Implementation Of Standard Procedures Research Articles

Coordination of chemical analyses under the European Human Biomonitoring Initiative (HBM4EU): Concepts, procedures and lessons learnt.

The European Human Biomonitoring Initiative (HBM4EU) ran from 2017 to 2022 with the aim of advancing and harmonizing human biomonitoring in Europe. More than 40,000 analyses were performed on human samples in different human biomonitoring studies in HBM4EU, addressing the chemical exposure of the general population, temporal developments, occupational exposure and a public health intervention on mercury in populations with high fish consumption. The analyses covered 15 priority groups of organic chemicals and metals and were carried out by a network of laboratories meeting the requirements of a comprehensive quality assurance and control system. The coordination of the chemical analyses included establishing contacts between sample owners and qualified laboratories and monitoring the progress of the chemical analyses during the analytical phase, also addressing status and consequences of Covid-19 measures. Other challenges were related to the novelty and complexity of HBM4EU, including administrative and financial matters and implementation of standardized procedures. Many individual contacts were necessary in the initial phase of HBM4EU. However, there is a potential to develop more streamlined and standardized communication and coordination in the analytical phase of a consolidated European HBM programme.

Frozen in Translation: Biobanks as a Tool for Cancer Research

In the context of translational cancer research, biobanks are key infrastructures that provide high quality biological samples, coupled with relevant clinical and pathological information. This role can only be successfully accomplished through the implementation of standardized procedures that ensure proper collection, handling, processing, storage and recording of tissue samples, following strict legal and ethical regulations. Biobank networking is fundamental for dissemination of good practices and to help in the establishment of new infrastructures that improve the assessment of heterogeneity among tumor types and across patient cohorts. Growing demands for large number of homogenously preserved tumor tissue samples can only be met through a more intense cooperation among biobanks, facilitated by networks that foster cooperation at international level. The potential of biobanks as fundamental tools for translational cancer research can only be achieved through a concerted effort from biobankers, researchers, legislators and tissue donors that may allow for improved sample exchange.

ДОСЛІДЖЕННЯ РИНКУ ІНТЕРНЕТ-ПОСЛУГ ВІННИЦЬКОГО РЕГІОНУ

The results of a study of the Internet services market in the Vinnytsia region are highlighted in the article. The main market participants providing Internet services - are identified and analyzed. These services include: organization of Internet access when using dial-up communication lines; provision of hosting space; maintenance of smooth operation of electronic mail addresses or virtual post service; provision of services for organizing the installation of equipment to the client at their own location; provision of rental services for virtual servers or data backup. The key success factors were chosen: connection cost; price / speed ratio; range of tariff plans; availability of an «external» sales service; availability of advertising support; availability of exclusive connection technologies; financial stability of the enterprise. A survey of users of Internet services in Vinnytsia allowed us to create a portrait of the target audience. The main requirement of users for Internet services is the speed of Internet traffic. Factors contributing to the active development of the Internet audience are revealed: an increase in business activity in the region; an increase in revenues and, as a result, an increase in the availability of telecommunications services; an increase in business needs for telecommunications services; the use of modern technologies that improve the quality of services. Favorable factors for the development of Internet service providers in the foreseeable future are the growing use of telecommunications technologies which leads to an increase in the popularity of services and the rapid pace of development and introduction of telecommunications technologies. Offers made for service differentiation of services: offer additional services that accompany the offered product will be competitive. Improving the quality of user service is based on the implementation of Service Management in the company: responsibility in providing service, quality control of service based on the implementation of standard procedures, improving and maintaining a high level of competence of service personnel in the company, a clear system for evaluating and motivating staff performance. It is advisable to maintain a high level of service quality using internal PR technologies.

Development of an evidence-based model of rapid testing, counseling and referral patients with HIV, HVC and other STDs in Mexican addiction treatment centers

Introduction. Efforts to identify new cases of HIV, HVC and other STIs, through the application of quick tests, focus on people who inject drugs, without taking into account the fact that the use of alcohol and other drugs of abuse inhibits decision making, increasing the transmission of STIs through risky sexual practices. Accordingly, it is necessary to have detection algorithms that consider people who use multiple drugs to improve the identification of new cases and their subsequent linkage with health services. Objective. This paper describes the development process of the OPB-APR model for the detection, counseling and referral of people with HIV and other STIs at addiction treatment centers. Method. The procedure is divided into three phases: 1. A literature review to identify the basic concepts of HIV and other STIs, substance use, risky sexual behaviors, quick tests, and specialized psychological counseling; 2. A feasibility study in which a health professional is trained to implement the OPB-APR model; 3. Drafting of the final version. Results. The final version of the OPB-APR model was obtained, which describes standardized procedures for detection, counseling and referral to health services. Discussion and conclusions. The OPB-APR model aims to strengthen the public health system by increasing the coverage of services for the detection of HIV, HCV and other STIs. The above through the implementation of standardized procedures among specialized and non-specialized health professionals of addiction care centers.

