The CEO is responsible for the direction in which the hospital is going. They need to help with marketing of their facilities and educating the community on what the hospital has to offer. The Board of Directors will help come up with ideas to create growth in the organization.

Another important job for the CEO is to provide a positive work environment. A lot of turnover can affect the quality of services offered within the hospital. A CEO needs to help come up with ideas and incentives to keep the hospital an attractive place to work.

What skills and education do you need to become a hospital CEO?

If you are interested in becoming a CEO, explore degrees in Business, Finance, or Healthcare Management. It is also important to find a hospital CEO to job shadow to find out if you have the skills and leadership abilities to perform this position.

A CEO should have skills in customer service, marketing, finance, leadership, and recruitment. They need to be a visionary. A CEO needs to be able to look into the future and decide which strategies will work to grow the business.

This website offers a wealth of information on what skills and attributes are needed to become a hospital CEO.

What kind of experience does a hospital CEO need?

After college graduation, most hospital CEOs start off in a management position within a healthcare facility. This will help them to gain experience in the healthcare field. Try to get involved in volunteer teams or groups within the healthcare facility. Volunteering will give you a broader look at what different areas there are within a hospital. Spend time getting to know the executive team within the hospital. Find out what different tasks they perform, to have a deeper understanding of how the hospital is ran. Also, get to know the staff and ask what improvements are needed within the organization. This will give you more insight on strategy when you become a hospital CEO.

In closing, a hospital CEO is basically in charge of everything within the hospital. A CEO may hire staff to perform a wide range of duties, but everything falls back on them. Be sure to hire an excellent team of executives to help make the decisions needed to grow the company. A CEO cannot do everything by alone. They need a team of talented executives to come up with ideas and strategies that will carry the company into the future and make the healthcare facility one of the best in the country.

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History abounds with tales of hugely tall men and women, but it’s only in the past couple of hundred years that we’ve had medical explanations for the phenomenon. Pituitary gigantism, Marfan syndrome, eunuchoid tallness, Sotos syndrome, and acromegaly are all conditions that can cause those afflicted to grow beyond the human norm.

Pituitary gigantism is by far the most common cause of extreme height. It usually occurs due to over-secretion of growth hormone from cells in the pituitary gland or as a result of a tumor on this same gland at the base of the brain. Many of the world’s largest individuals – from the tallest person ever, Robert Wadlow, to the world’s current tallest living man, Sultan Kösen – have suffered from conditions related to their pituitary glands.

Yet the stories of the individuals affected by gigantism are as interesting as the causes behind their conditions. Read on for the 10 tallest recorded people in history.

10. Brahim Takioullah – 8 ft 1 in (2 m 46 cm)

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Brahim Takioullah is the joint second-tallest living person in the world, alongside Iranian man Morteza Mehrzad. Takioullah also holds the Guinness World Record as the owner of the “world’s largest feet on a living person” (and the second largest in history) at over 15 inches in length. Takioullah was born in Morocco in 1982, and his size is the result of a tumor that affects his pituitary gland.

The tumor has increased the levels of human growth hormone in Takioullah’s system, and the effects are there for all to see. The Moroccan giant’s condition was diagnosed when he was 18, after a school doctor concerned about his “unusual” size suggested that he should get a blood test.

As you can imagine, Takioullah’s stature causes significant problems in his day-to-day life. He can’t stand up straight in the small flat he shares with his mother, and he has difficulty using a car or taxi. He also needs to wear special shoes designed by his orthopaedic podiatrist to support his weight.

9. Don Koehler – 8 ft 2 in (2 m 49 cm)

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Denton, Montana-born giant Don Koehler reached an incredible height of 8 ft 2 in. His growth was normal until the age of 10, when he suddenly shot up at an alarming rate. He was the tallest man in the world from 1969 until his death in 1981.

The inconveniences to Koehler’s everyday life included him having to put two double beds together when he stayed in hotel rooms; a difficulty finding somewhere to live that had a ceiling high enough (and no hanging light fixtures); and bumping his head when he had a cold. Koehler’s twin sister was only 5 ft 9 in tall, making the 29-inch difference between the twins a Guinness World Record.

Towards the end of his life, Koehler suffered from kyphosis, which reduced his stature through curvature of the spine. He died in Chicago at the age of 55 from a reported heart condition. By then his height had shrunk to 7 ft 10 in.

8. Vikas Uppal – 8 ft 3 in (2 m 51 cm) (Contested)

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Not a lot is known about Indian giant Vikas Uppal’s short life, and his tallest-man claim is a controversial one. Born in the Rohtak district of Haryana in 1986, he was never officially measured by the Guinness World Records.

According to Indian newspaper The Tribune, Uppal was 8ft 3in and still growing when he was measured in his late teens. Indian news and entertainment website Rediff.com also claim to have measured Uppal, in 2005, and reported that he was 8ft 10in – which would make him the second tallest person in human history. Other reports claim that he was 8ft 9in, but his generally accepted height is 8ft 3in.

Notwithstanding such debate, tragically, Uppal died on the operating table on June 30, 2007, when doctors tried unsuccessfully to remove a tumor from his brain.

7. Bernard Coyne – 8 ft 2 in (2 m 49 cm)

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Bernard A. Coyne was born in Anthon, Iowa on July 27, 1897. He suffered from eunuchoidal infantile gigantism, which is an extremely rare condition commonly referred to as daddy-longlegs syndrome.

Coyne’s exact height at the time of his death is still unconfirmed. According to his WWI registration card, he was already 8-ft tall in 1918, at which time he was just 21 years old. When he died in 1921, aged 23, Coyne measured 8 ft 2 in, although according to some sources, he could have been as tall as 8 ft 4 in.

Regardless, Coyne is one of only a handful of people in recorded medical history taller than 8 feet. His life was, however, tragically cut short in his early twenties. Coyne’s official cause of death was hardening of the liver and glandular fever. He was buried in his hometown in a custom-built coffin.

6. Sultan Kösen – 8 ft 3 in (2 m 51 cm)

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At 8 ft 3 in, Turkish part-time farm laborer Sultan Kösen is the tallest living man in the world. Like many of the other people on this list, Kösen’s condition is caused by a tumor affecting his pituitary gland that has been linked to acromegaly. And as with Koehler, Kösen’s growth rate was normal until the age of 10, at which point he quickly shot up to over six feet.

The colossal Turk was unable to complete his education due to his staggering height and need to walk with crutches. An attempt to remove Kösen’s tumor in 2008 was thought to have been successful, but in the end it failed to arrest his accelerated growth rate.

In 2010, because the tumor was buried so deep in Kösen’s brain, doctors at the University of Virginia used a “gamma knife” technique, focusing beams of radiation to remove the growth. Due to Kösen’s size, special equipment had to be flown in from Sweden. In 2012, it was confirmed that the supersized celebrity had finally stopped growing.

5. Edouard Beaupré – 8 ft 3 in (2 m 51 cm)

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Born in Saskatchewan, Canada in 1881, Edouard Beaupré also reached the incredible height of 8 ft 3 in. As a child, Beaupré had dreams of being a cowboy, but he may have changed his mind when he turned 17 and discovered that he could lift an 800-pound horse. When he was 21, Beaupré joined Barnum and Bailey’s Circus as a strongman and circus freak.

