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Pilot Sites (pilot + site)
Selected AbstractsP-11 THE IMPACT OF INTRODUCING LIQUID BASED CYTOLOGY INTO A ROUTINE SCREENING LABORATORYCYTOPATHOLOGY, Issue 2006L. Gregory With the exception of information from the liquid based cytology (LBC) pilot site there has been limited data to date on the impact of the introduction of SurePathÔ LBC in the NHSCSP. We will present data to show the impact on a medium sized laboratory (42 000 requests per annum) over the first phases of rollout. Data from before, during and post conversion, a period of 28 months, shows the following trends: (1) A significant fall in the inadequate rate (2) A slight decrease in the borderline / mild dyskaryosis rate (3) A small increase in the high-grade squamous dyskaryosis reporting rate (4) An increase in both the number and specificity of glandular lesions reported (5) A largely unchanged positive predictive value for high-grade abnormalities (6) A significant increase in laboratory productivity, unrelated to inadequate rate but through increased speed of screening. Although our experience is not directly comparable to the experience of the LBC pilot, our observations may well reflect that we were fortunate to be trained by staff from one of the LBC sites and thereby benefited directly from their experience. [source] Opportunities for independent living using direct payments in mental healthHEALTH & SOCIAL CARE IN THE COMMUNITY, Issue 2 2006Helen Spandler PhD Abstract Mental health service users have yet to reap the benefits of greater choice, control and independent living, which direct payments have facilitated in other groups of community care users, particularly people with physical disabilities. To redress this imbalance a national pilot to promote direct payments to people with mental health needs in five local authority sites across England was set up and evaluated. The evaluation used a multi-method approach incorporating both qualitative and quantitative data, including individual semi-structured interviews and group discussions with key stakeholders across the pilot sites. This article draws on findings from the pilot evaluation to provide a preliminary understanding of how applicable the independent living philosophy is to mental health and what opportunities direct payments offer for service users. When given the opportunity, service users were able to use direct payments creatively to meet a range of needs in ways which increased their choice, control and independence. This suggests that the benefits of greater independent living through direct payments may be realisable in mental health. However, a number of ways in which the principles of direct payments in mental health could be ,downgraded' were identified. The evaluation results indicate that a thorough understanding of the independent living philosophy needs to be developed in the context of mental health. [source] Breaking New Ground in Juvenile Justice Settings: Assessing for Competencies in Juvenile OffendersJUVENILE AND FAMILY COURT JOURNAL, Issue 2 2005JULIETTE R. MACKIN ABSTRACT The field of juvenile justice has made great strides in developing a research base of effective practices and principles, including an understanding of risk factors and needs that contribute to juvenile offending. However, the research base and practice of systematic assessment has not yet fully incorporated youth, family, and community strengths. To address this need, three juvenile justice agencies in the northwestern United States participated in a pilot study to develop and implement an assessment tool (the Youth Competency Assessment) and process that would identify and utilize strengths to help balance the risk and needs focus of their assessment and case planning practices. This article provides descriptions and implementation strategies of the three pilot sites. The article concludes with recommended system changes and policy interventions to support ongoing utilization of this kind of strength-based tool in juvenile justice settings, and a clear set of recommendations for other communities wishing to implement strength-based assessment in their own agencies. [source] Options for increasing carbon sequestration in West African soils: an exploratory study with special focus on SenegalLAND DEGRADATION AND DEVELOPMENT, Issue 2 2001N. H. Batjes Abstract The organic matter content of many soils in West Africa has been depleted due to overgrazing, agricultural mismanagement, deforestation and overexploitation of the natural resources. Degraded agro(eco)systems can be managed to increase carbon sinks in vegetation and soil, and to reduce carbon emissions to the atmosphere. The capacity for sequestering carbon will increase as annual precipitation increases, and generally as mean temperature decreases, provided the soil and terrain conditions are not limiting for crop (biomass) growth. The agroecological suitability of three pilot sites, proposed for soil carbon sequestration projects in Senegal, is assessed and the feasibility of various management options to increase organic carbon levels in the soil is discussed. For the future, a Land Resources Information System should be developed to consider detailed data on climate, soil and terrain conditions, status of soil degradation, and land-use systems for West Africa. Upon its linkage to a dynamic soil carbon model and a socio-economic module, such an integrated system can be used to assess the ecotechnological and socio-economic potential for carbon sequestration projects in the context of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) proposed under article 12 of the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. If adopted, this mechanism could confer funds to West African countries for the sustainable use and conservation of their natural resources, thereby providing economic, environmental and societal benefits for local populations, while simultaneously contributing to climate change mitigation. