Desk Phone Research Articles

Remote Research Hinders Recruitment of a Diverse Sample.

Remote Research Hinders Recruitment of a Diverse Sample Beth Prusaczyk Funding. This work was funded by the Institute for Public Health, Washington University in St. Louis When the pandemic began, many researchers sought to capture the historical event from the perspectives of different groups of people. As someone who conducts research related to older adults, I knew the pandemic was a matter of life and death for them. Along with my colleagues, I wanted to understand the pandemic's impact on older adults from a "whole-person" perspective. We wanted to know how older adults' health and mental health were affected and what they saw as the positives to come out of the pandemic, and how the pandemic fit within the other events in their lives or lifetime. Therefore, we began a study for this purpose and designed it, knowing it would have to be conducted during the pandemic. We did not have to transition a pre-existing study into this new environment and were able to plan for an entirely remote operation. For their part, the IRB reviewed and approved the study quickly, though we purposefully chose not to collect Protected Health Information (PHI) so that our study would not have some of the required restrictions and protocols necessary when collecting PHI. We had conducted studies online or over the phone before, but we were still not prepared for some of the challenges we faced. From the beginning, we decided to make a concerted effort to recruit older adults who were low-income, Black or African-American, or identified as LGBTQ. We wanted to ensure our sample did not represent only more privileged older adults who were likely to navigate (and literally survive) the pandemic better than these other groups. However, our intentions to recruit a diverse sample were met with significant logistical challenges as we attempted to conduct a fully remote study during the pandemic. First, we knew we would be using an online survey since there was no way we could have in-person study visits at this time. An online survey would be the easiest and most efficient way to reach a large number of older adults. Second, we also wanted to compensate our participants for their time but what would normally be trivial tasks for an academic research shop—the purchasing of gift cards, printing letters, addressing and stamping envelopes, and putting them in the bulk mail—became impossible in the pandemic. Therefore, we decided we would send e-gift cards to the participants' email addresses. However, both the online survey and e-gift cards would require the older adult to have Internet access, have the proficiency to navigate the online survey, and use email; things not every older adult may have, especially those who are low-income. Fully virtual/remote research, whether done out of convenience or necessity, brings with it a significant cost to recruiting and enrolling diverse populations who are often excluded from research to begin with. [End Page 37] For participants who did not wish to take the survey online, we offered them the option to complete the survey over the phone with a research assistant. However, again in normal times, the research assistant would call from their desk phone at the university and leave that call-back number on the person's voicemail. Now, our research assistants were all working from home, all over the country, with phone numbers representing those different areas. Many participants would not answer calls from numbers they did not recognize or that were outside of the area. Furthermore, we did not want the research assistants to have to expose their personal cell phone numbers for the study, but if they blocked their number when making calls, participants would understandably not answer a blocked number either. If the call went to voice-mail, we had the research assistants leave my office number as the call-back number. Of course, I was also working from home and was then having to regularly check my voicemail and try to quickly relay returned calls to the research assistants so they could try the participant again. It wasn't until very late in the study that we set up the...

Creating a 3D microbial and chemical snapshot of a human habitat

One of the goals of forensic science is to identify individuals and their lifestyle by analyzing the trace signatures left behind in built environments. Here, microbiome and metabolomic methods were used to see how its occupants used an office and to also gain insights into the lifestyle characteristics such as diet, medications, and personal care products of the occupants. 3D molecular cartography, a molecular visualization technology, was used in combination with mass spectrometry and microbial inventories to highlight human-environmental interactions. Molecular signatures were correlated with the individuals as well as their interactions with this indoor environment. There are person-specific chemical and microbial signatures associated with this environment that directly relate who had touched objects such as computers, computer mice, cell phones, desk phone, table or desks. By combining molecular and microbial investigation forensic strategies, this study offers novel insights to investigators who value the reconstructing of human lifestyle and characterization of human environmental interaction.

