A Comprehensive PET-CT Database for Tracking Patient Variables

A Comprehensive PET-CT Database for Tracking Patient Variables Free Online Research Papers Abstract: A relational database was developed tracking demographic and examination information for patients undergoing PET/CT studies. Methods: A worksheet was first developed to capture patient and study information which was then entered into a relational database. Reports were designed to provide administrative and clinical information. Results: Approximately 2000 patients and three years of data have been recorded in the database. Reports have been used for administrative and research purposes. Conclusion: The database provided reports used to justify staffing, expenditures, and growth. It has also provided research data as well as clinical feedback used to improve the care and management of our patients. Introduction: In July 2003, the Medical College of Georgia installed a PET/CT scanner in its Radiation Therapy Outpatient Center. The scanner is used to perform a variety of diagnostic and oncology-related procedures. In order to be able to retroactively derive research data, a means of tracking patients as well as their individual studies was needed. Although a previously existing diagnostic PET scanner was in use, only radiopharmaceutical records were kept. In the radiation therapy PET/CT environment we felt it important to record additional information obtained from the in-depth patient history and physical. Materials and Methods: A worksheet was developed which allows the technologist to record a current medical history. It was designed by the nuclear medicine physician, the on-site radio pharmacist, and the lead PET technologist. Worksheet entries directly correspond to the database fields to simplify data input for the technologist. If funding becomes available for a computer in the incubation area, the technologist will be able to enter the history directly into the database. Worksheets are filled out by the nuclear medicine technical staff but in order to reduce errors, only the certified PET technologists perform data entry. Data has been collected since the inception of the PET/CT unit in August, 2003. The database currently holds approximately 2000 patients each of whom has had from 1 to 6 PET/CT examinations. Because of the complexity of the information to be recorded, it was determined that a relational database rather than a spreadsheet would be the most effective tool. A relational database promotes accuracy and flexibility and also simplifies data input. Rather than the free text fields used in spreadsheets, extensive use was made of drop boxes and radio buttons as shown in figure 1 which provide selection from fixed, pre-established choices. Because a patient can and often does have multiple examinations, one table was established for the patient and a related table for procedures. There is also a table of examination types. Using the relational capability of the database, every procedure is linked to a specific patient and exam type, both of which are selected from drop boxes. Tables were also developed for referring physicians and exam indications. Because information is linked rather than entered as free text, accuracy is improved and consistency is ensured. Current departmental research interests focus on several patient populations including pediatric lymphoma, cervical and gynecological cancer, and patients requiring treatment planning. Specific database fields were selected to allow future correlations of disease and risk factors. In addition, fields were provided related to patient demographics in order to provide regional coverage documentation for the Certificate of Need. As shown in figure 2, pre administrative reports include monthly procedure counts (figure 3), Veteran’s Administration patient volume, patient demographics for the Certificate of Need, and patient referral volume by physician (figure 4). For research purposes, study data in reports can be filtered by examination indications, type of exam, or patient sex, race, age, or risk factors. Results: The database is useful in providing financial reports. These reports are used to correlate contract billing and to monitor coding accuracy. Reports are also useful in looking at volumes in order to monitor productivity and develop future budgets. Database reports organize research data on patients and their studies including demographics, history, and risk factors. The tools associated with a relational database provide statistics useful in the publication of case studies, preparation of lectures, and tracking of research data. Discussion: The database was designed and structured to provide flexibility in the use and presentation of information. One of the advantages of a properly designed database is that the presentation of information can be readily customized. Those entering information into the database as well as the individuals who will be using the results and reports should be involved in the design process. After obtaining all potentially useful information in the proper format, reports can be customized to fit the needs of administrators and researchers. The approach used in the development and use of this database is adaptable to other types of institutions. The focus should be predicting the information required by the specific users as well as simplifying data entry. Well-designed database structure and screens can save time and reduce or eliminate many input