77 FR 21913 - Approval and Promulgation of State Implementation Plans; Hawaii; Infrastructure Requirements for...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-04-12

... Promulgation of State Implementation Plans; Hawaii; Infrastructure Requirements for the 1997 8-Hour Ozone and... requirements of Section 110(a)(1) and (2) of the Clean Air Act (CAA) for the 1997 8-hour ozone national ambient...): Air quality modeling and submission of modeling data. Section 110(a)(2)(L): Permitting fees. Section...

76 FR 2293 - Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Minnesota; Gopher Resource, LLC

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-01-13

... the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) on July 29, 2010, to revise the Minnesota State Implementation Plan (SIP) for lead (Pb) under the Clean Air Act (CAA). The State has submitted a joint Title I... that the conditions laid out with the citation ``Title I Condition: SIP for Lead NAAQS'' replace an...

76 FR 31263 - Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; State of California; Interstate Transport of...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-05-31

...EPA is proposing a limited approval and limited disapproval of a State Implementation Plan (``SIP'') revision submitted by the State of California on November 17, 2007, for the purpose of addressing the ``transport SIP'' provisions of Clean Air Act (``CAA'') section 110(a)(2)(D)(i) for the 1997 8-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS or standards) and the 1997 fine particulate matter (``PM2.5'') NAAQS. Section 110(a)(2)(D)(i) of the CAA requires that each SIP contain adequate provisions to prohibit emissions that adversely affect air quality in other States through interstate transport. EPA is proposing a limited approval and limited disapproval of California's SIP revision for the 1997 8-hour ozone and 1997 PM2.5 NAAQS with respect to the requirement in CAA section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II) that each SIP contain adequate measures prohibiting emissions of air pollutants in amounts which will interfere with other States' measures required under title I, part C of the CAA to prevent significant deterioration of air quality. Specifically, EPA is proposing to approve California's SIP revision with respect to those Districts in California that implement SIP-approved permit programs meeting the approval criteria under CAA section 110(a)(2)(D)(i), as discussed in this proposal. EPA is simultaneously proposing to disapprove California's SIP revision with respect to those Districts in California that do not implement SIP-approved permit programs meeting these approval criteria. For any District for which we finalize a disapproval, EPA intends to simultaneously promulgate a limited Federal Implementation Plan (``FIP''), as discussed in this proposal, unless the relevant area is already subject to a FIP.

IMPLEMENTING ACCOUNTABILITY WITHIN A MULTI-POLLUTANT AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK

EPA Science Inventory

In 2004, the National Research Council (NRC) published a major assessment of air quality management practices: Air Quality Management in the United States. The assessment resulted from a Congressional directive that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency commission the Nationa...

Air Quality Implementation Plans

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

States must develop plans to attain and maintain air quality standards. These plans, known as SIPs, are submitted to EPA for approval. This web site contains information about this process and the current status of the submittals.

75 FR 24406 - Revisions to the California State Implementation Plan, Placer County Air Pollution Control...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-05-05

... Metropolitan Air Quality Management District, San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District, and South Coast Air Quality Management District AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION... Air Pollution Control District (PCAPCD), Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District...

75 FR 24544 - Revisions to the California State Implementation Plan, Placer County Air Pollution Control...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-05-05

... Metropolitan Air Quality Management District, San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District, and South Coast Air Quality Management District AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION... District (PCAPCD), Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District (SMAQMD), San Joaquin Valley...

77 FR 18990 - Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; New Mexico; Construction Permit Fees

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-03-29

... reviewing and acting on specific air quality construction permit applications received by the New Mexico... Promulgation of Implementation Plans; New Mexico; Construction Permit Fees AGENCY: Environmental Protection... replace existing rules, and revisions to the applicable State Implementation Plan (SIP) for New Mexico...

Preservice Teachers' Adaptations to Tensions Associated with the edTPA during Its Early Implementation in New York and Washington States

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Meuwissen, Kevin W.; Choppin, Jeffrey M.

2015-01-01

The edTPA is a teaching performance assessment (TPA) that the states of New York and Washington implemented as a licensure requirement in 2013. While TPAs are not new modes of assessment, New York and Washington are the first states to use the edTPA specifically as a compulsory, high-stakes policy lever in an effort to strengthen the quality and…

78 FR 29306 - Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; Florida; Infrastructure Requirements for the...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-05-20

... quality modeling/data. 110(a)(2)(L): Permitting fees. 110(a)(2)(M): Consultation/participation by affected... state statutes, 403.131, Injunctive relief, remedies and 120.569(n) (relating to emergency orders) which allow the state to seek injunctive relief to prevent irreparable damage to air quality. In addition, the...

Participants' perceptions of the 1997-1998 Missouri State Parks Passport Program

Treesearch

Yi-Jin Ye; Jaclyn Card

2002-01-01

Service quality is increasingly important to park managers. Recreation and park evaluation measures the implementation and outcome of programs for decision-making. Decisions based on evaluations are often concerned with improving the quality of the program for participants. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the Missouri State Parks Passport Program (MSPPP) by...

Quality Online Resources and Supports for Educators Teaching the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Walters, Kirk; Smith, Toni; Leinwand, Steve; Ford, Jennifer; Scheopner Torres, Aubrey

2015-01-01

This study was designed in response to a request from rural educators in the Northeast for support in identifying high-quality online resources to implement the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSSM). The process for identifying online resources included selecting resources that had an easily navigable CCSSM organizational structure…

77 FR 63228 - Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-10-16

... alleviate air pollution, thus reducing poor air quality days. EPA agrees with this commenter. The Sierra... decision vacating the Cross State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR). The comments are provided in the dockets for..., the D.C. Circuit Court issued an opinion vacating the Cross State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR), which is...

SUMMARY OF EPA'S PARTICULATE MATTER SUPERSITES PROGRAM: RESULTS THAT CAN BE USED TO PREPARE AND EVALUATE STATE IMPLEMENTATION PLANS (SIPS)

EPA Science Inventory

In 1999, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) initiated a major air quality program referred to as the Particulate Matter (PM) Supersites Program. The PM Supersites Program is a multi-year, $27 million air quality program consisting of eight (8) regional air q...

76 FR 8300 - Finding of Failure To Submit State Implementation Plan Revisions for Particulate Matter, PM-10...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-02-14

.... SUMMARY: EPA is taking final action to find that Arizona failed to make a state implementation plan (SIP... nonattainment area which, having failed to attain the PM-10 National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) by... today finding that Arizona failed to make the submittal required for the Maricopa area under section 189...

The Indiana University Center for Healthcare Innovation and Implementation Science: Bridging healthcare research and delivery to build a learning healthcare system.