The Men Behind the Stars: Hollywood's Big Uncles

The Men Behind the StarsHollywood's Big Uncles Alfred Hitchcock The film agent stretches out an arm and flicks the switch of his desk phone. Without leaning forward he says to the microphone, "Get Joe at Gigantic." "Okay, Mr. Burnberg," replies the cracked voice of the secretary from the loud-speaker of the instrument, and almost before the agent can move the cigar to the other side of his mouth the telephone bell on the other side of his desk rings. Without any preliminary, even without identifying himself, he says, "Joe, how many days more do you want Su Scarlett? I must have her for Colossal." [End Page 82] The answer is apparently satisfactory, for the agent rings off with a laconic, "Oke." While one hand replaces the receiver the other flicks the desk phone again. "Get Sam at Colossal." . . . "Okay, Mr. Burnberg." Ting-a-ling! "Sam, it's all set about Su for Flaming Lips. I'll deliver her on Tuesday week. Oke." Film agents always "deliver" their clients. That is why they are called "flesh-peddlers." To the uninitiated it sounds rather like a farmer promising the butcher to send over half an ox. I was told of one agent who is in a big way of business because "he owns a piece of Clark Gable," meaning that he shares the star with other agents. They call them "Ten-percenters" as well. For supposing that Su Scarlett is in the £500 a week class and that her film for Colossal will need her services for three weeks. Mr. Burnberg will have made himself £150 by those two telephone calls. He takes ten percent of what his clients earn. They Take 10 Percent The development of the agent system in Hollywood was the thing that impressed me more than anything else. I was making a deal myself and so saw a lot of the workings of the agent organization. It was part of the system that I only took part in the proceedings when it was absolutely necessary. Indeed on an occasion when I was discussing my deal to make the film Titanic for David O. Selznick with Mr. Selznick himself, he told me frankly that it embarrassed him to have to talk money details with me direct. The stars seldom talk business with their bosses; they go to their mentors, confidantes, guides—their agents. These Big Uncles, who often act as though their clients were children, "iron out" all problems, "fix" jobs and act as nurse, valet, secretary and helper in general to their stars. Ten percent of the large salaries of film stars may sound a lot for fixing a business deal, but an agent is usually worth it; and the expenses of his elaborate organization are heavy. [End Page 83] Quite apart from the fact that artists of all kinds are generally bad business people, the stars get their full value from their agents. Agents get the star's money and look after it; they pay all bills; they buy anything from a railway ticket to a house or a car; if the poodle needs a shampoo the agent will send a man round to collect the dog; the star decides on a "European" holiday and the agent plans an itinerary, arranges suitable interviews in London and on the Continent, gets the tickets and sees the star safely on the plane for New York: he may even fly with her to the east coast of America. Even Love Affairs! To the agent the star goes with her love affairs, with her complaint if she does not like her present director or is dissatisfied with her part. I have no doubt that when Myrna Loy was fed up with being restricted to "oriental" roles, she took her problem to her agent at that time, just as William Powell must have talked over his repeated "villain" parts with his agent. And I have no doubt that the agents "ironed out" the problems. The agent also deals in directors, writers, photographers and all major employees of the studio. He buys stories and so, altogether, is in the position of universal provider for the producers. In every respect except...

How to Turn Your Cell Phone Into a Desk Phone [From the Screen of Stone

This column covers how to turn your cell phone into a desk phone and why you might want to do so, a no-cost method of donating to your favorite charity, an update on an antivirus/Internet-security suite, and a useful product that has recently again become available.

When the phone rings - factors influencing its impact on the experience of patients and healthcare workers during primary care consultation: a qualitative study.