errors, thus enhancing productivity and accuracy. Once accurate information is collected in a well-designed format, it is relatively simple for someone proficient with databases to produce customized reports. This is especially important because users often have changing needs and interests over time. Below are examples of reports which administrators and clinicians at our institution have found useful: Veteran Patient Volume The reimbursement department uses this data to track billing cycles. Physician Referral Base This information is useful in focusing marketing efforts by identifying areas for development. Pediatric Lymphomas Following pediatric patients over a period of years will help determine improved clinical pathways for disease management. Gynecological Cancers The gynecological clinic is one of our largest referral bases. This information will be used to differentiate needs for customized scanning such as â€Å"dual point† scanning post surgery. Patient Logs and Volumes Reports provide monthly and yearly patient volume data in both textual and graphical format. Accurate volume information allows us to project staffing needs and schedule system maintenance. The printout also provides a hardcopy back-up of invaluable data. Radiation Treatment Planning By tracking the protocol used for each patient, outcomes are improved by retrospectively analyzing clinical patient management. Conclusion: This database has provided hospital administration with accurate and timely reports to justify staffing, expenditures, and growth. It has provided our physicians with a plethora of research data and has provided our technologists with a method of correlative thinking in the care and management of our patients. As volume increases, the need for accurate, easily accessible information becomes more important. The database is being continually modified and new reports are being developed to enhance management and research functions. Use of a PET/CT tracking database should prove helpful to other facilities to exploit the potential of this technology. References: 1. Gardner WD. Breast Cancer Database Provides Faster Access To Patient Records. InformationWeek Web site. 2005. Available at: informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=NBXENMVY3EP5AQSNDBGCKHSCJUMEKJVN?articleID=174400322. Accessed April 28, 2007. 2. Johnson S, Paul T, Khenia A. Generic Database Design for Patient Management Information. American Medical Informatics Association Web site. Available at: amia.org/pubs/symposia/D004062.PDF. Accessed April 28, 2007. 3. Friedman C, Hripcsak G, Johnson SB, Cimino JJ, Clayton PD. A Generalized Relational Scheme for an Integrated Clinical Patient Database. Proceedings of the Fourteenth Annual Symposium on Computer Applications in Medical Care. Washington, D.C. 1990. 4. Essin DJ, Lincoln TL. Implementing a Low-cost Computer-based Patient Record: A controlled vocabulary reduces database design complexity. In: Gardner R, ed. Nineteenth Symposium on Computer Applications in Medical Care. Philadelphia: Hanley and Belfus, 1995:431-5. Research Papers on A Comprehensive PET-CT Database for Tracking Patient VariablesArguments for Physician-Assisted Suicide (PAS)The Project Managment Office SystemRiordan Manufacturing Production PlanResearch Process Part OneThe Fifth HorsemanInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesIncorporating Risk and Uncertainty Factor in CapitalBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfThree Concepts of PsychodynamicOpen Architechture a white paper

School Dress Code essays

School Dress Code essays Having students wear school uniforms has been a big debate among communities across the country for several years. The issue of school dress code has both strong supporters and opposition. This essay will consider arguments that school uniform should not be a part of our childrens education and to point out some of the problems with these views. It will then put forth the reasons for the introduction of mandatory dress code programs in schools that do not already have them. Most parents would agree that the main reason they send their children to school is to learn. Things that can help their children learn to the best of their ability are suitable and things that can hurt their chances of getting good education are unacceptable. School violence is a problem in many schools today. One of the answers to insure that children are safe in school is the introduction of school uniforms. According to the U.S. Department of Education, there are many benefits to having school uniforms. School uniforms help decrease violence and theft among students over designer sneakers or clothing, it prevents gang members from wearing gang colors and paraphernalia at school, and it instills discipline in students. Not only do school uniforms decrease violence in school but it also aids in helping students to resist peer-pressure, concentrate on their school work, and helping school officials recognize intruders who come to the school. (manual.) It has been argued that school uniforms violate freedom of expression. Some students feel that they should be allowed to wear whatever they want to school. They believe that clothing is one of the most important ways of expressing themselves. Another concern with the dress code policy is the cost of uniforms for students. Some parents believe that it is in fact more expensive to provide their children with special attire for school as opposed to regular st ...

