Successful Approach (successful + approach)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Long-Term Follow-Up After Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation of Ventricular Tachycardia: A Successful Approach?

JOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 5 2002
ALIDA E. BORGER VAN DER BURG M.D.
RF Catheter Ablation of VT.Introduction: Radiofrequency ablation (RFCA) of ventricular tachycardia (VT) is a potential curative treatment modality. We evaluated the results of RFCA in patients with VT. Methods and Results: One hundred fifty-one consecutive patients (122 men and 29 women; age 57 ± 16 years) with drug-refractory VT were treated. Underlying heart disease was ischemic heart disease in 89 (59%), arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) in 32 (21%), and idiopathic VT in 30 (20%; left ventricle in 9 [30%]; right ventricle in 21 [70%]). Ablation was performed using standard ablation techniques. Three hundred six different VTs were treated (cycle length 334 ± 87 msec, 2.0 ± 1.4 VTs per patient). Procedural success (noninducibility of VT after RFCA) was achieved in 126 (83%) patients (70 ischemic heart disease [79%]; 28 ARVC [88%]; 27 idiopathic VT [93%]). Procedure-related complications (< 48 hours) occurred in 11 (7%) patients: death 3 (2.0%), cerebrovascular accident 2 (1.3%), complete heart block 4 (2.6%), and pericardial effusion 3 (2.0%). Thirty-three (22%) patients received an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (because of hemodynamic unstable VT, failure of the procedure, or aborted sudden death). During follow-up (34 ± 11 months), VT recurrences occurred in 38 (26%) patients (recurrence rate: 19% in successfully ablated patients and 64% in nonsuccessfully ablated patients; P < 0.001). During follow-up, 12 (8%) patients died (heart failure 8, unknown cause 1, noncardiac cause 3). Conclusion: RFCA of VT can be performed with a high degree of success (83%). The long-term outcome of successfully ablated patients is promising, with a 75% relative risk reduction compared with nonsuccessfully ablated patients. During follow-up, only one patient died suddenly, supporting a selective ICD placement approach in patients with hemodynamically stable VT. [source]


Tumor microenvironment in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas: Predictive value and clinical relevance of hypoxic markers.

HEAD & NECK: JOURNAL FOR THE SCIENCES & SPECIALTIES OF THE HEAD AND NECK, Issue 6 2007
A review
Abstract Background. Hypoxia and tumor cell proliferation are important factors determining the treatment response of squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck. Successful approaches have been developed to counteract these resistance mechanisms although usually at the cost of increased short- and long-term side effects. To provide the best attainable quality of life for individual patients and the head and neck cancer patient population as a whole, it is of increasing importance that tools be developed that allow a better selection of patients for these intensified treatments. Methods. A literature review was performed with special focus on the predictive value and clinical relevance of endogenous hypoxia-related markers. Results. New methods for qualitative and quantitative assessment of functional microenvironmental parameters such as hypoxia, proliferation, and vasculature have identified several candidate markers for future use in predictive assays. Hypoxia-related markers include hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)-1,, carbonic anhydrase IX, glucose transporters, erythropoietin receptor, osteopontin, and others. Although several of these markers and combinations of markers are associated with treatment outcome, their clinical value as predictive factors remains to be established. Conclusions: A number of markers and marker profiles have emerged that may have potential as a predictive assay. Validation of these candidate assays requires testing in prospective trials comparing standard treatment against experimental treatments targeting the related microregional constituent. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2007 [source]


Bridging Patients to Cardiac Transplantation

CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE, Issue 5 2000
Michael B. Higginbotham MD
Potential recipients of heart transplants have the most advanced form of congestive heart failure, in which standard therapy fails to maintain clinical stability. In the absence of guidelines derived from evidence obtained in clinical trials, caring for these patients becomes a challenge. A successful approach requires the proper coordination of surgical and nonsurgical strategies, including revascularization and valvular surgery as well as mechanical ventricular support and medical strategies. Intensive medical therapy is the most commonly used approach for prolonged bridging to transplantation. Although carefully individualized regimens are necessary to achieve desired goals, most centers adopt a fairly standardized approach involving vasodilators, diuretics, and inotropic support. Bridging patients with cardiac decompensation to transplantation presents a major therapeutic challenge. Appropriate strategies will maximize patients' chances that the bridge from decompensation to transplantation remains intact. [source]


