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Juggling Diapers and Diagnoses: The Trials of Fatherhood and Medical School
Full text linkThis paper explores the intersection of sleep deprivation and academic performance from the perspective of a third-year medical student and a new father. As sleepless nights become routine due to the demands of parenting, the impact on academic responsibilities is profound. Research indicates that new parents experience significant reductions in sleep satisfaction, which in turn affects learning efficiency and overall academic performance. The challenges of balancing medical studies with the chaos of fatherhood highlight the urgent need for institutional support and flexible policies to accommodate the unique circumstances of student-parents. Ultimately, while the journey is fraught with exhaustion, the joys of parenthood provide invaluable rewards that make the struggle worthwhile
Thompson User Guide
No full textThe User Guide for the Library of Appalachian Preaching is a Google Sheet that can be searched, sorted, and downloaded for offline use.
This part of the Guide provides information about Thompson\u27s sermons. It includes the title, scripture text, date and place the sermon was preached, and so on. This information is available in the master list of sermons as well.https://mds.marshall.edu/thompson_cecily/1000/thumbnail.jp
A question for the ages: the relationship between nurse staffing and quality in Appalachian skilled nursing facilities
Full text linkNurse staffing levels have been shown to have a critical impact on nursing quality in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). Sociodemographic disparities in Appalachian areas have the potential to impact SNF nurse staffing levels and quality. This study examined the relationship between nurse staffing levels and quality in Appalachian SNFs, as well as compliance with the Biden Administration’s minimum staffing mandates as set forth in CMS-3442-F enacted on June 24, 2024.
The study applied Resource Dependency Theory (RDT) through Donabedian’s Structure-Process-Outcome (SPO) conceptual framework to assess how external resource constraints and regulatory policies impact nurse staffing levels and quality in Appalachian SNFs. This cross-sectional study analyzed publicly available CMS data from 14,817 Medicare-certified nursing homes. Descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis were used to examine the relationship between nurse staffing levels (total, RN, and NA), compliance with federal staffing mandates, and quality ratings. Geographic and organizational control variables were incorporated to assess disparities across rural and non-rural Appalachian SNFs.
Findings indicated that RN staffing levels were a strong predictor of quality, while NA staffing levels were not significantly associated with quality ratings. Total nurse staffing levels showed a positive correlation with quality, but facility compliance with CMS-3442-F was low, with only 12% of Appalachian SNFs meeting mandated staffing minimums. Rural Appalachian SNFs exhibited lower quality ratings and greater compliance challenges than their non-rural counterparts. Compliance with CMS-3442-F was associated with improved quality outcomes, but rural Appalachian SNFs continued to struggle.
These findings underscore the need for targeted policy interventions, including RN recruitment incentives, flexible staffing models, and financial assistance to support rural SNFs in meeting federal requirements. Future research should explore long-term compliance trends and the effectiveness of alternative staffing solutions in Appalachian SNFs
Rhetoric of Freedom: The Black Church and Jamal Bryant’s Sermon “Am I Ever Going to Get Out of This?”
Full text linkHomiletics is a branch of rhetoric and religion that is defined as the art of preaching. All too common in fields of academia, including Homiletics, is a lack of inclusivity of African Americans. This paper will extend research that integrates and further centralizes African American homiletics, focusing on the notion of freedom in Dr. Jamal Bryant’s sermon “Am I Ever Going to Get Out of This?
The impacts of artificial intelligence in radiology
Full text linkIntroduction: There has been significant growth in the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the healthcare industry, especially in Medical Imaging. Radiology has been the clear frontrunner in the adoption of AI in medicine, due in part to the massive amount of digital data available for use in Deep Learning (DL) AI integration has the potential to solve multiple challenges in radiology, address workload issues and transform the field.
Purpose of the Study: The purpose of the research was to evaluate the impact of implementing Artificial Intelligence in radiology to determine if these technologies have had an impact on workflow and efficiency, and also on the accuracy and precision of findings in disease detection compared to traditional radiological methods that had not utilized AI technologies.
Methodology: This study utilized a literature review. Four databases were used to identify sources. A total of 75 articles met the inclusion criteria for full-text review, of which 41 were used for the research. In addition, data from an anonymous online survey of practicing radiologists with experience using AI tools were analyzed to assess real-world applicability.