PubMed

Azar, Jose; Adams, Nadia; Boustani, Malaz

2015-01-01

In the United States, it is estimated that 75,000 deaths every year could be averted if the healthcare system implemented high quality care more effectively and efficiently. Patient harm in the hospital occurs as a consequence of inadequate procedures, medications and other therapies, nosocomial infections, diagnostic evaluations and patient falls. Implementation science, a new emerging field in healthcare, is the development and study of methods and tools aimed at enhancing the implementation of new discoveries and evidence into daily healthcare delivery. The Indiana University Center for Healthcare Innovation and Implementation Science (IU-CHIIS) was launched in September 2013 with the mission to use implementation science and innovation to produce great-quality, patient-centered and cost-efficient healthcare delivery solutions for the United States of America. Within the first 24 months of its initiation, the IU-CHIIS successfully scaled up an evidence-based collaborative care model for people with dementia and/or depression, successfully expanded the Accountable Care Unit model positively impacting the efficiency and quality of care, created the first Certificate in Innovation and Implementation Science in the US and secured funding from National Institutes of Health to investigate innovations in dementia care. This article summarizes the establishment of the IU-CHIIS, its impact and outcomes and the lessons learned during the journey. Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier GmbH.

The strategy for improving water-quality monitoring in the United States; final report of the Intergovernmental Task Force on Monitoring Water Quality; technical appendices

USGS Publications Warehouse

,

1995-01-01

The Intergovernmental Task Force on Monitoring Water Quality (ITFM) prepared this report in collaboration with representatives of all levels of government and the private sector. The report recommends a strategy for nationwide water-quality monitoring and technical monitoring improvements to support sound water-quality decisionmaking. The strategy is intended to achieve a better return on public and private investments in monitoring, environmental protection, and natural resources management. It is also designed to expand the base of information useful to a variety of users at multiple geographic scales. Institutional and technical changes are needed to improve water-quality monitoring and to meet the full range of monitoring requirements. Monitoring must be incorporated as a critical element of program planning, implementation, and evaluation. The strategy includes recommendations in many key elements, such as the development of goal-oriented monitoring and indicators, institutional collaboration, and methods comparability. Initial actions have been taken to implement the strategy. Several Federal agencies have jointly purchased and shared remotely sensed land-cover information needed for water assessment. Major agency data systems are using common data-element names and reference tables that will ensure easy sharing of data. A number of States have held meetings with collectors of water information to initiate statewide monitoring strategies. New monitoring guidance has been developed for Federal water-quality grants to States. Many State offices have changed monitoring programs to place emphasis on priority watersheds and to improve assessment of water quality. As the competition increases for adequate supplies of clean water, concerns about public health and the environment escalate, and more demands are placed on the water information infrastructure. To meet these demands, the collaborative approach has already produced benefits, which will continue to grow as the recommendations are implemented

The Culture for Quality: Effective Faculty Teams.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

VanDyke, Patt, Ed.

This book contains eight chapters by faculty at Northwest Missouri State University (NMSU) describing their experiences in academic teams implementing the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award criteria in terms of adapting the process to the classroom. An introductory chapter is titled "Developing the Culture for Quality," (Annelle…

76 FR 81727 - Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; Oklahoma; Federal Implementation Plan for...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-12-28

...EPA is partially approving and partially disapproving a revision to the Oklahoma State Implementation Plan (SIP) submitted by the State of Oklahoma through the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality on February 19, 2010, intended to address the regional haze requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA). In addition, EPA is partially approving and partially disapproving a portion of a revision to the Oklahoma SIP submitted by the State of Oklahoma on May 10, 2007 and supplemented on December 10, 2007 to address the requirements of CAA section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II) as it applies to visibility for the 1997 8- hour ozone and 1997 fine particulate matter National Ambient Air Quality Standards. This CAA requirement is intended to prevent emissions from one state from interfering with the visibility programs in another state. EPA is approving certain core elements of the SIP including Oklahoma's: determination of baseline and natural visibility conditions; coordinating regional haze and reasonably attributable visibility impairment; monitoring strategy and other implementation requirements; coordination with states and Federal Land Managers; and a number of NOX, SO2, and PM BART determinations. EPA is finding that Oklahoma's regional haze SIP did not address the sulfur dioxide Best Available Retrofit Technology requirements for six units in Oklahoma in accordance with the Regional Haze requirements, or the requirement to prevent interference with other states' visibility programs. EPA is promulgating a Federal Implementation Plan to address these deficiencies by requiring emissions to be reduced at these six units. This action is being taken under section 110 and part C of the CAA.

Development and implementation of a remote-sensing and in situ data-assimilating version of CMAQ for operational PM2.5 forecasting. Part 1: MODIS aerosol optical depth (AOD) data-assimilation design and testing.

PubMed

McHenry, John N; Vukovich, Jeffery M; Hsu, N Christina

2015-12-01

This two-part paper reports on the development, implementation, and improvement of a version of the Community Multi-Scale Air Quality (CMAQ) model that assimilates real-time remotely-sensed aerosol optical depth (AOD) information and ground-based PM2.5 monitor data in routine prognostic application. The model is being used by operational air quality forecasters to help guide their daily issuance of state or local-agency-based air quality alerts (e.g. action days, health advisories). Part 1 describes the development and testing of the initial assimilation capability, which was implemented offline in partnership with NASA and the Visibility Improvement State and Tribal Association of the Southeast (VISTAS) Regional Planning Organization (RPO). In the initial effort, MODIS-derived aerosol optical depth (AOD) data are input into a variational data-assimilation scheme using both the traditional Dark Target and relatively new "Deep Blue" retrieval methods. Evaluation of the developmental offline version, reported in Part 1 here, showed sufficient promise to implement the capability within the online, prognostic operational model described in Part 2. In Part 2, the addition of real-time surface PM2.5 monitoring data to improve the assimilation and an initial evaluation of the prognostic modeling system across the continental United States (CONUS) is presented. Air quality forecasts are now routinely used to understand when air pollution may reach unhealthy levels. For the first time, an operational air quality forecast model that includes the assimilation of remotely-sensed aerosol optical depth and ground based PM2.5 observations is being used. The assimilation enables quantifiable improvements in model forecast skill, which improves confidence in the accuracy of the officially-issued forecasts. This helps air quality stakeholders be more effective in taking mitigating actions (reducing power consumption, ride-sharing, etc.) and avoiding exposures that could otherwise result in more serious air quality episodes or more deleterious health effects.

76 FR 25652 - Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; North Dakota; Revisions to the Air...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-05-05

...EPA is proposing to approve revisions to the North Dakota State Implementation Plan that the Governor of North Dakota submitted with a letter dated April 6, 2009. The revisions affect North Dakota's air pollution control rules regarding general provisions (including rules regarding shutdowns and malfunctions), ambient air quality standards, emissions of particulate matter, permitting, and fees. In addition, EPA is proposing administrative corrections to the regulatory text for North Dakota that will be codified in the Code of Federal Regulations; we made errors in the identification of plan table when we approved the North Dakota State Implementation Plan revisions for Interstate Transport of pollution, which the Governor also submitted on April 6, 2009. This action is being taken under section 110 of the Clean Air Act.

