Class of 2007 Abstract / Objectives: To describe the after-hours medication needs in rural hospital pharmacies which are closed during the night. Methods: Entries in a night medication log from a 60 bed rural Arizona hospital that closed for 12 hours at night were collected. Complete entries were assigned a night of the week, a month of the year, and a two hour time period. Data was collected from April 1, 2005 to March 30, 2006. Entries were sorted into groups, counted, and ranked. Groups were compared using student’s t-test. The top 200 drug products ranked by quantity was recorded for a trial of fit into a night formulary. Results: The night medication log contained 4986 complete entries accounting for 669 individual drug products. Non-pharmacy staff entered the pharmacy after-hours 2070 times and removed 10449 drug dosage units. No significant difference in night medication need was found between summer and winter month or weeknight and weekend night. Early night need was significantly different than late night need (p = 0.01). The top 200 drug products covered 83.3% of the medication quantity need of the hospital. Conclusions: The study found that a large percentage (83.3%) of the night medication need could be accessible from a 200 item night formulary. Seasonal and weekend differences were non-significant with only time of night differences being significant. These results could justify the extending of current hours or establishment of a night formulary to decrease entrances into the pharmacy when a pharmacist is not on duty.

Thesis (MSc (Radiography))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2019 / Introduction: After-hours diagnostic imaging is essential in the majority of large public hospitals, as it plays a vital role in the treatment and management of patients. Radiologists are not always available after hours to provide reports on radiographic images since, nationally and globally, there is a shortage of these professionals. Radiographic images are frequently interpreted by emergency physicians after hours. Thus, while diagnostic imaging represents an essential component in patient care (including management and treatment), according to the literature, a significant cause of clinical error occurs through the misinterpretation of radiographic images by emergency physicians. The aim of this study was to determine emergency physicians’ views on whether there was a need for an after-hours diagnostic radiology reporting service in emergency departments at some public hospitals, in the Durban Metropole. It is important to note that in addition to the above, this study calculated the number of radiographic examinations performed after-hours, and the number that was reported by the radiologist during office hours, since there was no radiology cover after hours. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional quantitative survey design was employed using a self-administered questionnaire as a data collection instrument completed by emergency physicians at four public hospitals. In addition, additional data was collected to determine the number of radiographic examinations that had been performed after hours, at the selected four public hospitals over a period of three months, as well as the number of radiographic examinations that was reported on. This enabled the authors to determine the number of radiographic examinations that went unreported during this study period. Results: A total of 39 emergency physicians participated in the survey, with a mean and median age of 39.46 and 38 years, respectively (SD = 9.11 years). The results of this study showed that between 0.1% and 0.6% of radiographic examinations performed after hours were reported on by radiologists during office hours, for this study period. This implies that less than 1% of all examinations produced after hours at the four public hospitals, received a radiology report. Emergency physicians felt that the interpretation of images took up valuable time. The survey found that there was near total consensus amongst respondents on whether they prefer after-hours reporting to be performed by a radiologist as 46.2% (n = 18) of the respondents strongly agreed and 41.0% agreed (n = 16). Furthermore, a total of 35.9% (n=14) of respondents agreed and 43.6% (n=17) strongly agreed, that having a reporting radiographer reporting on radiographic images after-hours, would benefit patient flow. The survey also found that 92% of the sampled emergency physicians agreed (59.0% strongly agreed and 33.3% agreed, respectively) that there was a need for further training in the interpretation of radiographic images. Discussion: From the above results, it is evident that since the majority of radiographic examinations went unreported after hours, the task to interpret the radiographic images is left to the emergency physicians as part of their patient management. Conceivably, this added image interpretation results in a further increase in the workload of emergency physicians. It is therefore not surprising that emergency physicians preferred that after-hours reporting of radiographic images be done by radiologists. According to the literature, reporting radiographers also play a role in alleviating the workload of emergency physicians and improving patient flow, by providing a report for the radiographic images during after-hours. Thus, reporting radiographers afford emergency physicians additional time to concentrate on patient treatment, resulting in faster patient throughput. Reporting on radiographic images is not yet included in the scope of the South African radiographer. The findings of this study, though, suggested that there was a need for emergency physicians to undergo training in the interpretation of radiographic images. Conclusion: The study recommends that an after-hours reporting service be considered for the four public hospitals concerned. It is recommended that the heads of the emergency and radiology departments further consider offering courses on radiographic image interpretation for emergency physicians.

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Background: The line between work-life and personal life has been blurred as a consequence of the constant connectivity from the rising technological innovation. It has resulted in many employees using work-related information and communication technologies (WICTs) after work hours, which has been shown to have negative consequences such as burnout and strained personal relationships. Several countries in the EU have put legislation that forbids managers from reprimanding employees who do not engage in after-hours use of WICTs as a result of the European Parliament’s initiative to implement a right to disconnect. However, Sweden has shown no interest in such a law.  Purpose: The study aims to understand how Swedish employees of Generation X in the consulting industry cope with work-life balance, particularly in managing communication demands after hours. It also aims to find the benefits of potentially implementing regulations on this in Sweden. In order to uncover significant insights, an exploration of coping mechanisms and the impact of digitalization on work-related ICTs (WICTs) was made.  Method: To fulfill the research purpose, a qualitative study was conducted using a deductive research design. The interviews were semi-structured, and a total of eight participants in Generation X in the consulting industry participated in the study.  Conclusion: The findings revealed a spectrum of various coping mechanisms impacted by digitalization and generational differences. While individuals exhibit diverse approaches, organizations must be aware of the complexities and set policies to create a healthy environment that fosters employee well-being.

No / Enabling patients to be cared for in their preferred location often involves journeys between care settings. The challenge of ensuring journeys are timely and safe emerged as an important issue in an evaluation of palliative care services, which informed a service redesign programme in three areas of the United Kingdom by the Marie Curie Cancer Care 'Delivering Choice Programme'. This article explores perceptions of service users and key stakeholders of palliative care services about problems encountered in journeys between care settings during end-of-life care. This article draws on data from interviews with stakeholders (n = 44), patients (n = 16), carers (n = 19) and bereaved carers (n = 20); and focus groups (n = 9) with specialist nurses. Data were gathered in three areas of the United Kingdom. Data were analysed using a framework approach. Transport problems between care settings emerged as a key theme. Four particular problems were identified: (1) urgent need for transport due to patients' rapidly changing condition; (2) limited time to organise transfers; (3) the management of specialist equipment and (4) the need to clarify the resuscitation status of patients. Partnership working between Ambulance Services and secondary care is required to develop joint protocols of care to ensure timely and safe transportation between care settings of patients, who are near their end of life. Commissioning of services should be responsive to the complexities of patients' needs and those of their families.