Office Policies Research Articles

Is Your Android App Insecure? Patching Security Functions With Dynamic Policy Based on a Java Reflection Technique

With the popularization of smart devices, companies are adopting bring-your-own-device or mobile office policies that utilize personal smart devices for work. However, as work data are stored on individual smart devices, critical security threats are emerging, such as the leakage of confidential documents. Enterprises want to address this issue by adapting enterprise mobility management (EMM) solutions. Appwrapping is among the core technologies in EMM solutions, enabling security function insertion or misused code patching without the original application (app) source code. Studies on permission control, misused code patching, security function insertion based on static policies, etc., have been conducted, but there are limitations such as poor user convenience and overhead. In this paper, we propose an AppWrapper toolkit to support dynamic polices. Basically it can insert security function execution code into apps by using appwrapping technology without the original source code. This code uses Java reflection to invoke security functions dynamically based on preset policies. Accordingly, after the initial appwrapping, the policy can be changed easily. In addition, even when multiple security functions are required, Java reflection can invoke multiple security functions dynamically and simultaneously without conflicting with the existing code. The AppWrapper toolkit also provides a log function to check in real time where the security function is needed. Hence, the policy-setting administrator can check the log in real time and implement the security function where needed. Our experimental results show that this technique improves significantly the efficiency, effectiveness, and convenience of adding security function execution code.

Confidentiality and Consent in the Care of the Adolescent Patient.

1. Sofya Maslyanskaya, MD* 2. Elizabeth M. Alderman, MD* 1. *Division of Adolescent Medicine, Children's Hospital at Montefiore, and Department of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY * Abbreviations: CDC: : Centers for Disease Control and Prevention EHR: : electronic health record EOB: : explanation of benefits HIPAA: : Health Insurance Portability and Privacy Act HIV: : human immunodeficiency virus SAHM: : Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine STD: : sexually transmitted disease Confidentiality protections are critical in the provision of comprehensive primary care of adolescent patients. The protections differ based on state laws and are limited by electronic health record documentation and billing operations of individual physician practices. Physicians need to strive to increase their knowledge regarding confidentiality protections for their adolescent patients. Moreover, physicians should understand their role in preventing possible confidentiality breaches. After completing this article, readers should be able to: 1. Define confidentiality, its limitations, and reasons for developmentally appropriate confidentiality protections for adolescents. 2. Recognize confidentiality protections for adolescents provided by state and federal laws, including the Health Insurance Portability and Privacy Act privacy rule. 3. Explain minor consent laws. 4. Describe the limitations and advantages of the electronic health record in providing confidentiality protections. 5. Identify concerns and solutions related to billing for confidential services. A 16-year-old girl who has been your patient since birth presents to an appointment alone and requests testing for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). She also does not want her parents to find out about this visit. How would you proceed? ### Confidentiality and Autonomy The provision of confidentiality and the ability of adolescents to consent for certain health concerns are the cornerstone of optimal adolescent health-care. (1) According to this tenet, information about an adolescent’s health-care is not disclosed without his or her permission. Assurance of confidentiality is important to protect the adolescent’s health and to safeguard public health. The major causes of morbidity and mortality in adolescents are due to risky behaviors such as sexual activity and alcohol and substance use, as well as unmet mental health needs. During the past 3 decades, research has supported the importance of the …

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE TAX REGULATION SOCIALIZATION STRATEGIES ON TAX PAYERS’ COMPREHENSION AND COMPLIANCE IN IMPLEMENTING THEIR TAX OBLIGATIONS

In order to increase state’ earning from tax, government should be active in making society awareness on their obedience to pay tax. This study was based on the importance of tax socialization by the tax office to tax payers through different kinds of media. Socialization has been carried out not only by face to face method, but also by mass media appropriate to the recent situation. The goal of this study was to know the socialization strategies done by the Tax Office for the tax payers both through mass media and directly done by the Representative Accountants. Besides, this study also was to evaluate the effectiveness of these strategies on tax-payers’ comprehension and their obedience. The output of this study was the formalization the appropriate socialization standards for the tax office in order to increase the tax-payers’ awareness and as a result the tax revenue will increase automatically. First stage, this study observed the Tax Office policies especially on the aspect of tax regulation socialization strategies. Further study on the aspect of media itself as the tool for socialization. Finally, this study would have the conclusion about the relationship between socialization methods and the awareness and the obedience of tax payers in tax payment. This study used descriptive associative methods. The first analysis stage was to test the basic assumption i.e. normality test, and then for the hypothesis testing used Path Analysis. This study concluded that there was the positive correlation between socialization strategy on tax regulation and tax payers’ comprehension and the awareness and the obedience of tax payers.

