Effective Communication in Health Care Essay Example

Effective Communication in Health Care Essay Example Effective Communication in Health Care Essay Effective Communication in Health Care Essay There are many different ways that that a Medical Organization could be ran effectively and successful. As a dental technician in the USAF the type of organizational model used is based upon the Matrix model because there is usually two or more forms of supervision that one has to adhere to be successful in administering and completing patient care (Lombardi, Schermerhorn, Kramer, 2007). To be successful at any type of organization employees must be informed from the leadership and be able to come to their leadership with problems or concerns the way this is done within the dental clinic is through group meetings and utilization of chain of command (Personnel, 2011). The techniques that have been most effective for sharing ideas and information throughout the clinic include weekly meeting and suggestion box, those that are ineffective for sharing ideas and information have been emails and meetings held to close to lunch or the end of the duty day. In a health care work environment some of the techniques have to be modified, because of HIPAA (Hartley, Jones, Sullivan , David, 2010). Technology effects the process of sharing ideas and information because without technology emails, power point presentations at meetings, and so on would not be accessible to benefit expedited communication. Within a matric model organization like the dental clinic in the USAF there are many forms of techniques for communication that are effective and sometimes ineffective at sharing ideas and information amongst employees to benefit successful patient care. Organization Model within the Dental Clinic The matrix model is the organizational model that is used in the dental clinic within the United States air force. This model consists of teams that work together with often overlapping duties in order to accomplish a united goal in patient care (Lombardi, Schermerhorn, Kramer, 2007). This model is really effective because in the military everyone has to be trained in every area of their duty title in order to be able to accomplish patient care whether someone is deployed, moving, or temporarily working at another facility (TDY). As dental technicians within the military answering to more than one superior is detrimental to mission effectiveness, there is a person of direct leadership within the part of the clinic that you are working and a person of leadership that supervises and rates on the dental technician exclusively. Sharing Knowledge and Solving Problems within the Dental Clinic The dental clinic in the USAF has specific procedures for sharing knowledge and solving problems within the dental clinic. The chain of command and group meetings are indispensable practices that help with communication amongst employees. The chain of command takes issue or information brought down by the commander (highest ranking authority, dentist) and shares them with those beneath him so that they can disperse the information to the rest of the group (Personnel, 2011). This gives the commander a chance to handle greater issues while the information is simultaneously handed down the ranks. The leadership beneath the commander often calls group meetings to address problems and disperse information the commander has to share with the group. Techniques that are the Most and Least Effective within the Dental Clinic In sharing ideas and problems with the leadership to the rest of the group some techniques are really effective and others are not. Weekly meetings and the suggestion box are two techniques that are very helpful to share information and solve problems. These weekly meetings are snippets of the monthly meetings and often involve groups within a specific working area working on a particular project. The suggestion box allows anyone to put any suggestion or issue written down and placed in a box and the management team reviews these weekly and discusses resolutions at the monthly meetings. This helps those who do not like to speak in open forums such as the monthly/weekly meetings to still have their concerns heard. Ineffective ways of sharing information are emails and meetings held close to the end of the day/lunch. Emails are sometimes not that effective because many people do not have a chance to read them more than once a day because of the high patient care volume so some emails may have delayed answers or information. Meeting held close to lunch/end of day have slim attendance because people might still be held up in patient care. Techniques Applied/Modified in a Health Care Environment In the dental clinic many techniques that share knowledge or solve problems must be modified or applied in a different way because of HIPAA. HIPAA is a privacy act enacted within the 1990’s that ensures patient care is confidential. Emails sent that discuss patient care must not include any direct private information unless completely necessary, and if so, must have a privacy act disclaimer attached (Hartley, Jones, Sullivan , David, 2010). The suggestion box must also not have patient information present because it is not locked up, therefore information could be put in the wrong hands. Technology’s Effect on Techniques for Sharing info within Health Care Technology is definitely an essential part of almost every technique involved with sharing information within the dental clinic or any health care field. Without technology tools such as power point presentations used at meetings and emails used to forward important information to personnel communication would be affected. Technology is ever growing in health care today and the use of electronic records and electronic appointment systems are often the backbone of any health care organization. Conclusion For the matrix model organizational structure of the dental clinic in the USAF there are many techniques that help in sharing information and solving problems some greatly effective and others, not so much (Lombardi, Schermerhorn, Kramer, 2007). The dental clinic shares knowledge and informs employees through monthly meetings and the chain of command (Personnel, 2011). Weekly meetings and the suggestion box are very effective at sharing information while emails and meetings to close to lunch/end of the duty day are not. These techniques are modified or applied differently in a health care environment because of HIPAA (Hartley, Jones, Sullivan , David, 2010). Technology has also affected these techniques because the use of technology via power point presentations, emails, and so on is the back bone of sharing ideas/information in health care today. Organization structure is very important and how information and solving problems within a health care organization effectively can greatly improve the overall goal of successful patient care!