The French Canadian giant’s feats included lifting heavy horses and wrestling one of the world’s strongest men, Louis Cyr. During the wrestling match, he hardly dared to lay a finger on his opponent, leading to Cyr’s victory. Sometimes Beaupré suffered for his art, and he once broke his leg lifting a 900-pound weight.

Towards the end of his life, Beaupré suffered from tuberculosis and felt weak and dizzy after his feats of strength. At around 1:00 am on July 3, 1904, feeling tired, he drank a cup of tea and began coughing up blood. He was rushed to hospital but died the same night.

Doctors who examined Beaupré post mortem found that he was suffering from a pituitary gland tumor. They also discovered that he hadn’t stopped growing until his premature death at the age of 23.

4. Väinö Myllyrinne – 8 ft 3 in (2 m 51 cm)

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Born in 1909 in Helsinki, Finland, Väinö Myllyrinne was 7 ft 3.4 in tall by the time he was 21. What’s more, he hit a second growth spurt in his late thirties, and by the time of his death in 1963, he was a towering 8 ft 3 in – just like Kösen and Beaupré.

Myllyrinne served with the Finnish Defence Forces and is considered the tallest soldier who ever lived. He was also voted the twelfth greatest Finn by local TV show Suuret Suomalaiset, mostly due to a sarcastic tongue-in-cheek Internet campaign.

The Finnish colossus suffered from acromegaly, which frequently leads to gigantism and abnormal growth. Myllyrinne was confirmed as the tallest living man in the world from 1940 until his death at the age of 54. His hands were also an incredible 15.7 inches wide, which is the largest recorded hand span in history.

3. John F. Carroll – 8 ft 7.5 in (2 m 63 cm)

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Born in 1932 in Buffalo, New York, John Carroll was referred to as the “Buffalo Giant” in medical journals. When he was 16, Carroll’s incredible growth spurt kicked in, and it didn’t stop until his eventual death in 1969. At one point, he reportedly grew seven inches in a matter of months!

Carroll was afflicted with acromegalic gigantism and suffered a lot during his short life, especially when it came to his spine: he had a bad case of two-dimensional spinal curvature, also known as kyphoscoliosis. In fact, Carroll’s spinal curvature was so severe that it even made measuring him accurately extremely difficult.

In 1968, just before his death, Carroll measured in at 7 ft 8.75 in. However, by this stage, his spinal curvature was so extreme that it’s thought his corrected height could have been just below 9 feet.

2. John Rogan – 8 ft 9 in (2 m 67 cm)

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At 8 ft 9 in, John William “Bud” Rogan is the second tallest human being in recorded history – and the tallest of African descent. Born in Tennessee in 1868, Rogan suffered a sudden growth spurt at the age of 13 and gained height rapidly.

Rogan’s extreme size led to him suffering from severe ankylosis, a condition that leaves the joints stiff due to inflammation. This made it extremely difficult for him to put his weight on his feet. Initially, he could walk around with the aid of crutches, but by 1882 Rogan couldn’t stand or walk at all. Always the center of attention, he was often pulled around in a goat cart that he designed himself.

Rogan found it hard to work due to his condition but made a living selling pictures and postcards of himself at the local train station. He died in 1905 from complications due to his disease and was buried under a layer of concrete to stop curious scientists from digging up his body. The African-American giant was not measured officially until his death, and although he was just less than nine feet tall, he weighed in at only 175 pounds.

1. Robert Wadlow – 8 ft 11 in (2 m 72 cm)

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Topping our list is Robert Wadlow, “The Giant of Illinois.” Having reached a height of 8 ft 11 in, Wadlow is the tallest confirmed person to have ever lived. Born in Alton, Illinois in 1918, he suffered from hypertrophy of the pituitary gland, causing him to produce massive amounts of human growth hormone.

This condition led to Wadlow’s height constantly increasing throughout his life. By the time he was eight, he was already 6 ft 2 in and weighed 169 lbs (77 kg). The Illinois resident was so large that a special desk had to be built for him in school. Doctors at the time had no treatment for this kind of hormonal imbalance.

Wadlow suffered from a number of ailments due to his unusual condition. He had trouble moving around his college campus because of his brittle bones and needed to wear leg braces towards the end of his life. He also had minimal sensation in his feet.

In the end, during a professional appearance Wadlow made in Manistee, Michigan, a faulty leg brace gave him a blister that went on to become infected. Emergency surgery and blood transfusions failed to save him, and he passed away in his sleep on July 15, 1940. He was only 22 years old. Over 30,000 people attended Wadlow’s funeral and twelve pallbearers were needed to carry his massive body.

Included also are educational resources for nurses and nursing administrators. These educational resources are designed for both students and teachers in nursing. Social media accounts to follow are listed in order to obtain the latest updates in the field.

The position of nursing administrator is sometimes referred to as “head nurse.” The nursing administrator’s position involves supervision of nursing staff, recommendations for policy change and facilitation of implementation of policy change. Nursing administrators are generally Registered Nurses who have continued their education to include a Master’s degree in nursing or a certification in Nursing Administration. Nursing administrators are often experienced nurses who have worked in the field for a number of years and seek to further their careers by moving into a supervisory role.

General Resources

• American Medical Association – The AMA was founded in 1847 and is one of the oldest and most established medical associations in the United States. The AMA is the premiere organization for improving health care and establishing standards for the practice and education in the field of medicine.
• HealthCare.gov – This resource covers all relevant and timely topics related to health care. Site hosted and maintained by the United States Department of Health and Human Services.
• Health Care Administration – Site covers education, accreditation and other topics relevant to those interested in public health, medical and nursing administrators.
• Medi-Smart – Medi-Smart is a general resource for nursing and nursing administration education.
• Nurse.com – Nurse.com is a clearinghouse site published by Gannett Healthcare Group. The site provides news relevant to the field of nursing, lists nursing positions and offers continuing education opportunities for nurses. In addition, the site hosts a social media community for nurses and provides an advice forum.
• ThinkQuest Nursing Administrator – Site covers basic description of the job of nursing administrator, salary and educational requirements.

Blogs

• Healthy Living – Huffington Post’s blog for health care.
• Alliance for Aging Blog – Blog discusses obesity, stem cell research, Alzheimer disease and injuries at home for the elderly.
• All Nurses – General nursing blogs. Includes topics related to nursing administration.
• Consumer Reports Health – Health blog hosted by the renowned publication, Consumer Reports.
• MedScape Nursing Blog – Discusses various nursing topics, including transitioning from practicing nurse to nurse administrator.
• Health Beat Blog – Commentary by Maggie Mahr regarding public health, politics, nursing and policy issues.
• Health Care.gov – Blog hosted by federal Healthcare.gov agency.
• Health Care Technology News – News and issues with regards to technology in health care.
• Health Care Policy and Marketplace Review – Health care policy and law blog by Bob Laszewski. Discusses health care reform in its impact within the health care community.
• Heath Affairs – Public health, nursing and policy blog discussing news, relevant topics and political impact of the health care reform bill.
• Infusion Nursing Blog – Remicade nursing blog for those practicing infusion nursing.
• Medi-Smart Blog – Blog covering nursing and nursing administration education and learning.
• Nursing Administration Blog – Blog addressing scope and standards of practice for nursing administrators.
• Nursing Theory Blog – Blog created and maintained by students in the Masters Degree program at the University of Philippines.
• Nursing World Blog – Blog hosted and maintained by the Nursing World organization for nurses and nursing administrators.
• NurseZone Blog – Nursing diary discussing issues in nursing and nursing administration.
• Official Nursing Blog – Blog for nursing administrators and human resources professionals responsible for staffing and managing nurses.
• The Health Care Blog – Contributors include renowned names in medical practice and theory. Covers legal and political issues in medicine of interest to nursing administrators.
• The Nursing Site Blog – The Nursing Site Blog is maintained by Kathy Quan, RN BSN. Blog covers topics relevant to nursing and nursing administration.
• The Registered Nurse as an Administrator – Blog is dedicated to RNs who are ready to advance into the field of Nursing Administration.
• Travel Nursing Blog – Blog discusses topics relevant to traveling nurses.
• WebMD Women’s Health Blog – Women’s health issues blog by Jane Harrison-Hobner, RN, RNP.