76 FR 41123 - Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; Mississippi; 110(a)(1) and (2) Infrastructure...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-07-13

...EPA is taking final action to approve the December 7, 2007, submission by the State of Mississippi, through the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) as demonstrating that the State meets the implementation plan (SIP) requirements of sections 110(a)(1) and (2) of the Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act) for the 1997 8- hour ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS). Section 110(a) of the CAA requires that each state adopt and submit a SIP for the implementation, maintenance, and enforcement of each NAAQS promulgated by the EPA, which is commonly referred to as an ``infrastructure'' SIP. Mississippi certified that the Mississippi SIP contains provisions that ensure the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS is implemented, enforced, and maintained in Mississippi (hereafter referred to as ``infrastructure submission''). Mississippi's infrastructure submission, provided to EPA on December 7, 2007, addressed all the required infrastructure elements for the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS. Additionally, EPA is responding to adverse comments received on EPA's March 17, 2011, proposed approval of Mississippi's December 7, 2007, infrastructure submission.

78 FR 6783 - Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Minnesota; Flint Hills Resources...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-01-31

..., 2011, request for revision to the Minnesota sulfur dioxide State Implementation Plan for Flint Hills... in a decrease in sulfur dioxide emissions, EPA proposes to approve the revision. DATES: Comments must...

Policy and Technical Guidance for State and Local Transportation

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

This page contains policy guidance issued by EPA and/or the U.S. Department of Transportation to assist state and local transportation and air quality agencies implement the transportation conformity program.

Assessment of data quality and reporting systems for underserved populations: the case of integrated community case management programs in Nigeria.

PubMed

Nyangara, Florence M; Hai, Tajrina; Zalisk, Kirsten; Ozor, Lynda; Ufere, Joy; Isiguzo, Chinwoke; Abubakar, Ibrahim Ndaliman

2018-05-01

Decision makers are searching for reliable data and best practices to support the implementation and scale-up of the integrated community case management (iCCM) programs in underserved areas to reduce under-five mortality in low-income countries. This study assesses data quality and reporting systems of the World Health Organization supported Rapid Access Expansion program implementing iCCM in Abia and Niger States, Nigeria. This cross-sectional study used data from 16 primary health facilities in both states. Data were collected through review of registers and monthly summary reports of 140 community-oriented resource persons (CORPs), assessments of the five dimensions of the data reporting systems and 46 key informant interviews with stakeholders. Data quality was assessed by availability, completeness and consistency. Each component of the reporting system was assessed on a 3-point scale (weak, satisfactory and strong). Results show that both the structure, functions and capabilities, as well as data collection and reporting tools dimensions of the reporting system were strong, scoring (2.80, 2.73) for Abia and (2.88, 2.75) for Niger, respectively. Data management processes and links with national reporting system components scored low 2 s, indicating fair strength. Data availability, completeness and consistency were found to be good, an indication of adequate training and supervision of CORPs and community health extension workers. Indicator definitions and reporting guidelines were the weakest dimension of the system due to lack of data reporting guidelines in both states. In conclusion, the results indicate satisfactory data reporting systems and good quality data during early implementation of iCCM programs in the two states. Hence, countries planning to adopt and implement iCCM programs should first develop structures, establish national standardized tools for collecting and reporting data, provide for adequate training and supervision of community health workers and develop reporting guidelines for all reporting levels to ensure data quality.

Information Management System for the California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Heald, T. C.; Redmann, G. H.

1973-01-01

A study was made to establish the requirements for an integrated state-wide information management system for water quality control and water quality rights for the State of California. The data sources and end requirements were analyzed for the data collected and used by the numerous agencies, both State and Federal, as well as the nine Regional Boards under the jurisdiction of the State Board. The report details the data interfaces and outlines the system design. A program plan and statement of work for implementation of the project is included.

77 FR 23130 - Revisions to the California State Implementation Plan, Northern Sierra and Sacramento...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-04-18

... taking direct final action to approve revisions to the Northern Sierra Air Quality Management District (NSAQMD) and Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District (SMAQMD) portions of the California...) Northern Sierra Air Quality Management District. (i) Flexible Package Printing, Flat Wood Paneling Coatings...

Quality Improvement Initiative in School-Based Health Centers across New Mexico

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Booker, John M.; Schluter, Janette A.; Carrillo, Kris; McGrath, Jane

2011-01-01

Background: Quality improvement principles have been applied extensively to health care organizations, but implementation of quality improvement methods in school-based health centers (SBHCs) remains in a developmental stage with demonstration projects under way in individual states and nationally. Rural areas, such as New Mexico, benefit from the…

Educational Quality, Outcomes Assessment, and Policy Change: The Virginia Example

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Culver, Steve

2010-01-01

The higher education system in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States provides a case model for how discussions regarding educational quality and assessment of that quality have affected institutions' policy decisions and implementation. Using Levin's (1998) policy analysis framework, this essay explores how assessment of student…

Association of trends in US ambient air quality and cardiovascular mortality for 2000-2010

EPA Science Inventory

With the implementation of the Clean Air Act’s National Ambient Air Quality Standards, air quality in the United States has notably improved. Here we investigate whether declining levels of air pollutants are associated with improvements in human health. We examine the re...

Discrete State Change Model of Manufacturing Quality to Aid Assembly Process Design

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Koga, Tsuyoshi; Aoyama, Kazuhiro

This paper proposes a representation model of the quality state change in an assembly process that can be used in a computer-aided process design system. In order to formalize the state change of the manufacturing quality in the assembly process, the functions, operations, and quality changes in the assembly process are represented as a network model that can simulate discrete events. This paper also develops a design method for the assembly process. The design method calculates the space of quality state change and outputs a better assembly process (better operations and better sequences) that can be used to obtain the intended quality state of the final product. A computational redesigning algorithm of the assembly process that considers the manufacturing quality is developed. The proposed method can be used to design an improved manufacturing process by simulating the quality state change. A prototype system for planning an assembly process is implemented and applied to the design of an auto-breaker assembly process. The result of the design example indicates that the proposed assembly process planning method outputs a better manufacturing scenario based on the simulation of the quality state change.

75 FR 55978 - Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Texas; Revisions to the New Source...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-09-15

... Implementation Plan (SIP); Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency... Texas PSD State Implementation Plan (SIP). EPA is approving a SIP revision submitted February 1, 2006... Texas PSD SIP; it merely approves reorganization and renumbering of the Texas PSD SIP rules. Further...

Examining Health Information Technology Implementation Success Factors in Critical Access Hospitals

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Monkman, Blake D.

2016-01-01

As the role of information technology increases throughout the world, healthcare providers in the United States face industry and governmental pressures to implement health information technology (HIT) as a tool to improve healthcare costs, quality, and safety. The problem addressed in this study was the relatively low HIT implementation success…

Implementing subgrid-scale cloudiness into the Model for Prediction Across Scales-Atmosphere (MPAS-A) for next generation global air quality modeling

EPA Science Inventory

A next generation air quality modeling system is being developed at the U.S. EPA to enable seamless modeling of air quality from global to regional to (eventually) local scales. State of the science chemistry and aerosol modules from the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) mo...

