Most typical face in the world revealed (amid deep irony)

National Geographic Magazine has revealed what the most typical human on the planet looks like.…

There is a deep irony here (since we are talking about 'skin') in that as the global demographics flow across the decades to alter this typical face, there is a growing proportion of the population who hope that health and social care delivery is not typical and a 'composite'.

They hope that health, nursing and social care is truly personal and individual - taking in their preferences, needs and priorities.

Having said that though - would it be progress if everyone could expect at least to receive what is deemed a 'standard' level of basic nursing care that is in a way 'typical'?

more to follow - more will follow - are we ready?

Notes (ii) from Paipa Conference: Q & A

Q. What is the appeal and relevance of Michel Serres to the Health Care Domains Model [h2cm]?
c/o Fred Manrique / UPTC 

(As per the paper - Exploring Serres’ Atlas, Hodges’ Knowledge Domains and the Fusion of Informatics and Cultural Horizons. 2008)

A. I cannot remember how I came across this French philosopher (Bruno Latour?), but in 2004 I started to read some of his translated texts. Serres' work is not easy to read, but rewards perseverance. Thus enthused I wrote (in my spare time) and eventually submitted a paper to a prestigious nursing journal. This was rejected - twice. Using the feedback I was able to produce the paper that found publication in the informatics field. This is listed in the W2tQ bibliography. Serres' ideas were remarkable in how they spoke to me and reflected in many ways the conceptual framework of h2cm. I need to read more of Michel Serres' work. Ideas of particular appeal include his use of several tropes:

• Harlequin: the uninvited guest (disease, illness?), mischief (health taken-for-grantedness), chaos (the unpredictable);
• blanc: in my presentation I included a blank slide. There it represents every new person, new page - no judgements, positive regard. A page for lifelong learners and being able to self-reflect.
• Hermes: the Greek God, the messenger - information and Serres' early study of information science. The 'underworld' - nursing and medicine - are not for everyone. The importance of ports as a means of information and cultural exchange - today economies see themselves as information ports and the rise of information portals.
• Serres states (as do other commentators) that the Internet will provide opportunities for new scholars, outside of established academic institutions.
• borders, boundaries - the middle: in life we often have to ask do we continue and cross the middle?
• The Planet: Serres is concerned for how we treat the planet. The health care domains can also be utilised to explore the physical and psychological impacts of climate change and the need to attend to human ecology. We are rocking the boat - Earth is our boat.
• ... plus many others - fluid, dynamics, life - rivers - choices, narratives, Home, Angels, statues.

Finally, within "... S E R R E S ..." you will also find H2CM!  

Please see the bibliography for the paper.

Additional links:

Michel Serres on this blog.

http://michelserres.blogspot.com/

More Q and A to follow plus photos and slides. Photo source (PJ, Copenhagen shop window, 2010).

Notes (i) from Paipa Conference: Q & A and sessions

Questions from the delegates (once more interpreted by Andrea Ramirez) at the plenary session on Friday 25th February included  - with my response (extended here):

Q. Could you please give some specific examples of the model's application and its achievements?

A. The model was created by Brian Hodges to facilitate reflective practice and encourage holistic care - especially balancing physical and mental health - psychological - care. In the mid-1980s the model was used in several locations in England and the Isle of Man. The model was taught and learning assessed through case studies in community mental health nursing, learning disability and health visiting.

As highlighted in the presentation unlike other models of care h2cm has not had the benefit of specific research. The models of care we use must be evidenced based. The website and blog represent a call for research in the health care domains model. This is why I appreciate so much this invitation to Colombia and being able to present what I believe is a very useful and increasingly relevant care resource.

In terms of achievement there are an as yet limited number of papers published and listed on the blog in a bibliography.

A couple of individuals have contacted me for advice on using the model in academic work, which has also been posted on the blog.

In my presentation and the plenary I did not mention the planned workshop in the afternoon!