Associations

• American Association of Colleges of Nursing – The American Association of Colleges of Nursing hosts several conferences throughout the year. The association offers accreditation and is involved in federal policy making initiatives. The association is open for membership to students, faculty, policy makers and administrators.
• American College of Medical Quality – The association provides leadership quality standards and training for health care quality management.
• American Health Care Association – This association is generally for nursing administrators and other professionals who provide longterm care services, such as services to the elderly and infirm.
• American Nurses Association – American Nurses Association is the professional association for Registered Nursing professionals. The association’s membership currently includes over 3.1 million RNs throughout the United States. The association lobbies Congress for improved health care conditions and workplace rights for nurses.
• Association for Benchmarking Health Care – This association provides cross-industry benchmarking data for nursing administrators and other health care professionals.
• Association of Clinical Research Organizations – Association representing the largest clinical research organizations. Dedicated to promotion of biomedical research across disciplines.
• Center on Budget and Policy Priorities – The Center is a policy organization working at the state and federal levels to affect policy for low and middle income health care recipients.
• Commission of Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools – Commission provides verification of credentials for nurses who graduate from foreign nursing schools.
• Emergency Nurses Association – Association for nursing administrators, practitioners, students and all others who work in emergency departments.
• Employee Benefit Research Institute – Founded in 1979 to provide education and research regarding fair and equitable employee benefits programs.
• Governance Institute – Independent organization providing leadership information and training to health care executives, administrators and leaders.
• National Association of Medical Staff Services – Association provides professional services and support for nursing administrators and others responsible for hiring and managing medical staff.
• National Council of State Boards of Nursing – Organization that provides information and education about state boards of nursing.
• National Institute of Health Care Management – Non-profit, non-partisan group that enables and conducts research on health care related issues.
• Rural Nurse Organization – Organization that was formed to address the concerns of nurses and nursing administrators who work in rural areas of the U.S.

Databases and Journals

• MedConditions – Online dictionary of medical conditions and terminology.
• United States Library of Medicine PubMed – The U.S. Library of Medicine published and hosted by the National Institutes of Health.

Educational Resources

• American Nurses Credentialing Center – Online credentialing organization for nurses and nursing administrators.
• All Nursing Schools – Directory of all nursing schools in the U.S. offering degrees in nursing and nursing administration.
• EHealth Initiative – Organization linking health care administrators and professionals with technology.
• Jones and Bartlett Learning – Jones and Bartlett provides educational resources for nursing students and others.

Societies, Conferences, Professional Organizations

• Academy Health – National organization that serves nursing administrators, health care professionals and policy researchers with information, news and recent findings in the health care industry.
• American College of Health Care Administrators – The American College of Health Care Administrators offers annual meetings and conferences for nursing administrators and others. The organization is open to students and faculty, as well.
• American College of Health Care Architects – Organization dedicated to providing support for those who design health care programs.
• American Journal of Nursing – Peer reviewed nursing journal. Published monthly.
• American National Standards Institute – U.S. standards and conformity organization.
• American Public Health Association – Established in 1872, the American Public Health Association is the oldest and most established organization for public health professionals, officials and administrators.
• American Society for Health Care Human Resources Administration – American organization dedicated to meeting the needs of nursing administrators and other professionals involved in human resources administration in health care.
• Alliance of Community Health Plans – Provides a network for communities to link with cross-discipline health care providers.
• Alliance for Health Reform – Health care information for nursing administrators, policy makers, elected officials, journalists and policy advocates.
• Association of Hispanic Health Care Executives – Association of Hispanic Health Care Executives is dedicate to the promotion of access to health care in the Hispanic community.
• National League of Nursing – Organization for leaders, administrators and educators in the field of nursing.
• Nursing World – News and information for nurses and nursing administrators.
• Society for Human Resource Management – With over 250,000 members in 14 countries across the globe, the Society for Human Resources Management serves the needs of human resources professionals.
• URAC – Independent non-profit society promoting health care through accreditation, measurement and educational programs. Offers benchmarking programs.

Patient/Parent Resources

• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (Nursing) – Site lists several nursing grants, traineeships, apprenticeships, fellowships and community based funding opportunities.

Twitter

• Aida @aydzb – renowned RN and educator.
• American Journal of Nursing on Twitter @AmJnurs – Relevant articles for nurses and nursing administrators.
• American Medical Association @AmerMedicalAssn – Twitter account for news and updates from the American Medical Association
• American Nurse Today @AmerNurse2day – Twitter account for the American Nurses Association
• American Red Cross @RedCross – Updates and news from the American Red Cross
• All Nurses @allnurses – Twitter account for All Nurses organization connecting over 416,000 nurses and nursing administrators.
• Bobby the RN @BonnieRN – BonnieRN is a legal nursing consultant and medical care manager.
• Christian Nurse @ChristianNurse – News, resources and information for Christians in Nursing, nurse administrators and other health care disciplines.
• Harvard Health @HarvardHealth – Health news from Harvard University.
• Health Hive @HealthHive – Up to the minute health news.
• Health News Blog on Twitter @health – Twitter feed for the Health News Blog
• Joy Collins @joycollins – Joy Collins is a is a legal nurse consultant and a writer.
• Live Person @LivePerson – Service allows members of the public to discuss issues live with nursing administrators and other medical and health professionals.
• Medical Connect @MedicalConnect – News and updates from the Worldwide Medical Association.
• Medline Plus on Twitter @medlineplus4you – Medline Plus Twitter account.
• MSNBC Health @msnbc_health – Twitter account for MSNBC Health
• National Institutes of Health @NIHforHealth – Twitter feed for news and updates from the National Institutes of Health.
• New York Times Health @NYTimesHealth – New York Times health articles, vaccine information and public health warnings.
• NPR Health @NPRhealth – Twitter account for NPR’s Health feature.
• Nursing Ideas @nursingideas – Innovative ideas for improving nursing and nursing administration.
• Nursing Jobs USA @NurseJobsUSA – Twitter feed of nursing and nursing administrator jobs in the USA.
• Web MD Blogs @WebMD_Blogs – Up-to-the-minute notifications and news from WebMD
]]> http://www.topmastersinhealthcare.com/posts/nursing-administration-resource-guide/feed/ 0 http://www.topmastersinhealthcare.com/posts/top-30-blogs-for-healthcare-professionals/ http://www.topmastersinhealthcare.com/posts/top-30-blogs-for-healthcare-professionals/#comments Tue, 23 Oct 2012 18:22:03 +0000 Helen http://www.topmastersinhealthcare.com/?p=472 The field of healthcare, perhaps more than any other profession, requires its members to constantly keep their knowledge of advancements and discoveries current and sharp.  One way in which healthcare professionals can obtain this necessary knowledge is through reading journals and blogs of their colleagues and professional peers.  We’ve scoured the internet for the best healthcare blogs currently available and present to you this Top 30 list of best healthcare blogs.  This list is meant to act as a guide to blogs that would be helpful to those working or studying in the field of health care. The categories are separated from general to more particular topics useful to those serving in a specific field of medicine.