76 FR 6376 - Approval of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Indiana and Ohio; Disapproval of Interstate...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-02-04

... impact. EPA stated that the State's conclusion should be supported by an adequate technical analysis. EPA... technical analysis, no such analysis was provided by IDEM justifying that these measures are sufficient to... a State's [[Page 6379

78 FR 65590 - Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Indiana; Indiana PM2.5

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-11-01

...EPA is proposing to approve revisions to Indiana's state implementation plan as requested by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) to EPA on July 12, 2012, and December 12, 2012. The revisions to Indiana's state implementation plan (SIP) implement certain EPA regulations for particulate matter smaller than 2.5 micrometers (PM2.5) by establishing definitions related to PM2.5, defining PM2.5 increment levels, and setting PM2.5 class 1 variances. The revisions also incorporate definitions and regulations that recognize nitrogen oxides (NOX) as an ozone precursor.

[General practitioners' opinion and attitude towards DMPs and the change in practice routines to implement the DMP "diabetes mellitus type 2"].

PubMed

Miksch, Antje; Trieschmann, Johanna; Ose, Dominik; Rölz, Andreas; Heiderhoff, Marc; Szecsenyi, Joachim

2011-01-01

Effective implementation of disease management programmes (DMPs) in primary care practices often requires changes in practice workflows and responsibilities and acceptance by the parties involved. Within the ELSID study (evaluation study of the DMP diabetes mellitus type 2) the physicians' attitudes toward DMPs were obtained and an optimised implementation of DMPs was developed by conducting a quality management cycle with primary care practice teams. The aim was to investigate which practice workflows will have to be changed and what kind of barriers to implement these changes are perceived. In 78 primary care practices of the two German federal states of Rheinland-Pfalz and Sachsen-Anhalt a quality management cycle was conducted using a structured analysis of the current state of DMP workflows and the need for improvement identified. Subsequently, an optimised workflow was developed and targets were agreed upon. After 6 months, the study team called to inquire about the current state of implementation and, if appropriate, actual barriers to change. After 6 months, 71 practices had been interviewed by phone. 64 of them (90.1%) had agreed on at least one target (e.g., to purchase new instrumentation, to regularly discuss feedback reports, to set up a patient registry). On average three targets had been formulated, and 2 out of 3 had been implemented in the meantime. In most cases lack of time was given as the reason for non-implementation. The majority of surveyed practices perceived some need for improvement. But sufficient resources (time, staff and money) are required to ensure efficient implementation of DMPs in primary care practices and their integration with routine processes. A redefinition of responsibilities for DMPs will strengthen the role of medical assistants and promote high-quality implementation of these programmes. Copyright © 2010. Published by Elsevier GmbH.

2008 Lead (Pb) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) Implementation Actions Fact Sheets

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

This page contains the fact sheets for the 2008 Lead (Pb) NAAQS. These actions deal with the finding of failure to submit various portions of the State Implementation Plans (SIPs) for the 2008 Lead NAAQS.

77 FR 11858 - Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; State of North Carolina; Regional...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-02-28

...EPA is proposing a limited approval of a revision to the North Carolina state implementation plan (SIP) submitted by the State of North Carolina through the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Division of Air Quality (NCDAQ), on December 17, 2007, that addresses regional haze for the first implementation period. This revision addresses the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA) and EPA's rules that require states to prevent any future and remedy any existing anthropogenic impairment of visibility in mandatory Class I areas (national parks and wilderness areas) caused by emissions of air pollutants from numerous sources located over a wide geographic area (also referred to as the ``regional haze program''). States are required to assure reasonable progress toward the national goal of achieving natural visibility conditions in Class I areas. EPA is proposing a limited approval of this SIP revision to implement the regional haze requirements for North Carolina on the basis that the revision, as a whole, strengthens the North Carolina SIP. In a separate action, EPA has proposed a limited disapproval of the North Carolina regional haze SIP because of deficiencies in the State's regional haze SIP submittal arising from the remand by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (DC Circuit) to EPA of the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR). Consequently, EPA is not proposing to take action in this rulemaking to address the State's reliance on CAIR to meet certain regional haze requirements.

Adequacy Review of State Implementation Plan (SIP) Submissions for Conformity

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

This page is for state and local air quality regulators and transportation planners that offers guidance on how to reduce air pollution from cars, diesel trucks, city and school buses, construction equipme

State landscape in public health planning and quality improvement: results of the ASTHO survey.

PubMed

Madamala, Kusuma; Sellers, Katie; Pearsol, Jim; Dickey, Michael; Jarris, Paul E

2010-01-01

Limited data exist on state public health agencies and their use of planning and quality improvement (QI) initiatives. Using the 2007 Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) State Public Health Survey, this article describes how state public health agencies perform tasks related to planning, performance management (PM), and QI. While 82 percent of respondents report having a QI process in place, only 9.8 percent have it fully implemented departmentwide. Seventy-six percent reported having a PM process in place, with 16 percent (n = 8) having it fully implemented departmentwide. A state health improvement plan was used by 80.4 percent of respondents, with 56.9 percent of respondents completing the plan more than 3 years ago. More than two-thirds (68.2%) of the respondents developed the plan by using results of their state health assessment. Analysis of state health department level planning, PM, and QI initiatives can inform states' efforts to ready themselves to meet the proposed national voluntary accreditation standards of the Public Health Accreditation Board.

76 FR 19292 - Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; Oregon; Interstate Transport of Pollution...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-04-07

...EPA is proposing to approve a portion of the State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Oregon for the purpose of addressing the interstate transport provisions of Clean Air Act (CAA) section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) for the 1997 8-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS or standards) and the 1997 fine particulate matter (PM2.5) NAAQS. Section 110(a)(2)(D)(i) of the CAA requires that each State have adequate provisions to prohibit air emissions from adversely affecting air quality in other States through interstate transport. EPA is proposing to approve Oregon's SIP revision for the 1997 8-hour ozone and 1997 PM2.5 NAAQS as meeting the requirements of CAA section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) to prohibit emissions that will contribute significantly to nonattainment of the these standards in any other State and to prohibit emissions that will interfere with maintenance of these standards by any other State.

78 FR 57501 - Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Wisconsin; Amendments to Vehicle...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-09-19

...EPA is approving a state implementation plan (SIP) revision submitted by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources on June 7, 2012, concerning the state's vehicle inspection and maintenance (I/M) program in southeast Wisconsin. The revision amends I/M program requirements in the active control measures portion of the ozone SIP to reflect changes that have been implemented at the state level since EPA fully approved the I/M program on August 16, 2001. The submittal also includes a demonstration under section 110(l) of the Clean Air Act (CAA) addressing lost emission reductions associated with the program changes.

Implementing United States Pharmacopeia Chapter <1163> quality assurance in pharmaceutical compounding, Part 5: Outsourcing and responsible personnel.