BackgroundIn the primary health care setting, patients interact directly with their healthcare workers (HCW), which include their primary physicians, nurses and pharmacists. Studies have shown that such interactions, when interrupted by phone calls received by either party, can lead to adverse outcomes and negative experiences. There is insufficient data however on the factors affecting the reaction and responses of both patients and HCWs when phone calls occur amidst their interaction. Understanding these factors will allow for the introduction of targeted measures to mitigate the negative impact of such interruptions and improve patient-HCW relationships. This study therefore aims to understand the impact of unplanned phone calls during primary health care consultations on patient–HCW interactions and the factors affecting the patient and the HCW responses.MethodThis study used focus group discussions (FGD) to gather qualitative data from patients and HCWs who had visited or worked in a major public primary healthcare institution in Singapore. The FGDs were audio-recorded, transcribed, audited and analyzed using standard content analysis to identify emergent themes.Results15 patients and 16 HCWs participated in 5 FGDs. The key themes that emerged from these FGDs were patients’ and HCWs’ attitudes toward professionalism and respect, task and thought interruption, call characteristics, the impact on patient safety and stakeholders’ experiences. Phone calls during consultations answered by either party often resulted in the answering party feeling apologetic and would usually keep the phone conversations short as a sign of respect to the other party. Both stakeholders valued the consultation time and similarly reported negative experiences if the phone-call interruptions became prolonged. Calls from the desk phone answered by HCWs were perceived by most patients to be relevant to healthcare services, with the assumption that HCWs exercised professionalism and would not attend to personal calls during their clinical duties.HCWs expressed their concerns and distress about potential medical errors due to phone-calls interrupting their clinical tasks and thinking processes. However, they acknowledged that these same phone-calls were important to allow clarifications of instructions and improved the safety of other patients.ConclusionPhone interruptions affected patient and HCW interaction during consultations and factors leading to their adverse reactions need to be recognized and addressed.

Three structures for a healthy work environment.

Three structures for a healthy work environment.

NUMBER, PLEASE

2 4 Y N U M B E R , P L E A S E W I L L I A M L O G A N The brrr, brrrr, brrr of the pinetop warbler, like an old-fashioned desk phone, rasps like a Robert Musil. The trees in terminal blossom flake flesh-colored petals onto dried da√s. Under the overgrown hedge lies an abandoned nest, shreds of tinsel woven into recycled tweed. These bespoke days, the whip-stripes at sunset fire the western sky with some symphony of old grievance. This morning I peered into the whitewashed courtyard. Two robins sat the gate, ignoring each other. At the top of the telephone pole, what seemed a song was an alarm call. ...

Pauline Cerasoli Lecture 2012 Googling and Texting and Browsing, Oh My! Mentoring and Teaching in an Electronic Age

INTRODUCTION The Way We Were . . . A lot has changed over the years since I was a student in physical therapy school, as I began my clinical practice, and since I entered academia. As students, we walked to class (when living in the dorm on campus), attended face-to-face classes, took notes based on the statements made by the sage on the stage, read textbooks, and viewed slides projected on the screen (or wall!). We studied in groups in dorms or in the library or Student Union Building (SUB), and researched for hours in the stacks in the library- using a card catalog to find books. We took tests that were copied on mimeographed paper (and left purple ink on our hands). We registered for classes by going to tables setup in a gymnasium, standing in lines to wait our turn, and paid by check at the last table. A lot has changed over the years since I began my clinical practice. As a young clinician, I wore the dress code of my facility: brown pants and a white zippered top with the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) patch on the sleeve (as a student, I also wore a university pin on my lapel); scrubs were only worn by MDs in surgery. I wrote assessments and progress notes by hand. I communicated with other health care providers by mailed letters and a desk phone. I expanded my knowledge and clinical expertise by watching colleagues and attending continuing education courses. Word-of-mouth and personal testimonies of works were all the proof we needed to change our interventions and techniques. A lot has changed over the years since I entered academia. As a new faculty member, I taught exclusively face-to-face in classrooms, asked questions of individual students in class, posted grades by students' social security number outside my office door to maintain confidentiality. I purchased VHS tapes to show in labs so that students could see a movement pattern or a child with a particular medical condition. I had slides made from pictures in textbooks. I made transparencies for overhead projectors and saved them in a paper file folder so I didn't have to recreate them in future classes. I expected students to attend my class and take notes; classroom interruptions were limited to fire drills or small discussions that might occur among students. I wrote lecture outlines and exams in longhand and gave them to a departmental administrative support person (secretary) to be typed. I did not have a computer in my office to serve as a word processor; none of the faculty did. Do I want to go back to those times? No. So many things have changed and for the most part, they are advances, but life was a bit simpler then, it seems. I want to spend some time looking at some of the changes in the technology used in health care education and how these changes impact our teaching and mentoring of students/clinicians and our patient education, and review what the literature has revealed to us about those technological changes. It seems our vocabulary has changed dramatically since those days: Laptops? Podcasts? Blogs? (Figure). Certainly, students have changed. Today's students are no longer the people that our education system was designed to teach. Another way to think of this might be to sort ourselves into or Immigrants, terms coined by Marc Prensky about 10 years ago.1 Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants Digital Natives are today's students, K through college, which represent the first generations to grow up with these new technologies. They have spent their entire lives surrounded by and using computers, videogames, digital music players, video cams, cell phones, and all the other toys and tools of the digital age. Our students today are all native speakers of the digital language of computers, video games, and the Internet. Digital Natives are used to receiving information really fast. They like to parallel process and multi-task. …