Dipeptidyl peptidase-IV inhibitors: a major new class of oral antidiabetic drug

DIABETES OBESITY & METABOLISM, Issue 2 2007
Iskandar Idris
Exploiting the incretin effect to develop new glucose-lowering treatments has become the focus of intense research. One successful approach has been the development of oral inhibitors of dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV). These drugs reversibly block DPP-IV-mediated inactivation of incretin hormones, for example, glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and also other peptides that have alanine or proline as the penultimate N-terminal amino acid. DPP-IV inhibitors, therefore, increase circulating levels and prolong the biological activity of endogenous GLP-1, but whether this is sufficient to fully explain the substantial reduction in haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and associated metabolic profile remains open to further investigation. DPP-IV inhibitors such as vildagliptin and sitagliptin have been shown to be highly effective antihyperglycaemic agents that augment insulin secretion and reduce glucagon secretion via glucose-dependent mechanisms. This review summarizes the major clinical trials with DPP-IV inhibitors as monotherapy and as add-on therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes. The magnitude of HbA1c reduction with DPP-IV inhibitors depends upon the pretreatment HbA1c values, but there seems to be no change in body weight, and very low rates of hypoglycaemia and gastrointestinal disturbance with these agents. DPP-IV inhibitors represent a major new class of oral antidiabetic drug and their metabolic profile offers a number of unique clinical advantages for the management of type 2 diabetes. [source]


Suicide, suicidality and suicide prevention in affective disorders

ACTA PSYCHIATRICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 2003
H. J. Möller
Objective:, It is well known that functional psychiatric disorders are one of the main causes of suicidal behaviour. This paper discusses the epidemiology and risk factors of suicidal behaviour in affective disorders and goes on to describe the treatment and prevention of such suicidal behaviour. Method:, A narrative overview of relevant epidemiological and drug studies. Results:, About 60,70% of patients with acute depression experience suicidal ideas. There is a high incidence of suicide (10,15%) in depressive patients. Psychopharmacological treatment with antidepressants and/or mood stabilizers is the most successful approach to avoid the risk of suicidal behaviour. In addition, psychotherapeutic and psychosocial interventions are of importance. Conclusion:, Suicidal behaviour and suicide must be considered when treating patients with affective disorders. The complex causation of suicidality has to be borne in mind when considering methods of suicide prevention. In order to obtain the best results, psychosocial, psychotherapeutic and psychopharmacological approaches should be combined, depending on the risk factors of each individual patient. [source]


Reading intervention: A ,conventional' and successful approach to helping dyslexic children acquire literacy

DYSLEXIA, Issue 3 2003
Peter J. Hatcher
Abstract The effectiveness of the ,conventional' approach to helping children with dyslexia to acquire literacy has been questioned by Reynolds et al. (Dyslexia 2003). Data are presented in this reply to support the effectiveness of Reading Intervention, a conventional approach to teaching reading delayed children. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Cover Picture: Electrophoresis 14'09

ELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 14 2009
Article first published online: 28 JUL 200
Issue no. 14 is an Emphasis Issue with 9 articles on various aspects of "Proteins and Proteomics" while the remaining 14 articles are arranged into 4 different parts including "Microfluidics and Miniaturization", "Genotyping and Transcriptomics", "Enantioseparations", and "Nanoparticles and Abused Drugs Analyses". Selected articles are: Effective elimination of nucleic acids from bacterial protein samples for optimized blue native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis ((10.1002/elps.200900026)) 2-D difference in gel electrophoresis combined with Pro-Q Diamond staining: A successful approach for the identification of kinase/phosphatase targets ((10.1002/elps.200800780)) Microvalves actuated sandwich immunoassay on an integrated microfluidic system ((10.1002/elps.200800818)) Chemical gradient-mediated melting curve analysis for genotyping of SNPs ((10.1002/elps.200800729)) [source]


Enhancing multisensory spatial orienting by brain polarization of the parietal cortex