 

General Healthcare Policy

1. Healthcare.gov: A federal government website managed by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. This is a great starting point for anyone looking to learn more about their healthcare rights and options.

Highlight: HealthMap Vaccine Finder: Helping Adults Find the Vaccines They Need

2. The Health Care Blog: A blog focusing on a wide range of health care topics, The Health Care Blog focuses on bringing up-to-date and innovative health care information to medical professionals and their patients.

Highlight: How the Best Innovate and Commercialize

3. Health Care Experts Blog: The National Journal publishes a blog discussing the topic of Healthcare policy.

Highlight: AIDS: Where Are We Now?

4. Safe Healthcare: This blog on the CDC site provides a clear and concise look into the medical world via an easy to navigate breakdown of the blog’s extensive categories of medical topics.

Highlight: The Beginning of the End of Antibiotics?

5. Policy and Medicine: Written by Thomas Sullivan, a recognized authority on medical education and government regulation, this site regularly updates readers on medical policy news from Washington.

Highlight: Strict Conflict of interest Policies at Academic Medical Centers Lead to Prescribing Older Generic Drugs

Med School Blogs

6. Waiting for MD : A brief glimpse into the life of a second year medical student, this recent addition to the blogosphere promises a unique perspective on the first steps on the long road to graduation.

Highlight: To Attend or not to Attend, that is the Question

7. Med Master/The Goldberg Files: Written by a former professor at the University of Miami School of Medicine, this is the quintessential guide to navigating the stresses that come with pursuing a medical degree.

Highlight: Revamping The Med School Curriculum

8. Mothers in Medicine: While not focused explicitly on women in medical school, this blog provides essential inspiration and support to any woman questioning her ability to juggle career and family.

Highlight: When I am a Senior Resident

9. Trust Me, I’m a Medical Student: Three years into med school at Stanford, Katherine provides a candid view of the ups and downs of life as a student of medicine.

Highlight: How to get into Medical School: 7 tips on the Pre-Med courses

10. The Hero Complex: A blog catering to those students in pre-med looking to make the transition into medical school.

Highlight: Being a Great Doctor: My Mom’s Take

11. Uncommon Student MD: A fresh take on health care from the next generation of medical practitioners.

Highlight: Becoming a Rock Star Doctor: Part 2

Nursing Blogs

12. My Strong Medicine: Athletic trainer turned CCRN certified nurse Sean Dent writes about everything from current issues in the nursing and health care field, to his Cross Fit workouts, to his feelings about turning 40.

Highlight: Obesity rises even as calorie consumption lowers

13. Nursing Research: Show me the evidence!: Penned by nine different nurse-contributors, the St. Joseph Hospital Nursing Research blog communicates the nursing research activities of the SJO to staff and other interested readers.

Highlight: Danielle’s Picks From the Literature – January 2013

14. Nursetopia: Written by an oncology nurse, Nursetopia is an engaging blog that covers everything from relevant news articles about nursing, thoughts on nursing education to inspirational quotes and ideas.

Highlight: “Serious Gaming” Educates Baccalaureate Nursing Students on Healthcare Ethics

15. Nursing Ideas: Working off the slogan “ideas cost nothing, ideas can change the word,” this site is a platform on which nurses can shape and voice their health care ideas.

Highlight: Nursing impact on 30-day readmission medicare heart failure, MI and penumoia

16. Off the Charts: The blog of the American Journal of Nursing. They focus on keeping nurses up to date on any relevant news facing the field of nursing.

Highlight: Unanticipated Codes

Physician Blogs

17. Dr. Len’s Cancer Blog: A prominent blog on the webpage of the American Cancer Society. Dr. Len combines experience and good writing for an informative look into the subject of cancer treatment.

Highlight: Breast Cancer Screening: The Search For Truth

18. Grunt Doc: Allen was once a doctor for the USMC infantry and is now working as an emergency physician in Texas. His musings provide just the right mix of medical and military.

Highlight: BS Study*: Doctors Feel Patients’ Pain

19. Dr. Leslie Greenberg’s Blog: Dr. Greenberg answers common medical questions in plain terms. She hails from Wichita, Kansas and runs a practice focused primarily on serving families.

Highlight:  Pardon Me? Would You Repeat That? Say That Again?

20. The Dr. Weighs In: A site where physicians and medical students can weigh in on new research and findings.

Highlight: Smoking and the Law… of Unintended Consequences

21. Doc Gurley: This smart and witty Harvard grad is not afraid to approach taboo topics. She writes about all things medical, but warns that “this is a blog, not a visit to your doctor.”

Highlight: Fifty Years of Lying

Pharmacist Blogs

22. The Pharmacy Times: This website serves as a hub for its many contributing bloggers in the field of Pharmacy.

Highlight: Caring for Patients in Life and in Death

23. Jim Plagakis: This blog brings you news, often humorous or irreverent, from the most trusted profession. An honest and opinionated spin on frustrations in pharmacy.

Highlight: When the Doctor is Not Needed, Call a Pharmacist

24. pharmLand: A member of the Pharmacy Alliance, the site serves as an aggregator of pharmacy blogs.

25. American Pharmacist Association: The CEO blog for the APhA brings you useful information on new developments in the field of pharmacy.

Highlight: Provider status call to action!

Physical Therapy Blogs

26. In Touch Physical Therapy blog: A blog focusing on evidence-based orthopedics and manual therapy.

Highlight: PT Tests for Dx Achilles Tendon Rupture

27. Evidence in Motion Blog: Written by a team of physical therapists, this site details the future of the physical therapy field.

Highlight: Elbow Injections–Time To Stop It

28. Recovery Physical Therapy: This NY based practice has brought their expert PT to the internet. Their blog specializes in recovery from sports injuries.

Highlight: Why The Path To Fitness May Lead To Injury (Part 1)

29. PT Think Tank: PT Thank Tank brings forth critical observations of health, science, and the physical therapy profession.

Highlight: New Vision & Role for the Physical Therapist in Athlete Management

30. Physical Therapy Diagnosis: Helping physical therapists make the right diagnosis for their client’s injuries, Tim Richardson reports on current topics in the field of Physical Therapy.

Highlight: This is Only a Test…

]]> http://www.topmastersinhealthcare.com/posts/top-30-blogs-for-healthcare-professionals/feed/ 0 http://www.topmastersinhealthcare.com/posts/15-great-ipad-apps-for-healthcare-professionals/ http://www.topmastersinhealthcare.com/posts/15-great-ipad-apps-for-healthcare-professionals/#comments Wed, 10 Oct 2012 11:37:28 +0000 Helen http://www.topmastersinhealthcare.com/?p=415 The world of medicine is undergoing a digital revolution, and tablets and tablet apps are playing a key role. Reference apps, diagnostic apps, monitoring apps, and billing apps are now commonplace. Here are 15 great iPad apps for healthcare professionals.



Medscape

Medscape is a free application for iPads. It is very useful for healthcare professionals and healthcare students. It is a pool of articles, news and factual information updated on a daily basis. It features medical news and information about drugs, diseases, conditions and procedures.