The patron

The patron

The Next Killer App

Like so many 1950s sci-fi movies, predictions about the future of radiology informatics are likely to miss the mark entirely. People do not visit Mars in private spaceships or command humanoid-looking robots to perform our work. However, innumerable technological advances have completely changed the way that information is generated, processed, interfaced, and applied. Informatics as a whole is punctuated by progressive rather than revolutionary changes. The best way to understand the future is often to have a clear perspective of the past. I transitioned to medical school from a fast-track career at Cisco Systems where I worked as an internetwork engineer supporting network operations for customers ranging from NASDAQ to local ISPs. When I entered medical school, I was shocked at how far medicine lagged behind Silicon Valley in the use of information technology. At Cisco, I could accomplish nearly every facet of my work without touching a piece of paper or leaving my cubicle. In contrast, the hospital seemed to be the land that information technology forgot. Ironically, my work at Cisco is very comparable to the practice of medicine. Both are information-based. There is no technical reason why the same efficiency and quality-enabling technologies in place at Cisco cannot be implemented throughout medicine, let alone radiology. The impact technology has had on radiology is nothing short of radical. In fact, it is the ongoing freescale adoption of technology within radiology that attracted me to this field. Many of the advancements such as PACS, 3-D reconstruction, electronic teaching files, and fusion imaging are seen as being today's “killer apps.” In reality, these have existed, at least conceptually, for well over a decade. Available computing power and supporting technologies have allowed for the continual refinement of these tools. This refinement has brought about the incredible advances we see today. These tools will continue to mature as new applications are developed. So what does the future hold? Medicine, like the Cisco world of networking, is about the derivation, processing, continual flow, and application of information. The quality of information at any point is dependent on the previous steps and the availability, quality, and utilization of preexisting data. The “killer app” is the ever-moving target of information acquisition, management, and delivery that ties the patient to the radiologist and clinician. Even within the most bleeding-edge radiology department, there is fracturing of available information. This limits the maximum potential utilization of the available data. While a fully cohesive information system could take many forms, imagine the power of a system where every detail about a patient is accessible and manageable from a single console. Similar to Internet browser technology such as RSS (real simple syndication) that provides real-time news headlines, imagine if your PACS system actively retrieved and populated dynamic patient information. This would not only include a more complete patient medical record, but also actively updated real-time information. These could include items such as real-time patient location, current treating physician location (clinic, OR, office) and contact information, and real-time medication administration data. Imagine clicking a single button to convey results on a study. Rather than simply displaying the ordering clinician's name (who might happen to be unavailable), the system automatically displays the covering physician's contact information and pages that clinician to the phone closest to your workstation. When the covering clinician calls, his clinical workstation is immediately synchronized with your display thus allowing findings to be discussed in detail. Does this scenario sound far-fetched? Years ago, when I left Cisco, it was possible to pack your desk phone in a suitcase and use it at a field office anywhere in the world (i.e., China). If the local number was called in the United States, the phone would ring in China. Application of current technology pieces like this would help bring the goal of an all-inclusive, cohesive, adaptive, and active information management “killer app” closer to reality (but only until the next improvement). Radiology is an exciting field with limitless potential. As stewards of technology, it is our responsibility to assist medicine as a whole with tools to increase, improve, and better utilize the information available to us. I look forward to this pursuit.