Special Focus Facilities vs Special Focus Facility Candidates: What is the Difference?

Objectives: This study compares Special Focus Facilities (SFFs) and Special Focus Facility Candidate Facilities (SFFcs) on organizational traits and quality outcomes to evaluate the effectiveness of the SFF program as a quality improvement intervention and inform potential areas for program reform.

Design: This is a retrospective analysis.

Settings And Participants: Using data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services archives for 2020, this retrospective study analyzed 247 nursing facilities (50 SFFs and 197 SFFcs).

Identification, management and care of refugee patients at a metropolitan public health service: a healthcare worker perspective.

Objective To describe the perceptions of healthcare workers employed at a metropolitan public health service, with respect to how they identify, manage and care for refugee patients. Methods This study surveyed healthcare workers using a cross-sectional, mixed methods descriptive design, which partially replicates a previous Australian study. A total of 215 responses to a brief online survey were received (n=48 medical, n=100 nursing and midwifery, n=50 allied health, n=4 other).

Accuracy of cytotechnologist evaluation of specimen adequacy and screening interpretation of malignancy in fine-needle aspiration of the liver.

Objective: To evaluate the performance of cytotechnologists in assessing the adequacy and accuracy of the preliminary diagnosis for fine-needle aspirates of the liver.

Study Design: We retrospectively analyzed 10 years of data and found 589 cases of ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (FNA) of the liver with on-site evaluation of adequacy (OSEA). All the OSEA were performed by the cytopathologist because OSEA of liver FNA is not performed by cytotechnologists at our institution at present.

Reproducibility of the Johns Hopkins Hospital template for urologic cytology samples.

Introduction: Cytologic screening for urothelial carcinoma is fraught with low sensitivity, a high indeterminate rate, and until recently, poor standardization of terminology. The Johns Hopkins Hospital John K. Frost Cytopathology Laboratory has recently developed and published a template for reporting urine cytopathology; herein, we evaluate its interobserver reproducibility.

Cytotechnologist-attended on-site evaluation of adequacy for fine-needle aspiration of bone and soft tissue neoplasms.

Introduction: On-site evaluation of adequacy (OSEA) is commonly used to increase the adequacy rate of fine-needle aspiration (FNA) procedures. OSEA is increasingly necessary with the widespread use of image-guided procedures, which are expensive to perform and repeat. The increased demand for OSEA has prompted an increasing reliance on cytotechnologists for OSEA in many practices, including ours.

Cytotechnologists and on-site evaluation of adequacy.

While fine needle aspiration (FNA) is certainly not a new biopsy technique, recent developments in advanced imaging techniques, molecular testing, and targeted therapies have coincided with a rapid increase in the number of FNA procedures being performed. Concurrently, the demand for on-site evaluation of adequacy (OSEA) has also increased, outstripping the capacity of available cytopathologists at some institutions. Among the several alternatives to cytopathologist-performed OSEA, cytotechnologist-attended OSEA stands out because it preserves the representation of the pathology service at the time of the procedure.

Cytotechnologist-attended on-site evaluation of adequacy for metastatic disease involving bone and soft tissue.

Introduction: Image-guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) of the musculoskeletal system is expensive to perform and repeat, so on-site evaluation of adequacy (OSEA) is increasingly used to ensure an optimal sample. Metastatic disease to the musculoskeletal system is not uncommon and often requires OSEA when sampled. At large academic centers, cytotechnologists have filled the increased demand for OSEA.

Effectiveness of scalpel debridement for painful plantar calluses in older people: a randomized trial.

Background: Plantar calluses are a common cause of foot pain, which can have a detrimental impact on the mobility and independence of older people. Scalpel debridement is often the first treatment used for this condition. Our aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of scalpel debridement of painful plantar calluses in older people.