8:30 AM– 5:00 PM Check in @ 8:15 AM

AnMed North – PGD 2 & 3 – Anderson, SC

Purpose: This course is designed to develop the knowledge and skill sets of the Public Safety Telecommunicator as the First Emergency Medical Responder of the Care Team and will address the call-taker’s essential role in the survival and recovery of patients experiencing a heart attack or stroke.

TARGET AUDIENCE

Emergency Medical Team Members

FEE        

No Fee

CREDIT

Guidecards for Heart Attack, Stroke, CPR and Choking will be provided to those attendees that provide a copy of current CPR certification.

Course Catalog

Be a Research “Survivor”: Strategies, Challenges and Rewards

September 24, 2010
8:50 AM – 4:00 PM Check in @ 8:30 AM
The University Center of Greenville – Auditorium
225 South Pleasantburg Drive
Greenville SC

Submission deadline: Abstracts must be submitted no later than May 28, 2010.
Notice of acceptance will be sent via email to applicants no later than June 30, 2010.

Click on link below for full brochure
Call for Abstracts and Posters Research 2010

For the past 2 years as a part of a 3 year federal grant, Upstate AHEC has been raising awareness about “toxic behavior” in the workplace that impacts quality of care, patient safety and nurse satisfaction.  We are shining the spotlight on this behavior known by several names such as lateral violence, disruptive behavior, horizontal hostility and bullying.  No matter the name, the behavior is toxic and according to surveys of close to 2000 nurses, is impacting a majority of nurses in the upstate.  What we have learned from the surveys:

93% of nurses have witnessed the behavior

86% have been victims of the behavior

The experienced nurse is most often the perpetrator 

The novice nurse is most often the victim

The most common method of dealing with the behavior is to ignore it

We have also learned that lateral violence is not unique to nursing, that the majority of nurses are not perpetrators and that raising awareness and “shining the spotlight” on the negative behavior can be effective in eliminating it.   

One powerful way to raise awareness and shine the spotlight is to tell our stories.   If you have been a victim of lateral violence and would like to share your story please click on the link below which will take you to an anonymous survey.  We may use the stories in our trainings and/or publications so please no names or identifying information.  We want to hear not just the incident but also how you responded.

Thanks so much for helping us raise awareness and change the culture!

Dianne Jacobs,MSN,RN

Project Director

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=BYqsnHkFo3CPR32da2abKw_3d_3d

The web-based curriculum, CFS: A Primer for Allied Health Professionals provides a general overview of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and specific information concerning the care of persons with CFS. Read More.

The special needs of our returning veterans are significant.  According to a recent RAND Corporation study, upward of 26 percent of veterans returning from combat in Iraq and Afghanistan may have mental health conditions sufficient to warrant treatment, but the majority will not receive that treatment.  For while the military healthcare system is well prepared to diagnose and treat combat related problems,  many veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, especially members of the National Guard and Reserves, seek care from their regular primary care physician who may not even be aware their patient is a returning military member.  That context is important in the accurate diagnosis and treatment of returning veterans, particularly since the most common injuries can be somewhat invisible, including behavioral health issues and mild traumatic brain injury.

Returning veterans also look for support from clergy, counselors, family members, and others in the wider community who may have even less familiarity with issues such as depression and post traumatic stress disorder.

“Joining Forces creates a platform upon which we are building a comprehensive program to inform and engage our upstate community,” said Candace Luciano, Director of Upstate AHEC.  “Together we can ensure our troops find the support and resources they need when they return home from deployment, no matter where they live.”   Specifically, Upstate AHEC will be promoting and providing educational outreach, web-based training, and regional provider workshops designed for those who are responding to the health care needs of our returning military.  Resource materials will be developed and distributed to health professionals and the lay community.

Online Training Resources:

1) The Joining Forces series consists of four 30-minute broadcasts originally intended for physicians, nurses and other health care professionals; however, anyone with an interest in learning about the health issues our returning military face can view the series, at no charge, by visiting www.joiningforcesonline.org. NOTE: These programs also can be used to meet continuing education credits for health care professionals (CMEs and CEUs). Program topics include:

• Home Again recounts the experience of being deployed overseas, returning home and the challenges of reintegrating into civilian life.
• On the Mend offers an overview of the health related issues faced by a soldier and his family.
• Grey Matters explores the causes, diagnosis and treatment of mild traumatic brain injury.

Breaking Point focuses on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a product of the Deployment Health Clinical Center (DHCC), offers a variety of resources to clinicians, veterans, family and friends. Clinician support materials include clinical training modules on the DoD.VA Post-Deployment Health Clinical Practice Guidelines.

Quick Facts
It is estimated that, of the 1.64 million service members deployed for OEF/OIF as of October, 2007, approximately 300,000 currently suffer from PTSD or major depression and that 320,000 experienced probably traumatic brain injury during deployment.  (from: Tanielian, Terri L and Lisa H. Jaycox, “Invisible Wounds of War: psychological and cognitive injuries, their consequences, and services to assist recovery,”  Santa Monica: RAND Corporation, 2008)

The Department of Veterans Affairs reported that the number of Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans seeking treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder jumped by nearly 20,000 — almost 70% — in the 12 months ending June 30, 2007, and that number increased by an additional 50% in the next nine months.  ( from: “Post-traumatic stress is a war within for military and civilians,”  USA Today, Oct. 26, 2008, http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-10-26-PTSD.)

The long-term health implications of PTSD are just beginning to be identified. For example, according to a new study by psychologist Joseph Boscarino, PhD, MPH of the Gesinger Health System in Danville, Pa, Vietnam veterans with PTSD, but no heart disease when they were in their mid-30s, are twice as likely as veterans without PTSD to die of heart disease by their 50s. Dr. Boscarino equated PTSD to smoking two to three packs of cigarettes per day for more than 20 years. (from:  “Geisinger study: PTSD causes early death from heart disease,” Bio-Medicine, July 7, 2008, http://www.bio-medicine.org/medicine-news-1/Geisinger-study-3A-PTSD-causes-early-death.)

According to a study released 3/12/07, young veterans (age: 18-24 years) serving in Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) are at greater risk for post traumatic stress disorder than older veterans 40 years and over. (from: K.H. Seal, et al, “Bringing the War Back Home:  Mental Health Disorders Among 103,788 US Veterans Returning From Iraq and Afghanistan Seen at Department of Veterans Affairs Facilities,”  Archives of Internal Medicine, Vol. 167, No. 5, March 12, 2007: 476-482.)

Student Motivation
Develop and implement an evidenced-base mentoring program to motivate minority students to explore, select and continue in a health-related career.

Academic Preparation
Support the implementation of the SC EEDA by identifying public resources relation to academic success and coordinate/facilitate T.V. Program to disseminate, through broadcast, academic pipeline information.

Parental Support
Equip parents of K-12 minority students with emphasis on those in Middle School/Junior High School by providing information and resources about the benefits and advantages of choosing health-related careers.

Community Awareness
Inform minority communities about the benefits and requirements of health related professions.

If you or your organization would be interested in joining the upstate coalition, please contact co-chairs for the upstate region listed below:

Lora Finch
Carolina High School & Academy
864.355.2316

Jacqueline P. Williams
Greenville TEC, Brashier Campus
864.228.5067

Visit the Upstate Regional Coalition website.