Cost savings: 4-fold literacy = care literacy

The RCN's campaign I posted yesterday highlights the belief in and potential of nurses to 'think out of the box'.

There are many people, in many walks of life who are currently racking their brains and flipcharts to come up with ideas for cutting costs. In addition to the RCN, the government has its on-line campaign with the 'Spending Challenge'.

As for nurses there is an extra rabbit to pull from the hat: improving patient care.

Media discussion about the cloned beef - food supply story this week brought a point regarding the relative scientific literacy of the general population of USA and UK. This prompted me to consider discipline based literacy, what usually passes for 'basic grounding in ...' or competency. ('Literacy' has already been corrupted, now for another kick.)

For nurses with their subject disciplines, which can be represented in the health career model - what current public sector health (and social) care requires (demands!) is care literacy.

It is the ability of nurses (and other professionals) to be aware of what happens in the two adjoining boxes, or that one remote enclosure that can simultaneously engender and deliver:

• new insights - creativity and innovation;
  
• holistic integrated care;
• care literacy;
• and - cost savings that can still improve patient care.

See also:
http://hodges-model.blogspot.com/search/label/literacy

Frontline First campaign: cost-saving innovations whilst improving patient care

Dear Peter,

Innovations are the key to saving the NHS money. Every day, nursing staff on the frontline are finding new and better ways to deliver patient care.

As one nurse recently wrote to us:

"Without a working knowledge of clinical care provision how can ideas be practical and ensure quality of care is maintained? Nurses are in a prime position to look at care provision to identify better ways of working and therefore identify cost savings without sacrificing patient care and experience."

As part of our Frontline First campaign, the RCN is collecting examples of cost-saving innovations at NHS services across the UK. What nursing solutions have you seen in your workplace that could achieve savings without sacrificing patient care?

http://generalelection.rcn.org.uk/innovation

There are two ways the NHS can find billions of pounds in efficiencies:

discover innovative ways to save money
or
make cuts to staff and services

Every day, UK nurses are helping to devise and implement cost-effective solutions saving their employers money and helping to protect jobs. We've already heard from dozens of nursing staff who told us about innovations in their workplace, from changes to day-to-day practices to
whole new ways of working.

Please take a moment to report any cost-saving innovations you've seen at the workplace:

http://generalelection.rcn.org.uk/innovation

Thanks for speaking up and helping to protect patient care.

Yours sincerely,

Janet Davies
Director of Nursing and Service Delivery

My source:
Subject: Improving patient care
From: "Janet Davies, Royal College of Nursing"
Date: 04 August 2010 16:53:30

Health alternative the healthy of scents

Did you know that the human sense of smell is able to identify thousands of smells and 10,000 times more accurate than the senses of taste? That is why a certain scent can help us reduce stress levels, improve your mood, or to alleviate pain.

Reduces desire for "snacking"
Scents you like it can help reduce the unbearable desire to snack. According to Alan Hirsch, MD, founder of the Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago, U.S.. In one of his research, he sent the people who are overweight to the smell of banana, green apple, and peppermint when they felt hungry. Apparently they were able to reduce his body weight was more than those who did not smell fresh.

Calm
In between busy work and stress concentration drained, as drops of orange or lavender-scented oil. In a study in Austria, the researchers asked respondents smelled citrus and some lavender scent. It turns out that both groups reduced their anxiety. They also felt more positive and calm compared with respondents who did not smell anything.

Learn something new
Towards a presentation in front of an important client or you are asked to learn the latest software that makes the head dizzy, give sprinkling fragrant rosemary around you. In one study, 48 students are given exposure to the smell of rosemary admit they are better able to concentrate and do the exam better.

Against pain
There are natural ways to reduce pain or pain without medicine. How, with the scent of lavender or peppermint. This has been evidenced in patients undergoing laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery procedures. During surgery, they use the mask that drops of lavender or peppermint oil. It turns out they just need a smaller dose analegik post-surgery. Peppermint is also known to reduce headaches.

