Global Journal of Immunology and Allergic Diseases最新文献

{"title":"Epinephrine Auto-Injector Needle Length (Does Height or BMI add Valuable Information in Adults?)","authors":"S. Dreborg, G. Tsai, Harold Kim","doi":"10.31907/2310-6980.2019.07.02","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31907/2310-6980.2019.07.02","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Some overweight and obese adults have an increased risk of subcutaneous injection using epinephrine auto injectors (EAIs). Needle lengths of EAIs vary between brands and lots. Objective: To study if BMI or height adds information to define adults at risk of having intraosseous or subcutaneous injection. Methods: Ninety-nine (99) food allergic adult patients, 32 men and 67 women, 18 – 72 years of age, prescribed EAIs were included. The skin to muscle and skin to bone distances were measured by ultrasonography. The effect of injection on naked skin or through thick clothing was analyzed. High and minimal pressure was applied to the ultrasound probe. Results: Two of three men and 1/5 women with BMI <20 had a risk of intraosseous/periosteal injection using the high pressure auto injector Epipen® , thick clothing, 5/8. Injecting through naked skin using the shortest needle, 14/17 obese women had a high risk of subcutaneous injection (overweight 14/23), through thick clothing all 17 obese women would have a risk of subcutaneous injection (overweight 20/23). Injecting with LPEAIs through naked skin, using the shortest needle 8/17 obese and 4/23 overweight women would have a risk of subcutaneous injection, wearing thick clothing, 10/17 obese and 7/23 overweight women. Height had no predictive value. Conclusion: Using high pressure EAIs, high BMI predicted a very high risk for subcutaneous injection in women and in some men. Even injection with low pressure EAIs had some risk of subcutaneous injection, especially when injected through thick clothing. Height had no predictive value. Keywords: Auto-injector; epinephrine; intramuscular; subcutaneous; intraosseous; skin to bone distance; skin to muscle distance; clothing; overweight; obese; adults; women; men.","PeriodicalId":166541,"journal":{"name":"Global Journal of Immunology and Allergic Diseases","volume":"1 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-12-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"131256180","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Digital Transformation in Healthcare – South Africa Context","authors":"Michael Mncedisi Willie, Phakamile Nkomo","doi":"10.31907/2310-6980.2019.07.01","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31907/2310-6980.2019.07.01","url":null,"abstract":"Digital transformation is growing at a slow rate in medical schemes or healthcare compared to other industries such as banking and insurance. The healthcare sector needs to embrace the digital transformation and adopt and optimize on use of technology, otherwise, the sector will be left behind. Other sectors have taken advantage of technology, for example in the retail sector, nowadays people shop online, bank, and do travel bookings online. The logistic business has also embraced digital transformation in that most activities are now done through devices at the convenience of one’s office or home. The recent HPCSA conference included topics such as Telemedicine’s where several digital transformation and innovations in the health sector were also presented. What was evident in the discussions was that progress in accelerating digital transformation is pounded by a slow pace of regulation and other relevant guidelines. The topics discussed clearly revealed that the health sector is still far behind compared to other countries. For example, there is a gap in the adoption of digitally enabled tools for diagnosing, providing treatment, and better management of chronic conditions and other conditions. Electronic medical records are still not a part of routine care both from the supply and the funders side except a handful of players. On the funders side, you do find several medical schemes that invest in technology, for example, there are schemes that are already implementing digital application forms for smooth onboarding of new members. This is with the aim of going digital and reduces paper application forms. Similarly, with the submission of claims of which more than 98% are submitted in electronic form has transformed significantly. Strategies such as digital marketing are typically used to reach the target market and communicate more effectively with members. Several schemes have invested a lot in product development such as mobile apps, developing communication channels through online and social media platforms. Social media platforms provide an opportunity for brand repositioning, it also provides an opportunity to reach a new target market and access to a larger pool potential client base. Social media platforms could also be used as a tool to improve service to clients, create convenience, provide instant interaction with clients. However, very few medical schemes optimize on these platforms, particularly small to medium schemes. There is still a need to measure value add of digital transformation to members, chiefly where the quality of care is concerned. *Address correspondence to this author at the General Manager Research and Monitoring, Council for Medical Schemes, South Africa; E-mail: m.willie@medicalschemes.com The Health Professions Council of South Africa is a statutory regulator of healthcare professions in South Africa. Medical schemes are non-profit organisation which are registered with the Registrar of Medical Schemes. Members","PeriodicalId":166541,"journal":{"name":"Global Journal of Immunology and Allergic Diseases","volume":"47 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1900-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"116437870","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}