Syringe Policy (SSP)

Moreover, NEPs will provide sterile needle and syringes to avoid exchanges of used injections between drug users. Since NEPs are implemented, the number of HIV cases and other diseases are declined. In Saskatchewan, distributing needles reduces the total costs for health care because needle exchange programs reduce the transmission of HIV by one-third and accommodate a return of four thousand dollars investment in health care costs. (Thompson) Needle exchange program provide safety not only in drug addicts but also provide safety in the community. Many of needle exchange programs perform a one-for-one basis to decrease the exposure of contaminated needles in streets and playgrounds so that children and other people are away from needle sticks accident. (Franciscus)

A safe injection site (SIS) has been placed in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside where drug use is a challenging problem. The program is a vital piece of the cities known harm reduction approach to its serious problems with homelessness, drugs, crime and AIDS. Canada has drastically shifted its method. Going from punishing drug users to establishing the plan of harm reduction. Since 2003 when the supervised SIS opened, it has presented a safe health-focused center where drug users have access to inject illegal drugs using sterile equipment in a clean environment under the supervision of medically trained professionals. Although there are some serious concerns about the

Three methods were chosen for the needs assessment. The first was an informal OES (Hatch,1998) to collect and analyze information on the current RCBPSPs situation. (Note Appendix A)

Policy GCN (2014) inaugurates the new evaluation program for all SCPS personnel—instructional, supervisory, and administrative (see Appendix A). The policy recounts

We then map out current processes and procedures to make sure all personnel understand the flow of resources in different departments. This lead to creating a process flow chart from discharge to admission. Then we discuss what reports can be utilize to measure actions taken in real time to look for improvements. We decide to utilize what we call SHP reports along with the casper reports from CMS for measuring the data.

Provide leadership, administrative and management support, strategic planning and overall direction to the National Risk Adjustment and Comprehensive Health Assessment Program. Leverage and improve existing models and design new systems to identify gaps that would improve metrics and clinical documentation.

Needle Exchange programs were put into effect to decrease chance of infection and blood transmitted diseases. These programs supply individuals with sterilized needles in exchange for a previously used needle. After watching the two videos about Needle Exchange Programs, I concluded that I am fully supportive of the programs. The controversy regarding whether or not Needle Exchange programs should be legal remains very prevalent. Many studies conclude that Needle Exchange programs have a more positive than negative effect on society. These programs reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS and promote public health.

Program incentives will be based on a points scale and include options like: lower rates on health care, days off of work, earned prizes, and bonuses. The overall budget for this launch is approximately $5,000. After one year of the program being in existence, “Partnering to Empower” will undergo SWOT analysis, and improve as needed. Tactics: One month prior to the launch of the “Partnering to Empower” campaign, the following should occur: 1. Informative email sent out to all North Shore employees. This email will introduce the “Partnering to Empower” program, and include staticsts on why regular health screenings are important for employees in the health care field. 2. An incentive brochure mailed to employees homes including information on, the benefits, cost, exclusions, limitations, and program overview. This brochure will be accessible through the North Shore-LIJ website as well. 3. Information updated on the Dedicated website: www.northshorelij.com

As one of AIDS United’s friends put it, “how about actually FUNDING syringe access programs like there is no tomorrow?”  We agree and well into the future, we will let Congress know that we must scale this program up! AIDS United also hopes to increase syringe access to more areas of the country including rural areas that are newly affected by the opioid crisis. Our friends at amfAR recently estimated that there are 194 syringe exchanges in 33 states, not nearly enough. AIDS United is working with coalitions across the country to fight stigma and make syringe access programs legal at the local level.

In 1988, 130 needle exchange programs were operational in the United States, with the coverage of these programs varying widely. In 1999, the US had 160 programs, whereas Australia had more than 2000 programs (Viahov et al, 2001). As of 2015 there are 31 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico that have NSEPs. What about the remaining 19 states, one may ask? Those states who excluded themselves from this program are governed by political ideologies like Mike Pence, former governor of Indiana, now the Vice President of US. Early state adopters like Washington (1988) and New York (1992) have seen the rates of injection related HIV infection declining as did other states that proceeded to implement NSEPs (Rich & Adashi, 2015). With this in mind, what happened in Indiana was predictable and

A needle exchange program instituted in Washington, DC, prevented 120 new cases of HIV infection and saved $44 million as a result, in just two years.

The need for broad participation in monitoring the outcomes of services (i.e health services or educational opportunities). This will go a long way in policy efficiency

In the film we saw that from blood transfusion in hemophiliacs, people could be infected by HIV, so using needles that go into your veins will do the same too. We have proven that further when people were infected with HIV during pox vaccination because they were using the same needle .40% of new HIV infection comes from IV drug users in the United States, the film showed us a couple more places where people were infected with HIV as well, for example Thailand, Russia and Africa. Therefore in places like Britain where it is populated needle exchange programs were created and administered to people, which immediately declined the number of people getting AIDS through IV drug use. In America, it didn’t work as well because the people were not getting federal funding and that the needle

On a policy level, this means prioritizing prenatal health, maternity/paternity leave, early childhood education, social programs for families, strong communities, and healthy lifestyles. Widespread public campaigns to increase awareness and support for these measures—similar to smoking cessation or HIV awareness—need to be implemented. Support for trauma-sensitive schools, services for children with special needs, and improved access to healthy food options, are all meaningful and valuable interventions.

In an interconnected world, the possibility for spreading diseases is incredibly high compared to centuries past. Notorious epidemics like the Black Plague or smallpox were relatively contained to a single continent, until the Europeans brought smallpox to the Americas. The HIV virus was an example of a rapidly spread virus that quickly made its way across the world, including North America, South America, Europe, Africa, and Australia (http://www.avert.org/professionals/history-hiv-aids/overview). In And the Band Played On, the doctors of The Center for Disease Control do their best to follow scientific standards while trying to deal with the disease, even with the politics of Reagan breathing down their neck. The issues they encounter are like the ideas proposed by Merton, Longino, and Douglas, particularly with the way they conduct the experiment and deal with the findings.