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Standardizing IPV Screening: A Path Toward Equity in Community Health
Get PDFIntimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a widespread public health issue that disproportionately affects women and underserved communities, particularly in immigrant and Spanish-speaking populations. Despite national recommendations to conduct routine IPV screening in clinical settings, many healthcare providers lack the tools, training, and workflows needed to screen consistently and respond effectively. This quality improvement project aimed to standardize IPV screening using the Hurt, Insulted, Threatened, Screamed screening tool within the electronic health record at a community-based health clinic and provide targeted education to Medical Assistants, who are often the first point of contact during patient intake. The intervention included a culturally responsive training module, a resource guide, and a community-based training led by Casa de las Madres. A hard stop was added to the electronic health record to support screening adherence. The pilot was conducted across three departments, adult, women, and HIV clinics, and included pre- and post-intervention staff feedback to assess impact. Results demonstrated increased staff engagement and awareness, with opportunities identified for continued staff education, improved workflows, and expanded access to patient resources. While the short timeline and limited staffing presented some challenges, the project demonstrated the potential of a trauma-informed, system-level approach to improve IPV screening rates, enhance care equity, and create a safer clinical environment for patients at risk of violence
Healthy Bytes: Improving Health Literacy in Older Adults through In-Person Technology Workshops
No full textAs technology becomes increasingly integrated into daily life and healthcare, it is essential for older adults to develop the skills needed to utilize electronic devices confidently. At Facility V, many residents had access to donated devices but lacked the technological proficiency to use them effectively for health management. This quality improvement project addressed that gap through an eight-week in-person technology workshop designed to improve digital confidence and health literacy among senior residents. A microsystem assessment and preliminary survey conducted during the initial visit informed the project’s design. The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) students collaborated with key stakeholders to develop and implement the workshop, using a SWOT analysis and PDSA (Plan-Do-Study-Act) cycle to guide intervention planning. Outcomes were measured and evaluated through pre- and post-surveys, as well as participant feedback. Results demonstrated a notable increase in participants’ confidence in using technology and their ability to access health information. While attendance was limited, the personalized nature of the workshop proved effective for those who participated. Future efforts should focus on enhancing outreach and engagement to increase participation and broaden impact for this population
Optimizing Pediatric Peri-Anesthesia Care: A Donna Wright Nursing Competency Framework
Get PDFProblem: Preventable hospital errors are often associated with inconsistent nursing competency, especially in high-acuity areas such as pediatric peri-anesthesia units. Traditional evaluation tools like checklists have limited effectiveness, as they frequently fail to engage staff or adapt to changing clinical demands (Wright, 2005). Context: At a Bay Area children’s hospital, baseline data from August 2024 revealed that only 65% of peri-anesthesia nurses reported feeling “very” or “somewhat” comfortable with key clinical skills. To address this, a quality improvement project was launched with the goal of increasing comfort levels by 15% using the Donna Wright Competency Model, which emphasizes staff engagement, relevance, and shared responsibility in competency development. Intervention: A “Skills Day” was implemented using the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle and featured educational lectures, hands-on stations, and clinical simulations. Topics were selected based on staff input to ensure relevance, and real-time feedback was used to guide adjustments throughout the intervention. Methods: Nurses completed pre- and post-intervention surveys using a 4-point Likert scale to assess self-reported comfort with seven core skills. A total of 30 nurses participated in both assessments. Results: Results showed a 32.09% increase in overall high comfort levels, with “very comfortable” responses rising from 36.9% to 55.7%. Conclusion: These findings suggest that the Donna Wright Competency Model can significantly enhance nurse confidence through interactive, staff-driven learning. Continued evaluation, improved survey tools, and integration of this model into long-term professional development strategies are recommended to sustain and expand these improvements
Enhancing Water Supply Resilience & Sustainability: Potential Solutions to Address Water Scarcity in Bogotá, Colombia
Get PDFMunicipal water utilities are in urgent need of adapting to the intensifying impacts of climate change and population growth—key drivers of urban water scarcity worldwide. In rapidly expanding cities like Bogota, Colombia, these pressures have contributed to a severe water crisis driven by prolonged droughts, ecosystem degradation, increasing water demands, and overdependence on limited water sources. This study explores potential adaptation and management strategies that utilities can implement to sustainably strengthen supply system resilience and enhance water security, in the context of low- to middle-income regions. A series of comparative and case study analyses were conducted to assess the feasibility and applicability of relevant water supply diversification, ecosystem protection, and water conservation strategies, considering reliability, water quality, cost-effectiveness, sustainability, and social acceptance as evaluation criteria. Additionally, a gap analysis was conducted to assess the current state of Bogota’s water supply system and identify critical adaptation needs to address climate and demographic pressures. The results indicate that the most viable and cost-effective adaptation strategies include sustainable groundwater extraction, community-led ecosystem restoration, investment in nature-based solutions, reduction of non-revenue water (i.e., losses from leaks or illicit connections in the distribution network), and education-based conservation initiatives. The study highlights the importance of developing a multidimensional approach to water supply system adaptation, focusing on attaining diverse water portfolios, healthy water-related ecosystems, efficient water distribution and use, and local stakeholder involvement to ensure reliable access to potable water
Integrating Medical Assistant Education on Depression Screening for Adults in Primary Care
No full textAbstract
Depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide and significantly impacts years of productive life. Despite the availability of evidence-based treatments, a substantial proportion of individuals with depression do not receive adequate screening assessments. Primary care providers (PCP) play a critical role in identifying and managing depression, often being the first point of contact for individuals for all medical needs but face barriers to conduct screenings regularly. Educating medical assistants (MAs) on the impact that depression has in primary care as well as providing the skills to administer established depression screenings can improve early detection and treatment in the primary care settings. This integrative review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of training MAs in using validated screening tools to improve detection of depression and care coordination among adult and older adults (65 years and over).