PubMed

Allen, Loyd V

2012-01-01

This final installment of a five-part series relating to United States Pharmacopeia Chapter <1163> provides the pros and cons of outsourcing, an extremely important topic because of the many drug shortages and discontinued drugs being experienced, and provides a brief discussion of the importance of having a responsible employee in charge of the quality-assurance program.

Implementation of Total Employee Involvement as Part of a Continuous Improvement Program at a Fortune 500 Company

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Carlson, Kathy Lynn

2012-01-01

Over the last several decades, Continuous Improvement (CI) type initiatives have been implemented in companies across the United States to improve quality, reduce process variation, eliminate waste and ultimately reduce costs. Approximately five years ago, one particular Fortune 500 company implemented CI in its manufacturing facilities. A key…

76 FR 79604 - Effective Date for the Water Quality Standards for the State of Florida's Lakes and Flowing Waters

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-12-22

... quality in Florida may be interested in this rulemaking. Entities discharging nitrogen or phosphorus to.../phosphorus pollution in Florida's waters may be affected through implementation of Florida's water quality... inland waters rule established numeric nutrient criteria in the form of total nitrogen, total phosphorus...

A Blueprint for Early Care and Education Quality Improvement Initiatives. Publication #2015-07

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tout, Kathryn; Epstein, Dale; Soli, Meg; Lowe, Claire

2015-01-01

As Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS) continue to launch and mature across states, questions emerge from stakeholders about how to design and implement effective quality improvement (QI) initiatives that accompany a QRIS. Funders, policymakers, and program developers with limited resources are looking to invest in activities that will…

Technical Data and Reports on Nitrogen Dioxide Measurements and SIP Status

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

EPA collects data from the states and regions on their air quality and state implementation plan (SIP) progress. This information is compiled in a database, and used to create reports, trend charts, and maps.

Technical Data and Reports on Carbon Monoxide Measurements and SIP Status

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

EPA collects data from the states and regions on their air quality and state implementation plan (SIP) progress. This information is compiled in a database, and used to create reports, trend charts, and maps.

How is Pet Coke Regulated?

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

No emission standards apply specifically to the storage and handling of petroleum coke, but National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for particulate matter (PM10) do apply, so states have regulations as part of their Air State Implementation Plan.

Baseline Year for the Baseline Year Test (in 40 CFR 93.119)

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

EPA OTAQ's State and Local Transportation Resources are for air quality and transportation government and community leaders. Updates on the adequacy of state implementation plans (SIPs), and transportation conformity regulations and guidance

Infrastructure SIP Requirements and Guidance

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

The Clean Air Act requires states to submit SIPs that implement, maintain, and enforce a new or revised national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) within 3 years of EPA issuing the standard. The Infrastructure SIP is required for all states.

Implementation of the Child Care and Development Block Grant: a research synthesis.

PubMed

Cohen, Sally S; Lord, Heather

2005-01-01

The Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) is the largest source of state and federal child care assistance. Between 1996-2004, the number of reports on state implementation of the CCDBG soared. Using the matrix method, this article synthesizes 39 reports from public and private entities on how states differed in the use of CCDBG funds. We found considerable variation among states with regard to populations served, financing of child care through CCDBG and TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families), administration of the CCDBG, and use of its quality set-asides. This issue is of prime importance to nurses who work with low-income families with children, especially because quality, accessibility and affordability of child care affects a child's emotional, social, cognitive, and physical development. The CCDBG reauthorization and annual appropriations are currently on the congressional agenda and warrant nurse's input for ongoing sustainability and support. Recommendations for policy and future research are included.

78 FR 53113 - Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; California; San Joaquin Valley; Contingency...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-08-28

...EPA is proposing to approve a state implementation plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of California to address Clean Air Act nonattainment area contingency measure requirements for the 1997 annual and 24-hour fine particulate matter (PM2.5) national ambient air quality standards in the San Joaquin Valley. Final approval of this SIP revision would terminate the sanctions clocks and a federal implementation plan clock that were triggered by EPA's partial disapproval of a related SIP submission on November 9, 2011 (76 FR 69896).

Assessment of candidate communications systems and technologies for use with intelligent transportation systems (ITS) : task D/E report

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1997-11-01

The Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 (CAAA) require that states submit State Implementation Plans (SIPs) detailing strategies to improve air quality in nonattainment areas. This analysis first reviews the administrative procedures that states and the...

76 FR 59090 - Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; Oregon: New Source Review/Prevention of...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-09-23

...EPA is proposing to approve a portion of the State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Oregon for the purpose of addressing the third element of the interstate transport provisions of Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act) section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II) for the 1997 8-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS or standards) and the 1997 and 2006 fine particulate matter (PM2.5) NAAQS. The third element of CAA section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II) requires that a State not interfere with any other State's required measures to prevent significant deterioration (PSD) of its air quality. EPA is also proposing to approve numerous revisions to the Oregon SIP that were submitted to EPA by the State of Oregon on October 8, 2008; October 10, 2008; March 17, 2009; June 23, 2010; December 22, 2010 and May 5, 2011. The revisions include updating Oregon's new source review (NSR) rules to be consistent with current Federal regulations and streamlining Oregon's air quality rules by clarifying requirements, removing duplicative rules, and correcting errors. The revisions were submitted in accordance with the requirements of section 110 and part D of the Act).

76 FR 43159 - Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plan; Georgia; Disapproval of Interstate...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-07-20

... stated that the state's conclusion should be supported by an adequate technical analysis. Second, EPA...'' provisions, the state's SIP revision must be supported by an adequate technical analysis, including, but not..., proposed disapproval where the Agency states: ``* * * without an adequate technical analysis EPA does not...

State Regulatory Enforcement and Nursing Home Termination from the Medicare and Medicaid Programs

PubMed Central

Li, Yue; Harrington, Charlene; Spector, William D; Mukamel, Dana B

2010-01-01

Objectives Nursing homes certified by the Medicare and/or Medicaid program are subject to federally mandated and state-enforced quality and safety standards. We examined the relationship between state quality enforcement and nursing home terminations from the two programs. Study Design Using data from a survey of state licensure and certification agencies and other secondary databases, we performed bivariate and multivariate analyses on the strength of state quality regulation in 2005, and nursing home voluntary terminations (decisions made by the facility) or involuntary terminations (imposed by the state) in 2006–2007. Principal Findings Involuntary terminations were rarely imposed by state regulators, while voluntary terminations were relatively more common (2.16 percent in 2006–2007) and varied considerably across states. After controlling for facility, market, and state covariates, nursing homes in states implementing stronger quality enforcement were more likely to voluntarily terminate from the Medicare and Medicaid programs (odds ratio=1.53, p=.018). Conclusions Although involuntary nursing home terminations occurred rarely in most states, nursing homes in states with stronger quality regulations tend to voluntarily exit the publicly financed market. Because of the consequences of voluntary terminations on patient care and access, state regulators need to consider the effects of increased enforcement on both enhanced quality and the costs of termination. PMID:20819106

76 FR 24372 - Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Delaware; Update to Materials...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-05-02

... Emissions From Industrial Process Operations New Castle County.'' 12. Regulation 1112 ``Control of Nitrogen... the State Implementation Plans.'' 25. Regulation 1139 ``Nitrogen Oxides (NO X ) Budget Trading Program... by reference, Intergovernmental relations, Lead, Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone, Particulate matter...

