Home About us Contact
|
Home About us Contact | ||
|
|
||
Alexandra Hospital (alexandra + hospital)
Selected AbstractsEnabling student placement through strategic partnerships between a health-care organization and tertiary institutionsJOURNAL OF NURSING MANAGEMENT, Issue 1 2007AMANDA HENDERSON RN RM ICU (Cert) BSc GradDipNurs(Ed) MSc Soc PhD Nursing management needs to demonstrate its commitment to clinical education for undergraduate nursing students. The vision for the nursing leadership and management team at Princess Alexandra Hospital is to guide and support the development of hospital clinicians, at all levels in the organization, to effectively facilitate undergraduate students' learning during their clinical practical experiences. This paper examines the evolution of the meaning, commitment and practices that have been intrinsic to the development of strategic partnerships between the health-care organization and tertiary institutions to ensure that hospital staff who consistently facilitate student learning in the clinical context are well supported. The partnerships are based on open channels of communication between the health-care organization and the tertiary institutions whereby each party identifies its needs and priorities. This has resulted in increased hospital staff satisfaction through greater involvement by them in the placements of students, and enhanced understanding of clinicians of the student placement process that has contributed to improved satisfaction and outcomes for the students. [source] Epidemiology, treatment and outcome of candidemia: a five-year review at three Canadian hospitalsMYCOSES, Issue 5-6 2002Behandlung und ausgang von Candidämien: Eine Fünfjahresübersicht an drei kanadischen Hospitälern, Epidemiologie Candidämie; Epidemiologie; Kanada Summary. To determine treatment regimens and epidemiological patterns in the occurrence of candidemia, a review of cases occurring from 1992 to 1996 in three large Canadian hospitals, University of Alberta Hospital (UAH) and Royal Alexandra Hospital (RAH), Edmonton, and Foothills Medical Center (FMC), Calgary, was carried out. Cases were detected by reviewing microbiology laboratory records. There were 202 cases in all (UAH 104, FMC 70, RAH 28). For the five study years the candidemia rate was 4.5/10 000 discharges (UAH 7.6, FMC 4.9, and RAH 1.7; P < 0.05 for all interhospital comparisons). The rate remained stable between 1992 and 1995 but rose dramatically in 1996 to 7.6/10 000 (P < 0.01 compared to 1995) as a result of increases at UAH and RAH. Of the 208 species identified, Candida albicans accounted for 135 (65%). During hospitalization 93 (46%) patients died. Species did not influence outcome. Antifungal treatment with fluconazole alone was given to 14% of patients, and increased in frequency throughout the study. No antifungal therapy was given to 47 patients (23%). This group had a much higher mortality (68%) than those who received treatment (39% P < 0.01). Twenty of the untreated patients had already died by the time the blood culture had been reported as growing a yeast. Candidemia rates vary significantly between hospitals and increased in some but not all over the five study years. As many patients with candidemia will have died by the time laboratory diagnosis is made, presumptive antifungal therapy in high-risk patients may be necessary if outcome is to be improved. Zusammenfassung. Um epidemiologische Muster zu erkennen und Behandlungsmethoden zu optimieren, wurden die Candidämiefälle in der Zeit von 1992 bis 1996 in drei großen kanadischen Kliniken analysiert: University of Alberta Hospital (UAH) Royal Alexander Hospital (RAH), Edmonton und Foothills Medical Center (FMC), Calgary. Es wurden die archivierten mikrobiologischen Laborbefunde ausgewertet, insgesamt 202 Fälle (UAH 104, FMC 70, RAH 28). Im 5-Jahreszeitraum betrug die Candidämierate 4.5/10 000 Entlassungen (UAH 7.6, FMC 4.9, RAH 1.7, P < 0.05 für den Interklinikvergleich). Die Rate blieb zwischen 1992 und 1995 stabil, stieg aber im Jahr 1996 auf 7.6/10 000 (P < 0.01 im Vergleich zu 1995) infolge der Zunahme im UAH und RAH. Unter den 208 identifizierten Isolaten waren 135 Candida albicans (65%). Während der Hospitalisierung verstarben 93 Patienten (46%). Die Erregerart hatte keinen Einfluß auf den Krankheitsausgang. Fluconazol allein wurde 14% der Patienten verabreicht, die Verordnungshäufigkeit stieg während der Studie an. Keine antimykotische Therapie wurde 47 Patienten verordnet (23%). Diese Gruppe hatte eine wesentlich höhere Mortalität, nämlich 68%, im Vergleich zu der behandelten mit 39% (P < 0.01). 