Starting a Private Practice

This workshop will focus on assisting the participant in multiple aspects of starting a private practice. The goals of this workshop are to 1) understand the general principles used to guide the decisions to establish a private practice; 2) discuss important business decisions associated with a private practice, including a business plan and startup costs; and 3) obtain practical suggestions on how to handle such matters as setting office policies, marketing the practice, use of technology, and managed care contracts.

The Practical Obscurity of the Green Screen Terminal: A Case Study on Accessing Jury Selection Data

Who should care more about who jury members are – the criminal defendant facing one or the public who is the watchful eyes over the government prosecutions? The answer is both, and equally. This Article is part of a series of papers that fill a substantial gap in the literature of jury selection by providing a positive, personal account with field data on how litigates pick a jury – the building of a robust and immense data set of jury selections for felony charges disposed of by jury verdict. One reason that litigates and scholars have not previously marshaled a clear understanding of jury selection realities is that the data has been surprisingly amorphous. A series of obstacles – legal, technological, organizational – meet at a crosshair to block researchers and obscure careful analysis. This Article describes the surprising challenges that scholars face from courthouse failings in office policies to the ongoing use of out-of-date technology and litigation that flies in the face of open access. It further explains novel research techniques innovated to meet those challenges and reflects on why it might be that our government generally lets this particular public record information go dormant. This paper also looks to the current report produced by the Commission of the Administration of Law and Justice convened by N.C. Chief Supreme Court Justice Mark Martin, which details the current failings of courthouse and public record technology. The Technology sub-committee's findings directly parallel the changes faced by the data collection in the Jury Sunshine Project. While most hold the decisions made within the courtroom in the highest regard, very little is actually known of the jury selection process. Theories and best practices engulf the academy and practicing bar, but only those entrenched in the courthouse can answer who is actually seated and who is excluded. The robust literature and academic discussions on the normative aspect of jury selection neglect these key empirical issues that government public records should be able to answer. An answer, the data, is key to the public trust of the government bodies, such as the judicial system, to open for inspection the decisions that are easily disposed of. This Article blazes the trail of data collection in jury selection.

Consent by Proxy for Nonurgent Pediatric Care.

Minor-aged patients are often brought to the pediatrician for nonurgent acute medical care, physical examinations, or health supervision visits by someone other than their legally authorized representative, which, in most situations, is a parent. These surrogates or proxies can be members of the child's extended family, such as a grandparent, adult sibling, or aunt/uncle; a noncustodial parent or stepparent in cases of divorce and remarriage; an adult who lives in the home but is not biologically or legally related to the child; or even a child care provider (eg, au pair, nanny, private-duty nurse/nurse's aide, group home supervisor). This report identifies common situations in which pediatricians may encounter "consent by proxy" for nonurgent medical care for minors, including physical examinations, and explains the potential for liability exposure associated with these circumstances. The report suggests practical steps that balance the need to minimize the physician's liability exposure with the patient's access to health care. Key issues to be considered when creating or updating office policies for obtaining and documenting consent by proxy are offered.

Starting a Private Practice

This Workshop will focus on assisting the participant in multiple aspects of starting a private practice. The goals of this session are to: 1) understand the general principles used to guide the decisions to establish a private practice; 2) discuss important business decisions associated with a private practice, including a business plan and startup costs; and 3) discuss practical suggestions on how to handle matters such as setting office policies, marketing the practice, and managing care contracts. The program is designed to have a maximal amount of participant involvement, including audience discussion.

