Current Trends in Cardiac Health Care Research Paper

Current Trends in Cardiac Health Care - Research Paper Example These factors include changes in mortality rates, the demographic descriptions and medical health background of a â€Å"typical† cardiac disease patient, and the types of medical treatment these patients receive. Mortality Rates Patients who are admitted to the hospital for cardiac or cardiovascular disease, including heart attack and stroke, have a mortality rate several times higher than that of general admissions. This is unsurprising, since cardiac disease is much more serious than many conditions that nevertheless require hospitalizations. On the positive side, studies have shown that the mortality rate for patients who are admitted promptly after the beginning of symptoms has been slowly but significantly declining. Statistics show that patients are more likely to admit themselves to the hospital upon signs of an urgent cardiac event; for example, though the number of heart attacks per 1000 persons in California and a decline in hospital admissions in general, there has actually been an increase in hospital admissions for heart attacks (Office of Statewide Planning and Development, 2011). This fits in with the general trend for heart attacks in hospital emergency wards that has been seen since the early 1980s. The rate of heart attack had been dropping steadily from 1980 onward, until about the middle of the 1990s, when a new test had been developed to detect heart attack. Predictably, the statistics then show the rate of heart attacks detected to rise again, but due more to the higher sensitivity of the new test and not to any actual change in the rate of heart attack in the population (Office of Statewide Planning and Development, 2011). Mortality rates for cardiac disease patients are unfortunately also affected by hospital profit and cost of care concerns. Treatment for cardiac disease is becoming a lucrative area of sub-specialization, and many smaller hospitals have begun opening cardiac ICUs and cardiac surgery departments in order to increa se their profitability (Ronning, 2007). However, the mortality and adverse event rates for patients admitted to these smaller hospitals is much higher than those of bigger, more experienced hospitals; if the trend continues, a rise in mortality rates could very well occur (Joynt, Orav, & Jha, 2011). The combination of the cutting-edge nature of cardiac care with a doctor who is unfamiliar with the field in general and does not perform many such treatments greatly affects patient outcome. This correlation has been recognized to the point that cardiac surgeons are recommended to perform a minimum number of invasive cardiac surgeries a year, in order to maintain the proper level of training and familiarity with the procedure (Tu, Austin, & Chan, 2001). Patient Demographics and History The picture of the typical heart disease or cardiac disease patient is also showing changes over time. For example, women are becoming an ever-larger percentage of admissions; in Canada by 2004, women mad e up approximately half of such admissions (Tu, Jackevicius, Lee, & Donovan, 2010). Racial percentages for cardiac-related hospitalizations have also shifted, moving some of the preponderance of patients from the Caucasian segment to other racial groups, though Caucasians still represent the majority of cardiac patients. However, this could be due to the shifting racial proportions of the entire population, and not necessarily due

Developing Cybersecurity Law and Policy Assignment

Developing Cybersecurity Law and Policy - Assignment Example Other sections of the Register include the presidential document, reader aid and federal register xml files. These sections guide the users who are mainly federal agencies on new regulations and prerequisite information to participate in rulemaking (GPO, 2013). The Federal Register is used by the relevant agencies to call for public participation in policy creation (Mead, 2004), as the majority of civil users bring in ideas that may not be available within federal workforce. Citizens are also in a position to keep track of current updates on cyber security laws and regulations. Daily updates ensure continuous information gathering and dissemination since cyber technology is highly dynamic (Cate, 2009). Topic 2: US Cyber Command US Cyber Command is a sub-unit in the US strategic command that was created by the Office of the Secretary of Defense in 2010. It is charged with planning, integrating, coordinating, synchronizing and directing military cyber space operations and managing fede ral information networks. This was an essential step in reinforcing the Department of Defense’s capability to remain in control of its information network reducing vulnerability to cyber warfare (Kenneally, 2001). This is especially the case since intelligence information handled in the network should remain protected for national security (Kenneally, 2001). ... The president appoints a cyber security coordinator commonly referred to as the cyber czar who is a government employee. It is necessary that this position be held by the government to control biased service by private institutions that may manipulate the information systems, hence making it more vulnerable to hackers (Kenneally, 2001). Academia may have its practice based on theoretical information, thus less flexible to the dynamics involved in cyber operations. This handicaps its efficiency in service delivery. An individual who is open-minded is the most appropriate to hold this position since they have a realistic approach to cyber security management (Kenneally, 2001). Topic 3: Renewed Interest in Public-Private Partnerships Several frameworks have been put in place to improve cyber security in both the public and private sectors. Public-private partnership is essential for effective protection of U.S assets, infrastructure and economic interest from attack on cyber activities. This kind of partnership enhances information sharing, minimizing the risks of the use of cyber facilities especially in the era of increased global connectivity. Partnership enables pooling of resources required for effective workforce education and training and investment in cyber security (Guttmann et al., 2003). Both the public and private sectors should be actively involved in policy making and setting cyber law that remains ahead of possible risks and in pace with technological developments. It is of importance to create an enabling environment that respects the privacy and civil liberties of all partners involved while at the same time enhancing optimal collaboration in