Denise G Bender | PubMed Health

PubMed2004

Do Fourteenth Amendment considerations outweigh a potential state interest in mandating cochlear implantation for deaf children?

Currently, the decision concerning pediatric cochlear implantation for children remains a personal choice for parents to make. Economic factors, educational outcomes, and societal attitudes concerning deafness could result in an increased governmental interest in this choice. This article examines case law related to the issue of parental autonomy to determine whether the state, acting in the role of parens patriae, could use economic and social reasons to mandate the provision of cochlear implants for all eligible children. The author uses previous cases as a framework to develop an opinion on whether a constitutional protection for parents may exist.

Cochlear Implantation↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Escaping the box: preparing allied health practitioners for management positions.

Career ladders designed for health care practitioners are not always long enough to reach beyond the top rungs of clinical practice. Limited upward mobility can result in dissatisfaction and potential loss of experienced staff members. The same skills that allow practitioners to function successfully in patient care can be tapped into to prepare clinicians to move upward in administrative positions. This has already occurred successfully in the nursing profession. Managers should take advantage of the yearly performance evaluation to identify those health professionals who are interested in advancement. Using a strengths, weakness, opportunities, and threats analysis, the manager and clinician can work together to develop a developmental plan that will build on existing strengths while developing the less prepared areas. Managerial skill enhancement should be combined with mentoring from persons already filling administrative roles to enable the clinician to develop a network of contacts. A planned approach should enable interested clinicians to successfully transition from hands-on practice into managerial positions.

Allied Health Personnel↗