How skills and knowledge acquired in a simulated environment can be Essay

How skills and knowledge acquired in a simulated environment can be transferable to real clinical situations - Essay Example How skills and knowledge acquired in a simulated environment can be transferable to real clinical situations? An independent variable is a variable that the researcher has control over. In this case, the independent variable in the research was the mode of training adopted for nursing education. The manipulation of this variable was attained by assigning differing models of nursing education delivery, which included clinical simulation-based education and actual clinical placement. The dependent variable is the measured element of interest, which is affected in the research, and in this research the dependent variable was the medication errors (Sears et al., 2010, p. 52). The problem presents an opportunity to bridge the gap in knowledge so as to effectively achieve a reduction in medication errors and make appropriate decisions with regard to placements (Sears et al., 2010, p. 52). The study was justified by the fact that most Canadian Schools found it hard to acquire enough clinical placements for their students. As such, it was necessary to determine whether simulations were as effective as actual placements. The confirmation of efficiency would mean that the shortage of clinical placements would be solved through implementation of simulations. The literature review provided is relevant to the study and it cites the need to bridge an identified gap in knowledge as the rationale behind the study. The connection of the study to previous studies is established, but the previous studies are not critically reviewed. The conceptual framework of the study is clearly stated. However, there is no clear summary of the previous literature.

Industrial and Economic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Industrial and Economic - Essay Example This paper aims to discuss the impact of industries over the natural habitat and the individual behavior in this regard. Additionally, the past trend and future provisions are discussed in order to bring significant changes before it is too late. In the past few decades industrialization has actually led to the decline of natural habitat. There are various elements which are actually influencing our natural habitat and these are broadly divided into industrial and personal impacts. Industrial Impacts Over The Natural Habitat The planet Earth is facing a lot of problems simultaneously and one of its most significant issues include the climatic changes. Unfortunately the industries which have actually contributed a lot in the progress and development of economies have led the natural habitat to such a declining stage, and if prompt actions are not taken then substantial consequences would have to be faced by the world’s population. Initially scientists were not confronted with t he impact of industrial organizations over the habitat, in fact they were considering some natural phenomenon responsible for what was happening. However, the contemporary research and analysis have authenticated that most of the loss tolerated by the habitat is due to the industrial organizations. ... This indicates that we require developing entirely new strategies which are applicable and beneficial for the overall protection of the habitat (Flannery). Impact of personal behavior We are living in an era where humans are producing immense garbage, something that must not have been produced with such intensity and increasing rate. On individual basis we all indulge in to activities which are seriously damaging for our natural habitat. Whenever we are cleaning our homes and emptying our trash cans we never realize that where the rubbish is going and what harm it is causing to our natural environment. For instance, we throw away all the broken plastic stuff, batteries, leftover food and drinks, plastic bags and a lot more similar things without considering their outcomes over the habitat (Royte). Scientists and social workers have been very active in order to reduce the impact of individual behavior over the decline in habitat. Therefore these wasted items are utilized for different purposes. For instance, in constructing buildings and railways tracks, manufacturing of plastic items etc. However, the utilization of wastes created by humans does not really compensate the loss that has been made to the environment and the natural habitat. This is further elaborated by Elizabeth Royte in her book ‘Garbage Land-on the secret trail of trash’. In this book the author has explained the dirty side of human consumption. It highlights how the waste is thrashed out and where it finally reaches after going through different procedures. Royte has concluded that most of the thrashed out material actually returns back in to our national habitat, thus contributing further to an already