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AHRQ ePSS

AHRQ stands for Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. This app was created to let healthcare providers research available services suited for their clients. The information provided comes from the top agency for research on the quality of health care.

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Radiology 2.0

Radiology 2.0 is not just for radiology students. It is also perfect for medical students, doctors or any other healthcare professionals who want to study how to interpret CT scans. This application is available for free. The file includes basic information and common cases so that doctors and even medical students can interpret a CT.

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Upper Respiratory Virtual Lab

With the help of this application, healthcare professionals can now perform a virtual upper respiratory diagnostic test or procedure. It looks like the real thing so that patients will have a better understanding of their condition.

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AirStrip Cardiology

This app was created for healthcare providers to use for patients who have problems with their heart. It stores data like previous ECG readings so that results are available for analysis and review.

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Muscle System Pro III

This application is perfect for medical students because it gives a clear and fun presentation of the muscle system’s anatomy and physiology. This is useful because it has animations, models and skill tests like finding a muscle attachment to the bone.

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DrChrono EHR

DrChrono EHR is an application that lets healthcare providers access medical billing and operation schedules. Using this application, the clinician will be able to view a patient’s medical history and condition including medications. The application promotes paperless billing.

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AirStrip Patient Monitoring

AirStrip lets the healthcare provider access patients’ records including laboratory results, inputs and outputs, medications and vital statistics. This application is good because the doctor can do assessments and make orders necessary for the patient’s welfare even if they are not at the hospital.

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Blausen Human Atlas

This makes health education easy and fascinating. The application includes 3D animations of models and wonderful pictures and presentations of medical conditions and interventions. It is easy to facilitate learning and understanding health conditions with this application.

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CardioTeach

CardioTeach makes teaching patients about coronary conditions easy and understandable. The application offers information about heart ailments so that patients will understand their condition. It also gives information about specific and necessary interventions to make the patient feel better.

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Mobile MIM

Images from MRI, PET, CT and SPECT scans can be viewed using Mobile MIM. Ultrasound results and X-rays are included in the modalities that the application can access. However, mammography won’t work with this application. Mobile MIM is helpful in reviewing images to improve patient care.

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OsiriX HD

OsirxHD makes the lives of healthcare professionals easy. Using an iPhone or iPad, you can view medical images of different modalities. Transferring images is not a problem using wifi or 3G. Anyone can instantly control and manipulate images within seconds.

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Rx-Writer

Writing prescriptions the old way is really time consuming. With the help of Rx-Writer, writing prescriptions for patients is very easy and doesn’t require much time. There is no need for the doctor to meet their patients face to face. The application sends the prescription directly to the pharmacy in less than five seconds.

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SurgiChart

All surgical data and other necessary information about patients is stored in SurgiChart. It is very easy to access a patient’s surgical chart even if the doctor or practitioner is not at the hospital. It only takes one click or tap to get the information that you need.

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VisualDx

This application lets you see a variety of images of illnesses. VisualDx is used to visualize the patient’s diagnosis and properly provide medical interventions and solutions. Clinicians will be happy to search for information about a specific condition in just a second. VisualDX will give you everything you need from diagnosis to intervention and prognosis.

]]> http://www.topmastersinhealthcare.com/posts/15-great-ipad-apps-for-healthcare-professionals/feed/ 0 http://www.topmastersinhealthcare.com/posts/top-10-iphone-apps-for-healthcare-professionals/ http://www.topmastersinhealthcare.com/posts/top-10-iphone-apps-for-healthcare-professionals/#comments Tue, 09 Oct 2012 14:12:41 +0000 Helen http://www.topmastersinhealthcare.com/?p=378 There are thousands of iPhone apps available on the market, but few serve as crucial a role as apps for healthcare professionals. Read on to learn about the top iPhone apps for healthcare professionals.



1. Medscape

Medscape provides medical information and educational tools to health professionals. Medscape users can access medical news, book reviews, journal commentary, review articles, patient education articles and conference coverage. The app even uses your registration profile to provide you with a personalized specialty site that pertains to your particular healthcare interests.

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2. Epocrates

Epocrates provides several medical apps that offer drug reference information for brand name, over-the-counter and generic medicines. The apps also offer pill identification and drug interaction checks. Epocrates Rx Pro includes information on infectious disease treatments and alternative medicines. Epocrates Essentials Deluxe provides users with drug and disease monographs as well as diagnostic tools, billing codes and a medical dictionary.

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3. DrChrono

The DrChrono EHR patient care platform is a unique EHR that physicians can use on their iPads to provide better patient care. Patients can update their information in real-time, and physicians can take advantage of the system’s electronic medical billing, speech-to-text, drug interaction tests and e-prescribing features. Physicians can even qualify for $44,000 in government incentives by using this certified EHR.

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4. Evernote

Evernote is an app that allows users to store information that is on documents and webpages to be viewed anywhere at any time, whether there is an Internet connection or not. Medical professionals can use it to store notes, collect travel information in a single place, save and send presentations, store useful references and much more.

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5. Radiology 2.0

Radiology 2.0 is a unique and free app that offers innovative educational resources to radiologists and radiology students. The app’s users can simulate reading CT scans and read extensive discussions after each case that include labeled images to point out pathologies and any other relevant findings. The content is even contained within the app so it can be viewed without Internet connectivity.

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6. Blausen Human Atlas

Blausen Human Atlas app provides medical students with an incredible interactive resource that displays 3D animations with narration of medical conditions and treatments. This easy-to-use medical app allows users to manipulate the app’s library of over 8,000 animations and 15,000 illustrations with just a touch of a finger.

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7. EyeDecide MD

The EyeDecide MD app teaches users about the anatomy of the eye as well as about conditions and best practices. Users can get a first hand look at cataracts, conjunctivitis, dry eyes, floaters, glaucoma and other eye conditions. The app also provides help finding specialists using its directory and the user’s location.

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8. AirStrip Patient Monitoring

The AirStrip Patient Monitoring app is available for clinicians who care for patients. Healthcare providers can view their patient’s monitoring data from just about anywhere at any time of day or night. Use this app to view patients’ vitals, medications, allergies, cardiac waveforms, lab reports and more.

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9. CardioTeach

CardioTeach provides an invaluable resource to healthcare providers who want to educate their patients about heart conditions the moment their patients have questions. Healthcare providers who use this app can use the illustrations and information about common heart conditions and procedures to educate their patients in the office or online by sending through emails. (iPad only)

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10. VisualDx

VisualDx is an app that is a clinical decision support system. VisualDx has been proven to improve diagnostic accuracy, help therapeutic decisions and even enhance patient safety. Healthcare providers can access a database by searching by diagnosis, looking up drug-induced adverse reactions and viewing images of pediatric and adult conditions.

]]> http://www.topmastersinhealthcare.com/posts/top-10-iphone-apps-for-healthcare-professionals/feed/ 0 http://www.topmastersinhealthcare.com/posts/top-10-ted-talks-on-healthcare/ http://www.topmastersinhealthcare.com/posts/top-10-ted-talks-on-healthcare/#comments Tue, 09 Oct 2012 12:29:24 +0000 Helen http://www.topmastersinhealthcare.com/?p=368 The healthcare system is undergoing major changes. Will these changes make us healthier? The following TED Talks provide a glimpse into the ways in which medical visionaries are utilizing technology and age old wisdom to transform healthcare.

Rebecca Onie: What if our healthcare system kept us healthy?