Green Infrastructure in Kansas City

EPA Science Inventory

We use the state-of-the-art WRF-CMAQ coupled model to simulate the likely effects of a GI implementation strategy in Kansas City, MO/KS on regional meteorology and air quality changes. Two different land surface schemes (Pleim-Xiu and Noah) were implemented to characterize the di...

Water quality facility investigation report : final summary of project and evaluation of monitoring plan implementation.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2005-07-05

The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) has installed several stormwater : treatment facilities throughout the State to improve the quality of runoff discharged from : highways. These facilities include a variety of both above ground and below...

Technical Data and Reports on Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) Measurements and SIP Status

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

EPA collects data from the states and regions on their air quality and state implementation plan (SIP) progress. This information is compiled in a database, and used to create reports, trend charts, and maps.

Ensuring quality: a key consideration in scaling-up HIV-related point-of-care testing programs

PubMed Central

Fonjungo, Peter N.; Osmanov, Saladin; Kuritsky, Joel; Ndihokubwayo, Jean Bosco; Bachanas, Pam; Peeling, Rosanna W.; Timperi, Ralph; Fine, Glenn; Stevens, Wendy; Habiyambere, Vincent; Nkengasong, John N.

2016-01-01

Objective: The objective of the WHO/US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief consultation was to discuss innovative strategies, offer guidance, and develop a comprehensive policy framework for implementing quality-assured HIV-related point-of-care testing (POCT). Methods: The consultation was attended by representatives from international agencies (WHO, UNICEF, UNITAID, Clinton Health Access Initiative), United States Agency for International Development, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief Cooperative Agreement Partners, and experts from more than 25 countries, including policy makers, clinicians, laboratory experts, and program implementers. Main outcomes: There was strong consensus among all participants that ensuring access to quality of POCT represents one of the key challenges for the success of HIV prevention, treatment, and care programs. The following four strategies were recommended: implement a newly proposed concept of a sustainable quality assurance cycle that includes careful planning; definition of goals and targets; timely implementation; continuous monitoring; improvements and adjustments, where necessary; and a detailed evaluation; the importance of supporting a cadre of workers [e.g. volunteer quality corps (Q-Corps)] with the role to ensure that the quality assurance cycle is followed and sustained; implementation of the new strategy should be seen as a step-wise process, supported by development of appropriate policies and tools; and joint partnership under the leadership of the ministries of health to ensure sustainability of implementing novel approaches. Conclusion: The outcomes of this consultation have been well received by program implementers in the field. The recommendations also laid the groundwork for developing key policy and quality documents for the implementation of HIV-related POCT. PMID:26807969

National quality improvement policies and strategies in European healthcare systems.

PubMed

Spencer, E; Walshe, K

2009-02-01

This survey provides an overview of the development of policies and strategies for quality improvement in European healthcare systems, by mapping quality improvement policies and strategies, progress in their implementation, and early indications of their impact. A survey of quality improvement policies and strategies in healthcare systems of the European Union was conducted in 2005 for the first phase of the Methods of Assessing Response to Quality Improvement Strategies (MARQuIS) project. The survey, completed by 68 key experts in quality improvement from 24 European Union member states, represents their views and accounts of quality improvement policies and strategies in their healthcare systems. There are substantial international and intra-national variations in the development of healthcare quality improvement. Legal requirements for quality improvement strategies are an important driver of progress, along with the activities of national governments and professional associations and societies. Patient and service user organisations appear to have less influence on quality improvement. Wide variation in voluntary and mandatory coverage of quality improvement policies and strategies across sectors can potentially lead to varying levels of progress in implementation. Many healthcare organisations lack basic infrastructure for quality improvement. Some convergence can be observed in policies on quality improvement in healthcare. Nevertheless, the growth of patient mobility across borders, along with the implications of free market provisions for the organisation and funding of healthcare systems in European Union member states, require policies for cooperation and learning transfer.

Toward an evidence-based system for innovation support for implementing innovations with quality: tools, training, technical assistance, and quality assurance/quality improvement.

PubMed

Wandersman, Abraham; Chien, Victoria H; Katz, Jason

2012-12-01

An individual or organization that sets out to implement an innovation (e.g., a new technology, program, or policy) generally requires support. In the Interactive Systems Framework for Dissemination and Implementation, a Support System should work with Delivery Systems (national, state and/or local entities such as health and human service organizations, community-based organizations, schools) to enhance their capacity for quality implementation of innovations. The literature on the Support System [corrected] has been underresearched and under-developedThis article begins to conceptualize theory, research, and action for an evidence-based system for innovation support (EBSIS). EBSIS describes key priorities for strengthening the science and practice of support. The major goal of EBSIS is to enhance the research and practice of support in order to build capacity in the Delivery System for implementing innovations with quality, and thereby, help the Delivery System achieve outcomes. EBSIS is guided by a logic model that includes four key support components: tools, training, technical assistance, and quality assurance/quality improvement. EBSIS uses the Getting To Outcomes approach to accountability to aid the identification and synthesis of concepts, tools, and evidence for support. We conclude with some discussion of the current status of EBSIS and possible next steps, including the development of collaborative researcher-practitioner-funder-consumer partnerships to accelerate accumulation of knowledge on the Support System.

Teachers Collaborate across State Lines to Design High-Quality Units

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vasudeva, Ash; Slamp, Amy

2016-01-01

With states and districts across the country implementing the Common Core State Standards, teachers have more opportunities than ever to collaborate around the shared goals of strengthening curriculum design, classroom practices, and student learning. Building from this premise, the Common Assignment Study (CAS) has brought together teams of…

Utilization Management in Department of Defense Military Treatment Facilities

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-07-01

Health Affairs) Mendez (1992) clearly states that his plan is for the military health services system’s quality assessment and criteria to become more...also worthy of note that second surgical opinions are not part of Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs) Mendez ’ (1992) memonrandur on...Affairs) Mendez ’ (1992) quality management policy already states that military medical treatment facilities will begin to implement utilization

After The Demonstration: What States Sustained After the End of Federal Grants to Improve Children’s Health Care Quality

