Ward-Based Staff Perspectives on Their Preparedness to Recognize Patient Deterioration: An Interpretive Description Study.

Background: Despite an overall decline in serious adverse events in hospitalized patients, approximately one third of inpatient mortality continues to relate to adverse events impacting patients on general wards. The preparedness of nurses, midwives, and nursing assistants (collectively referred to as ward-based staff) to recognize patient deterioration is therefore seen as critical.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to explore ward-based staff perspectives regarding their preparedness to recognize patient deterioration.

Statistics of Gaussian polymer chains in harmonic applied fields.

The model of an ideal polymer chain in a harmonic applied field has broad applicability in situations involving polymer confinement and deformation due to applied stress. In this work we (1) formulate a general analytical model for a continuous Gaussian chain under a harmonic applied potential and (2) evaluate the statistical mechanics of this model given the potential, obtaining partition functions and moment generating functions (MGFs) that describe the chain configurations. Closed-form expressions for the squared radius of gyration, potential energy, partition function, and MGF for the center of mass are obtained for a general and multidimensional harmonic field.

Social determinants of health predict readmission following COVID-19 hospitalization: a health information exchange-based retrospective cohort study.

Introduction: Since February 2020, over 104 million people in the United States have been diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection, or COVID-19, with over 8.5 million reported in the state of Texas. This study analyzed social determinants of health as predictors for readmission among COVID-19 patients in Southeast Texas, United States.

Improving outcomes in emergency general surgery: Construct of a collaborative quality initiative.

Background: Emergency general surgery conditions are common, costly, and highly morbid. The proportion of excess morbidity due to variation in health systems and processes of care is poorly understood. We constructed a collaborative quality initiative for emergency general surgery to investigate the emergency general surgery care provided and guide process improvements.