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, Issue 10 2010
Nadia Bolognini
Abstract Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a noninvasive brain stimulation technique that induces polarity-specific excitability changes in the human brain, therefore altering physiological, perceptual and higher-order cognitive processes. Here we investigated the possibility of enhancing attentional orienting within and across different sensory modalities, namely visual and auditory, by polarization of the posterior parietal cortex (PPC), given the putative involvement of this area in both unisensory and multisensory spatial processing. In different experiments, we applied anodal or sham tDCS to the right PPC and, for control, anodal stimulation of the right occipital cortex. Using a redundant signal effect (RSE) task, we found that anodal tDCS over the right PPC significantly speeded up responses to contralateral targets, regardless of the stimulus modality. Furthermore, the effect was dependant on the nature of the audiovisual enhancement, being stronger when subserved by a probabilistic mechanism induced by blue visual stimuli, which probably involves processing in the PPC. Hence, up-regulating the level of excitability in the PPC by tDCS appears a successful approach for enhancing spatial orienting to unisensory and crossmodal stimuli. Moreover, audiovisual interactions mostly occurring at a cortical level can be selectively enhanced by anodal PPC tDCS, whereas multisensory integration of stimuli, which is also largely mediated at a subcortical level, appears less susceptible to polarization of the cortex. [source]


Building our global family , achieving treatment for all

HAEMOPHILIA, Issue 2010
M. W. SKINNER
Summary., Building our global family by reaching out to women, children and youth and those in sub-Saharan Africa to achieve Treatment for All. The World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) has committed to recognizing and incorporating the critical and important challenges that are faced by women with bleeding disorders within our global family. The next crucial steps include the development of outreach and registry programmes which can be adapted globally to accelerate the identification of such women, and to educate and guide them to the appropriate clinical care setting. Equally important, awareness must be raised within the broader medical community where women would typically first present with clinical symptoms. Family practitioners, nurse-midwives, obstetricians, gynaecologists and community health clinics will increasingly be strategic and central to WFH outreach efforts, in addition to serving as new care partners essential to the multidisciplinary model of care. Adapting and implementing the WFH development model regionally within Africa is proving to be a successful approach both for the introduction as well as the development of sustainable national care programmes for patients with bleeding disorders. The targeted development of solid national programmes such as in South Africa, Senegal and Kenya has expanded the training capacity of the WFH, as well as providing key regional examples. Local medical professionals are now responsible for providing the training in many regional programmes. Children with bleeding disorders in low-income countries are at great risk of dying young. WFH data demonstrate that among such patients, as the economic capacity of a country decreases so does the ratio of adults to children. The organization of care, training of a multi-disciplinary healthcare team, and education of patients and their families lead to improved mortality independent of economic capacity or increased clotting factor concentrate availability. Additionally, through enhanced youth education, awareness and engagement, we will assure continuity within WFH national member organizations, build greater unity within our global family and capture the innovation and creativity of their ideas to improve Treatment for All. [source]


Clients' experiences of living at home with a mechanical ventilator

JOURNAL OF ADVANCED NURSING, Issue 2 2009
Randi Ballangrud
Abstract Title.,Clients' experiences of living at home with a mechanical ventilator. Aim., This paper reports on a study of how clients experience living with home mechanical ventilation and how they experience care and supervision of healthcare personnel. Background., The number of people living at home with mechanical ventilators is increasing, and this is considered a successful approach to reducing incapacity and mortality. Method., Qualitative interviews were conducted with 10 service users in 2006. The informants were 18,75 years old and had varying diagnoses and levels of functioning. The interviews were tape recorded, transcribed and analysed by qualitative content analysis. Findings., Two main themes emerged: Theme 1. Having a home ventilator enhances quality of life , a life worth living. The ventilator treatment builds up strength and improves well-being. Participants emphasized that it was important to feel in control of their own situation and had an overriding wish to live a normal and active life; Theme 2. Competence and continuity of healthcare personnel are factors for success. The experience was that competence and follow-up by healthcare personnel varied, and that good quality teaching and information were important. Conclusion., Users of home mechanical ventilators should be active partners in their own care so that their experience is taken into account. It is important for clients having home mechanical ventilation to be empowered and have control in their daily lives, as well as having competent caregivers and continuity of care. [source]