Results: The literature findings showed measurable improvements for radiologists working in conjunction with AI. Radiologists consistently experienced reduced interpretation times for digital images using AI assistance. AI usage demonstrated a higher accuracy in detecting lung and breast cancers and workload reductions of 40% to 86% were observed when AI was used to filter out normal studies, most notably in mammography and lung cancer screening.
Discussion: Survey responses indicated mixed perceptions of AI. While most respondents acknowledged its benefits in boosting diagnostic performance and identifying false negatives, concerns were raised about inefficiencies caused by poor integration, limitations in AI accuracy, and increased cognitive burden when AI results conflicted with their own interpretations.
Conclusion: The literature and survey data suggest that AI has improved efficiency, enhanced diagnostic accuracy, and reduced radiologist workload when properly integrated. However, continued refinement, better clinical integration, and updated regulatory standards are essential to fully realize AI’s potential in radiology
Burnout in the emergency room: corrective measures vs. the absence of solutions
Full text linkIntroduction: Physician burnout has become an increasingly prevalent and critical issue in healthcare systems worldwide, particularly among emergency room physicians who face high-stress, high-demand working conditions. Burnout manifests as emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a diminished sense of personal accomplishment, leading to negative outcomes for physicians’ mental health, job satisfaction, and overall career longevity. This phenomenon not only threatens the well-being of physicians but also compromises patient care quality and contributes to costly turnover within healthcare organizations.
Purpose of the Study: The aim of this study was to systematically investigate the impact of burnout interventions on emergency room physicians. Specifically, it analyzed how participating in various burnout reduction strategies influences symptoms of burnout, job satisfaction levels, and turnover intentions among this high-risk group. The study also sought to identify key organizational and individual factors that moderate these outcomes.
Methods: A qualitative literature review was performed using six electronic databases: Academic Search Premier, Point of View Reference Center, ProQuest, PubMed, Summon, and Google Scholar. Search terms included combinations of emergency, room, physician, burnout, turnover, and job satisfaction. Using the PRISMA 2020 framework, thirty peer-reviewed articles were selected for detailed data abstraction and analysis. The literature was synthesized to evaluate evidence for the effectiveness of interventions such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness training, peer support programs, workload adjustments, and leadership engagement in mitigating burnout and its consequences in emergency settings.
Results: The review confirmed that burnout affects a significant portion of emergency physicians, with reported rates ranging from 22% to over 50% depending on geography and study methodology. Individual-level interventions—such as stress management training and mindfulness—significantly reduced burnout symptoms. Simultaneously, organizational changes including workload redistribution, reducing documentation burdens, fair compensation, and fostering supportive leadership and peer relationships led to improved job satisfaction and lower turnover rates. Protective factors identified included feeling appreciated by leadership, manageable workloads, strong collegial bonds, and engagement in core clinical duties. Conversely, heavy workloads, poor communication, perceived understaffing, and low income were associated with increased burnout and turnover intentions
Mentoring and training in performance librarianship
Full text linkPerformance librarians, or ensemble librarians, consist of a subset of music librarians who serve the music and information needs of orchestras, bands, and other performing ensembles. As there is no formal training system for performance librarians, the skills required to win an audition for a job must be learned by working with a mentor. This study investigated the mentoring process experienced by both mentors and mentees in the training and career preparation of performance librarians. Using a qualitative phenomenological approach, the researcher conducted semistructured interviews with 21 performance librarians in the United States and used thematic analysis to analyze the data by searching shared experiences and thoughts across the interview transcripts. Overall, participating librarians felt positive about their own mentoring experiences, attributing it largely to having good mentors. However, they were less confident about the effectiveness of the mentoring and training system for the profession as a whole, primarily citing the lack of standardization, and agreed that the training system could be improved. A secondary purpose of this study was to develop a framework for a model program for preparing performance librarians. The major components of this model program include study or coursework with practical exercises, hands-on work with an ensemble, regular feedback, guest speakers, audition preparation, and self-care and soft skills development. While the model program provides a framework for preparing performance librarians, the profession will continue to rely on strong mentors. The findings of this study supported practicing what one librarian described as “intentional mentorship that thinks about how we’re setting someone up for success and to thrive in this industry for years to come.
Where the Fog Hangs: An Interview with Elaine Sheldon McMillion on Appalachia, Filmmaking, and the Power of Small Acts
Full text linkAn Interview with Elaine Sheldon McMillio
Doubly Erased: LGBTQ Literature in Appalachia by Allison Carey
Full text linkA book review of Allison Carey\u27s Doubly Erased: LGBTQ Literature in Appalachi