Biomedical subjects

S A Blackburn

Publications and source records attributed to S A Blackburn.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1987

Nutrition care activities and DRGs.

The recent passage and implementation of the prospective payment system (PPS) for Medicare inpatient services have had a strong impact on dietitians practicing in southern Florida. Because several local hospitals service regions in which 90% of the population is 65 years old or older, the annual revenues from Medicare have been reduced. The hospitals still have to meet basic overhead costs and profit margins. This has resulted in the elimination of several dietetic positions. Therefore, dietitians need to establish a cost-benefit justification for the nutrition care and support of patients. This study is the initial phase of a plan to define the nutrition care services the dietitian provides and to identify the most frequently occurring diagnosis related grouping (DRG) categories. For 3 weeks, 31 dietitians maintained logs that detailed dietetic intervention and treatment for each of the 3,827 patients seen. The nutrition care activities reported most frequently by dietitians were basic services, hospital visit and reassessment, initial consultation, and screening to rule out malnutrition. The mean time spent in all nutrition care activities ranged from 13 to 33 minutes. The most frequently occurring DRGs were those for diabetes, heart failure, circulatory disorders, specific cerebrovascular accident, and transient ischemic attacks. Overall, the type of nutrition care activities and the time spent in those activities were significantly different among the hospitals studied. The differences reflect the philosophies of each facility. The types of DRG categories observed reflect the age of the population served.

Aged↗

PubMed1987

Food and nutrition services in bone marrow transplant centers.

Nutrition care for bone marrow transplant recipients is recognized as vital for a successful transplant, yet little research has been done to determine the most effective foodservice methods. Many decisions regarding methods for the oral feeding of bone marrow transplant patients are based on tradition and/or individual judgments. This study surveyed marrow transplant centers to identify existing food and nutrition services that could be used as a basis for developing a foodservice protocol. A survey instrument was developed and sent to all chief dietitians (no. = 35) affiliated with transplantation centers in the United States. Four of the 30 respondents reported changing from the traditional sterile diet to either a low-bacteria or a modified house diet. Problems of limited availability of single-serve sterile foods, lack of standardization of recipes, and low patient acceptance of autoclaved sterile foods were reported as reasons for the move toward less stringent dietary procedures. The responses clearly indicate the need for additional research before a foodservice model can be established.

Bone Marrow Transplantation↗

PubMed1986

Integrating diet therapy and dietary counseling: an alternative education technique.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a change in education methods on learning among students enrolled in a coordinated undergraduate program (CUP). An experimental process applying the principles of diet therapy and counseling in a situation involving volunteer clients was initiated, and the effects were measured. A pretest-post-test design was used for this investigation. Two psychometric instruments, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and the Affective Sensitivity Scale, were used to measure changes in attitudes, values, and aptitude. The curriculum of the treatment group (19 juniors in the CUP) was reorganized so that diet therapy and dietary counseling would be taught during the same semester. The laboratory sessions were combined the last 6 weeks of the semester to provide an opportunity for students to counsel clients recruited from the university campus. The comparison group (11 seniors in the CUP) had enrolled in diet therapy the first semester of the junior year and dietetic counseling the second semester; those students were tested during their senior year. The research indicated that the students in the treatment group learned effectively. They significantly increased their awareness, listening, and understanding during the treatment period. The post-test of the treatment group indicated that they had increased perception and more acute affective sensitivity in comparison with the control group.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Computer optimization of enteral hyperalimentation.

A computer program has been developed to allow the generation of written orders for the logical progression of enteral hyperalimentation by the technique of continuous nasogastric infusion. Data required for entry include name, age, sex, height, usual and current weights, degree of stress, and if indicated, restrictions of nitrogen, fluids, sodium and potassium. A specific formulation may be requested, or the computer will pick a single nutrient solution or combination of two solutions that will best meet the requested constraints. Output includes entered data with English and Metric interconversion, surface area, and estimates of basal energy expenditure, protein wastage, protein and caloric requirements. If requested, daily orders are written to include a reasonable progression of infusion rates and concentrations of the solutions(s). Daily values are printed for the total amounts to be infused of fluid, calories, protein, sodium, potassium, and mOsm. The programs have been demonstrated to run in either on-line or batch mode. The system is easily accessible by physician, dietician, nurse, or other interested professionals.

Adult↗