Rebecca Onie knows that good health is not just a matter of having the right pill to swallow. Onie highlights the work of Health Leads, an organization committed to providing quality volunteers who pay attention to a patient’s needs outside the hospital doors, such as good food and safe shelter.


Thomas Goetz: It’s time to redesign medical data

Have you ever tried to read your medical chart, only to give up after being unable to decipher the medical jargon? Thomas Goetz shows how redesigned medical charts can provide us with a wealth of important information about our health.

Anders Ynnerman: Visualizing the medical data explosion

The marked increase in medical scans has produced the side effect of doctors now having thousands of images and too little time to sort through them. Anders Ynnerman explores emerging visualization technologies that will assist doctors in determining how to best use these scans in patient care.

Mathieu Lehanneur demos science inspired design

Mathieu Lehanneur is a designer who partners with scientists to create innovative and even whimsical new devices that will improve our health and quality of life. Lehanneur’s creations include air filters, light therapy lamps, and asthma medication reminders.

Atul Gawande: How do we heal medicine?

In a medical landscape full of expensive new technologies, Atul Gawande wants to make sure that doctors remain grounded in the basics of providing quality care to patients. Gawande provides common sense (and cost effective) ways for doctors to improve standards of care.

Ivan Oransky: Are we over-medicalized?

In this provocative talk, Ivan Oransky asks us to consider that we are too fixated on preventing ill health, to the point of taking medications that may actually lead to further illness. Oransky looks outside the medical field to world of baseball for a new paradigm.

Bill Davenhall: Your health depends on where you live

How might your health be affected if you lived in an area with high rates of water or air pollution? Bill Davenhall advocates for using geo-data technology in combination with traditional diagnostic criteria to evaluate patient health.

Abraham Verghese: A doctor’s touch

The rapid increase of technology in healthcare may have a downside: the loss of face to face human interaction. Abraham Verghese is a doctor who wants to make sure that physicians take the time to truly listen to patients and make sure that tests are used as a tool instead of a replacement for interaction with the patient.

Robert Fischell on medical inventing

Robert Fischell is recognized for his major contributions to medical technology, such as the rechargeable pacemaker and implantable insulin pump. But he’s not done yet: Fischell outlines “three wishes” for medicine: new treatments for both migraines and mental illnesses, and reform of malpractice law.

Daniel Kraft: Medicine’s future? There’s an app for that

The rapid pace of technology is impacting the medical field in a big way. Daniel Kraft explores how innovations in digital medicine have changed diagnostics to bring digital test results directly to both patients and medical staff.

]]> http://www.topmastersinhealthcare.com/posts/top-10-ted-talks-on-healthcare/feed/ 0 http://www.topmastersinhealthcare.com/posts/10-most-barbaric-treatments-in-modern-healthcare/ http://www.topmastersinhealthcare.com/posts/10-most-barbaric-treatments-in-modern-healthcare/#comments Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:54:48 +0000 ryan http://www.topmastersinhealthcare.com/?p=193

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Sophisticated and essentially humane treatments in healthcare and medicine are often seen as indicators of an evolved, modern society. After all, the manner in which we look after our sick people is one of the defining factors in our effectiveness as a health-conscious and scrupulous nation.

In spite of this, it may surprise some to discover how wrong healthcare techniques can go when delivered with just the right amount of ignorance. Stories of inexplicably bizarre and torturous procedures litter our recent past. What follows is a journey through some of the more notorious and ill-conceived approaches aimed at restoring people to physical and mental wellness — namely, the 10 most barbaric treatments in the history of modern healthcare.


10. Trepanning



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Trepanning is an infamous surgical technique involving scraping or drilling a hole in the patient’s skull in order to treat intracranial diseases. The practice is at least 8,000 years old and, perhaps surprisingly, has survived into the modern era. Cave paintings point to the fact that the procedure was originally thought to heal migraines, epileptic seizures and serious mental disorders.

More modern examples of the technique include the use of trepanation in epidural and subdural hematomas. The process — which is used for surgical access to certain parts of the brain — is generally referred to as a craniotomy by modern surgeons.

Some people have even been known to voluntarily undergo the procedure, most notably Peter Halvorson, who in 1972 self-administered trepanation with an electric drill. He remains an ardent supporter of the alarming method, and is founder and director of the International Trepanation Advocacy Group.

9. Bariatric Surgery



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Sometimes referred to as a “lobotomy of the stomach,” bariatric surgery is a form of weight loss surgery performed on patients who are morbidly obese. The concept behind the procedure is that weight loss be achieved either by implanting a medical device — for example, a gastric band — or shockingly, by removing part of the stomach itself.

Studies have shown the very real risks of serious health complications following this form of surgery. From a survey of 2,522 patients who had undergone the treatment, 21.9 % developed problems during the hospital stay itself and a staggering 40% experienced issues within six months of the procedure. The surgery remains popular and, within reason, is available to anyone.

8. Insulin Shock Therapy



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The disturbingly named insulin coma therapy, or insulin shock therapy, was a type of psychiatric treatment widely used in hospitals in the 1930s through the 1950s. It involved repeatedly administering large doses of insulin to patients, with the aim of causing daily comas over a course of several weeks.

Predominantly used to treat schizophrenia, the treatment was introduced to the medical community in 1933 by the Austrian-born psychiatrist Manfred Sakel. During a standard length of treatment, injections of insulin were given six days a week for around two months, although courses lasting up to two years have been recorded.

The decline of the treatment was sharp. It was heavily criticized as early as 1953 when the British psychiatrist Harold Bourne wrote of “the insulin myth,” claiming that the treatment had no effect on schizophrenia at all. By the end of the 1950s, the therapy had fallen out of favor, mostly because of the length of time it took and the nursing supervision it required. However, it has been recorded as continuing until as late as the 1970s in China and the former Soviet Union.

7. Symphysiotomies



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Symphysiotomy is a method of surgery used on pregnant women experiencing difficult or obstructed labor. During the procedure — which was first advocated by the French surgeon Severin Pineau in 1597 — the cartilage of the pubic symphysis is widened to allow childbirth. Typically, the operation was (and is) used when a caesarean section was not an available option. Its use continues in developing countries to this day.

Not surprisingly, the operation comes with a great deal of risk attached. Bladder and urethra injury, infection, severe pain and long-term walking difficulty have all been associated with the treatment. Symphysiotomies have been the subject of much debate within the medical community for some time. This is most notably the case in Ireland, where women who underwent the procedure between the 1950s and 1980s claim to have been left with serious side effects, including depression, impaired mobility and incontinence.

6. Tonsillectomy



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The tonsillectomy is one of the most famous surgical operations in the medical world. The procedure, which is at least 3,000 years old, is employed primarily in repeated cases of acute tonsillitis. Its use was far more common a generation or two ago, but it is to this day still one of the most common operations performed on children in the USA. At least modern patients do not have to deal with the tonsil guillotine, a gruesome looking instrument employed for over 80 years after its introduction in 1828!

Critics of the tonsillectomy claim that removing the tonsils does little for the symptoms long term and merely causes unnecessary suffering. Quite aside from the resulting pain, tonsillectomy has been linked to dramatic weight gain in children, according to a recent study. It shows that the chance of a child becoming overweight or obese rises to 61% in cases where the adenoids are not also removed and an inflated 136% when the adenoids are removed with the tonsils.

