Biomedical subjects

S B Dowd

Publications and source records attributed to S B Dowd.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1997

Do you feel like an impostor?

Individuals who are unqualified to fulfill a role are impostors. Often, competent practitioners feel they are unable to successfully practice their profession and suffer from an impostor syndrome. In health care, this can have a number of negative outcomes, including a poor reflection of the institution through the individual's actions. In many cases, impostorship can be prevented or remediated through the use of techniques such as identification, mentoring, and promotion of positive self-concepts. This article reviews a number of these techniques to help supervisors, especially new supervisors who may have feelings of inadequacy and impostorship, in developing a positive self-image.

Health Personnel↗

PubMed1997

Rumors and gossip: a guide for the health care supervisor.

Rumor and gossip are long-standing means of communication among humans and are prevalent in health care settings in part due to the nature of the organization. Rumor and gossip may be negative or positive, and health care supervisors should monitor the grapevine and consider themselves personally responsible for transmitting accurate information whenever possible to ensure that rumor and gossip do not have a negative effect on the department or institution.

Communication↗

PubMed1997

Adjusting to not being "on top": making effective use of transitions.

In today's health care environment, it is possible even for the successful health care manager to be fired or demoted. To ensure continued success, the manager must view a termination or demotion as a normal transition of life and find ways to "move on". Given today's volatile environment, anticipatory planning for job loss or job change, which includes attention to continued professional training, visioning changes in health care, and maintaining strong professional contacts, is an imperative.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed1997

Caring for the older patient, Part I: The relationship of theory to practice.

This is the first article of a four-part series on gerontology and its applications to the care of elderly patients in nuclear medicine. The series includes discussions about the theories of aging, approaches to meeting the special needs of the elderly and ethical dilemmas in caring for the elderly. It also reviews anatomical and physiological changes associated with aging and the role of nuclear medicine studies in caring for the elderly. Upon completion of this article, the reader should be able to: (a) describe the aging U.S. population by citing demographic data; (b) identify the theories of aging and distinguish their major characteristics; (c) differentiate a gerontologic approach from a geriatric approach in caring for the elderly; and (d) recognize factors important to the delivery of effective care for the elderly.

Aged↗

PubMed1997

Caring for the older patient, Part II: Age-related anatomic and physiologic changes and pathologies.

This is the second article of a four-part series on gerontology and its applications to the care of elderly patients in nuclear medicine. This article reviews anatomic and physiologic changes and pathology associated with aging. It also discusses tailoring nuclear medicine procedures according to patients' needs and conditions, as well as adopting changes within the nuclear medicine department to better serve older patients. Upon completion of this article, the reader should be able to: (a) describe normal age-related anatomic and physiologic changes that are observed in older patients; (b) identify common age-related disorders; (c) discuss considerations in tailoring nuclear medicine procedures for older patients; and (d) identify changes in the nuclear medicine facility that would better accommodate older patients.

Aged↗

PubMed1997

Dichotomous thinking in nuclear medicine technology.

Dichotomous thinking is the natural human tendency to think in a binary manner (either-or). Although it is natural, dichotomous thinking can be simplistic and may lead to a lack of consideration of alternatives. In nuclear medicine, a predominant use of dichotomous thinking can lead to a very elementary way of thinking that may produce technologists who do not question why or how things are done. Adaptation and survival in today's health care environment require complex ways of thinking. This article describes dichotomous thinking and its problems and pitfalls in nuclear medicine practice and education, and suggests that dichotomous thinking can be extended to dialectical (contradictory ideas) modes of thinking.

Attitude↗

PubMed1997

Caring for the older patient, Part III: Ethical issues in gerontology.

This is the third article of a four-part series on gerontology and its applications to the care of elderly patients in nuclear medicine. This article reviews some of the ethical issues that arise in caring for the elderly. Upon completion of this article, the reader should be able to: (a) discuss the relationship between autonomy and competence; (b) differentiate between competence and decision-making capacity; (c) identify guidelines for determining decision-making capacity; (d) define ageism and provide examples of it; (e) describe the way American society views death and the issues this view raises for health care professionals; and (f) describe the grieving process.

Aged↗

PubMed1997

Caring for the older patient, Part IV: The value of nuclear medicine in meeting the needs of an aging society.

This is the last article of a four-part series on gerontology and its applications to the care of elderly patients in nuclear medicine. This article reviews selected nuclear medicine procedures that are more commonly performed on older patients. On completion of this article, the reader should be able to: (a) identify nuclear medicine procedures commonly performed on older patients; (b) give examples of how normal age-related anatomic and physiologic changes may affect various nuclear medicine procedures and findings; and (c) identify new or developing nuclear medicine techniques that may have future applications in the elderly population.

