Objective: To explore the implications of the single family room (SFR) care environment of neonatal intensive care units (NICU) compared to Open-bay, Combination and Double-occupancy configurations, focusing on family experience, neonate outcomes, staff perceptions, cost and environmental design. Study design:This study uses a multimethod design with 11 Level III NICUs. Space allocations, construction costs, staff preferences and perceptions, and occupant behaviors were evaluated.Results: SFR NICU design provides solutions for increasing parent privacy and presence, supporting Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act compliance, minimizing the number of undesirable beds, increasing staff satisfaction and reducing staff stress.Conclusion: The analysis of this study suggests that there are benefits to SFR NICU. This study is an initial, comprehensive effort, the purpose of which is to spawn future, narrower, in-depth studies focused on SFR NICU design.

The purpose of this study is to explore the implications of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) single-family rooms (SFRs) relative to open-bay arrangements. A recent trend in the design of NICUs has been to increase the number of private patient rooms for neonates and their families. Several factors have contributed to the popularity of SFRs, including compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, which mandates the need to provide patient privacy. Surveys of NICU medical staff ( N = 75) explored the preferences and experiences of individuals providing care in two facilities, an SFR NICU and a combination unit with open-bay infant stations and SFRs. The results of this study indicate that SFR NICU design may increase staff satisfaction and reduce staff stress.

Patients with cancer often experience pain, yet studies continue to document inadequate and inappropriate assessment and management of cancer-related pain. This study aimed to evaluate the attitudes and knowledge of inpatient oncology healthcare providers toward pain management by surveying nurses, pharmacists, and physicians working on the inpatient oncology units at an academic medical center. Healthcare providers generally reported positive attitudes toward pain management but were deficient in their knowledge of pain management. The authors suggest that pharmacists become more integral members of palliative care teams and actively participate in rounds. A need exists for educational programs in pain management for healthcare providers, especially for those who do not routinely care for patients with cancer.

Aim: This study investigated the stability of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on 16 common environmental surface materials. Background: SARS-CoV-2 is the causative agent of severe coronavirus disease, a significant public health concern that quickly led to a pandemic. Contamination of environmental surface materials is of concern, with previous studies identifying long-term detection of infectious particles on surfaces. These contaminated surfaces create an increased risk for contact transmission. Methods: Surface materials were inoculated with 10,000 plaque forming units and samples were collected 4, 8, 12, 24, 30, 48, and 168 hours post infection (hpi). Viral titers were determined for each sample and time point using plaque assays. Nonparametric modeling utilized the Turnbull algorithm for interval-censored data. Maximum likelihood estimates for the survival curve were calculated. Parametric proportional hazards regression models for interval censored data were used to explore survival time across the surface materials. Results: There was a sharp decline in recoverable virus after 4 hpi for all tested surfaces. By 12 hpi, infectious SARS-CoV-2 was recoverable from only four surfaces; and by 30 hr, the virus was recoverable from only one surface. There were differences in survival curves based on the materials although some groups of materials are similar, both statistically and practically. Conclusions: While very low amounts of infectious SARS-CoV-2 are recoverable over time, there remains a risk of viral transmission by surface contamination in indoor environments. Individuals and institutions must follow appropriate procedures to decontaminate indoor environment and increase diligence for hand hygiene and personal protective equipment.

Evidence-based design, literature review, patients, safety, staff.