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Biomedical subjects

C S Harris

Publications and source records attributed to C S Harris.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1994

Building a computer-supported quality improvement system in one year: the experience of a large state psychiatric hospital.

BACKGROUND: G. Pierce Wood Memorial Hospital, a large state psychiatric hospital, implemented a data-intensive quality improvement (QI) program as part of its efforts to attain Joint Commission accreditation. EARLY STEPS OF QI IMPLEMENTATION: With the December 1993 Joint Commission survey date in mind, the Executive QI Committee started weekly meetings in December 1992 to plan initiatives and establish a viable information management system for the QI process. A QI coach was hired to help plan all phases of the QI program, and a 40-hour training program on statistics and QI principles was provided to key middle managers. SOFTWARE CHOICE ISSUES: Software options can be examined in terms of data cleaning, data manipulation, statistical flexibility, graphics strength, word processor compatibility, and utility strength. SOFTWARE CONFIGURATION: The present configuration of our statistical software is relatively elaborate. Organizations new to using statistical software should start off modestly to avoid being overwhelmed by the infinite possibilities that large numbers of interlinked modules present. DATA NETWORK CONFIGURATION: The technical core of the computerized QI system and how it operates are discussed. The data interface between the local area network (LAN) and statistical system data is described in three stages: (1) the creation of the "system" file; (2) the generation of the raw data; and (3) the transference of the raw data into the system file. QI ACTIONS: A QI reporting form was developed on which each report user states his/her analysis of the monthly indicator data report and identifies root causes, describes the actions taken to resolve the problems, or evaluates the effectiveness of prior actions taken. In addition, each indicator manager presents a quarterly verbal report to the Executive QI Committee on QI occurrences in his/her area of responsibility. CASE STUDIES: A nursing department indicator revealed an insufficient amount of supplies being placed in the code-blue ambulance. Determination of root causes led to the identification of a breakdown in the process whereby each shift adds and reviews supplies. As another example, the initiation of the stat IM (use of intramuscular injections or tranquilizing medications to restrain persons) indicator report led to a decrease in the number of IMs ordered. CONCLUSIONS: If we could have developed this statistical software-based QI program in only one year, then virtually any organization, large or small, can attain the technical capability to conduct "state of the art" QI.

Data Interpretation, Statistical↗
PubMed1984

Childhood asphyxiation by food. A national analysis and overview.

Data on all identified food-related asphyxiations of infants and children aged 0 to 9 years in 41 states from 1979 to 1981 were analyzed by type of food and age of child. Nationally, one death occurred approximately every five days. More than 90% occurred in infants and children younger than 5 years and 65% in infants younger than 2 years. Round foods were most often mentioned of the 103 foods specifically identified on death certificates. Most frequently cited were hot dog products (17 cases, 17%), candy, ten; nuts, nine; and grapes, eight. Hot dogs caused deaths from infancy through 3 years (more than two thirds of all deaths from meat products) and seven of ten deaths in 3-year-olds. Characteristics of foods, children, and environment can be related to three phases of food asphyxiation: penetration, occlusion, and expulsion. Preventive measures include product modification, warning labels, and dissemination of information on high-risk foods.

Airway Obstruction↗
PubMed1982

Depth, connectedness, and structural relevance in the object-superiority effect: line segments are harder to see in flatter patterns.

A briefly flashed line can be identified more accurately when it is part of certain types of pattern than in others (the 'object-superiority effects'). Three experiments were designed to investigate what aspects of these patterns determine the facilitatory effect of context. Subjects identified which of four line segments was present in various briefly flashed figures. Other subjects rated the figures for three-dimensionality, connectedness, and 'structural relevance' of the target line. Little relationship was found between connectedness ratings and accuracy in the identification task, but accuracy was highly correlated with mean depth rating (accounting for 95% of variance) and with mean structural-relevance rating (88%). Because of the high correlation (r = 0.98) between these two judgments in the present experiments, and confounding with other stimulus variables in previously published studies, the relative importance of these two global attributes cannot yet be determined definitively (though there was some evidence that for these patterns depth judgments were primary and structural-relevance judgments derivative). A reexamination of pertinent research suggests that comparisons between well-matched stimuli (as in the object-superiority effect) are likely to be more robust and informative than comparisons between lines alone and in context (the 'object-line effect').

Depth Perception↗
PubMed1980

Combined effects of broadband noise and complex waveform vibration on cognitive performance.

The performance of 12 subjects was measured on a Complex Counting Task during exposure to each of four experimental conditions for a duration of 30 min. Two levels of noise, 65 dBA and 100 dBA, were presented both with and without 0.36 R.M.S. Gz sum-of-sines vibration. Combined 100 dBA noise and vibration produced less adverse effects than the vibration combined with 65 dBA noise. This result agrees with out previous studies using tracking tasks. However, two effects were demonstrated that had not been obtained previously. First, a clearcut adverse effect of vibration on the Counting Task was obtained. Second, an adverse effect of 100 dBA noise on the counting task was demonstrated. Previously, a 110 dBA noise was required to adversely affect tracking performance.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Effects of infrasound on cognitive performance.

The cognitive performance of 40 subjects was measured during exposure to infrasound and noise in three experiments. In the first experiment, 12 subjects were exposed for 15 min to each of four experimental conditions while performing a Serial Search Task. The conditions were: 65 dB ambient noise (AN), a low-frequency background noise (BN) at 110 dB, a 7-Hz tone at 125 dB + AN, and the 125 dB tone + BN. The second experiment was the same as the first except a Complex Counting Task was used and the exposure duration was increased from 15 min to 30 min. In the third experiment, the Complex Counting Task was used and the subjects were exposed for 15 min to each of the following four conditions: BN, 125 dB at 7 Hz plus BN, 132 dB at 7 Hz plus BN, and 142 dB at 7 Hz plus BN. No decrements in performance were obtained in any of the three experiments, and there were no subjective reports of dizziness or disorientation as suggested in some of the previous literature. The authors conclude that adverse effects of infrasound have been exaggerated and the current levels of infrasound components as produced by modern jet aircraft are not considered in themselves a practical problem.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed1976

Review of the effects of infrasound on man.

Claims that infrasound adversely affects human performance, makes people "drunk," and directly elicits nystagmus, have not been clearly demonstrated in any experimental study. The effects obtained at low intensity levels of 105 to 120 dB, if they can be substantiated at all, have been exaggerated. Recent well-designed studies conducted at higher intensity levels have found no adverse effects of infrasound on reaction time or human equilibrium. The levels at which infrasound becomes a hazard to man are still unknown. However, the hazardous levels are certain to be much higher than have been suggested in some of the literature. The preliminary exposure limits which were proposed several years ago for use in the U.S.A. are still considered safe and adequate based on present knowledge. Caution is necessary in future research because artifacts produced by faulty experimental procedures can suggest genuine psychological or physiological effects.

Humans↗