Aged↗

PubMed1996

The effects of hospital downsizing on staffing and quality of care.

Hospital managers are making aggressive changes in their caregiver staffs to meet challenges such as reductions in utilization and capitated care. Managers are doing this to decrease the cost of care while maintaining or improving quality of care. However, the literature addressing the impact of hospital staffing practices on quality of care indicates that these changes may negatively influence quality. Department administrators must be cautious, yet proactive in their approach to patient care restructuring in order to ensure continued quality as well as cost-effectiveness.

Cost Savings↗

PubMed1996

Maintaining confidentiality: health care's ongoing dilemma.

Confidentiality of patient information is an ethical obligation of health care professionals. The exercise of confidentiality is not a simple process; it is dynamic rather than static and must be upgraded with changes in technology. This article discusses some of the common issues that arise in maintaining confidentiality in the health care environment, including spoken and written breaches of confidentiality, use of the computer, confidentiality as an ethical rather than legal obligation, and the use of programs in health care institutions to maintain confidentiality.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

PubMed1996

The obligation of health care professionals and supervisors to report child sexual abuse.

Child sexual abuse is a problem that often can be stopped or prevented if reported. This article summarizes child sexual abuse: its incidence, signs and symptoms. and legal and ethical issues. Through a case study, a five-step approach to the reporting of child sexual abuse is presented to help health care professionals and supervisors in fulfilling their ethical and legal obligations.

Child↗

PubMed1996

Consent: what is the role of health care workers?

This article considers legal and ethical aspects of consent, as well as the need for consent to be a communication process that informs patients about procedures. Recent examinations of the use of agents (such as nurses and allied health professionals) in securing consent are discussed. While there is a clear role for nonphysician health care workers in advocating for the patient and assuring that consent has been secured; their actual role in securing consent in the absence of a physician is less clear.

Allied Health Personnel↗

PubMed1994

Radiation safety regulations--the evolution and development of standards.

This article describes the development of radiation protection standards, including laws covering equipment, personnel and patients, from a historical and evolutionary standpoint. Laws for the safe use of equipment, guidelines for occupational exposure and means of patient protection are developed from reports and recommendations of national and international organizations. In the United States, some of these laws operate at the federal level and others at the state level. This process is not always well-understood due to the number of organizations involved. This article outlines the process for the radiology manager.

Equipment Safety↗

PubMed1994

The view of a select group of leaders in radiology administration regarding the baccalaureate graduate of the future.

Radiology administrators are experts able to provide radiography educators with the input they need to produce competent graduates. This article reports on the view of a group of leaders in radiology administration regarding the need for, and the skills needed by, baccalaureate graduates in radiography to meet the needs of the future. In general, there was support for the baccalaureate graduate as an adjunct to the two-year graduate, although some felt that baccalaureate programs would provide inadequate technical preparation. The results of this research were used in a strategic plan for the development of a new baccalaureate program in radiography.

Administrative Personnel↗

PubMed1993

The use of benevolent power in patient care and education.

The use of benevolent power as a preferred patient-care strategy is discussed in relation to its maladaptive opposite--manipulation. Methods of enhancing the therapeutic value of patient care are discussed, as is the use of benevolent power in the educational setting.

Empathy↗

PubMed1993

Integrating the needs of the individual and the institution in staff development.

This article describes how basic human needs and the needs of radiology departments can be integrated in a way that leads to personal and organizational growth. After discussing human and institutional needs, the author analyzes an advancement program used at one hospital and then presents a case study in effective staff development.

Career Mobility↗

PubMed1991

The basics of radiation protection for hospital workers: considerations and procedures.

Radiology is probably one of the most widely misunderstood technologies in healthcare. The health risks of x-ray exposure are not as great as many think, nor are x-rays the only source of radiation. The author dispels some of the mysteries with a definition of radiation, an explanation of its sources and standards, and some basic tips on protection.

Maximum Allowable Concentration↗

PubMed1991

The knowledge and attitudes of radiologic technologists and allied health students regarding AIDS and AIDS patients.

Two questionnaires on AIDS knowledge and attitudes were administered to allied health and radiologic technology students, and a group of radiologic technologists. Generally negative attitudes and poor knowledge prevailed. No correlation could be found between knowledge scores and attitudes. Implications for entry-level and continuing education are also discussed.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