The Monetary Union and UKs Defiance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The Monetary Union and UKs Defiance - Essay Example The free movement of goods, services, capital and labour which resulted from the Single Market Programme meant that the member state would be constrained from imposing increases in taxes and regulation which would surely reduce benefits due to increase domestic production costs. To facilitate further trade, the European Union embarked on a venture of establishing a single currency for its members. The result of the EU monetary union was the euro. This currency is currently used by Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain. Monaco, San Marino while the Vatican City are licensed to issue and use the euro (UK DTI). It would be the interest of this paper to explore whether this move by UK affected its foreign direct investments economy due to its refraining from a supposedly beneficial single currency. It will also delve, to a limited degree, in the effects of EU enlargement in the UK's FDI. Business Aversion: The Case for Toyota and Nissan In the year 2000, the United Kingdom was threatened with pullouts from major industry players. Industrialists, one after the other, have warned that unless the UK joins Euroland, they will be forced to move their operations out of the country. One of the most prominent of this pro-Euro group is the Nissan Motor Company (UK) which manufactures automobiles from its plant in Sunderland. In April 2000, John Cushnaghan, managing director of Nissan (UK) announced that the high value of the pound was imposing an "unsupportable burden" brought about by exchange rates fluctuations. By May of the same year, the company claimed the strength of the Sterling against the Euro necessitated the need to cut costs by 30 percent. This loss, according to them, could force the company to transfer the production of the next generation of the Micra to be built in French and Spanish Factories transferring a 150 million investment (North, 2005). Another case would be that of the Toyota Motor Manufacturing (UK) LTD which required its British suppliers to use euro for its financial transactions with the company. The move was brought about by the 1999 operating loss in British operations (BBC, 2000). The requirement, Toyota claims, would reduce the risk to the company that it could lose money when converting euros to sterling in order to pay British suppliers (CNN, 2000). Toyota (UK) has a passenger car plant in Derbyshire producing Avensis and Corolla with an initial investment of 1.1billion. It also has an Engine Plant in North Wales with an initial investment of 400m. (Toyota Online, 2006) Toyota has also expressed its propensity to shop around in euro-friendly countries for cheaper goods if the pound remained high. Yoshio Ishizaka, a senior managing director for Toyota, said his

Effects of Vitamin C on Chemotherapy Outcome | Claim Review

Effects of Vitamin C on Chemotherapy Outcome | Claim Review Media Claim on ‘Vitamin C’ gives chemotherapy a boost’ The headline ‘Vitamin C’ gives chemotherapy a boost’ suggested by a US scientist was a misleading and inaccurate statement as the study was looking specific at late stage ovarian cancer. From the study, scientists did not find high dosage of vitamin C help with cancer survival nor reducing the risk of cancer (Ma and Chapman et al., 2014). Yet, the study did show that there was a slight chance of reducing minor chemotherapy side effect. Therefore, the study has been oversimplified and misinterprets results and statements which can lead to assumptions from general public misunderstanding this article resulting in toxicity of vitamin C when overdosed. Overdose of vitamin C can lead to other problems and health disease such as indigestion, diarrhea and iron poisoning which only occurs in people who have rare iron overload disorders – hemochromatosis (Zobel, 1976), lack of vitamin C in the diet can also cause scurvy (Naidu,2003). ‘Vitamin C’ gives chemotherapy a boost’ was published in BBC Health website on 9th February 2014, written by Helen Briggs and science editor. Comments were from Dr Jeanne Drisko, lead researcher Qi Chen and Dr Kat Arnet – science communications manager for Cancer Research UK. The claim is based on a study that was carried out by researchers from University of Kansas in the US and world cancer research fund (WCRF) and American Institute for cancer research (AICR). The article itself was published in the peer-reviewed journal, Science Translation Medicine. Cancer is a condition where specific cells in parts of the body grow and reproduce uncontrollably and forming tumours. Cancer cells can invade and destroy surrounding healthy tissue and organs (King and Rotter et al., 1992). Cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the body through the lymphatic system or bloodstream (Mendelsohn, 2008). Many factors have been identified which can increase risk of cancer such as tobacco use, dietary intake, certain infections, environmental radiation, lack of physical exercise, obesity and genetics which potentially can damage genes and causes mutation in cells (Kushi and Byers et al., 2006). Many researchers have found that there are over 200 different types of cancer cells (Schram and Ng, 2012). However, according to Jemal and Bray et al., 2011, many cancers can be prevented by living healthier life styles, one of the factors is reducing excess smoking which can preclude the risk of getting lungs cancer, plus eating plenty of fresh vegetable and fruits, and reducing the intake of meat and carbohydrates can prevent other health factors such as obesity. Ovarian cancer is where cancer cells are found in ovaries. However, the exact causes of cancer still remain unknown (Hunn and Rodriguez, 2012). Women who have had menopause and have not had any children would have a higher chance of developing ovarian cancer (Vo and Carney, 2007). However, ovarian cancer can affect all ages. There are three types of ovarian cancer – epithelial ovarian cancer; germ cell tumours and stromal tumours (Bandera and Era, 2005). The best and effective treatment for ovarian cancer are the combination of surgery and chemotherapy, all treatments are depending on the stages of cancer (Ehrlich and Teitelbaum et al., 2007). Vitamin C also known as ascorbic acid acts as an antioxidant; an oxidative stress; an enzyme cofactor for the biosynthesis, also most importantly vitamin C acts an electron donor for enzymes (Vobecky and Shapcott et al., 1975). Acting as an antioxidant prevents free radicals during oxidation reaction to form chain reactions in cells which can damage or kill cells. Instead, antioxidant interacts with those chain reactions by removing free radicals and inhibits other oxidation reactions in the cells, protecting against lip peroxidation, reducing nitrates and stimulating the immune system (Bender, 1993). Vitamin C has also shown to inhibit formation of carcinogens and protects DNA from mutagenic attack and most vitamin C is found in critic fruits (Combs, 2012). Furthermore, Ma and Chapman et al., 2014 stated that the study was looking if vitamin C could potentially be a cancer treatment and the study was mainly looking into women who are in their late stage ovarian cancer. BBC’s report on this study was miscellaneous as there were some bias comments towards the study, but BBC did include some accurate quotes from the study such as the sample size only 22 patients were participated which showed that the study was not reliable as the sample size was too small to prove whether vitamin C helped to kill cancer cells or increase survival rate (Park, 2013). Moreover, the title ‘Vitamin C’ gives chemotherapy a boost’ was misleading as the study found no supportive evidences that vitamin C can prevent cancer, only can inhibit some mechanisms and reduce the risk of cancer development (Ma and Chapman et al., 2014). However, the study did show that vitamin C may reduce side effects from treatment for women, yet, the sample s ize was too small which was unable to support the outcome. However, the expert from the study quoted that in order to find out if high-dose vitamin C has an effect on cancer cells, further studies and large clinical trials are needed to ensure safety and effectiveness (Ma and Chapman et al., 2014). Additionally, BBC may have been over analysed the press release from the University itself, as it claimed that ‘Researchers establish benefits of high-dose vitamin C for ovarian cancer patients’. This statement was supported via Park, 1985‘s research which stated that ‘vitamin c is involved in the mechanism of action of the intracellular oxidation state changes which is an identification of genes or protein synthesis.’