Setting Up a Multidisciplinary Program for Management of Patent Foramen Ovale-Mediated Syndromes

JOURNAL OF INTERVENTIONAL CARDIOLOGY, Issue 3 2006
GIANLUCA RIGATELLI M.D.
Background: These days no codified multidisciplinary protocol has been reported to manage all the different patent foramen ovale (PFO)-mediated syndromes. We sought to propose a multidisciplinary program of diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of all PFO-mediated syndromes based on an in-hospital multidisciplinary task force and to review the activities during the first year. Methods: From September 2004, we organized in our hospital, a 600-bed tertiary hospital, a management program for PFO-mediated syndromes based on a task force composed of cardiologists, neurologists, and internists. Different levels of protocols were created in order to cover diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of PFO-mediated syndromes. We reviewed the activity of our program in the first year up to September 2005. Results: Thirty-five patients (23 female, mean age 65 ± 24 years) were evaluated for suspected PFO-mediated syndromes: 20 for cryptogenic stroke, 2 for peripheral and coronary embolisms, 3 for platypnea-orthodeoxia, 9 for emicrania with aura, and 1 with hypoxiemia during neurosurgical intervention in the posterior cranial fossa. Diagnosis of PFO was confirmed in 25 patients. According to the multidisciplinary protocols, 15 patients failed to meet the requirements for transcatheter closure and were left in medical therapy whereas 11 patients (7 patients with PFO, 2 with multiperforated ASD, and 2 with a secundum ASD) underwent transcatheter closure. After a mean follow-up of 10.8 ± 4.9 months, no recurrent PFO syndromes were noted in patients treated with devices. Conclusion: The first year of our multidisciplinary program allowed a reasonable and potentially successful approach for correctly identifying patients with PFO-mediated syndromes until randomized studies are completed. [source]


Bonding environment and electronic structure of Gd metallofullerene and Gd nanowire filled single-wall carbon nanotubes

PHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (B) BASIC SOLID STATE PHYSICS, Issue 10 2008
T. Pichler
Abstract Being single-walled carbon nanotubes, archetypical 1D systems with peculiar anisotropic electronic properties, it is possible to infer modifications in a controlled manner by filling their inner hollow space. One successful approach was proposed for Gd, which regards filling with metallofullerenes and a successful transformation into different novelmetal nanowires by a versatile nanochemical reaction. In this contribution we report on a combined high resolution photoemission and X-ray absorption study on Gd@C82 peapods and Gd nanowires. From a detailed analysis of the Gd 4d response and the valence band in photoemission we are able to elucidate the changes in the bonding environment and charge transfer in these 1D systems. We observe a clear modification of the low energy electronic properties of the SWCNT by the filling with Gd nanowires. Our findings provide important input to understand the interplay between charge transfer and hyridisation in the nanochemical processes in these hybrid systems and to elucidate their electronic transport properties regarding their application potential in nanoelectronic devices. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source]


Transcriptome analysis of barley anthers: effect of mannitol treatment on microspore embryogenesis

PHYSIOLOGIA PLANTARUM, Issue 4 2006
María Muñoz-Amatriaín
Carbohydrate starvation is an efficient stress treatment for induction of microspore embryogenesis. Transcriptome analysis of the response of anthers to mannitol treatment using the 22k Barley1 GeneChip revealed large changes in gene expression. Statistical analysis and filtering for four-fold or greater changes resulted in 2673 genes, of which 887 were upregulated and 1786 downregulated. Great differences in some metabolic pathways, accompanied by a multidimensional stress response, were found. Analysis of transcription factors showed that most of the downregulated transcription factors were related to growth and development, and the upregulated factors with abiotic and biotic stress responses and changes in developmental programs. Interestingly, the expression of most cell cycle-related genes did not change significantly. Transcriptome analysis provided a successful approach for the identification of genes involved in mannitol treatment, essential for triggering microspore embryogenesis. [source]


Small firm networks: a successful approach to innovation?

