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Beyond the screen: assessing the impact of hospitalist reliance on electronic medical records in patient-centered care
Full text linkThe integration of Electronic Medical Record (EMR) systems has transformed healthcare delivery, offering enhanced data accessibility, improved communication, and operational efficiency. However, concerns persist regarding the potential erosion of patient-centered care due to EMR overutilization. This study investigated how hospitalists’ use of EMR systems correlates with patient satisfaction, focusing on the dynamics of physician communication, hospital length of stay, and regional characteristics. Using a comprehensive framework combining Resource Dependency Theory and Donabedian’s Structure-Process-Outcome model, the research examines the influence of demographic, technological, and structural factors on healthcare outcomes.
The analysis, based on patient survey data from a large integrated delivery system in the southeastern United States, reveals a modest positive association between EMR usage and patient satisfaction, underscoring the potential of EMRs to enhance care delivery when optimally integrated. Regional disparities were evident, with rural hospitals achieving higher satisfaction scores, possibly due to more personalized care approaches.
These findings also challenge assumptions about generational technology adoption, as older hospitalists demonstrated slightly higher EMR usage, suggesting a complex interplay of experience, institutional expectations, and workflow integration. This study contributes to the understanding of how hospitalist EMR usage affects patient satisfaction, particularly in terms of physician communication. The findings will provide insights for hospital administrators and policymakers on optimizing EMR integration to support, rather than hinder, patient-centered care
Uncovering new perspectives on job performance in diverse work settings: a Job Demand-Resource theoretical approach
Full text linkThe aim of this study was to integrate the agility literature within the theoretical framework of the Job Demand-Resource (JD-R) Theory to examine and validate whether employee agility (job resources) and work overload (job demands) influence the relationship between subjective wellbeing, work engagement, and job performance among remote, hybrid, and onsite workers. Data was collected through a Qualtrics Online panel, utilizing five standardized and validated scales, from a sample of 504 full-time employed respondents across the United States. The data was analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The results indicated a significant relationship between employee agility, work engagement, and subjective well-being, highlighting the importance for organizations to cultivate a more adaptive, engaged, and well-balanced workforce to enhance overall productivity. Furthermore, the study found that job performance was comparable between onsite and remote workers with onsite workers performing better than hybrid workers. These findings carry important theoretical and practical implications. By incorporating employee agility as a job resource into the JD-R framework, this study contributes to the expansion of existing literature. It is anticipated that these results will serve as a catalyst for further empirical research in this emerging area. Additionally, the insights gained from this study offer valuable guidance for organizations aiming to enhance employee performance and well-being across diverse work environments
Recovery capital among students in Collegiate Recovery Programs at two-year and four-year higher education institutions in West Virginia
Full text linkCollegiate Recovery Programs (CRPs) have been around for decades, supporting higher education students by offering supports, resources, and a community. However, most existing research focuses on four-year institutions, and there is limited data on recovery supports at twoyear institutions, as well as limited research on recovery capital among this population. This study explores differences in recovery capital, a measure of internal and external resources supporting recovery, among students in CRPs at two-year versus four-year institutions in West Virginia by answering the following questions: 1.) Are there differences between students’ reported recovery capital index (RCI) scores based on institution type? 2.) Are there differences in positive recovery capital scores? 3.) Are there differences in negative recovery capital scores? 4.) Are there differences in other recovery capital areas based on institution type? The study used de-identified REC-CAP (Recovery Capital) assessment data from 172 participants. It employed a non-experimental, descriptive design, and the data analysis included measures of central tendency and independent t-tests to assess differences between student groups. The findings indicated significant differences between the groups in positive recovery capital scores, negative recovery capital scores, personal recovery capital scores, social recovery capital scores, commitment to recovery scores, barriers to recovery, and service needs. None of the other domains showed significant differences. These results may have implications for expanding and tailoring recovery support services across higher education settings
A Case for Homiletical Aesthetics: The Adorned Rhetoric of Martin Luther King Jr.
Full text linkDespite the growing support of aesthetics within the field of homiletics, undercurrents of suspicion remain, particularly in Western evangelical settings. The reasons for this suspicion are far-reaching, ranging from theological concerns to unmerited fears regarding the handling of Scripture. Given this background, the adorned rhetoric of Martin Luther King Jr. provides a compelling case study for the indispensability of homiletical aesthetics. This study briefly overviews King’s use of artful rhetoric, exploring its origins and sociotheological factors that compelled beauty and adornment in the pulpit. This paper will argue that aesthetics in Christian preaching should be considered essential, especially when addressing communities that have experienced marginalization and social crisis
Womanist Pedagogy and Teaching Preaching: Black Women Preachers as Sources for Pedagogical Reflection
Full text linkThe preaching classroom is a place of exploration, interrogation, and reflection. For Black preaching women, it is also a place for deep introspection and wrestling with questions of self-identity, religious authority, and theological (un)certainty. In this essay I show how womanist pedagogy functions to intervene and disrupt harmful assumptions in the preaching classroom, such as who can preach, who should preach, and how preachers engage with Scripture. Using Black women preaching students as sources for reflection, I explore political clarity, risk taking, teaching with tenderness, active listening, and instructional agility, to aid womanist-informed pedagogues in attending to the range of perspectives that emerge for preaching instructors. I assert that attending to who is in the room is at the heart of womanist pedagogy
Evaluating the effectiveness of teledermatology for undeserved populations during and post-COVID-19
Full text linkIntroduction: Teledermatology, a subset of telemedicine, has gained prominence as a means to increase access to dermatologic care while reducing costs and improving patient satisfaction. The swift expansion of teledermatology during the COVID-19 pandemic was driven by the necessity to limit physical contact and adapt to public health restrictions. This technological shift aimed to address longstanding disparities in dermatology access, especially in rural and underserved populations, and to respond to the rising demand for dermatologic services amid provider shortages.