The literature suggests that the inclusion of well-educated and trained MAs on the health care team specific to depression and mental health disorders in the primary care setting can improve screening rates and patient outcomes. This collaborative approach enhances both the patient experience and the overall efficiency of care delivery to accommodate with the expanding number of patient populations.
Keywords: depression, adults, screening, primary care provider, education, training, medical assistan
Humanizing the ICU: Implementation of Personalized Communication Boards in the SICU Drives Enhanced Patient and Family Experience
Get PDFObjective: Research has established the importance of personalized communication in critical care settings, where standardized tools like whiteboards can improve patient and family engagement.
Aim: This project aims to develop a personalized communication board in the surgical intensive care unit (SICU) at a Bay Area academic quaternary care facility that, once implemented, will achieve at least 75% utilization in patient rooms by May 2025, enhancing communication and patient experiences.
Methods: Surveys were conducted with patients, families, and staff to gather stakeholder input and guide the design of a new standardized whiteboard model with personalized elements. Results: Based on stakeholder feedback, a new personalized whiteboard design was created and piloted in three patient rooms. During the two-week pilot, whiteboard utilization reached 60%, demonstrating strong initial adoption and highlighting the feasibility of broader implementation.
Conclusions: Although the 75% utilization goal was not met during the pilot, the project improved communication and engagement, laying the groundwork for future interdisciplinary collaboration in the SICU
Weather Impacts on Migration and Food Insecurity in Bangladesh
No full textThis paper analyzes the impact of weather shocks on household migration and food insecurity, and the mechanisms in which they do so. As climate change continues to impact weather patterns, subsistence farmers remain extremely vulnerable and can experience decreases in welfare. Using the Bangladesh Integrated Household Survey, we construct a panel dataset to measure the effects of temperature and rainfall on remittance amounts, food consumption scores, and child wasting z-scores. We observe that weather has strong impacts on these outcomes but are dependent on the rice variety and growing season. We do not find strong evidence that the mechanism in which these effects occur is through agricultural and non-agricultural income
Downstream Delays: Effects of Flooding on Childrens Education and Time Use in Peru
Get PDFFlooding is a major cause of destruction and economic loss affecting over 80 million people annually. Flooding during childhood can lead to educational setbacks with long term economic impacts. This study investigates the causal impacts of flood shocks on educational achievement and children\u27s time use using the Young Lives Survey, a panel dataset surveying children in Peru over 19 years of childhood. This study finds that flooding causes a temporary positive spike in girls hours of labor immediately after a flood which subsides by three to six years after flooding. The additional hours of labor does not reduce hours of study, but instead reduces hours of leisure. Flooding may cause a reduction in grade progression and enrollment for boys
Determinants of Integration: Migration Difficulty, Mental Health, and Social Connections among Eritrean Immigrants
Get PDFThis thesis explores how the experience of migration hardship affects integration outcomes of Eritrean migrants in the U.S. and the Netherlands. Using original survey data and the Immigration Policy Lab’s Integration Index (IPL-24), this paper investigated the intersection of economic, psychological, and social interactions that facilitate integration outcomes. This research finds that migration hardship doesn’t just make people’s lives more difficult; it breaks down the social ties and mental well-being that are essential for economic success measured by integration
BUILDING COMMUNITY AS A CHRISTIAN VALUE: EXPLORING HOW A PRIVATE CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL FOSTERS A SENSE OF BELONGING
Get PDFThis qualitative study explores the experiences of students of color at a private, predominantly White, Catholic high school. It analyzes how race influences how students feel a sense of belonging. The study focused on the sense of belonging at St. Rose Preparatory, a pseudonym for a Catholic, coeducational, and prestigious school in an affluent city in the Bay Area. The research is guided by three questions: (a) How do the institutional practices in a Private Catholic school impact how students of color (Black, Indigenous, LatinX, Asian, Pacific Islander) experience a sense of belonging that sustains students of color culture? To what extent do these practices that generate a sense of belonging reinforce or disrupt racial hierarchy? (b)How do the Racial dynamics within the student body influence how students feel a sense of belonging? (c) In particular, to the students of color, what influence do educators\u27 practices intended to foster a sense of belonging challenge or reinforce racial hierarchies?
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six alumni from the school who identify as students of color. Participants revealed how institutional practices, peer dynamics, and educator practices influenced their sense of belonging. This study\u27s findings revealed negative and positive implications of practices supporting or hindering a sense of belonging