Q. What has been the experience of applying the model in the practice (clinical area) and in the community?

A. The model is used in two centers for forensic psychiatry (low and medium secure) where the inclusion of the interpersonal and political care domains are pivotal in the tensions between the custodial context and need for person-centred nursing care that arise.

In forensic nursing the model informs care philosophy and is also represented in care documentation. A paper is in production describing the model and this application.

The model is I understand being used in a research project investigating bullying within midwifery. I will post more details on this when I have them. The researchers approached me seeking permission to use the model, I indicated the model's origin - as in "It is not 'mine'", and furnished a letter indicating the model's status. I understand the appeal of the model in this instance may be in scoping the research project.

Currently the model is helping me in my role (as a Nursing Home Liaison Specialist) to plan and deliver education sessions to residential care staff on communicating with people who are coping with dementia.

Being simple in structure and basic content once learned the model is accessible as an aide memoire, while you are assessing, planning and evaluating.

I have also used the model when working on informatics projects, as the model can help integrate the SOCIAL and TECHNICAL aspects of ICT.

More Q and A to follow plus photos.

'Health coaching': One application for the Health Care Domains Model?

The following message from Helen Erickson (Univ. of Texas) was received through the Modeling and Role Modeling mail list MRM-L at LISTS.UFL.EDU. It is the patient education aspect of the post that is of interest to me as it highlights why I continue to champion Hodges' model near and far.

'Coaching' (in its various forms) is a potential application for h2cm which can be used explicitly by explaining the model to the (potential!) patient / carer, or implicitly used by the health care professional as an aide memoire - a conceptual framework.

More to follow as I referred to the matter of health care delivery vs. health education in my presentation and the delegates raised the question of applications of Hodges' came up in Paipa last week.

<->

Good afternoon,

Some of you know that the healthcare bill signed last year (HR3590) includes a section aimed at revamping the healthcare system from a disease model to a health promotion, disease prevention. Section 4001 particularly addresses care for those on Medicaid and Medicare. A national advisory committee is being named to study this, make recommendations, etc (see Section 4001). Among the representatives of specific groups (orientation to health care) being named to the advisory group is the "health coach".

STTI and ICN put out a manual on coaching a year or so ago, coupled with a short CE test. When I read the manual and took the test (it took about 10 minutes total), I discounted the movement, thinking that it was just another way to define what we call MRM. The only difference is that it requires some specific strategies and skills, most of which I've discussed with you through the years, e.g. contracting, The other difference will be determined by what happens at the national scene. It is possible that "coaching" will be reimbursed. Many think that it will, thus the national group out of Harvard, the University of MN, and others are meeting, talking, defining the construct, etc.

As Chair of American Holistic Nurses' Certification Corporation, I have been drawn back to the topic repeatedly. Most recently, AHNCC has decided to actively explore certifying nurses who practice holistic health coaching, i.e.certifying a holistic health nurse coach. I have added a poll to the ahncc website, eager to learn if nurses are interested in the movement, etc. if you are interested in the website or want to express your position on health coaching, please visit ahncc.org.

Hope to hear from you,

Best to all,
Helen

Presentation(s) at 1st Int. Congress of Nursing Models and Theories in Colombia

I will revise this post over the coming week and add more, including one of the Spanish slides.

Many thanks to Danny Eduardo Rodriguez for meeting me at the airport (and to everyone who waited  with Eduardo). Hearing my name and seeing the university transport proved instantly reassuring. Thanks also Eduardo for the in-session translation - a great help and for your efforts to ensure I felt at home and a part of things: I certainly did. ... 

Well I am due to leave Paipa soon for Bogota El Dorado airport and the trip home via Paris. It is a beautiful day in Paipa. Very warm, bright sun, from my room I can see people water skiing on the lake.


Yesterday's presentation, workshop and Q and A session were very well received through a lecture and workshop. These would not have been as successful with the brilliant work* of Interpreter Andrea Ramirez on both occasions.
I had started to add some Spanish translations to my slides and these were checked and extended by Luz Stella Saray and Prof. Wilson Canon Montanez, (UDeS) to whom I extend sincere thanks (a good photographer too!).


