Rostrum of Asclepius Vol 4, No. 4 (2005): October - December 2005

The information which the decision taking is based on constitutes an important element for a successful administration. Nevertheless, the volume of information handled in an Organization is enormous. Proper and adequate management of this volume of information cannot be effectively achieved with conventional means any longer, as they lead to information congestion and impotence of implementing all the useful material.
In extremely complex and sophisticated health Organizations such as Hospitals, where there is a demand for coordinating and modernizing many and various activities, the existence of effective communication networks as well as the introduction and proper development of information technology constitute today the most important conditions for a successful exercise of administration in all the wider areas of the Organization. The value of information plays a particular role in the procedure of decision taking as it can disorientate the manager substantially.

Keywords: information, communication, organization, decision, administration

Low income children are dispoprortionaly exposed to more adverse social and physical environmental conditions, they have fewer and less socially supportive networks than their affluent counterparts and they reside in more polluted and unhealthy environments. The accumulation of multiple environmental risks is increasingly recognised as a determinant of health, behavior and disease. If the harmful effects of the stress of residing in poor neighborhoods are not redused and buffered, low income children's mental and physical health will suffer.

Keywords: low-income neighborhoods, childhood poverty, effects on child health

LASIK Laser in situ keratomileusis is one of the most popular methods of refractive surgery. It is a safe and effective technique. LASIK procedure requires the microkeratome instrument and the excimer laser. LASIK treats large range of refractive errors, has short visual rehabilitation time, minimal postoperative discomfort and quick healing response. The complications of LASIK are limited and their management well documented

Keywords: cornea, excimer laser, refractive surgery

Patients admitted to Intensive Care Unit (ICU) are often highly susceptible to infection because of the severity of illness and the invasive devices. Beside the general problem of infection acquisition in the ICU arose another difficulty: the emergence of
microorganisms resistant to antibiotic agents. The high frequency of antimicrobial resistant microorganisms (ARM) is a major public health problem in many countries. Those resistances increase therapeutic failures, costs and morbidity, especially in ICU. ARMs mainly develop in ICU, and this seems due to massive antibiotic use. So, it seems useful to develop rational prescription procedures to reduce antibiotic use and antibiotic-selective pressure.
Most experts in infectious diseases and infection control now recommend a strict limitation of antibiotic use. Several strategies targeted at the use of antimicrobial agents have been suggested to control the emergence of resistance. They include the following: an optimal use of antimicrobial agents, strict control, removal or restriction of the agents, use of antimicrobial agents in combination, and cycling of the available agents.

Keywords: Nosocomial infection, antibiotics, policies

Greek nurses who work either in public hospitals and health centers or in private clinics assume disciplinary liability in case they commit disciplinary offences for which special disciplinary sanctions are provided.
For nurses who work as civil servants in public sector Law Nr.3329/2005 relating to National Health System as well as Civil Servants' Code (Law Nr.2683/1999) are applied, especially their disciplinary regulations. Disciplinary status and liability for nurses working as employees in private clinics are included in the Labour Regulation of their own enter price providing that such a Regulation does exist. However disciplinary sanctions are provided only by legislative rules (that is Law Nr.3789/1957)
In addition, Law Nr3235/2004 relating to the Institution of Greek Nurses Union (E.N.E.) contains further disciplinary regulations which are applied to nurses in both public and private sector.
This article analyses the above - mentioned disciplinary regulations.

Keywords: nursing, liability, disciplinary liability

In this article the author examines the provisions of the newly enacted Law 3305/2005 titled "The application of the Medically Supported Reproduction". Concretely, the application terms of methods and techniques of the artificial fertilization and the disposition of the genetic material, are critically examined. Furthermore, the article refers to the conditions of scientific research upon the superfluous genetic material. The above mentioned Law also provides the establishment of the Units of Medically Supported Reproduction and the penalties against all violators of the law as well.

Keywords: Medically Supported Reproduction, Disposition of genetic matenal, Scientific Research upon the genetic matenal, Units of Medically Supported Reproduction

The validity of pressure ulcers risk assessment scales remains a topic of considerable debate and uncertainty. The aim of this study was to compare the predictive validity of Waterlow vs Norton scale in elderly patients hospitalized in an Internal Medicine Dpt. The pressure ulcer risk was scored on admission in 72 patients aged 81 ±8 years old by using the questionnaires of both scales. The patients were assessed daily until a new pressure ulcer grade II occurred (22 patients). The sensitivity and specificity of Waterlow scale (score >20) and Norton scale (score < 8) were 96% vs 94% and 75% vs 81% respectively. It is concluded that both scales were reliable and comparable provided that an appropriate cut off point was used.

Keywords: Risk assessment scales, Waterlow, Norton, Pressure ulcers