5. Surgical Treatment for Mental Health



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Dr. Henry Andrews Cotton (1876-1933) is an infamous figure in the history of medicine. He had a firmly held belief that mental health problems could be treated by employing surgical methods. To him, insanity was caused by untreated bodily infections and had to be dealt with accordingly. This meant the removal of teeth, tonsils, gall bladders, stomachs, spleens, testicles, colons and anything else suspected of harboring infection.

Helped by generously exaggerated success rates — which may or may not have had any grounding in reality — Cotton achieved a great deal of fame during the early 1920s. However, his methods soon came under the scrutiny of his contemporaries, most notably Dr. Phyllis Greenacre, who criticized Cotton and the New Jersey State Hospital where he was medical director. Cotton himself later conceded that the death rates for his “treatments” had been around 30 percent, although other estimates put the number closer to 45 percent.

4. Mercury Treatment



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Today, mercury is known and understood to be a potentially poisonous metal that causes severely harmful effects after prolonged exposure. However, this was not always the case. Indeed, the liquid metal has been used as a diuretic, disinfectant and laxative. Amazingly, it was also once used as a treatment for syphilis, with the doctors who employed such dubious methods regularly mistaking the effects of mercury poisoning for the symptoms of the sexual disease itself.

Even going into the early 20th century, mercury was still given to children as a dewormer and laxative. Merbromin, mercury containing topical antiseptic used to treat minor cuts and scratches is still used to this day. It has been banned in the US but is widely available in other countries.

3. Electroconvulsive Therapy



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Electroconvulsive therapy, more commonly known as electroshock therapy, has a divisive and largely undignified past. Primarily used in treating severe depression and mania, the controversial technique was discovered when Italian neuropsychiatrist Ugo Cerletti observed pigs being prepared and pacified for slaughter by having their temples pumped with electrical charges. This rather grim interest transferred itself to the human animal, and soon Cerletti and his colleague Lucio Bini were performing ECTs on people.

Developing at a similar time to insulin shock therapy (see #8) in the 1940s, ECTs were found to cause previously difficult and troublesome patients to become placid and controllable. However, the practice has also attracted much criticism, with opponents of the method pointing out the noted side effects — including memory loss and fractured bones — not to mention the fact that it had been used as a form of abuse. It remains for many an objectionable and wholly barbaric form of therapy.

2. Bloodletting/Leeches



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Bloodletting is one of the oldest medical practices and one that, surprisingly, continued into the 20th century. It has its basis in the classical world of Hippocrates and the ancient Greeks and their belief in the four “humors”: black bile, yellow bile, phlegm and blood. It was their theory that each of the humors needed to be in balance for a person to experience optimal health. If someone was ill, went the thinking, they probably had an excess of one the elements, hence the need for a technique such as bloodletting.

This strange practice went on into modern times and was even supported by Sir William Osler in the 1923 edition of his textbook The Principles and Practice of Medicine. Today, it has been established beyond all reasonable doubt that bloodletting does far more harm than good. However, modern bloodletting (or phlebotomy) is very occasionally used as a treatment in a few diseases, including hemochromatosis and polycythemia.

1. Lobotomies



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The lobotomy, or leukotomy, perhaps the most barbaric treatment in the history of modern healthcare, is a neurosurgical procedure that involves severing the connections to and from the frontal lobes of the brain. Since its inception in 1935, it has been a highly controversial form of treatment. Yet, despite concerns about the process, lobotomies were part of mainstream mental healthcare for over 20 years.

Criticism of the treatment came early, with the Swedish psychiatrist Snorre Wohlfahrt stating in 1947 that it was “distinctly hazardous to leucotomize schizophrenics.” Further concerns about the safety and the morality of the practice came thick and fast. The former Soviet Union banned it in 1950 and other countries gradually followed suit, with many nations outlawing it by the 1970s.
 
Today, the general public knows of the discredited operation chiefly through cinematic portrayals such as Jack Nicholson’s lobotomized mental patient in the 1975 adaptation of Ken Kesey’s 1962 novel One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest.

]]> http://www.topmastersinhealthcare.com/posts/10-most-barbaric-treatments-in-modern-healthcare/feed/ 0 http://www.topmastersinhealthcare.com/posts/15-ways-to-limit-radiation-exposure/ http://www.topmastersinhealthcare.com/posts/15-ways-to-limit-radiation-exposure/#comments Mon, 16 Jan 2012 15:16:03 +0000 Helen http://www.topmastersinhealthcare.com/?p=125

This article was written by experts. Specifically, the health physics team in charge of protecting workers, monitoring releases and recording doses at Three Mile Island during the month after the worst nuclear accident in American history.

2011 was the year when average people all over the world were suddenly confronted with the very real and serious dangers to human health presented by “peaceful” applications of nuclear technology. The triple meltdowns and subsequent explosions at the Fukushima Daiichi reactor complex in March sent plumes of radioactive contamination across the northern Japanese countryside and high into the atmosphere to blanket the entire northern hemisphere with dangerous fission product isotopes most people had never heard of before.

Confusing and contradictory reports from officials around the world left too many people unsure of what dangers they and their families face from fallout, the actual levels of radioisotopes in their air, food and water supplies, and how those will continue to present dangers for decades (and, in some places in northern Japan, centuries) to come. The pro-nuclear lobby repeatedly claims that radiation exposures are “harmless” or even “good for you,” academic experts have insisted just as repeatedly that there is no ‘safe’ level of exposure. Whom should we believe?

Since it is often true that the best defense is a good offense, here are 15 practical methods of reducing exposures to radiation and radioactive contamination in homes, schools and offices, from a group of health physics personnel, the technicians charged with exposure control at nuclear facilities of all types. The techniques are effective whether the exposure is acute – an accident or release at a nuclear facility nearby that is not expected to be long-term – or chronic low-level exposure such as from fallout caused by major accidents or bomb explosions.

You need not own a radiation detector* to monitor actual levels in order to practice these techniques as a matter of habit, and they will be effective even against other natural and unnatural pollutants/allergens that may be ubiquitous where people live. One thing Fukushima has taught us is that ‘officials’ are not trustworthy for providing accurate and timely information about radiation levels – or the presence of toxic effluents from other industries and accidents – to the public. Thus it is best in times of uncertainty to err on the side of precaution.

* Since Fukushima several inexpensive models of hand-held low-level radiation detectors have come on the market, including at least two downloadable applications for high-end cell phones that are fairly accurate and recommended for people who live within 50 miles of a nuclear facility. Which, in the United States, includes an estimated 116 million citizens.

Household Surfaces


Radioactive particles are much smaller than even the tiniest dust particles and cannot be seen. But if you assume that all the dust in your indoor environment is radioactive, careful cleanliness will protect you against excess exposure from unseen particles as well.

1. It can help to visualize a layer of invisible dust even when surfaces look clean and shiny. You will want to wash the walls, counter tops, furniture and appliance surfaces and floors regularly. Each time, use a clean mop and sponge, keep a good supply of paper towels, plastic grocery and trash bags, and sturdy trash containers with tight-fitting lids on hand.

Always wash from top to bottom, at least once a day. Dispose of all used mop heads, sponges and wipes in a trash container outside. DO NOT dry-dust or sweep or use a feather-type duster, as these will simply cause dust (and isotopes) to become airborne where they can be inhaled or settle onto food, etc.

Carpets, Rugs and Mats


Most people are aware that carpets, rugs and floor matting are dust-magnets. These cannot be washed daily in an effective manner, and often cannot be removed for the duration of the danger. Daily or twice daily vacuuming is recommended, but be careful of older vacuum cleaners that often have ‘leaks’ that stir more dust into the air than is sucked into the bag.