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Global oximetry: an international anaesthesia quality improvement projectANAESTHESIA, Issue 10 2009I. A. Walker Summary Pulse oximetry is mandatory during anaesthesia in many countries, a standard endorsed by the World Health Organization ,Safe Surgery Saves Lives' initiative. The Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland, the World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists and GE Healthcare collaborated in a quality improvement project over a 15-month period to investigate pulse oximetry in four pilot sites in Uganda, Vietnam, India and the Philippines, using 84 donated pulse oximeters. A substantial gap in oximeter provision was demonstrated at the start of the project. Formal training was essential for oximeter-naïve practitioners. After introduction of oximeters, logbook data were collected from over 8000 anaesthetics, and responses to desaturation were judged appropriate. Anaesthesia providers believed pulse oximeters were essential for patient safety and defined characteristics of the ideal oximeter for their setting. Robust systems for supply and maintenance of low-cost oximeters are required for sustained uptake of pulse oximetry in low- and middle-income countries. [source] Outcome of Newborn Hearing Screening Programme delivered by health visitorsCHILD: CARE, HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT, Issue 5 2008S. Basu Abstract Background The Newborn Hearing Screening Programme (NHSP) was introduced in England in 2001 to detect congenital hearing loss in the newborn. The screen is either hospital- or community-based. Objectives This is the first large-scale study of community-based NHSP published in the United Kingdom which aims to evaluate the performance of the community-based screen and compare it against national targets for NHSP and the outcome of national pilot projects. Method Hearing screening data recorded for 10 074 well babies between March 2004 and December 2005 were analysed. Babies who were admitted to the Special Care Baby Unit were excluded. The case notes of all children who failed the initial hearing screen, either unilateral or bilateral, were reviewed retrospectively. Specific performance measures include coverage rate, referral rate and yield. Reasons for failure to complete the screen were identified. Results The community programme met all the standards set by the NHSP and the results are comparable with the average of the pilot sites reported in 2004. Conclusion The data demonstrate that a community-based hearing screening programme conducted by Health Visitors meets all the current national standards and could be implemented across wider areas in this country. Its advantages include a low false positive rate and convenience for parents living in rural areas. The babies identified can be diagnosed and rehabilitated in a time which meets national standards. [source] A snapshot of MDT working and patient mapping in the UK colorectal cancer centres in 2002COLORECTAL DISEASE, Issue 6 2003M. J. Kelly Abstract Objectives To ascertain the position nationally of Colorectal Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) implementation as part of the NHS cancer plan. Also to define nationally patterns of ,bottlenecks' in the patient journey from referral to treatment. Methods A simple questionnaire was sent to the lead clinician at all 183 cancer networks asking about their current MDT organization, and whether they had undertaken a mapping exercise of the patient journey. Results Ninety-one percent (n = 166) of the questionnaires were returned, and of these 90% (n = 150) stated that their MDT meeting was up and running. Sixty-two percent (n = 102) stated they were having problems running their MDT meeting and of these 32% (n = 33) did not have a dedicated MDT clerk. Several of the Calman-Hine identified ,core personnel' are attending infrequently. Sixty-four percent (n = 107) of respondents have carried out a patient mapping process with 65% (n = 70) claiming it was a success, leaving 27% (n = 32) with no immediate plans to undertake the process. Conclusions Although MDT activity is near-universal, the survey has highlighted a wide variation in MDT meeting implementation across England, with the same problems being experienced by most centres. Organizational problems are common, and we feel that a dedicated MDT clerk is essential for smooth running. Further areas that require development have been identified by most respondents as radiological, oncological and endoscopic services. It is anticipated that true collaboration nationally will develop, and contact with the nine pilot sites is encouraged to explore solutions to difficulties. [source] | ||||||||||