background increasing demand for limited healthcare resources raises questions about appropriate use of inpatient beds. in the first paediatric bed utilisation study at a regional university centre in ireland, we conducted a cross-sectional study to audit the utilisation of inpatient beds at the regional paediatric unit (rpu) in university hospital limerick (uhl), limerick, ireland and also exa...

The number of hospital beds per head of population has fallen by more than 2% a year since 1980. Levels of bed occupancy have risen during this period. Appropriate bed occupancy is crucial to the NHS, as occupancy rates exceeding 85% in acute hospitals are associated with problems in dealing with emergency and elective admissions. We aimed to develop a valid instrument for the objective assessm...

Although the complications of immobility are well-described in the literature, critically ill patients are often subjected to prolonged periods of bed rest. Nurses, by virtue of their expertise in preventing iatrogenic complications, are in an ideal position to prevent the adverse outcomes associated with immobility. This article describes how nurses can use a mobility protocol to increase the ...

A new HIGEE device-rotating zigzag bed (RZB) was developed in the context of process intensification. The RZB is structurally featured by a combinatorial rotor of one series of baffles attached to a rotating disk with another series to a stationary disk. The novel structure of the RZB determines its many advantages over the other HIGEE devices. The RZB is free of dynamic seal, capable of interm...

INTRODUCTION This report is one of a series on the Flight Analog Project, which is designed to lay the groundwork for a standard bed rest protocol. The Spaceflight Cognitive Assessment Tool for Windows (WinSCAT) is a self-administered battery of tests used on the International Space Station for evaluating cognitive functioning. Here, WinSCAT was used to assess cognitive functioning during exten...

Aims and method To compare admission rates and bed occupancy before and after the introduction of community treatment orders (CTOs) in 37 assertive outreach service patients. The effect of CTOs on treatment adherence and illicit drug use were also evaluated. The views of patients and care coordinators were obtained through a focus group. Results When CTOs were introduced, admission rates fell f...