20 der nichtbehandelten Patienten waren schon zu dem Zeitpunkt verstorben, als der Befund ,Hefewachstum' aus der Blutkultur erhoben wurde. Die Candidämieraten unterschieden sich signifikant zwischen den Kliniken und stiegen in einigen, aber nicht allen im 5-Jahreszeitraum an. Da viele Patienten bereits während des Zeitraumes der Labordiagnostik verstarben, erscheint bei Hochrisikopatienten eine empirische Frühtherapie unabdingbar, wenn der Krankheitsausgang optimiert werden soll. [source] Increases in peritoneal small solute transport in the first month of peritoneal dialysis predict technique survivalNEPHROLOGY, Issue 6 2004KATHRYN J WIGGINS SUMMARY: Background: Peritoneal transport of small solutes generally increases during the first month of peritoneal dialysis (PD). The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the ability of the peritoneal equilibration test (PET), carried out 1 and 4 weeks after the commencement of PD, to predict subsequent technique survival. Methods: Fifty consecutive patients commencing PD at the Princess Alexandra Hospital between 1 February 2001 and 31 May 2003 participated in the study. Paired 1 week and 1 month PET data were collated and correlated with subsequent technique survival. Results: A significant increase was observed in the dialysate : plasma creatinine ratio at 4 h (D/P Cr) between 1 and 4 weeks after the onset of PD (0.55 ± 0.12 vs 0.66 ± 0.11, P < 0.001). Mean death-censored technique survival was superior in patients who experienced ,20% rise in D/P Cr during the first month of PD compared with those who did not (2.3 ± 0.2 vs 1.6 ± 0.2 years, P < 0.05). Using a multivariate Cox proportional hazards model analysis, the significant independent predictors of death-censored technique survival were an increase in D/P Cr of greater than 20% during the first month (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 0.20, 95% CI 0.05,0.75), the absence of diabetes mellitus, the absence of ischaemic heart disease, body mass index and baseline peritoneal creatinine clearance. Conclusions: A 20% or greater rise in D/P Cr during the first month of commencing PD is independently predictive of PD technique survival. Further investigations of the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon are warranted. [source] A comparison of severely injured trauma patients admitted to level 1 trauma centres in Queensland and GermanyANZ JOURNAL OF SURGERY, Issue 3 2010Johanna M. M. Nijboer Abstract Background:, The allocation of a trauma network in Queensland is still in the developmental phase. In a search for indicators to improve trauma care both locally as state-wide, a study was carried out comparing trauma patients in Queensland to trauma patients in Germany, a country with 82.4 million inhabitants and a well-established trauma system. Methods:, Trauma patients ,15 years of age, with an Injury Severity Score (ISS) , 16 admitted to the Princess Alexandra Hospital (PAH) and to the 59 German hospitals participating in the Trauma Registry of the German Society for Trauma Surgery (DGU-G) during the year 2005 were retrospectively identified and analysed. Results:, Both cohorts are comparable when it comes to demographics and injury mechanism, but differ significantly in other important aspects. Striking is the low number of primary admitted patients in the PAH cohort: 58% versus 83% in the DGU-G cohort. PAH patients were less physiologically deranged and less severely injured: ISS 25.2 ± 9.9 versus 29.9 ± 13.1 (P < 0.001). Subsequently, they less often needed surgery (61% versus 79%), ICU admission (49% versus 92%) and had a lower mortality: 9.8% versus 17.9% of the DGU-G cohort. Conclusions:, Relevant differences were the low number of primary admissions, the lesser severity of injuries, and the low mortality of the patients treated at the PAH. These differences are likely to be interrelated and Queensland's size and suboptimal organization of trauma care may have played an important role. [source] | ||||||||||