. This suggested that vitamin C has the ability to regulate specific cellular phenotypes which potentially could improve the efficacy of cancer therapies. Nevertheless, the report stated that the vitamin C treatment worked along with standard chemotherapy drugs which slow down tumour growth in mouse studies, not human. Therefore, the benefits of high-dose vitamin C for cancer cells cannot be taken into account due to the fact that human and mouse have different types of genes and intracellular mechanism (Park, 1985). As a result, there ar e not any beneficial effects on human, but there are beneficial effects on mouse. In addition, within the small group of patients that were tested on, they have found fewer side-effects when vitamin C was given out along with the chemotherapy. According to WCRF and AICR‘s report on diet and ovarian cancers, it showed that vitamin C has no effect on ovarian cancer which do not decrease nor increase the risk of cancer. However, according to Part 2 evidence and judgements and Part three Recommendations chapter twelve- public health goals and personal recommendations from WCRF and AICR, it suggested that the population should consumption an average of non-starchy vegetables and of fruits to be at least 600g (21 oz) daily. This is because there are evidences that diets high in vegetable and fruits could protect against oesophagus cancer not ovarian cancer (Mikirova and Casciari et al., 2012). According to BBC, the researcher’s injected vitamin C into human ovarian cancer cells as well as mice in the laboratory conditions. BBC stated that ‘researchers found ovarian cancer cells were to be sensitive to vitamin C treatment, but normal cells were unharmed (De Laurenzi and Melino et al., 1995). High dosage of vitamin C could prevent cancer was originally suggested by chemist and double Nobel Prize winner Linus Pauling in 1970s in which the clinical trial was abandoned due to failed to replicate the expected results to the theory behind vitamin C and cancer (Cameron and Pauling, 1979). The method used in the study was by injecting vitamin C straight into the bloodstream as it is safer, can be effective, low-cost (Head, 1998). The rate at which human body excrete vitamin C through oral ingestion is a lot faster than by injection through bloodstream (Cameron and Pauling, 1979). Furthermore, patients were not completely blind tested as most of them knew what they were given vitamin C and placebo, therefore, many physiological effects have been taken into account toward the analysis of results. In conclusion, due to lack of supportive evidences, vitamin C has no significant back story in supporting the evidence of beneficial effect on ovarian cancer even though from the study some beneficial effects did show on mice. Furthermore, the clinical trial was tested unfairly as participants knew about the comparison test with placebo, which might have had effected the results, in which the results are not accurate and reliable as the sample size was consisting of 22 participants. Nevertheless, the study did find moderate result from patients who have taken parts in the vitamin C trials; as a result, vitamin C might reduce the side effects of chemotherapy. References Bandera and Era, C. A. 2005. Advances in the understanding of risk factors for ovarian cancer. The Journal of reproductive medicine, 50 (6), pp. 399406. Bender, D. A. 1993. An introduction to nutrition and metabolism. London: UCL Press. Cameron, E. and Pauling, L. 1979. Cancer and vitamin C. Combs, G. F. 2012. The vitamins. Amsterdam: Elsevier/Academic Press. De Laurenzi, V., Melino, G., Savini, I., Annicchiarico-Petruzzelli, M., Finazzi-Agro, A. and Avigliano, L. 1995. Cell death by oxidative stress and ascorbic acid regeneration in human neuroectodermal cell lines. European Journal of Cancer, 31 (4), pp. 463466. Ehrlich, P. F., Teitelbaum, D. H., Hirschl, R. B. and Rescorla, F. 2007. Excision of large cystic ovarian tumors: combining minimal invasive surgery techniques and cancer surgery—the best of both worlds. Journal of pediatric surgery, 42 (5), pp. 890893. Head, K. 1998. Ascorbic acid in the prevention and treatment of cancer. Alternative medicine review: a journal of clinical therapeutic, 3 (3), pp. 174186. Hunn, J. and Rodriguez, G. C. 2012. Ovarian cancer: etiology, risk factors, and epidemiology. Clinical obstetrics and gynecology, 55 (1), pp. 323. Jemal, A., Bray, F., Center, M. M., Ferlay, J., Ward, E. and Forman, D. 2011. Global cancer statistics. CA: a cancer journal for clinicians, 61 (2), pp. 6990. King, R. A., Rotter, J. I. and Motulsky, A. G. 1992. The Genetic basis of common diseases. New York: Oxford University Press. Kushi, L. H., Byers, T., Doyle, C., B, Era, E. V., Mccullough, M., Gansler, T., Andrews, K. S. and Thun, M. J. 2006. American Cancer Society Guidelines on Nutrition and Physical Activity for cancer prevention: reducing the risk of cancer with healthy food choices and physical activity. CA: a cancer journal for clinicians, 56 (5), pp. 254281. Ma, Y., Chapman, J., Levine, M., Polireddy, K., Drisko, J. and Chen, Q. 2014. High-Dose Parenteral Ascorbate Enhanced Chemosensitivity of Ovarian Cancer and Reduced Toxicity of Chemotherapy. Science translational medicine, 6 (222), pp. 2221822218. Mendelsohn, J. 2008. The molecular basis of cancer. