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The mental health consequences of pandemic isolation have been well documented extending from psychological conditions such as anxiety and depression to increased falls risk, medication errors and delirium. Whilst risk factors associated with isolation are known, there remains a gap in the guidance for healthcare staff on how to assess for these risks and develop effective management plans. Using a structured professional judgement (SPJ) approach and the author's recent experience providing consultation and leadership to clinical staff working with at‐risk patients during the pandemic, an isolation risk assessment and management guideline was developed. SPJ is an evidenced‐based analytical method used to understand and mitigate risk that was primarily developed for the assessment and management of aggression and violence. This paper discusses an evidenced‐based process used to develop the guideline and the application of its use from the author's clinical experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2011;13:543-550. ©2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. The Hypertension Initiative began in 1999 to help transition South Carolina from a leader in cardiovascular disease (CVD) to a model of heart and vascular health. Goals were to reduce heart disease and stroke by 50% by promoting healthy lifestyles and access to effective care and medications. Continuing medical education was used to train providers, encourage physicians to become American Society of Hypertension (ASH)-certified hypertension specialists and recruit practices into the community-based practice network (CBPN). Practice data audit with provider specific feedback is a key quality improvement tool. With ASH support, the CBPN has grown to 197 practices with approximately 1.6 million patients (approximately 700,000 hypertensives). Clinical data are obtained from electronic health records and quarterly provider feedback reports are generated. Hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and diabetes control rose and South Carolina's ranking improved from 51st to 35th in CVD mortality from 1995 to 2006. The Hypertension Initiative expanded to the Outpatient Quality Improvement Network (O'QUIN) to encompass comparative effectiveness research and other chronic diseases. Lessons learned include: trust enables success, addressing practice priorities powers participation, infrastructure support must be multilateral, and strategic planning identifies opportunities and pitfalls. A collaborative practice network is attainable that produces positive, sustainable, and growing impacts on cardiovascular and other chronic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. Although criminal victimization of mentally ill patients has been researched, what little work there is focuses on in-patient samples. This study aimed to compare crimes against mentally ill patients living in the community with crimes against students who have a high life-style risk of victimization. Methods. The samples were selected via community-based mental health services and a university population. A group of 40 mentally ill patients and 80 students reported experiences of victimization in the previous 12 months and attitudes towards the police. Results. Female mentally ill patients reported the highest victimization, but both male and female patients reported more victimization than did students. Mentally ill patients also held more negative opinions of the police. Conclusions. The results show that mentally ill patients experience more victimization when compared with the victimization experiences of a similar life-style risk group. Discussion focuses on the implications for mentally ill patients living in the community, the support networks available to them, and relations between the police and mentally ill patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]