Copperhead Snake Facts (Agkistrodon contortrix)

Copperhead Snake Facts (Agkistrodon contortrix) The copperhead snake (Agkistrodon contortrix) gets its common name from its coppery reddish-brown head. Copperheads are pit vipers, related to rattlesnakes and moccasins. Snakes in this group are venomous and have a deep pit on either side of the head that detects infrared radiation or heat. Fast Facts: Copperhead Scientific Name: Agkistrodon contortrixCommon Names: Copperhead, highland moccasin, pilot snake, white oak snake, chunk headBasic Animal Group: ReptileSize: 20-37 inchesWeight: 4-12 ouncesLifespan: 18 yearsDiet: CarnivoreHabitat: Eastern North AmericaPopulation: Over 100,000Conservation Status: Least Concern Description Copperheads may be distinguished from other pit vipers by their color, pattern, and body shape. A copperhead is tan to pink with 10 to 18 darker hourglass- or dumbbell-shaped crossbands on its back. Its head is solid copper-brown. The snake has a broad head, distinct neck, stout body, and thinner tail. A copperhead has tan to reddish brown eyes and vertical pupils. The average adult snake is between 2 and 3 feet in length and weighs from 4 to 12 ounces. Females have longer bodies than males, but males have longer tails. Habitat and Distribution Copperheads live in the United States, from southern New England to northern Florida and across to western Texas. They extend into Chihuahua and Coahuila in Mexico. The snake occupies a variety of habitats, including forests, swamps, rocky woodlands, and along rivers and streams. Copperhead snake range. Craig Pemberton Diet and Behavior Copperheads are ambush predators that camouflage themselves against the leaves and soil and wait for prey. They find their targets by heat and scent. About 90% of their diet consists of small rodents. They also eat frogs, birds, smaller snakes, and large insects. Copperheads climb trees to forage on caterpillars and emerging cicadas, but are otherwise terrestrial. Except for mating and hibernating, the snakes are solitary. The snakes hibernate in the winter, often sharing a den with other copperheads, rat snakes, and rattlesnakes. They feed during the day in spring and autumn, but are nocturnal during hot summer months. Reproduction and Offspring Copperheads breed anywhere from spring to late summer (February to October). However, neither males nor females necessarily breed every year. Males wrestle in ritual combat for breeding rights. The winner may then have to battle the female. The female stores sperm and may defer fertilization for several months, usually until after hibernating. She gives birth to 1 to 20 live young, each measuring about 8 inches in length. The young resemble their parents, but they are lighter colored and have yellowish-green tipped tails, which they use to lure lizards and frogs for their first meals. Baby copperheads are born with fangs and venom that is as potent as that of adults. Females sometimes reproduce via parthenogenesis, an asexual mode of reproduction that does not require fertilization. Copperheads reach sexual maturity when they are about 2 feet long, which is around 4 years of age. They live 18 years in the wild, but they may live 25 years in captivity. Juvenile copperhead snakes have yellowish green tail tips. JWJarrett, Getty Images Conservation Status The IUCN classifies the copperhead conservation status as least concern. Over 100,000 adult snakes live in North America, with a stable, slowly declining population size. For the most part, copperheads are not subject to significant threats. Habitat loss, fragmentation, and degradation diminish snake numbers about 10% every ten years. In particular, populations are geographically separated in Mexico. Copperheads and Humans Copperheads are responsible for biting more people than any other snake species. While the copperhead prefers to avoid humans, it freezes instead of slithering away. The snake is difficult to spot, so people unknowingly step too close or onto the animal. Like other New World vipers, copperheads vibrate their tail when approached. They also release a cucumber-smelling musk when touched. When threatened, the snake usually delivers a dry (nonvenomous) bite or low-dose warning bite. The snake uses its venom to incapacitate prey prior to ingestion. Since people are not prey, copperheads tend to conserve their venom. However, even the full amount of venom is rarely fatal. Small children, pets, and persons allergic to snake venom are most at risk. Copperhead venom is hemolytic, which means it breaks red blood cells. Bite symptoms include extreme pain, nausea, throbbing, and tingling. While its important to seek immediate medical attention if bitten, usually antivenin is not administered because it poses a greater risk than the copperhead bite. Copperhead venom contains a protein called contortrostatin that may help slow tumor growth and cancer cell migration. Sources Ernst, Carl H.; Barbour, Roger W. Snakes of Eastern North America. Fairfax, Virginia: George Mason University Press, 1989. ISBN 978-0913969243.Finn, Robert. Snake Venom Protein Paralyzes Cancer Cells. Journal of the National Cancer Institute. 93 (4): 261–262, 2001. doi:10.1093/jnci/93.4.261Frost, D.R., Hammerson, G.A., Santos-Barrera, G. Agkistrodon contortrix. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2007: e.T64297A12756101. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2007.RLTS.T64297A12756101.enGloyd, H.K., Conant, R. Snakes of the Agkistrodon Complex: A Monographic Review. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, 1990. ISBN 0-916984-20-6.McDiarmid, R.W., Campbell, J.A., Tourà ©, T.  Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, Volume 1. Washington, District of Columbia: Herpetologists League, 1999. ISBN 1-893777-01-4.