The Potential of The Big Data Implementation, in Serbia, in the context of Marketing Research

Research question: Big Data represents a true business revolution in many areas, and, as such, in marketing research, as well. The subject of this study is the analysis of the existing stage, as well as of the achieved results in the implementation of the Big Data Technology in Serbia. Motivation: The success in managing the company depends on the ability to provide quality and comprehensive information by establishing personalized (1:1) communication with consumers on the global market in real or near real-time. This form of communication has become an imperative of the modern business decision-making process. Advanced Internet technologies, Cloud Computing (Cloud Technology), Big Data and Artificial Intelligence open a significant business potential for companies in Serbia to emerge on global markets. Idea: of this study is to perceive current business environment in Serbia through the prism of research development based on the Big Data technologies. Relevant hypotheses and conducted research have been set up with the aim of pointing to the potential of applying modern information-communication technologies, with an emphasis on artificial intelligence and the Big Data concept. Data: The survey was conducted on 154 business entities from the Serbian Business Register Agency’s database. The applied sampling method was a random analysis (selection was made randomly from the total number of selected companies, with the same probability of choice). Tools: An online survey was used, and respondents were contacted via e-mail. Findings: Research results, opinions and attitudes of managers, experts in the fields of marketing research and information technology, indicate a significant degree of justifiability of investments in new technologies in the Republic of Serbia and result in several proposals of certain measures and recommendations of incentives that should be conducted by the State. Contribution: The solutions in this paper are based upon the implementation of standardized procedures and advanced tools that could be used to overcome a "bottleneck" in the existing IT infrastructure, in order to enable a rapid collection and implementation of enabled data.

COMPONENTES DEL CONTROL INTERNO EN PEQUEÑAS Y MEDIANAS EMPRESAS

El control interno ha venido potenciando su importancia en las organizaciones que tienen la necesidad de controlar sus pertenencias y las del grupo que integran las entidades. Los cambios estructurales y tipológicos de las empresas han ocasionado que se generen nuevas medidas y estrategias para adaptarse a las necesidades del medio. Un sistema de control interno abarca aquellos aspectos que se relacionan directamente con la función de los departamentos de contabilidad y finanzas para incluir el control de presupuestos, costos estándar, reportes periódicos relacionados con las operaciones y análisis estadísticos. Por lo tanto, la implantación del control interno se realiza mediante un sistema integrado que involucra diversos aspectos, tales como: principios, normativas, procedimientos y metodologías. Este manuscrito tiene como objeto revisar la literatura referente al control interno aplicado en pequeñas y medianas empresas. Aspectos importantes en la definición del control interno refieren que, a efecto de las pymes, el control interno se basa en un procedimiento ejecutado por personas a partir de la implantación de procedimientos estandarizados que contribuyen con la consecución de los objetivos empresariales. Palabras clave: control financiero, pyme, principios, estructura empresarial.

Standardization of blood tube closure colors may be important in reducing tube selection errors of non-laboratory personnel

Abstract Errors in laboratory medicine contribute significantly to the overall risk of errors in healthcare. The majority of these laboratory errors occur in the pre-analytical phase. Control of pre-analytical variables is difficult because many steps are outside the control of the laboratory management. Pre-analytical errors may be reduced by active monitoring and control of all possible errors that are caused by non-laboratory personnel drawing blood, continuous training, use of quality indicators and implementation of standard procedures. Non-laboratory personnel make blood collection tube selection mostly according to the closure color, so standardization of color coding for blood tube closures could help reduce sample collection errors. It is important that European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine calls all stakeholders in the healthcare sector to harmonize color coding for blood collection tube closures. Non-laboratory personnel drawing blood can be taught the additives in blood tubes and their functions to reduce errors during the sample collection stage. In addition, standardization of the closure colors of blood tubes should be supported, and non-laboratory personnel drawing blood should be informed when there is a change in the tube closure colors used by the hospital until this standardization is achieved.

Spanish Preanalytical Quality Monitoring Program (SEQC), an overview of 12 years' experience.