Reduce menstrual pain
Studies conducted in Korea to women who often suffer from menstrual pain to mention, those who routinely perform the essential oil massage with at least one week before the menstrual period reported, abdominal pain and cramping, they reduced by half.

Increasing arousal
The aroma of baby powder along with a fragrant cucumber and licorice was able to increase blood flow to the vagina up to 13 percent. Likewise, the lavender and pumpkin pie. You can get it by rubbing baby powder on the skin after a bath or preparing dinner with a menu of fresh cucumber.

Sleep better
Of course there is good reason why since hundreds of years people put lavender pillow behind them. Research shows, the scent of lavender to make someone sleep in longer and also cope with mild insomnia. Want to sleep better? Sprinkle a little scent of lavender around the room before bedtime.

Simple exercise can overcome aching pain

Most sat in the office can cause body aches and weakness. This condition often experienced by office workers who just tangent to the computer. Because of his job, the body becomes less mobile.

To expel sore, it's worth setting aside time for us to do a little exercise. This activity and can be done in between jobs and not time consuming. For movement, you can start with a stretched out both hands.

You may continue by rotating forward and backward. More and more movement will be better. This movement could overcome the aches in the back area.

Another exercise that can be done is by moving the head to the left and right. The movement was useful to overcome stiff around the neck. In addition, you also can run a small street in the workplace. This little exercise we can eliminate boredom with the routine of the office, so the body becomes more relaxed.

Use of Bananas for better health

As we all know that 'An Apple a day keeps the doctor away!' but after read this article,may be you will change this phrase like, 'A banana a day keeps the doctor away!'

Two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes.

Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.Energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Depression :- People suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

PMS :- Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Anemia :- High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

Blood Pressure :- This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Constipation :- High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

Hangovers :- One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

Heartburn :- Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

Morning Sickness :- Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

Mosquito bites :- Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Nerves :- Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

Ulcers :- The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

Temperature control :- Many other cultures see bananas as a 'cooling' fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. Pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) :- Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.

Smoking &Tobacco Use :- Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress :- Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels.These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.

Strokes :- Eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!

Warts :- Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!

So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods.

Use of Lemons for Healthy Body

Lemon is one of those super foods with a myriad health and cosmetic benefits.There are a few persons for whom it is an allergen,so make sure you are not allergic to this natural product,before you start enjoying the many benefits.

(1) Lemon being a citrus fruit, fights against infection.It helps in production of WBC’s and antibodies in blood which attacks the invading microorganism and prevents infections.

(2) Lemon is an antioxidant which deactivates the free radicals preventing many dangerous diseases like stroke,cardiovascular diseases and cancers.

(3) Lemon lowers blood pressure and increases the levels of HDL (good cholesterol).

(4) Lemon is found to be anti-carcinogenic which lower the rates of colon, prostate, and breast cancer . They prevent faulty metabolism in the cell, which can predispose a cell to becoming carcinogenic. Also blocks the formation of nitrosamines in the gut.

(5) Lemon juice is said to give a glow to the skin.

(6) A few drops of lemon juice in hot water are believed to clear the digestive system and purify liver as well.

(7) The skin of lemon dried under the sun and then ground to make powder can be applied to the hair for a few minutes before bath which relieves head ache and cools the body.

(8) Applying lemon juice to acne dries the existing ones and prevents from getting more.

(9) Lemon juice acts as a natural hair lightener and skin bleach which reduces the pigment melanin and prevents the risk of chemical allergic reactions which is common with hair dyes and bleaches.

(10) Lemon juice is given to relieve gingivitis, stomatitis, and inflammation of the tongue.

(11) Lemon juice is given to prevent common cold.

(12) Lemon juice is given to prevent or treat urinary tract infection and gonorrhea.

(13) Lemon juice is applied to the sites of bites and stings of certain insects to relieve its poison and pain.

(14) Lemon juice relieves colic pain and gastric problems.

(15) Lemon juice soothes the dry skin when applied with little glycerin.

(16) Lemon juice used for marinating seafood or meat kills bacteria and other organisms present in them, thereby prevents many gastro-intestinal tract infections.