Misprescribing controlled substances: An evaluation of a professional development program

ABSTRACTBackground: Controlled prescription drug (CPD) abuse has reached epidemic proportions in the United States. Most physicians attending a 3-day continuing medical education (CME) professional development program (PDP) lack training in identifying risk and in managing patients who misuse CPDs. To address this issue, the authors conducted an evaluation of a PDP that trains physicians on proper prescribing, identifying substance abuse, utilizing screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT), and implementing motivational interviewing (MI). Methods: The authors conducted a program evaluation to assess the efficacy and impact of the PDP on physicians' knowledge and prescribing behaviors. Results: Participants (N = 174) were typically middle-aged (average age of 53 years), male (89%), and physicians (82%) and other health care professionals (18%). Many physicians practice in solo primary care settings (46%). Course evaluations were completed by n = 155 (89%) participants who rated the course and presenters highly (mean 4.8/5 respectively). Physicians' knowledge scores on pre/post assessments increased significantly: pretest (M = 58.7, SD = 13.12) and posttest (M = 78.28, SD = 9.83) (t(173) = 20.06, P ≤ .0001, 95% confidence interval, CI: [−21.51, −17.65]). Almost half of the participants, n = 83/174 (48%), completed the follow-up survey, and 93% agreed/strongly agreed (A/SA) they made professional practice changes. Of participants practicing with an active DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) registration (n = 57), most agreed/strongly agreed they implemented changes to align their practices with current guidelines (89%), used CPD more appropriately (87%), implemented office policies on prescribing (81%), identified and referred more substance abuse patients to treatment (80%), shared new information/experience from course with other 25 health professionals (93%), and felt the course positively impacted their behaviors personally and professionally (90% and 96%, respectively). Conclusions: This is the first known study evaluating a PDP in this population. Results demonstrated participant satisfaction and improvement in prescribers' knowledge and self-reported prescribing behaviors. However, further study is needed to assess actual clinical practice changes, direct impact on patient outcomes, and rates of recidivism.

The Censorship of British Drama 1900–1968, Volume Two: 1933–1952 by Steve Nicholson, and: The Censorship of British Drama 1900–1968, Volume Three: the Fifties by Steve Nicholson, and: The Censorship of British Drama 1900–1968, Volume Four: the Sixties by Steve Nicholson

Reviewed by: The Censorship of British Drama 1900–1968, Volume Two: 1933–1952 by Steve Nicholson, and: The Censorship of British Drama 1900–1968, Volume Three: the Fifties by Steve Nicholson, and: The Censorship of British Drama 1900–1968, Volume Four: the Sixties by Steve Nicholson Melissa Dana Gibson The Censorship of British Drama 1900–1968, Volume Two: 1933–1952. By Steve Nicholson. Exeter: University of Exeter Press, 2005; pp. 400. The Censorship of British Drama 1900–1968, Volume Three: the Fifties. By Steve Nicholson. Exeter: University of Exeter Press, 2011; pp. 288. The Censorship of British Drama 1900–1968, Volume Four: the Sixties. By Steve Nicholson. Exeter: University of Exeter Press, 2015; pp. 368.1 Official theatre censorship in England was instituted in 1737 and lasted until 1968. All plays intended for public performance were vetted by readers in the Lord Chamberlain’s offices in St. James Palace. Wielding their blue pencils, readers could demand cuts or changes to dialogue or stage directions; they [End Page 494] could even ban a play outright, although this was a rarity. While negotiations over changes often occurred between the Lord Chamberlain’s officers and theatre managers or playwrights, there was no appeal process; issues of particular controversy were referred to the Lord Chamberlain himself and his decision was final. One unexpected legacy of this centralized bureaucratic system is a huge trove of documents, first made public in 1999, tracing the history of drama censorship in Britain. Since the 2003 publication of the first volume in this series, Steve Nicholson has performed the herculean task of mining the 50,000 files in the British Library and another mountain of information in the Royal Archives at Windsor Castle to provide a comprehensive history of twentieth-century theatre censorship. The thoroughness of his accomplishment is clear in the ballooning size of the series—originally intended for two volumes, it has grown to four (plus another book reprinting primary documents, The Lord Chamberlain Regrets, published by the British Library, which Nicholson coedited with Dominic Shellard and Miriam Handley). The result of this expansion is a telescoping survey: volume 1 covers thirty-two years; volume 2, twenty-one years; and volumes 3–4, only eight years each. Nicholson has impressively shaped a pile of bureaucratic policy memos into an engaging narrative through his clear, lively prose; his text is more accessible, for instance, than the specialist’s Theatre Censorship from Walpole to Wilson by David Thomas, David Carlton, and Anne Etienne, which focuses on the legislative history of censorship. Nicholson also has a keen eye for the telling detail or entertaining quotation: a play that imagined a black US president was allowed only “on the understanding that the ‘United States’ is changed to ‘Utopia’” (3:164); on the issue of sexual perversion in Giraudoux’s Judith: “We must draw the line at a donkey” (3:181). Volume 2 covers the years 1933 to 1952. It is slightly disappointing that, given the political tensions of the era, this volume lacks the spirited jousting between committed playwrights and the Lord Chamberlain’s office that animate volume 1, encompassing the years 1900 to 1932. Instead, Foreign Office policies practically dictated censorship decisions, quashing any debate. In this absence, the most interesting part of the second volume concerns the culture wars of the era, particularly the Lord Chamberlain’s dealings with the Public Morality Council (and fellow travelers like “the terrifyingly named British Women’s Total Abstinence Union” [2:75]). Staffed largely by clergy though also politically well-connected, the council, which lasted through the 1960s, could not be entirely ignored, although the Lord Chamberlain clearly regarded it as a nuisance. Reading their correspondences gives some credence to fears later expressed by theatre producers in the 1960s that the abolition of official state censorship would expose productions to even harsher local censorship bodies: the assessments issued from St. James Palace are certainly more sophisticated and liberal than the narrow-minded, racist, and homophobic letters from the Public Morality Council and its ilk complaining of lax censorship standards. These tensions heat up in volume 3, “The Fifties,” which is anchored by the complicated battle over the policy on representations of homosexuality. Although...

