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J L Dennis

Publications and source records attributed to J L Dennis.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Evaluation of the A&D UA-767 and Welch Allyn Spot Vital Signs noninvasive blood pressure monitors using a blood pressure simulator.

The performance of five units of the A&D UA-767 NIBP monitor and five units of the Welch Allyn Spot Vital Signs noninvasive blood pressure monitor was evaluated with the Biotek BP Pump blood pressure simulator under a variety of conditions. Using the simulator to provide a normal blood pressure waveform at 80 bpm over a range of pressures, it was found that the mean bias for the combined results from the A&D monitors was 1.9+/-2.8 mmHg and from the Welch Allyn monitors was 0.7+/-2.4 mmHg. No individual measurement showed a bias greater than 10 mmHg. A bias of greater than 5 mmHg was present in 28 out of 150 measurements for the A&D monitor and 10 out of 150 measurements for the Welch Allyn monitor. These results are comparable with ratings achieved by the instruments when tested previously according to the British Hypertension Society protocol, but testing with a simulator allowed assessment of aspects of performance which were not included in the British Hypertension Society protocol.

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PubMed1998

Prevalence of physical illness among psychiatric inpatients who die of natural causes.

OBJECTIVE: The state psychiatric hospital is experiencing an increase in medically sick and aging patients who die of natural causes while hospitalized. This study explored the "medicalization" of the state hospital by examining the prevalence of medical illness and its relationship with psychiatric illness and age among state hospital psychiatric inpatients who died of natural causes--deaths that were not accidents, homicides, or suicides. METHODS: A total of 179 inpatients who died of natural causes at Western State Hospital in Washington State between 1989 and 1994 were studied retrospectively through case file review. Their demographic and institutional characteristics and psychiatric diagnoses were compared with those of others treated at the hospital (N=9,258). The medical diagnoses of patients who died were analyzed by age and psychiatric condition. RESULTS: The patients who died were much older than the other patients treated during the study period. Two-thirds of those who died had organic mental disorders, mostly dementia, whereas only a fifth of the other patients had these disorders. The patients who died had a mean of eight physical illnesses, with a range from none to 21. Circulatory and respiratory conditions were most prevalent, affecting half to two-thirds of patients; these conditions had high rates of comorbidity with organic mental disorders. CONCLUSIONS: The characteristics of the state hospital population and the services provided are shifting in response to mental health reform and new policies on patient self-determination. Increased emphasis on medical care added to traditional psychiatric services will require increased financial and personnel resources.

Adult↗