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders/Elsevier. Mikirova, N., Casciari, J., Rogers, A., Taylor, P. and Others. 2012. Effect of high-dose intravenous vitamin C on inflammation in cancer patients. J Transl Med, 10 p. 189. Naidu, K. A. 2003. Vitamin C in human health and disease is still a mystery? An overview. Nutrition Journal, 2 (1), p. 7. Park, C. H. 1985. Biological nature of the effect of ascorbic acids on the growth of human leukemic cells. Cancer research, 45 (8), pp. 39693973. Park, S. 2013. The effects of high concentrations of vitamin C on cancer cells. Nutrients, 5 (9), pp. 34963505. Schram, F. R. and Ng, P. K. 2012. What is Cancer?. Journal of Crustacean Biology, 32 (4), pp. 665672. Vo, C. and Carney, M. E. 2007. Ovarian cancer hormonal and environmental risk effect. Obstetrics and gynecology clinics of North America, 34 (4), pp. 687700. Vobecky, J., Vobecky, J., Shapcott, D., Cloutier, D., Lafond, R. and Blanchard, R. 1975. Vitamins C and E in spontaneous abortion. International journal for vitamin and nutrition research. Internationale Zeitschrift fur Vitamin-und Ernahrungsforschung. Journal international de vitaminologie et de nutrition, 46 (3), pp. 291296. WCRF- AICR Diet and Cancer Report. 2014. [online] Available at: http://www.dietandcancerreport.org/cancer_resource_center/downloads/chapters/chapter_12.pdf [Accessed: 10 Mar 2014]. Zobel, M. 1976. Toxicological Evaluation of Some Food Additives Including Anticaking Agents, Antimicrobials, Antioxidants, Emulsifiers and Thickening Agents. Who Food Additives Series, No. 5. 520 Seiten. Geneva 1974. Preis: Sw. fr. 23,—. Food/Nahrung, 20 (6), pp. 681682.

Effects of Income Inequality on Quality of Healthcare Essays -- The In

Positive rights are rights that everyone is entitled to including: the right to a public education, access to public roads, and the right to health care. There are no guarantees when it comes to life, but having health insurance makes a huge difference with preventing, diagnosing, and treating diseases. Of course having insurance itself is a great resource to ensure medical care and containing costs, but not all insurance programs are created equal. Insurance programs have caveats, exclusions, varying co-payments, and access to certain doctors and hospitals, which creates an ethical dilemma. Receiving the best care is subjective in most cases, but with money you can buy almost anything, including the best care. Although those living in poverty are given access to healthcare, that does not mean they receive the best or equal care as those who are wealthy. Living in a capitalist society, the richest Americans enjoy larger homes, nicer cars, better education and even health care. Even if we lived in a capitalist society where everyone had access to the same basic healthcare program, the rich would still be able to afford better care. The wealthy are able to pay more in co-payments, prescription costs, and the ability to go outside of the healthcare system in this country to seek help. When you have the disposable resources then the sky is the limit, where the poor have very limited options. They will be confined to their healthcare coverage program and do not have the luxury of seeking additional assistance. â€Å"Poor patients often receive less quality care in the hospital, have more barriers to recovery, and experience higher morbidity and mortality than do patients with higher incomes† (Dracup). The United States is ... ...ndards and practices are more uniform based on circumstance and not based on loopholes, exceptions or lack of insurance. Everyone should be given the same preventive care and be able to receive the same treatment options regardless of location, income, or age. Competition in the marketplace can be good, but there are many complexities with healthcare and many people can slip through the cracks and others can be shortchanged. Works Cited C. Wayne Sells and Robert Wm. Blum, "Morbidity and Mortality among US Adolescents: An Overview of Data and Trends," AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH Vol. 86, No. 4 (April, 1996), pgs. 513-519. R. Wilkinson and K. Pickett, The Spirit Level: Why Greater Equality Makes Societies Stronger, Bloomsbury Press, NY, 2009, in particular pages 49- 173. Income Inequalities , Health and the Garrison State by Christopher Schaefer