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Biomedical subjects

Debra Dunn

Publications and source records attributed to Debra Dunn.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Incident reports--correcting processes and reducing errors.

Although it may be human nature to make mistakes, it also is human nature to create solutions, identify alternatives, and meet future challenges. This article describes systems approaches to assessing the ways in which an organization operates and explains the types of failures that cause errors. The steps that guide managers in adapting an incident reporting system that incorporates continuous quality improvement are identified.

Humans↗
PubMed2003

Incident reports--their purpose and scope.

Accidents in the health care setting may be inevitable, but their frequency can be decreased with a dedicated focus on patient safety. Risk reduction naturally flows from a positive approach to risk containment and control that includes learning from past errors. Part One of this two-part series on incident reports talks about identifying and correcting errors, which results in decreased harm to patients and personnel, decreased facility risk liability and regulatory sanctions, and less negative publicity. Although it may be human nature to make mistakes, it also is human nature to create solutions, identify alternatives, and meet future challenges.

Documentation↗
PubMed2003

Microcapitalism and the mega-corporation.

More than 100 miles from Bangalore, India, there's a rural area called Kuppam where one in three citizens is illiterate, more than half of the households have no electricity, and there's a high rate of AIDS. It's exactly this challenging atmosphere that prompted Hewlett-Packard to choose Kuppam as one of its first "i-communities" initiatives. Through the program, HP creates public-private partnerships to accelerate economic development through the application of technology while simultaneously opening new markets and developing new products and services. HP brings to these initiatives the management disciplines of a successful technology business. For example, it unearths customer needs using an iterative cycle that involves prototyping products and services and then closely observing residents' experiences with them. It fields a diversely talented team that brings many skills to the initiative, including deep technical ability, management acumen, and market knowledge. It takes a systems approach, simultaneously examining all the elements that must come together to create a working solution to a given problem. It establishes a "leading platform" on which other players--comapnies, nonprofits, and government agencies--can build technologies and applications. Practices like these help ensure that HP's investment yields real, sustainable results for the community in question. But HP also sees returns to its own business. In Kuppam, the company is discovering the need for (and developing) new products like a solar-powered digital camera, with printer, that fits in a backpack. By engaging the community and its leaders and working with them to design valuable new tools and capabilities, HP is gaining the knowledge it needs to be a stronger competitor in other developing regions.

Developing Countries↗
PubMed2002

Reprocessing single-use devices--regulatory roles.

This is the third in a series of three articles about reprocessing medical devices labeled as "single use" by the manufacturer. The goal of reprocessing single-use devices (SUDs) is to save money and decrease environmental pollution. Reprocessing can be performed on SUDs that have been used on other patients or opened but not used. This article discusses the roles of the involved regulatory agencies and organizations guiding the process. The first article in the series, published in the May 2002 issue of the AORN Journal, discusses the ethical component of reusing SUDs. The second article, published in the June 2002 issue of the Journal, discusses the procedures for reprocessing (e.g., cleaning, inspecting, sterilizing, tracking, testing, validating) and establishing a reuse program.

Australia↗
PubMed2002

Reprocessing single-use devices--the ethical dilemma.

This is the first in a series of three articles about reprocessing medical devices labeled as "single use" by the manufacturer. The goal of reprocessing single-use devices (SUDs) is to save money and decrease environmental pollution. Reprocessing can be performed on SUDs that have been used on other patients or opened but not used. The practice of reprocessing is complex and technical, and it raises concerns about patient safety, ethics, the environment, and costs. Opponents of reprocessing argue that the risks outweigh the benefits and that research has not proven it to be safe. Supporters believe the devices are labeled for single use so that manufacturers can maintain their profit margin and avoid liability. The purpose of part one of this article is to inform nurses about the ethical issues, patient safety issues (e.g., infection control, patient injury), and previously performed research studies regarding reprocessing and reusing products that are intended for single use. The second and third articles in this series will discuss procedures for reprocessing, roles of the regulatory agencies involved, and advantages and disadvantages of using third-party reprocessors.

Disposable Equipment↗
PubMed2002

Reprocessing single-use devices--the equipment connection.

This is the second in a series of three articles about reprocessing medical devices labeled as "single use" by the manufacturer. The goal of reprocessing single-use devices (SUDs) is to save money and decrease environmental pollution. Reprocessing can be performed on SUDs that have been used on other patients or opened but not used. In this article, the procedures for reprocessing (e.g., cleaning, inspecting, sterilizing, tracking, testing, validating) and establishing a reuse program are discussed. The first article of the series, published in the May 2002 issue of the Journal, discussed the ethical component of reusing SUDs. The third article, to be published in the July 2002 issue, will discuss the roles of the involved regulatory agencies and organizations guiding the process.

Costs and Cost Analysis↗