionals have always been uniquely vulnerable to many of the stressful events that can trigger a suicidal crisis. In particular, emergency doctors have historically been at risk of post-traumatic stress disorders, and the pandemic has only increased both the demands and pressure placed on healthcare professionals. 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a significant spike in suicide rates, especially within the healthcare community. Recent studies of those working with COVID patients in China, Italy, and Canada showed increased rates of depression, insomnia, anxiety, and PTSD, all of which can negatively affect an individual’s mental health and possibly contribute to suicidal crises. Compounding these findings is a historic perception within the medical field of patient deaths as a failure, a culture which during an outbreak with such a high mortality rate could be debilitating for many in the field. 

Now more than ever, it is vital that those working on the frontlines have not only mental health resources but also stay vigilant about looking for warning signs in their coworkers. Early research into the adverse physiological effects of COVID-19 on healthcare workers advises regular mental health screenings to evaluate stress, depression, and anxiety.

Precipitating Factors

Precipitating factors refer to stressful events or incidents that can trigger a suicidal crisis. For COVID-19, the precipitating factors are ones that affect everyone: uncertainty about the future, declines in the job market and economy, and a high mortality rate. Many researchers have pointed to the element of worldwide panic associated with COVID as a unique stressor that was not as prevalent in recent outbreaks, such as SARS in 2003. 

Patients and healthcare workers alike have possibly lost family members, been fired from their jobs, struggled with isolation, or faced eviction or food insecurity. For those in the medical field, these events can increase strain during an already difficult time. During COVID-19, healthcare professionals have faced longer work hours, fear of spreading the virus to loved ones, stress over letting coworkers down and keeping up with the increased demands and losing more patients than usual in a short period of time. Coupled together, the negative impact of COVID-19 on healthcare workers is unsurprising and demands focus and action.

What to Look For

When looking out for coworkers and those in your life during this difficult time, keep an eye out for a variety of warning signs. They can include maladaptive thoughts or feelings, especially guilt, depression, anxiety, withdrawing from activities, isolating themselves, giving away prized possessions, aggression, fatigue, and loss of interest. For more information on warning signs of suicide, visit https://afsp.org/risk-factors-and-warning-signs. 

How You Can Help

If you believe your coworker may feel depressed and possibly suicidal, talk to them about how they are feeling. Throughout your communication, remember to practice active listening and be non-judgemental in your responses. Demonstrating to the person that you are there to support them and open to listening is key to making them feel safe in your communications.  

If you suspect that your patient feels depressed and possibly suicidal, talk with your patient about their mood. Make sure to consult with other professionals if you have had any doubt about your patient’s psychiatric stability or risk for suicide. It’s helpful to have a specialist in your corner who can advise you on suicide risk and who can work with you to ensure a safe and sound outcome for your patient and employees. 

Resources

OmniSure recommends that organizations set up programs specifically to support the mental health of their employees, patients, and clients. Spotlight your Employee Assistance Program if you have one. Make time to check in on emotional and psychological well-being. Need ideas? OmniSure doesn’t offer a suicide hotline or give medical advice, but we can provide risk reduction advice, on-demand, and connect you to risk management specialists with expertise in suicide risk reduction strategies. 

If you or someone you know is suicidal, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255). Counselors are available 24 hours of the day. For more specific information and resources, visit https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org. 

All healthcare providers should have an understanding of the legal basis of their practice. However, those in a correctional setting have an added need and obligation to understand constitutional law.

The History of Constitutional Law in Correctional Facilities

The term “Section 1983 case” used to describe a legal claim may seem to suggest that this claim was created in 1983. However, this case is not denoted by a year but by a section of the U.S. Civil Rights Act of 1871. This act was originally created to protect those who were being harassed by the Ku Klux Klan following the Civil War. This section specifies how their constitutionally protected rights were violated. 

Section 1983 claims can include false arrest, unreasonable searches, equal protection, or use of excessive force. For Correctional Healthcare practice, Section 1983 claims involve abridgment of the 8th Amendment to the Constitution as it relates to healthcare. In the case of Estelle vs. Gamble, denial of adequate medical care to prisoners constituted cruel and unusual punishment as was protected against by the 8th Amendment to the Constitution.

What is a Section 1983 Case?

At its core, a Section 1983 case is a civil rights case. Therefore, instead of determining if the standard for medical care was provided, a Section 1983 case seeks to identify primary determinants of deliberate indifference. In plain language, a plaintiff must prove that there was a staff member who knew about the seriousness of the issue and that they deliberately failed to provide the required treatment. 

Furthermore, they must prove that the failure to treat caused the inmate unneeded pain, suffering or some similar harm.

How does this apply to me?