Purpose of the Study: The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects that teledermatology following the COVID-19 pandemic had on provider and patient satisfaction scores along with access, cost of care, and diagnostic accuracy results compared to in-person dermatology appointments.
Methodology: A systematic review was conducted using multiple academic databases, including PubMed, CINAHL, ProQuest, and others, to gather relevant articles published between 2015 and 2025. Keywords such as “teledermatology,” “quality of care,” “patient satisfaction,” and “access to care” guided the search. After initial screening, 39 peer-reviewed articles were included based on their relevance, methodological rigor, and focus on measures such as satisfaction, cost savings, and diagnostic accuracy. The collected data were validated by collaborative assessment employing the PRISMA framework to ensure systematic inclusion and bias reduction.
Results: Findings demonstrated that teledermatology effectively increased access to dermatologic care, especially in rural and underserved areas, with reported increases in dermatology visits and service utilization. Patient satisfaction scores were notably high and comparable to in-person visits, with some studies indicating slight preferences for in-person physical examinations due to perceived differences in examination quality. Cost analyses revealed significant savings per visit, often ranging from 147 to186, primarily due to reduced travel and wait times. Diagnostic accuracy remained comparable between teledermatology and traditional care, although physical examination limitations were acknowledged. The surge in teledermatology during the pandemic led to a substantial shift in practice patterns, with a dramatic increase in teleconsultations, driven by regulatory adjustments and expanded insurance coverage.
Discussion/Conclusion: Teledermatology has demonstrated significant potential to improve healthcare accessibility, satisfaction, and cost-efficiency in dermatology. Despite some limitations regarding physical examinations, the evidence supports its role as a complementary modality capable of addressing provider shortages and healthcare disparities. Widespread adoption during the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted its value, suggesting that teledermatology could serve as a sustainable, long-term component of dermatologic care delivery. Future research should focus on long-term outcomes, mental health impacts, and the integration of advanced diagnostic tools to enhance effectiveness further. Overall, teledermatology emerges as an adaptable, patient-centered solution aligned with contemporary healthcare priorities
“To Prepare the Mind for Wonder”: Popular Science and Mass Media in the 1920s
Full text linkThis article examines the creation and development of the Science Service, a 1920s initiative aimed at popularizing science through mass media. Founded by biologist William Ritter and newspaper magnate Edward Scripps, the wire service sought to disseminate accurate scientific information to the American public via newspapers, radio, and other popular media. While Scripps favored a commercially viable, accessible style that used entertainment to hook readers, Ritter envisioned science journalism as a tool for democratic education and intellectual empowerment. These conflicting philosophies created lasting tensions within the organization around how to address challenges such as sensationalism, editorial independence, and public skepticism. Contributors like Mary Austin promoted the idea of citizen science and criticized the Service’s drift toward superficiality. Despite these debates, the Science Service established foundational practices in science communication, emphasizing clarity, accessibility, and journalistic integrity. Ultimately, it became a precursor to today’s Society for Science, with a legacy rooted in balancing public appeal and scientific rigor. The article highlights how mass media became a contested but powerful venue for shaping scientific literacy and civic engagement in the early 20th century
Optimization of chitosan nanoemulsion and its application in delivering 5-Fluorouracil and Quercus infectoria for wound healing
No full textBACKGROUND: Chitosan-based nanoemulsions are increasingly recognized for their potential in enhancing drug delivery for wound healing applications. The integration of Quercus infectoria (Qi) extract, known for its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, with 5- fluorouracil (5-FU), a chemotherapeutic agent that regulates abnormal cell proliferation, presents a synergistic approach for treating chronic and non-healing wounds. Ensuring long-term physicochemical stability of these nanoemulsions is critical for their therapeutic viability.
OBJECTIVE: To optimize and characterize a chitosan-based nanoemulsion for the codelivery of 5-FU and Quercus infectoria extract, with emphasis on physicochemical properties including particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), and zeta potential. The study also aimed to assess the long-term stability of nanoemulsions formulated with low and medium molecular weight chitosan under varying temperature conditions.
METHODS: Nanoemulsions were formulated by adjusting chitosan concentration, oilto-surfactant ratios, and pH. Physicochemical characterization included measurements of particle size, PDI, zeta potential, pH and Log P. The stability of formulations was assessed over time under controlled storage conditions (~4°C, 25°C, and 35°C) using both low and medium molecular weight chitosan. Samples were analyzed at regular intervals to monitor changes in pH, conductivity, zeta potential, and physical appearance.
RESULTS: The optimized nanoemulsion displayed nanoscale particle size with a low PDI, indicating a uniform droplet distribution, and exhibited a stable, positively charged surface due to chitosan’s inherent cationic properties. Long-term stability studies revealed that nanoemulsions stored at 4°C maintained pH and conductivity over time, particularly those formulated with low molecular weight chitosan. Elevated temperatures (40°C) led to increased droplet aggregation and decreased stability, especially in formulations with low molecular weight chitosan.
CONCLUSIONS: The chitosan-based nanoemulsion effectively encapsulated both 5-FU and Quercus infectoria, exhibiting favorable physicochemical characteristics and the potential for applicable biological activity. The low molecular weight chitosan at 1% conferred superior longterm stability, especially under skin temperature conditions. These results highlight the potential of this nanoemulsion system for wound healing applications, with future studies planned to further validate in vitro and in vivo performance