In the morning session Andrea related each slide in Spanish after my account. For the workshop I had emailed the case study in English with a Spanish version c/o Google translate. This had been checked and improved and the format we followed was for students to read the case study and then individually draw out the aspects of Alice's case (fictitious yet based on 20+ years of experience) which they feel significant across the care domains. During this exercise for 20-25 minutes Andrea assisted again with some questions from individual students. Then in groups of 4-5 they collectively reflected on their 'results'. Finally each group in turn offered one item for each of the four domains. Astute questions from the floor and discussions followed. Not having done this before, with the addition of translation I was surprised at how well it worked: instant teamwork!

At 5.30 Luz had arranged to meet to discuss nursing in England. A little jet-lagged, I thought she meant with 2-3 colleagues, but in the end the room was filled as we were joined by 60-70 students in a circle. I can't believe that 90 minutes passed. The students and faculty are so very enthusiastic, charming, friendly and knowledgeable. Two days is not long to learn and make judgements, but from the student's questions they seem acutely aware of the specific health challenges and issues they face in Colombia. Their professor's approach in pursuing this meeting reflected an awareness of 'nursing as it is learned and practiced elsewhere'. I advised I was not able to speak generally, outlining my specific role and location. I let them know I was drawing from matters I do know (as highlighted on W2tQ) and personal experience. The notion of 'basic nursing care' is clearly and unsurprisingly universal given this encounter.

You do need to consider such travel very carefully: your health, security, travelling alone... The organisers took care of this assuring a personal meeting at the airport, transport and accommodation. The journey was hard for me from the UK. A short hop Manchester to Paris 1.15-30 was followed by an 11 hr and 10 hr flight back home passing through Bogota. Travel is difficult due to the condition of the roads, driving laws and the traffic situation that the populous of Bogota faces; but where there are 'gaps' (pot holes!) there is a way through.

I never would have believed I would set foot in South America. To stand under Orion and see Canopus was another dream come true. As Space Shuttle Discovery set off on her last flight I was making discoveries of my own in helping others do the same.

I am very grateful to GICS - the three Universities UPTC, UdeS and Unillanos who invited me and supported my attendance; plus my employer Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust and colleagues covering duty for new referrals at the Beechurst Unit, Chorley, Lancashire. This has been a marvellous experience, with many contacts made that I hope will grow in the future.

*Presenting in Spanish at the conference (Teoría “Marco de la Organización Sistémica” con enfoque en Familia), Dr Marie Luise Friedemann - RN, PHD and her husband informed me of Andrea's effectiveness and memory feat. Dr Friedemann, Profesora de la Universidad Internacional de la Florida, in Miami and I also hope to compare our respective interests.

OERU / OERF / UNESCO Press release: Towards an OER university - Free learning for all students worldwide

Please circulate: Joint OER Foundation / UNESCO press release.

The Open Education Resource (OER) Foundation is to host a strategic international meeting in Dunedin on 23 February, to commence planning for the provision of free learning to all students worldwide. Support from the United Nations Science and Education Organisation (UNESCO) to stream the meeting on the internet will allow the participation of education leaders and interested persons from around the globe.
Join the meeting as a virtual participant and help make OER futures happen.

Read more.


(If you blog about this important meeting -- please use the #OERU tag).

2011 will be a quantum shift year for the mainstream adoption of OER.

Cheers
Wayne
Wayne Mackintosh , Ph.D.
Director OER Foundation
Director, International Centre for Open Education,
Otago Polytechnic, New Zealand.
Founder and elected Community Council Member, Wikieducator
Skype: WGMNZ1
identi.ca

Health Literacy: A Public Health concern? 1-day Conference, Manchester, UK

Venue: Chancellors Hotel and Conference Centre (Manchester)

Friday 10th June 2011

Join us for our first national Health Literacy Research Conference.

Health literacy is -

‘the cognitive and social skills which determine the motivation and ability of individuals to gain access to, understand, and use information in ways which promote and maintain good health’.