Table of Contents

Abstract Programs Associate program prepares students with cognitive impairments for workplace Use these tips to create program for students with significant cognitive challenges Policies & Procedures Work with campus partners to revamp policy on service, assistance animals Tackle these questions to create a comprehensive policy A Brief Conversation with … Michaelene Hayes & Mary Ann Gorman Universal design module helps instructors make courses more accessible Of Counsel DS units have continuing obligation to provide access and equal opportunities Policies & Procedures Write, update office policies, procedures before problems arise Managing Your Office Stay connected with staff, colleagues outside the office Etc. Standards for disability services units offer a blueprint for assessment ACCOMMODATION Program provides wounded veterans with wraparound support Legal Roundup POLICIES & PROCEDURES New chance to take course resolves student's complaint New procedures for assessing direct threats resolve OCR complaint New rules, reminders to instructors address student's complaint ACCOMMODATION Hurdle preventing students from getting accommodations nixed DISMISSAL 11th Amendment kept student from re‐enrolling in medical school Facebook postings lead to involuntary medical evaluation PERSONNEL Employee's multiple claims fail to meet minimum pleading requirements QUICK STUDY

The Many Faces of Prosecution

A quick read through the bulky legal literature about criminal prosecution in the US might lead a reader to conclude that individual prosecutors, and the offices where they work, are very much the same. All prosecution professionals seem to fit the mold, regardless of the region where they work, the size of their office, or their years of experience on the job. This generic portrait of prosecution, and of prosecutors, misses the mark. If one were to look beneath the surface to examine the professionals who work in the more than 2,500 individual prosecutor’s offices in this country, diversity would drive the story—diversity in terms of demographic profile, career plans, office policies, quality of work, and more. The point applies both to individuals and to institutions. At the individual level, one is bound to find some bad apples and some good eggs who work in the prosecutor’s office. As for the institutional setting, there are bad incentives and corrosive cultures that overcome even the best of intentions from the individuals who work there; offices elsewhere create good incentives, with a lot of institutional variation in between. Traditional sources for legal scholarship—cases, statutes, court outcome data, and the secondary literature built upon these sources—allow only a faraway and obstructed view of the pretrial “office” work of prosecutors: their decisions to decline, charge, investigate, and offer terms for plea bargains. It is therefore difficult, using these methodological tools, to appreciate the many faces of prosecution, either in the institutional or the individual sense. These research methods offer a glimpse of single prosecutors working on single cases, or the aggregate post-conviction results of an entire office. Too often, scholars overstate or underestimate a trend, treating one news event or one point in the criminal process as the key to understanding prosecution. They reinforce an essentialist view of prosecutors.