(17) Lemon juice with a pinch of salt (warm) every morning lowers cholesterol levels and brings down your weight.

(18) Lemon juice is the best drink to prevent dehydration and shock in case of diarrhea.

(19) Lemon juice can also be used as a mouthwash. It removes plaque, whitens the teeth and strengthens the enamel.

(20) A table spoon on thick lemon syrup everyday relieves asthma.

(21) Lemon juice relieves chilblains and itchy skin.

(22) Gargling lemon juice relieves throat infection and also used as a treatment for diphtheria .

(23) Lemon Juice is an excellent treatment for dandruff and gresy hair.

(24) Lemon applied over the face removes wrinkles and keeps you young.

(25) Lemon juice helps to prevent and cure osteoarthritis.

From: Harvard Business Review - The Four Phases of Design Thinking

I came across the following post on the Harvard Business Review Blog Network - The Conversation:

10:54 AM Thursday July 29, 2010
by Warren Berger

What can people in business learn from studying the ways successful designers solve problems and innovate? On the most basic level, they can learn to question, care, connect, and commit — four of the most important things successful designers do to achieve significant breakthroughs.

Having studied more than a hundred top designers in various fields over the past couple of years (while doing research for a book), I found that there were a few shared behaviors that seemed to be almost second nature to many designers. And these ingrained habits were intrinsically linked to the designer's ability to bring original ideas into the world as successful innovations. All of which suggests that they merit a closer look.

You can read the whole of Warren's original post, while below I have taken his focus concepts CONNECT, CARE, COMMIT and QUESTION and associated them to the care (knowledge) domains of Hodges' model. Following that there is a rationale. ...

connect	question
care	commit

Connect:Intrapersonal
Placed in the intra-interpersonal domain this is the domain of concepts, thoughts, ideas, creativity and innovation. This is the essence of Warren's reference to 'connect' -

Designers, I discovered, have a knack for synthesizing--for taking existing elements or ideas and mashing them together in fresh new ways.

The INTERPERSONAL links page also highlights other conceptual 'inhabitants' here; in particular knowledge management, the semantic web and psychology. If analysis and reduction is the outcome of the hard sciences, then here as Warren writes is synthesis, integration and invention. We can see how self-belief is critical to many innovators who pursue their dreams regardless of rebuffs by the establishment, to whom - within the health career model - they are also diametrically opposed.

Question:Sciences
The ability to question lie at the heart of human activity, and although thought and mind are represented in the interpersonal domain, questions also exemplify the output of human reasoning powers in the SCIENCES. Evidence based care depends on an ongoing process-ion of questions that drive research. Problem solving with its iterative sequence of assess (question), plan, action, evaluation (question). The health career model reminds us though of the need to consider not only quantity, logic and objective measures, but the role of qualitative research and methods.

Care:Sociology
Seeing Warren's inclusion of 'care' drew me to his post. Here he concludes:

Focus groups and questionnaires don't cut it; designers know that you must care enough to actually be present in people's lives.

Health and (social!) care are social activities. Our students are socialised into the professions and disciplines as they pursue their careers. Our work depends on the effectiveness of human communication and relationships. You can read about 'counselling' and only get so far; ultimately health care is experiential. It is something to be practised.

Commit:POLITICAL
Warren deals with the way designer's view risk and committing early to an idea and the project that might follow. For me 'commit' and being committed has explicit political - power - connotations. So, Warren's reference to commit in the sense of producing a model or prototype and working through problems can be extended. Invention and design may be cognitive pursuits, but they are non-trivial in that they must ultimately and literally be negotiated. Being able to 'commit' needs to be sanctioned. Individuals need to be empowered, or recognise when to either proceed or seek advice and guidance. Furthermore, Warren notes:

The designer's ability to "fail forward" is a particularly valuable quality in times of dynamic change. Today, many companies find themselves operating in a test-and-learn business environment that requires rapid prototyping. (?)

Perhaps the recognition in health policy of the need to balance negative and positive risk taking, self-care and personalised budgets can also be discerned in the above?

Acknowledgement:
Thanks to Warren Berger and HBR