We welcome applications for oral presentation or posters on Health Literacy research and development. The abstract submission guidelines are available from the website http://www.healthliteracy.org.uk/

or Lucy McDonald: mcdonall AT lsbu.ac.uk

The conference will include 2 plenary sessions with international health literacy

keynote speakers and a panel discussion.

Cost: £60 per day

My source: Lucy McDonald

h2cm: philosophy of science - analytical AND dialectical Refinetti, R. (1989).

"For centuries, philosophers have discussed whether knowledge progresses analytically or dialectically. In the Cartesian tradition of starting with simple concepts and then building up more complex concepts [4], the idea of science as a gradual accumulation of small pieces of knowledge was put forward by Auguste Comte [5]. This constitutes an analytical view of the progress of knowledge. On the other hand, Hegel proposed that knowledge grows as a whole, so that contradictions between opposing ideas are solved (and disperse pieces of knowledge are integrated) at each stage of the dialectical progress of knowledge [6]. This constitutes a dialectical view of the progress of knowledge.

The partial correctness of both the analytical view of Comte and the dialectical view of Hegel have been acknowledged for many years. Wisdom from both views can be found in the writings of many contemporary philosophers of science." Refinetti, R. (1989) p.583.

.... and can also be found within the structure and potential content of the Health Care Domains Model. Goethe in his own way(s) of seeing recognised the same...


Refinetti, R. (1989). Information processing as a central issue in philosophy of science, Information Processing & Management, 25, 5, 583-584.

Call for Papers: Special issue on Community Informatics for Health - Journal of Community Informatics

Abstract submissions due 14 March 2011

A special issue of the international Journal of Community Informatics (http://ci-journal.net) is going to be devoted to Health. Community Informatics (CI) is the study and the practice of enabling communities with Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs). This special issue will focus on how the social application of ICTs can empower and enable communities towards improving health. The issue is expected to be published in late 2011. The Journal of Community Informatics is a focal point for the communication of research of interest to a global network of academics, community informatics practitioners and national and multi-lateral policy makers.

The field of community informatics seeks to explore the potential of information and communication technologies and their applications for social and economic development efforts at the community level. It particularly seeks to ensure that marginalized individuals and communities can benefit from the opportunities that ICTs can provide. In the area of health, this is all the more important since those with poorer health status and poorer health outcomes are usually those with less (or no) access to ICTs, or are those who have fewer skills to make use of and benefit from ICTs.

For this special issue of the Journal on Health, we are inviting submission of original, unpublished articles. We welcome research articles, along with case studies and notes from the field. All research articles will be double blind peer-reviewed. Insights and analytical perspectives from practitioners and policy makers in the form of notes from the field or case studies are also encouraged - these will not be peer-reviewed.

Please read the full Call for Papers and more specific information on the intended 'flavour' of the issue at: http://www.flinders.edu.au/medicine/sites/southgate/research/projects/digital-tech-health/

Guest editors:

*  Lareen Newman PhD, Southgate Institute for Health Society & Equity, Flinders University - Australia
*  Ali Al Sanousi MD, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Riyadh - Saudi Arabia

Contact for queries and abstract submissions:  lareen.newman AT flinders.edu.au

IMPORTANT DATES
Deadline for abstracts: 14 March 2011
Notification of successful abstracts:  9 May 2011
Deadline for submission of full papers/articles: 31 August 2011
Estimated publication date: November 2011

----------------------------------------
Dr Lareen Newman, DipEurLangs (Hons), BA (Hons), PhD
Senior Research Fellow
Southgate Institute for Health Society & Equity
Flinders University - Adelaide, South Australia
Personal page: http://www.flinders.edu.au/people/lareen.newman
Program page: http://flinders.edu.au/medicine/sites/southgate/
CRICOS Provider Number: 00114A

Additional link: h2cm in community informatics ....
Jones, P. (2004) The Four Care Domains: Situations Worthy of Research. Conference: Building & Bridging Community Networks: Knowledge, Innovation & Diversity through Communication, Brighton, UK.