PubMed Central

Brach, Cindy; Anglin, Grace; Devers, Kelly J.; Burton, Rachel

2018-01-01

Introduction Under the CHIPRA Quality Demonstration Grant Program, CMS awarded $100 million through 10 grants that 18 state Medicaid agencies implemented between 2010 and 2015. The program’s legislatively-mandated purpose was to evaluate promising ideas for improving the quality of children’s health care provided through Medicaid and CHIP. As part of the program’s multifaceted evaluation, this study examined the extent to which states sustained key program activities after the demonstration ended. Methods We identified 115 potentially sustainable elements within states’ CHIPRA demonstrations and analyzed data from grantee reports and key informant interviews to assess sustainment outcomes and key influential factors. We also assessed sustainment of the projects’ intellectual capital. Results 56% of potentially sustainable elements were sustained. Sustainment varied by topic area: Elements related to quality measure reporting and practice facilitation were more likely to be sustained than others, such as parent advisors. Broad contextual factors, the state’s Medicaid environment, implementation partners’ resources, and characteristics of the demonstration itself all shaped sustainment outcomes. Discussion Assessing sustainment of key elements of states’ CHIPRA quality demonstration projects provides insight into the fates of the “promising ideas” that the grant program was designed to examine. As a result of the federal government’s investment in this grant program, many demonstration states are in a strong position to extend and spread specific strategies for improving the quality of care for children in Medicaid and CHIP. Our findings provide insights for policymakers and providers working to improve the quality of health care for low income children. PMID:29119478

Effects of State Minimum Staffing Standards on Nursing Home Staffing and Quality of Care

PubMed Central

Park, Jeongyoung; Stearns, Sally C

2009-01-01

Objective To investigate the impact of state minimum staffing standards on the level of staffing and quality of nursing home care. Data Sources Online Survey and Certification Reporting System (OSCAR) merged with the Area Resource File from 1998 through 2001. Study Design Between 1998 and 2001, 16 states implemented or expanded staffing standards in excess of federal requirements, creating a natural experiment in comparison with facilities in states without new standards. Difference-in-differences models using facility fixed effects were estimated to determine the effect of state standards. Data Collection/Extraction Methods OSCAR data were linked to the data on market conditions and state policies. A total of 55,248 facility-year observations from 15,217 freestanding facilities were analyzed. Principal Findings Increased standards resulted in small staffing increases for facilities with staffing initially below or close to new standards. Yet the standards were associated with reductions in restraint use and the number of total deficiencies at all types of facilities. Conclusions Mandated staffing standards affect only low-staff facilities facing potential for penalties, and effects are small. Selected facility-level outcomes may show improvement at all facilities due to a general response to increased standards or to other quality initiatives implemented at the same time as staffing standards. PMID:18823448

77 FR 42997 - Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; Tennessee; 110(a)(1) and (2) Infrastructure...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-07-23

...-Hour Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION... ambient air quality standards (NAAQS). Section 110(a) of the CAA requires that each state adopt and submit... National Ambient Air Quality Standards.'' \\1\\ Two elements identified in section 110(a)(2) are not governed...

77 FR 55417 - Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; West Virginia; Section 110(a)(2...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-09-10

... for the 2008 Lead National Ambient Air Quality Standards AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA... national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS). DATES: This final rule is effective on October 10, 2012... promulgation of such NAAQS. Section 110(a)(2) of the CAA directs all states to develop and maintain an air...

77 FR 50973 - Revision to the South Coast Portion of the California State Implementation Plan, CPV Sentinel...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-08-23

... we are adding to our docket to revise the South Coast Air Quality Management District (District or... Quality Management Plan (AQMP) is appropriate for determining the base year to evaluate the availability... offsets; and (3) which District Air Quality Management Plan is appropriate for determining the base year...

75 FR 48566 - Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Delaware; Administrative and Non...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-08-11

...''; Regulation 12 ``Control of Nitrogen Oxide Emissions''; Regulation 1113* ``Open Burning''; Regulation 14... of General Federal Actions to the State Implementation Plans''; Regulation 39 ``Nitrogen Oxides (NO X..., Intergovernmental relations, Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone, Particulate matter, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements...

COUNCIL FOR REGULATORY ENVIRONMENTAL MODELING (CREM) PILOT WATER QUALITY MODEL SELECTION TOOL

EPA Science Inventory

EPA's Council for Regulatory Environmental Modeling (CREM) is currently supporting the development of a pilot model selection tool that is intended to help the states and the regions implement the total maximum daily load (TMDL) program. This tool will be implemented within the ...

Air Emissions Inventory Guidance for Implementation of Ozone and Particulate Matter NAAQS and Regional Haze Regulations

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Guidance document on how to develop emission inventories to meet State Implementation Plan requirements for complying with the 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS), the revised particulate matter (PM) NAAQS, and the regional haze reg

Implementing Pay-for-Performance in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

PubMed Central

Profit, Jochen; Zupancic, John A. F.; Gould, Jeffrey B.; Petersen, Laura A.

2011-01-01

Pay-for-performance initiatives in medicine are proliferating rapidly. Neonatal intensive care is a likely target for these efforts because of the high cost, available databases, and relative strength of evidence for at least some measures of quality. Pay-for-performance may improve patient care but requires valid measurements of quality to ensure that financial incentives truly support superior performance. Given the existing uncertainty with respect to both the effectiveness of pay-for-performance and the state of quality measurement science, experimentation with pay-for-performance initiatives should proceed with caution and in controlled settings. In this article, we describe approaches to measuring quality and implementing pay-for-performance in the NICU setting. PMID:17473099

DCCC Takes the TQM Plunge...And Tells How.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Entner, Donald

1993-01-01

Activities at Delaware County Community College (Pennsylvania) in implementing Total Quality Management are examined and compared with criteria used by the United States Chamber of Commerce for making quality awards to businesses. Assessed areas include management leadership, strategic planning, customer focus, employee development, teamwork,…

75 FR 33562 - Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans and Designations of Areas for Air Quality...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-06-14

...EPA is proposing to determine that the Birmingham, Alabama, nonattainment area for the 2006 24-hour fine particulate matter (PM2.5) National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) has attained the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS. This proposed determination is based upon complete, quality assured, quality controlled, and certified ambient air monitoring data for the years 2007-2009 showing that this area has monitored attainment of the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS. If this proposed determination is made final, the requirement for the State of Alabama to submit an attainment demonstration and associated reasonably available control measures (RACM), reasonable further progress (RFP) plan, contingency measures, and other planning State Implementation Plans (SIPs) related to attainment of the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 standard for the Birmingham, Alabama, PM2.5 nonattainment area, shall be suspended for as long as this area continues to meet the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS.

State Early Childhood Advisory Councils: An Overview of Implementation across the States. Issue Brief

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

NGA Center for Best Practices, 2011

2011-01-01

Nearly all governors have designated a state early childhood advisory council to advise policymakers in the state on how to best meet the needs of children from birth to school entry. Early childhood advisory councils in the states vary in their structure and scope, but all of them provide recommendations on improving the quality, availability,…

76 FR 30894 - Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Colorado; Revised Definitions...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-05-27

... reportable compound from Appendix B of Regulation 3. The State added T- Butyl Acetate as a non-criteria... compound. Second, the State added T-Butyl Acetate as a non- criteria reportable pollutant in Regulation 3...

22 CFR 161.7 - Categories of actions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... Foreign Relations DEPARTMENT OF STATE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION REGULATIONS FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT (NEPA) NEPA and Departmental Decisionmaking § 161.7 Categories of actions... the quality of the environment in the United States. The need to prepare formal environmental...