Text Messaging and Private Practice: Ethical Challenges and Guidelines for Developing Personal Best Practices

The impact of technology on mental health practice is currently a concern in the counseling literature, and several articles have discussed using different types of technology in practice. In particular, many private practitioners use a cell phone for business. However, no article has discussed ethical concerns and best practices for the use of short message service (SMS), better known as text messaging (TM). Ethical issues that arise with TM relate to confidentiality, documentation, counselor competence, appropriateness of use, and misinterpretation. There are also such boundary issues to consider as multiple relationships, counselor availability, and billing. This article addresses ethical concerns for mental health counselors who use TM in private practice. It reviews the literature and discusses benefits, ethical concerns, and guidelines for office policies and personal best practices.

Vaccinating parents experience vaccine anxiety too

To identify common causes of parental anxiety regarding childhood vaccinations among parents who vaccinate. Another purpose was to seek recommendations for healthcare providers to help parents overcome their anxiety when their children are immunized. Four 1-h focus groups were conducted, each consisting of 8-10 parents. Each focus group discussion was conducted by a moderator and an assistant moderator. The moderator facilitated discussion while the assistant moderator took notes. Each session was recorded on video. The data were transcribed and analyzed for themes. Parents identifying themselves as being compliant with childhood vaccination requirements reported anxiety that can be divided into five major themes: parental anxiety prior to vaccination, parental anxiety during the vaccination, parental anxiety after the vaccination, parental suggestions for healthcare providers, and informational issues. Making minor changes in office policies may help alleviate some parental anxiety regarding vaccinations. Providers should also create lists of credible sources about vaccination information. Because the cause of vaccine-related parental anxiety varies, targeted education is necessary to relieve common causes of vaccine anxiety, even among parents who vaccinate.

Reimbursement and Practice Policies Among Providers of Buprenorphine-Naloxone Treatment

ABSTRACT Background: Physician acceptance of cash payment and low adherence to practice guidelines may contribute to buprenorphine-naloxone diversion. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical practice policies of physicians who provide office-based treatment for opioid dependence with buprenorphine-naloxone. Methods: Data were obtained from 31 of 71 practices surveyed (response rate 43.7%) that provided answers to at least some of the survey questions. Results: Of these practices, 28 (90.3%) accepted cash as payment and 6 (19.4%) accepted only cash for treatment services. Analysis of open-ended responses to questions about office policies revealed wide variation among practices and overall suboptimal adherence to recommended treatment guidelines. Conclusions: These results underscore the need for continuing education for physicians who prescribe buprenorphine-naloxone.

Colorectal Cancer Screening in the Framework of the Medical Home Model

A recent report from a survey of 15 primary care practices revealed considerable variability and much room for improvement in aspects of primary care practice that are associated with increased colorectal cancer screening rates. There was low utilization of patient reminders, tracking of test completion, rescheduling of missed appointments, and inconsistent follow-up of positive stool blood tests. Qualitative data collected in the same study provide insights into how the practices operated. Focus group discussions with the clinicians and staff of the practices and key informant interviews with office managers support the survey findings by shedding light on a lack of office policies and systems. Many practices lacked a systematic way to identify patients who were not up to date on screening while they were visiting the practice, thereby passing up the best opportunity to reach them. These findings are not consistent with the patient-centered medical home model.

Prosecution in Washington State

The prosecution function in Washington State is carried out by 39 locally elected county prosecuting attorneys who operate autonomously both from each other and from any central state authority. The results are in some ways paradoxical. At the state level, policy making is premised on ideas of policy rationality and equal treatment. Washington has long been a leader in development of innovative sentencing and parole initiatives and policies. Prosecutors have played influential roles in their development and have worked to constrain the influence of populist political pressures. Prosecutors long ago developed statewide prosecution guidelines, and local prosecutors’ offices have been national leaders in developing internal office policies aiming at consistent and principled handling of criminal cases. At the same time, however, prosecutors have vigorously opposed state initiatives that would limit their discretion. Prosecutors are locally elected and respond to prevailing social and cultural attitudes. As a result, prosecution policies, practices, and patterns vary widely between counties. So do sentencing patterns.

