It's OK to get sick in July

Article Abstract:

A distrust of medical academia is at a peak in July, when teaching hospitals acquire new house staff recently graduated from medical school. The possibility that physician inexperience may impose additional burdens on a patient is important in terms of patient care safeguards and excess health care costs. Within recent years, two studies have examined the July phenomenon. In a study of 2,589 hospitalizations, the patient group admitted in late spring was compared with that admitted in early summer for differences in hospital charges, lengths of stay, and use of ancillary services. The results showed that there were no differences in these variables between the two groups. In another study of 21,679 hospital discharges, increased house staff experience was associated with decreases in lengths of hospital stay and hospital costs. Quality of care as measured by mortality, nursing home placements, and re-admission rates did not correlate with house staff experience. Another source of increased cost may be related to the role of house staff based on experience. For example, selection and scheduling of laboratory tests and discharge procedures tend to be assigned to more inexperienced staff members, although these tasks have the greatest economic impact. Several factors may contribute to the excess costs associated with training institutions; costs may be improved by a collaborative effort between the medical staff and hospital administration. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Evaluation, Officials and employees, Hospitals, Hospitalization, Hospital care, Graduate medical education, editorial, Postgraduate medical education

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Community-based HIV prevention in presumably underserved populations - July-September 1995

Article Abstract:

A community-based team can effectively identify homeless people who may need HIV testing and counseling. Two public health nurses visited street corners, public parks and community organizations in Colorado Springs to contact homeless people in need of testing. They identified 224 people of whom 212 agreed to be tested. Despite the fact that half had risk factors for HIV infection such as intravenous drug use and unsafe sex practices, only 2 tested positive. Almost 70% had been tested for HIV previously. The social isolation of homeless people may protect them from contracting HIV.

Innovations, Testing, Homeless persons, HIV testing, HIV tests

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Assessment of health-related needs after tsunami and earthquake - Three districts, Aceh province, Indonesia, July-August 2005

Article Abstract:

Surveys to evaluate the effectiveness of relief interventions in Indonesian districts affected by the tsunami of December 26 2004 and the earthquake on March 28 2005 were conducted by Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere, Inc. (CARE) International Indonesia and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in July-August 2006. The findings revealed that while food and water were provided to the majority of the people, there were still gaps in the relief program particularly in measles vaccine coverage and micronutrient supplement coverage.

Other Justice, Public Order, and Safety Activities, Indonesia, Disaster Aid, Disaster Relief & Insurance, Surveys, Disaster relief, Earthquake damage

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