R & D MANAGEMENT, Issue 3 2002
Victoria Hanna
This paper considers the increasing trend of inter,working among small firms. Networks of small firms co,operate in certain activities, such as marketing, purchasing, R&D, training or manufacturing. But does co,operation lead to innovation? To answer this question published evaluations of small firms co,operating for mutual benefit are reappraised. Inter,working among small firms is then investigated further by interviewing three network brokers. The brokers were funded by regional governments and they facilitated co,operation between small firms. These semi,structured discussions explored the key characteristics of successful networks, the responsibilities of the broker and the level of innovation occurring. Networking is primarily a competitive response. It needs to evolve into a mechanism to enable small firms to develop innovative products and processes jointly. Small firms may have to rethink their approach to co,operation, and their motives for initiating inter,working if they are to benefit fully from co,operation. [source]


A pilot survey of the impact of menstrual cycles on adolescent health

AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 5 2009
Cynthia M. FARQUHAR
Background: The experience of menstruation and reproductive health by adolescent girls has been poorly studied in New Zealand. Aims: To develop and pilot a Web-based survey of 16-year-olds' experience of menstruation and reproductive health with the eventual objective of conducting a larger population-based survey. A secondary aim was to report on the experience of menstrual and reproductive health in a group of 16-year-old girls in an urban setting. Methods: A Web-based survey was developed and tested in 2006 with assistance of a multidisciplinary advisory group. The final version of the questionnaire had 146 questions in 11 sections and the topics were menstrual history, general health including use of medications, access to medical care or health information, sexual health, family history and personal information including smoking, height, weight, ethnicity, paid employment of parents, drug and alcohol use and exercise patterns. Results: Seventy-five 16-year-old students completed the survey. Twenty-five per cent considered that their periods were quite a bit or a lot of trouble and 10% avoided certain activities during their menstrual periods, nearly 50% of girls always experienced some pain with every period, and 30% had seen a health professional about their period pains. Thirty-three stated that menstruation was moderately to severely painful and that daily activity was affected. Fifty per cent of girls were sexually active and of these 80% described it as painful. Conclusions: The Web-based survey was a successful approach to collecting information and could be used in a larger study. [source]


Pterygium surgery long term follow-up

ACTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA, Issue 2009
T WOOD
Purpose To determine if a pterygium surgical procedure consisting of minimal conjunctival removal, excision of the hypertrophic subconjunctival fibrovascular tissue, application of mitomycin 0.25 mg/ml for 1 minute combined with temporary nasal tarsorrhaphy, and postoperative dexamethasone/antibiotic drops achieved the following: safely simplified pterygium removal, controlled the early side effects of mitomycin, reduced the rate of recurrence, and eliminated the need for conjunctival transplantation. Methods Twenty eyes of 19 patients underwent the procedure with mitomycin; fifteen were primary and 5, recurrent. These were compared to a previous group of 28 eyes in 26 patients that underwent pterygium/tarsorrhaphy surgery without mitomycin; twenty had primary and 8 had recurrent pterygia. Postoperatively, all eyes in both groups were treated with dexamethasone/antibiotic drops. Results In the mitomycin group (average follow-up 25 months), 19 of 20 eyes healed uneventfully. At 12 months, there had been no recurrences in the mitomycin group. In the non-mitomycin group (average follow-up 43 months), 9 (32%) recurred within 12 months; four (44%) of these required a second procedure at an average of 9 months. At 23 and 33 months, 2 (10%) eyes treated with mitomycin presented with asymptomatic, one mm recurrences that required no additional treatment. Conjunctival healing, as reflected in the time from surgery until tarsorrhaphy opening, was significantly longer in the mitomycin group, 37 vs. 17 days (P = .001). Conclusion The described technique provided a safe and successful approach to pterygium management. [source]


Novel diadenosine polyphosphate analogs with oxymethylene bridges replacing oxygen in the polyphosphate chain

