The Perception and Use of Dexmedetomidine Among Anesthesia Providers: A Quality Improvement Project.

Purpose: Intraoperative opioid use is associated with postoperative nausea and vomiting, respiratory depression, and persistent postoperative pain, all of which contribute to increased length of stay and health care costs. Although research shows adding dexmedetomidine as an adjunct leads to reduced opioid-related postoperative complications, many anesthesia providers are not using this medication. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to increase the use of dexmedetomidine among anesthesia providers to improve outcomes among spinal and orthopedic surgery patients.

"Good help" in St. Petersburg.

Founded in 2001 by representatives of seven local organizations, the Refugee Healthcare Partnership (RHP) provides necessary health services and meaningful employment opportunities for refugees in the Tampa Bay, FL, area. Spearheaded by Catholic health care organizations and Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Petersburg, the RHP was made possible initially by funding from the Bon Secours Mission Fund of Bon Secours Health System, Marriottsville, MD.

Factors that may discourage annual mammography among low-income women with access to free mammograms: a study using multi-ethnic, multiracial focus groups.

Age-eligible women enrolled in the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program can obtain free or low-cost mammograms annually, but many do not routinely complete rescreening. This study investigated the rescreening behavior of low-income women by conducting 8 focus groups in Texas with enrollees who had access to free mammograms. Concerns mentioned in the focus groups included fear of radiation, anxiety that the test might not find a cancer that was there, and worries that cancer might be detected.