2. A good filtered vacuum is baseline requisite. Replace the filter regularly with the finest grain filter available for the unit, and wash it carefully after each use even if it doesn’t look dirty. Place all disposed filters and dust bags in tightly closed plastic grocery bags in a trash bag lined, closable outdoor container. You do not want concentrated contaminates from cleaning to remain inside.

A water-filtered vacuum is preferable to a regular vacuum if you can get one. Good shop-vacs will work for this. Dispose of contaminated water down the toilet, then clean the toilet – including seat – thoroughly with fresh water. Also, a water-filtered or virus-rated air filtered indoor air purifier is a good idea to run several times a day following your cleaning regimen. This will remove dust that cleaning activity has caused to go airborne.

In The Kitchen


The danger of ingesting radioisotopes is significant, as internal contamination is 20 to 100 times more harmful than external exposures. Alpha and beta particle radiations do not present significant external exposures at all in low levels, but once they get into your body they can easily damage or destroy sensitive cells. Thus some careful kitchen habits will go a long way toward limiting internal exposures.

3. Always keep your pots, pans, plates, silverware and utensils in clean cabinets with doors/covers, drawers or covered containers such as Tupperware bins. Remove coverings carefully so as not to shake the dust they may have accumulated out into the air or onto previously clean surfaces.

4. Always rinse your cooking utensils, plates, silverware, glassware, etc. in clean – preferably filtered – water before using them. The best filters for the purpose use activated charcoal or reverse osmosis, as these are quite effective at trapping the most dangerous radioisotopes. Change the filter every two or three days during the entire course of the radiological emergency. Wrap used filters in tightly closed plastic grocery bags and keep them in the lined ‘hot trash’ container outdoors.

5. Be sure to rinse the outside of all food cans before opening (with a well-rinsed manual can opener). Wipe rinsed articles off with a paper towel and dispose of those in the same outdoor ‘hot trash’ container.

Coming and Going


Every time a human or pet comes into the indoors from the outdoors, they will be bringing contamination with them. Limiting this new source of contamination is important to limiting indoor exposures.

6. When you go outside, wear a set of coveralls or a duster over your clothes. Rubber boots over shoes is a good idea as well, especially if it is raining. Fallout contamination in rain can be 10-20 times higher than it is in clear weather. A pair of outdoor shoes is also recommended. None of these items should come inside, but should be left outdoors on a porch or landing, or confined to the entry area.

7. Shower every time you come indoors from having spent more than a few minutes outdoors. Always wash from top to bottom, and don’t ingest any of the wash water. Avoid breathing steam by using cool, lukewarm or just slightly warm water.

8. Obtain a supply of good quality dust masks to cover your mouth and nose, and ALWAYS wear it when outdoors or traveling in your vehicle. A utility painter’s type mask is better than a flimsy medical type mask, available from hardware and home improvement stores. Or you may choose to use handkerchiefs if they are made of a tightly woven fabric. Fold it to provide more than one layer of cloth and cover mouth/nose as tightly as possible and still allow breathing.

General Air Flow


The “Shelter In Place” advisory we heard about for citizens outside the evacuation zone around Fukushima was intended to limit residents’ exposures to the radiation levels outdoors. It did not work very well due to public ignorance of the need to keep outdoor air and contamination out of indoor spaces, but the basic premise is sound if these listed methods are followed carefully, along with all other recommendations given here.

9. Seal all doors that open to the outside with duct tape. Use only one door for entering and exiting, preferably a door that enters into a semi-enclosed entry space, garage or ‘mud room’. Make that space into a “change over” area for protective outdoor clothing and footwear.

10. Windows should also be tightly closed (even if it’s nice outside) and sealed with duct tape for the duration of the emergency. Run your air conditioner at least 12 hours a day using the “recirculation” setting, even when you are not using the heat or cooling cycles. Get fine filters and change them daily. If using foam filters, these may be carefully washed and allowed to dry after changing, but fine-grain fiber dust filters that are disposed of as ‘hot trash’ after changing are better.

Do NOT use fans to blow outside air in, or run AC units on settings that draw outside air inside. Take steps to keep indoor air from being too dry. A semi-humid environment lets water vapor attach more particulate contamination and bring it down to floor level so it’s not floating around where you are breathing.

Pets and Short People


Dogs, cats and small children are much closer to the ground than upright adults and will tend to absorb more contamination. What may be a non-dangerous “extremity dose” to an adult walking with his or her head well above the ground can present a contamination danger to crawlers, toddlers and pets – especially dogs, who are prone to sniffing the ground regularly.

11. Always carry young children while outdoors or going to and from a vehicle. Avoid taking them out in the rain if at all possible, and do have them wear mask, hat and some kind of outer covering like a duster, blanket or coat. At home, try not to let children spend a lot time on the floor. If they must be on the floor, spread a clean sheet onto it first.

12. Keep pets indoors as much as possible for the duration. If you must let the animal outside for a period of time (keep it short), keep a wash tub near the door along with a supply of clean towels. Wash them down (top to bottom) before bringing them indoors, where you can towel them off. Keep a closed hamper in or just outdoors of your entry zone to receive used towels and outer clothing bound for the laundry.

Miscellaneous Precautions


13. All family members (including pets) should sleep at least two feet above the floor for the duration of the emergency – or for as long as there are reports or suspicions of elevated radiation levels – to keep radioactive contamination well away from nose and mouth. You may have to let the dog sleep on the couch to accomplish this, so do cover your couch or other likely animal bed surfaces with clean sheets and change them daily.

14. Regular laundering of sheets, handkerchief masks, outdoor clothing, etc. should keep them fairly free of contamination. But wash the more contaminated items separately from regular laundry so as to avoid possible excess contamination to all your laundry. DO NOT hang clean laundry on an outdoor clothesline. Use your dryer (and clean the filter after every load, treat the lint as ‘hot trash’) or hang indoors overnight to dry.

15. Keep following all these procedures for several days or even a week or two after the “danger” appears to have passed, as residual radiation and contamination may still be in the environment. wrestling the kids out on the lawn or splashing around in mud puddles may be fun pastimes you must give up for a long while.

Depending on the isotopes present in the environment, the danger may persist for months or years. A radiation detector is handy for locating hot spots in and around your property, and these will tend to be found in normal drainage pathways such as eave gutters, underneath downspouts and along drainage ditches. If you find any of these, avoid them carefully until you or some official remediation outfit can effectively decontaminate them.

Do not attempt decontamination or remediation yourself unless you know what you’re doing and take serious precautions for your own safety. Remember, some common isotopes have long half-lives and will tend to concentrate to remain dangerous for centuries. If it looks like this is to be the situation where you live, it may be for the best to relocate farther from the source. This can be especially true for those who grow food or raise livestock on the land. Some nasty isotopes are readily uptaken by food plants and concentrate in them to present internal hazards to all who consume them.

No one but you can make such a decision for the long-term well-being of self and family, and it’s a hard decision to make. The world has not faced such serious contamination concerns since the atmospheric bomb testing days and the accident at Chernobyl in 1986. Contamination from Fukushima will be with us for many years.

These simple health physics techniques can help minimize exposures, but the best protection is to avoid exposures in the first place. Toward that end, I wish us all the best of luck.

Discover more about this topic with the book Home Health Physics

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