Working with professional athletes in the rink: the evolution of a nutrition program for an NHL team

For many professional sports, nutrition is not recognized as an important component of the team's training program. The implementation of a nutrition program for one professional hockey team has had positive results. Players who had been unable to maintain their weight during the season can now maintain their weight and be prepared for the playoffs. Others have improved their endurance with proper fluid and carbohydrate replacement. Working with the entire time--coaching staff, trainers and players--has led to the success of this program.

Pediatric critical care

The search for more effective therapies and techniques directed toward shock and resuscitation continues to be the subject of extensive research in the critical care literature. One area of intense focus is the hypothesis that nonsurvivors with poor oxygen delivery can be converted to survivors if their oxygen delivery variables are maximized. Based on recent controlled clinical trials, this remains controversial. In addition, the notion of monoclonal antibody as the magic bullet for endotoxin-induced septic shock is undergoing reexamination. New techniques to supplement basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation continue to be evaluated, but so far survival outcomes are not significantly different from the standard technique introduced over 30 years ago. Finally, debate continues on the efficacy of ribavirin in the treatment of otherwise well infants mechanically ventilated for respiratory syncytial virus infection.

Homeward bound. Hospitals look to home-care programs as they search for opportunities to expand and diversify

The number of hospitals operating home-care programs has leveled off, but interest in their possibilities is rising. Hospitals once again are looking to home care as they search for opportunities to expand and diversify their services.

Community-Based Nursing Education in Pakistan

The nursing profession is not looked on favorably by Muslim families. In one rural area there were only three nurses for 1 million people. Community health and public health care have been lacking in the nursing curriculum. Therefore, preparing recruits for the community health nursing (CHN) posts in the Community Health Sciences Department (CHSD) and for faculty of the School of Nursing has involved a sequence of continuing education: inservice and on-the-job training in the CHSD and courses in the new BScN program. Those who joined with a diploma in nursing and a year of midwifery, and who followed this sequence, could be selected as Aga Khan University (AKU) scholars, and be sponsored for support in the two-year BScN program with its community health orientation. After two more years of advanced experience, the CHN is given the opportunity to apply for master's studies abroad. All who were accepted have returned to work at the Aga Khan University and have increased their career opportunities.

Sorting out subacute care. Subspecialty's surge has feds, states seeking proof of the product's promises

Subacute care has become one of the fastest growing subspecialties in healthcare, a veritable gold mine of revenues, thanks in part to higher government reimbursement. But the surging profits are prompting the feds and states to take a closer look, and analysts are warning providers not to rush into the market.