Preanalytical variables, such as sample collection, handling and transport, may affect patient results. Preanalytical phase quality monitoring should be established in order to minimize laboratory errors and improve patient safety. A retrospective study (2001-2013) of the results obtained through the Spanish Society of Clinical Biochemistry and Molecular Pathology (SEQC) External quality assessment (preanalytical phase) was performed to summarize data regarding the main factors affecting preanalytical phase quality. Our aim was to compare data from 2006 to 2013 with a previously published manuscript assessing the 2001-2005 period. A significant decrease in rejection rates was observed both for blood and urine samples. For serum samples, the most frequent rejection causes in the first period were non-received samples (37.5%), hemolysis (29.3%) and clotted samples (14.4%). Conversely, in the second period, hemolysis was the main rejection cause (36.2%), followed by non-received samples (34.5%) and clotted samples (11.1%). For urine samples, the main rejection cause overall was a non-received sample (up to 86.1% of cases in the second period, and 81.6% in the first). For blood samples with anticoagulant, the number of rejections also decreased. While plasma-citrate-ESR still showed the highest percentages of rejections (0.980% vs. 1.473%, p<0.001), the lowest corresponded to whole-blood EDTA (0.296% vs. 0.381%, p<0.001). For the majority of sample types, a decrease in preanalytical errors was confirmed. Improvements in organization, implementation of standardized procedures in the preanalytical phase, and participation in a Spanish external quality assessment scheme may have notably contributed to error reduction in this phase.

The Emotional Consequences of Organizational Change

This paper explores the emotional experiences of professionals in a health and social care setting during a process of reform in the Canadian province of Quebec. Characterized as “new public management” or “new managerialism,” public health and social care services in a number of countries have undergone reforms since the early 1980s that focus on efficiency and cost reduction (Nadeau, 1996; Hornblow, 1997; Gross, Rosen, &amp; Chinitz, 1998, Anell, 2005; Levine, 2007; Wimbush, Young, &amp; Robertson, 2007). Although differences exist between the cultural and political contexts within which reforms are implemented, reforms regularly involve changing institutional and organizational structures, the implementation of standard procedures, and the generation of outcome measures for service. The process of reform, and the body of knowledge on organizational change however, tend to overlook the flux of emotions that take place in the everyday lives of professionals. This paper reflects on data from 25 individual interviews collected from a critical ethnography of one health and social care setting during a period of provincial health-care reform in Quebec, Canada (2004-2012). The paper provides an in-depth focus on the emotional consequences of reform as an attempt to understand and expose the human costs of change. Three patterns that professionals used to adapt to change and conflict are discussed: internalization of the reform mandate; rationalization; and creating distance between the reform and their professional or personal selves. Important in their own right, the emotions produced in a period of change provide lessons on the general stressors that surround reform, and demonstrate how health and social care professionals are often caught between policy intentions, professional values, and their personal ambitions.

Blood transfusion practice: a nationwide survey in Italy.

Blood transfusion is a complex activity. Some of the components of this activity are implementation of standard procedures, evaluation of appropriateness of the blood use, methods for bedside identification of patients and the release of blood in emergencies, during out-of-routine hours and from hospitals lacking a Blood Centre. An overview about how these issues are managed in Italy could be of interest. A survey dealing with some issues regarding blood release was performed, using a questionnaire sent to 278 Italian Blood Centres. Out of the 278 Centres, 179 (64%) returned the questionnaire. The geographic distribution of the Centres that responded (80 in the north, 46 in the centre and 53 in the south of Italy) offers a good picture of the Italian reality. Globally there seems to be a relatively uniform application of procedures and guidelines, of methods to identify patients, and of evaluating transfusion appropriateness. The systems used to deal with emergency blood release and blood release in non-routine conditions are more variable. The use of technological resources seems to be disappointingly low. Although many aspects of the blood transfusion process should be improved, the picture that emerged from the survey seems to show, on the whole, a fair quality of blood transfusion practice in Italian Blood Centres.

La spasticité : de la clinique à l’imagerie

Spasticity, a component of the pyramidal syndrome, characterized by increased tonic stretch reflexes and hyperactive deep tendon reflexes, occurs in patients with central nervous system lesions (stroke, brain or cord injury, multiple sclerosis, cerebral motor impairment). The implementation of standard procedures (patient positioning, increased examination time, turning off certain devices before MR imaging) allows the acquisition of high quality examinations in spastic patients. Worsening spasticity in a handicaped patients is due to an irritative process (deep seated infection, fracture, syrinx…) usually detectable with imaging. Ultrasound or CT guided injections of botulinum agents provides radiologists with the opportunity to further participate in the management of spastic patients.