Consent by Proxy for Nonurgent Pediatric Care

Minor-aged patients are often brought to the pediatrician for nonurgent acute medical care, physical examinations, or health supervision visits by someone other than their legally authorized representative, which, in most situations, is a parent. These surrogates or proxies can be members of the child's extended family, such as a grandparent, adult sibling, or aunt/uncle; a noncustodial parent or stepparent in cases of divorce and remarriage; an adult who lives in the home but is not biologically or legally related to the child; or even a child care professional (eg, au pair, nanny). This report identifies common situations in which pediatricians may encounter "consent by proxy" for nonurgent medical care for minors, including physical examinations, and explains the potential for liability exposure associated with these circumstances. The report suggests practical steps that balance the need to minimize the physician's liability exposure with the patient's access to health care. Key issues to be considered when creating or updating office policies for obtaining and documenting consent by proxy are offered.

Job satisfaction among counselors working at stress center—Social Development Office—in Kuwait.

The focus of the study is to measure the job satisfaction level among Counselors working at a stress center in the Social Development Office (SDO) in Kuwait. Several research questions were presented to examine and answer the relationships of the study's variables. These questions were as follows:(a) What is the average level of job satisfaction expressed by counselors working at a stress center? (b) Is there gender difference in the average satisfaction among counselors working at a stress center? and (c) What are most predictable factors to the overall level of job satisfaction among counselors working at a stress center?Workers were asked to complete a self-report questionnaire on job satisfaction in a general scale— Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire. Areas such as social service, social status, achievement, variety, and ability utilization were reported the most satisfied. Meanwhile, compensation, office policies, and supervision-human relations were least satisfied in this study.

District Central Offices as Learning Organizations: How Sociocultural and Organizational Learning Theories Elaborate District Central Office Administrators' Participation in Teaching and Learning Improvement Efforts

School district central office administrators face unprecedented demands to become key supporters of efforts to improve teaching and learning districtwide. Some suggest that these demands mean that central offices, especially in midsized and large districts, should become learning organizations but provide few guides for how central offices might operate as learning organizations. This article presents a conceptual framework that draws on organizational and sociocultural learning theories to elaborate what might be involved if central offices operated as learning organizations. Specific work practices that this conceptual framework highlights include central office administrators’ participation in new school assistance relationships and their ongoing use of evidence from assistance relationships and other sources to inform central office policies and practices. Sense making and managing paradoxes are fundamental to these processes. I highlight these activities with empirical illustrations from research and experience, discuss conditions that help/hinder these activities, and suggest directions for district research and practice.

Lithuanian general practitioners' knowledge of confidentiality laws in adolescent sexual and reproductive healthcare: A cross-sectional study

In Lithuania, the legislation addressing confidentiality in adolescent healthcare is contradictory and vague. Previous studies have also revealed that medico-legal knowledge among physicians is poor, and attitudes play a correspondingly greater role than legal knowledge in ensuring the confidentiality of patients. To survey the knowledge of Lithuanian general practitioner (GPs) of legal issues surrounding confidentiality for minors in sexual and reproductive healthcare. A 41-item questionnaire was sent to a random sample of 607 GPs. Their legal knowledge was evaluated with respect to the provisions of the Lithuanian Law on the Rights of Patients and Compensation for Health Damage. The analysis included descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression to estimate odds ratios for the eight independent variables (age, gender, type, location, ownership, size, frequency of consultations, and existence of a written office policy). The response rate was 73.5%. Of these respondents, 49.3% proved to be knowledgeable about legal standards protecting the confidentiality of adolescents in healthcare. Knowledgeability was found to be higher among GPs who had a written office policy that was based on the law. Respondents stated that the most important measure to improve confidentiality in adolescent healthcare would be the development of an explicit legal framework to address it. GPs' unfamiliarity with existing confidentiality regulations implies that there are ways to improve confidentiality in sexual and reproductive care beyond merely changing the law. This study suggests the need for a comprehensive strategy, including the development of professional guidelines and written office policies coupled with legal educational programmes directed at GPs.