Lorry Schoenly, PhD, RN, CCHP, author of The Correctional Nurse Manifesto, shares that as healthcare professionals, we are bound by our licensure and our ethical codes to care for injured, ill and suffering individuals – no matter their position in society. We provide care based on need, not merit. Providing medical care in a correctional setting  can be difficult, but vital. 

Need More Help?

Don’t go it alone. OmniSure is here to give professional advice on-demand and address your risks prior to any claims or lawsuits. Contact us today to begin your risk assessment.

Disposal of Sharps

As a Home Health Care Professional, you are responsible for the safe use and disposal of sharps equipment that you use in a patient home. However, patients or family members may put themselves and others at risk by not appropriately disposing of sharps themselves. It’s not uncommon to find contaminated sharps on any surface in the home or the wastebaskets. In fact, without access to standard sharps containers, people often use whatever is available for disposal – such as coffee cans and milk jugs. You can’t always assume that the standard labeled, leak-proof, puncture-resistant sharps containers will be available in the home.

Transportation of Sharps

Your agency may ask you to carry containers with you to the homes to help ensure proper disposal. Secure used sharps containers during transport to prevent spilling, follow standard precautions, infection prevention, and general hygiene practices consistently.

Avoiding Use of Sharps

What else can be done to curb infection from blood-borne pathogens? It might be possible to eliminate the use of needle devices whenever a safe or effective alternative is available. Your agency may provide needle devices with safety features that they’ve determined to be most effective. They will want to analyze all sharps related injuries to determine hazards and injury patterns, so report any issues or potential issues. Even if there’s not an actual harmful event, just the possibility of it is worth tracking. If a pattern develops, the company may consider changing work practices to decrease the specific activities associated with the potential for injuries.

What To Do In Case of Exposure

Even with proper precautions, home health care workers may be exposed to blood from episodes of sudden profuse bleeding and tasks involving wound care. If this happens during your visit, immediately wash the area with soap and water. If bodily fluids are splashed to the nose, the mouth, or sensitive skin, flush the area with clean water like saline or sterile irrigants.

After you take the important cleaning steps, immediately report the incident to your supervisor. Make sure to complete any paperwork involved and, if needed, seek medical attention per your employer’s protocol.

Home healthcare is an extremely rewarding industry for you and those you care for if you remember to work safely. Consistently follow any guidelines set out by your employer to help ensure patients receive the care they deserve and you continue to work in a safe environment, but also know that on-demand advice is available. OmniSure can help you navigate tough situations and answer questions in real-time.

Media outlets often rely on reporters’ ability to sensationalize a story. By sensationalizing a situation, news sources can grab readers’ or viewers’ attention. Media companies often go to great lengths to get their information. This can include contacting patients’ families, current and former employees, or eyewitnesses to help them “flesh out” their story. So, what can you do when a negative situation at your facility steps into the limelight?

Outbreaks, medical errors, employee misconduct allegations, misappropriation of funds, accidents, or acts of nature are just a few of the reasons your organization could be negatively portrayed in the media. While the most important step to avoiding poor publicity is to prevent it, a time may come when a negative event occurs out of your control. Every organization should be prepared for such an occasion.

How to Prepare Before a Crisis Happens

In order to effectively manage crisis communications, it’s necessary to designate a spokesperson, establish the facts, draft and rehearse a prepared general statement, all while guarding the privacy of patients and/or the facility. This should all be done prior to any incident for maximum effectiveness. Having a plan of action and people who are accountable for certain pieces of the plan is crucial to a timely and professional response. 

Addressing the Story

According to Statistica, approximately 10% of Americans have knowingly shared misinformation and that number increases to 31% when involving children and teenagers. Over half of Americans also question the news. Despite the general public’s acknowledgement of sensationalized news, organizations need a media plan. Successful crisis management of the media not only involves proactively addressing potential risks but also controlling the information provided, especially a false report.

To actively address false reports, your crisis management team must be in place and already have assigned parts to play. From there, your organization can acknowledge any misinformation swiftly with a premeditated, approved response that presents professionalism and care.

Handling the Crisis

You must demonstrate that your organization is managing the crisis to maintain the confidence and trust of the public. Preparing statements is good, however, statements given should not disclose too much information while you are still conducting a full investigation. Speaking out of line and then having to issue an apology or correction makes your organization look unprofessional. 

How to Prepare Today

Having an experienced, objective partner is a huge advantage for a specialist in healthcare or social services in the midst of a crisis. Now is the time to enlist a specialist who can help you assess, plan for, or even control a crisis when the moment comes. OmniSure provides supportive specialists in a variety of fields who can not only help you avoid a negative event, but provide advice-on-demand and support in case of a media emergency.