FEBS JOURNAL, Issue 6 2009
Potential substrates and/or inhibitors of Ap4A hydrolases
Dinucleoside polyphosphates (NpnN,s; where N and N, are nucleosides and n = 3,6 phosphate residues) are naturally occurring compounds that may act as signaling molecules. One of the most successful approaches to understand their biological functions has been through the use of NpnN, analogs. Here, we present the results of studies using novel diadenosine polyphosphate analogs, with an oxymethylene group replacing one or two bridging oxygen(s) in the polyphosphate chain. These have been tested as potential substrates and/or inhibitors of the symmetrically acting Ap4A hydrolase [bis(5,-nucleosyl)-tetraphosphatase (symmetrical); EC 3.6.1.41] from E. coli and of two asymmetrically acting Ap4A hydrolases [bis(5,-nucleosyl)-tetraphosphatase (asymmetrical); EC 3.6.1.17] from humans and narrow-leaved lupin. The six chemically synthesized analogs were: ApCH2OpOCH2pA (1), ApOCH2pCH2OpA (2), ApOpCH2OpOpA (3), ApCH2OpOpOCH2pA (4), ApOCH2pOpCH2OpA (5) and ApOpOCH2pCH2OpOpA (6). The eukaryotic asymmetrical Ap4A hydrolases degrade two compounds, 3 and 5, as anticipated in their design. Analog 3 was cleaved to AMP (pA) and ,,,-methyleneoxy-ATP (pOCH2pOpA), whereas hydrolysis of analog 5 gave two molecules of ,,,-oxymethylene ADP (pCH2OpA). The relative rates of hydrolysis of these analogs were estimated. Some of the novel nucleotides were moderately good inhibitors of the asymmetrical hydrolases, having Ki values within the range of the Km for Ap4A. By contrast, none of the six analogs were good substrates or inhibitors of the bacterial symmetrical Ap4A hydrolase. [source]


Prevention and control of biofilm-based medical-device-related infections

FEMS IMMUNOLOGY & MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 3 2010
Iolanda Francolini
Abstract Biofilms play a pivotal role in healthcare-associated infections, especially those related to the implant of medical devices, such as intravascular catheters, urinary catheters and orthopaedic implants. This paper reviews the most successful approaches for the control and prevention of these infections as well as promising perspectives for the development of novel devices refractory to microbial adhesion, colonization and biofilm formation. [source]


Rejection of periodic disturbances of unknown and time-varying frequency

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ADAPTIVE CONTROL AND SIGNAL PROCESSING, Issue 2-3 2005
Marc Bodson
Abstract The paper reviews available methods for the rejection of periodic disturbances. Such disturbances are often encountered in active noise and vibration control, due to rotating machinery. The emphasis of the paper is on feedback control problems where reference sensors are not available. The case where the frequency of the disturbance is known is considered first. Two sets of algorithms are discussed: one based on the internal model principle of feedback control theory, and the second based on adaptive feedforward cancellation. An interesting observation is that algorithms originating from both approaches can be shown to be equivalent under certain conditions. When the frequency of the disturbance is unknown, an intuitive approach consists in combining a method for the rejection of disturbances of known frequency with a frequency estimator. Alternatively, one may seek to develop a stable adaptation mechanism so that the disturbance is cancelled asymptotically. While algorithms can be designed to adapt to plant and disturbance parameters, the most successful approaches use some limited plant information to adapt the magnitude, frequency, and phase parameters of the control signal. Applications are discussed throughout the paper. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Advancing Patient Safety through Process Improvements

JOURNAL FOR HEALTHCARE QUALITY, Issue 5 2009
Linda Elgart
Abstract: The department of Women's and Children's Services at the Hospital of Saint Raphael (HSR) in New Haven, CT, has initiated several different and successful approaches to reducing patient risk within the department. The department purchased a computerized fetal monitoring and documentation program that has improved the ability to provide high-level antepartal care for mothers and fetuses with automatic patient data management and continuous fetal heart rate surveillance. A Risk Reduction Grant offered through the hospital malpractice insurance program provided the financial assistance for all medical providers to become certified in electronic fetal monitoring. The certification is now a required educational standard for nurses, certified nurse midwives, and for physicians who work in the labor and delivery unit. Infant and pediatric security is incorporated into policy and practice measures that include hospital-wide drills for the prevention of infant abduction. The Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN) Quality Improvement Committee supports systematic reviews of identified clinical risks and works to find viable solutions to these problems. The hospital has supported specialized obstetrical care through the Maternal Fetal Medicine Unit (MFMU), Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU), the Inpatient Pediatric Unit, and the labor and delivery unit. In addition, HSR has initiated an enhanced medical informed consent that is available online for providers and a patient education tool that includes a computer room at the hospital for patient use. [source]