77 FR 9529 - Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; State of Missouri

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-02-17

... pollution control, Environmental protection, Incorporation by reference, Lead, Reporting and recordkeeping... Implementation Plan (SIP) and control strategy for the lead National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS... in this action is the lead NAAQS promulgated by EPA in 1978. EPA has determined that both SIP...

Issues Emerging from First-Year PDS Implementation.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Castle, Sharon; Groth, Lois; Shaklee, Beverly

This paper focuses on a revised Professional Development School (PDS) program and what participant groups perceived to be key issues during the first year of implementation. It addresses the role of PDSs in improving the quality of beginning teachers within a non-supportive state policy environment. The George Mason University Elementary program…

Interpreting Predictions from the SAPRC07 Mechanism Based on Regional and Continental Simulations

EPA Science Inventory

The SAPRC07T mechanism is implemented and evaluated in the CMAQ air quality model. The implementation is described and tested with simulations over the United States for two periods. The evaluation compares results against observations for ozone and particulate matter as well as ...

The status of states' policies to support evidence-based practices in children's mental health.

PubMed

Cooper, Janice L; Aratani, Yumiko

2009-12-01

This study examined the efforts of states' mental health authorities to promote the use of evidence-based practices through policy. Data were drawn from three components of a national study, including a survey of state children's mental health directors (N=53), which was developed using a three-step process that involved stakeholders. Data from the directors' survey revealed that over 90% of states are implementing strategies to support the use of evidence-based practices. The scope of these efforts varies, with 36% reporting statewide reach. Further, states' strategies for implementing evidence-based practices are often not accompanied by comparable efforts to enhance information systems, even though enhancing such systems can bolster opportunities for successful implementation. Variability in the adoption of evidence-based practices, poor attention to information systems, and inconsistent fiscal policies threaten states' efforts to improve the quality of children's mental health services.

Hot Topic: Empowering Parents with Data

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Data for Action, 2011

2011-01-01

Nearly every high-priority item in national, federal, state, and local discussions about education--and policy proposals across the political spectrum--requires high-quality longitudinal data to inform its design, implementation, and evaluation. This factsheet shares Data Quality Campaign's (DQC's) analysis of what "Data for Action 2011: DQC's…

California State Implementation Plan; Butte County Air Quality Management District; New Source Review (NSR) Permitting Program

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

EPA is proposing to approve a revision to the Butte County Air Quality Management District (BCAQMD) portion of the California SIP concerning the District's New Source Review (NSR) permitting program for new and modified sources of air pollution.

A Longitudinal Study of State Strategies and Policies to Accelerate Evidence-Based Practices in the Context of Systems Transformation.

PubMed

Rieckmann, Traci; Abraham, Amanda; Zwick, Janet; Rasplica, Caitlin; McCarty, Dennis

2015-08-01

To profile state agency efforts to promote implementation of three evidence-based practices (EBPs): screening and brief intervention (SBIRT), psychosocial interventions, and medication-assisted treatment (MAT). Primary data collected from representatives of 50 states and the District of Columbia's Single State Authorities from 2007 to 2009. The study used mixed methods, in-depth, semistructured interviews and quantitative surveys. Interviews assessed state and provider strategies to accelerate implementation of EBPs. Statewide implementation of psychosocial interventions and MAT increased significantly over 3 years. In the first two assessments, states that contracted directly with providers were more likely to link use of EBPs to reimbursement, and states with indirect contract, through counties and other entities, increased recommendations, and some requirements for provision of specific EBPs. The number of states using legislation as a policy lever to promote EBPs was unchanged. Health care reform and implementation of parity in coverage increases access to treatment for alcohol and drug use. Science-based substance abuse treatment will become even more crucial as payers seek consistent quality of care. This study provides baseline data on service delivery, contracting, and financing as state agencies and treatment providers prepare for implementation of the Affordable Care Act. © Health Research and Educational Trust.

75 FR 48880 - Approval and Promulgation of Gila River Indian Community's Tribal Implementation Plan

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-08-12

...The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposes to approve the Gila River Indian Community's (GRIC or the Tribe) Tribal Implementation Plan (TIP) under the Clean Air Act (CAA) to regulate air pollution within the exterior boundaries of the Tribe's reservation. The proposed TIP is one of four CAA regulatory programs that comprise the Tribe's Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP). EPA approved the Tribe for treatment in the same manner as a State (Treatment as State or TAS) for purposes of administering the AQMP and other CAA authorities on October 21, 2009. In this action we propose to act only on those portions of the AQMP that constitute a TIP containing severable elements of an implementation plan under CAA section 110(a). The proposed TIP includes general and emergency authorities, ambient air quality standards, permitting requirements for minor sources of air pollution, enforcement authorities, procedures for administrative appeals and judicial review in Tribal court, requirements for area sources of fugitive dust and fugitive particulate matter, general prohibitory rules, and source category-specific emission limitations. The purpose of the proposed TIP is to implement, maintain, and enforce the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) in the GRIC reservation. The intended effect of today's proposed action is to make the GRIC TIP federally enforceable.

Wyoming groundwater-quality monitoring network

USGS Publications Warehouse

Boughton, Gregory K.

2011-01-01

A wide variety of human activities have the potential to contaminate groundwater. In addition, naturally occurring constituents can limit the suitability of groundwater for some uses. The State of Wyoming has established rules and programs to evaluate and protect groundwater quality based on identified uses. The Wyoming Groundwater-Quality Monitoring Network (WGQMN) is a cooperative program between the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (WDEQ) and was implemented in 2009 to evaluate the water-quality characteristics of the State's groundwater. Representatives from USGS, WDEQ, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), Wyoming Water Development Office, and Wyoming State Engineer's Office formed a steering committee, which meets periodically to evaluate progress and consider modifications to strengthen program objectives. The purpose of this fact sheet is to describe the WGQMN design and objectives, field procedures, and water-quality analyses. USGS groundwater activities in the Greater Green River Basin also are described.

Implementation of a Quality Improvement Process Aimed to Deliver Higher-Value Physical Therapy for Patients With Low Back Pain: Case Report.

PubMed

Karlen, Emily; McCathie, Becky

2015-12-01

The current state of health care demands higher-value care. Due to many barriers, clinicians routinely do not implement evidence-based care even though it is known to improve quality and reduce cost of care. The purpose of this case report is to describe a theory-based, multitactic implementation of a quality improvement process aimed to deliver higher-value physical therapy for patients with low back pain. Patients were treated from January 2010 through December 2014 in 1 of 32 outpatient physical therapy clinics within an academic health care system. Data were examined from 47,755 patients (mean age=50.3 years) entering outpatient physical therapy for management of nonspecific low back pain, with or without radicular pain. Development and implementation tactics were constructed from adult learning and change management theory to enhance adherence to best practice care among 130 physical therapists. A quality improvement team implemented 4 tactics: establish care delivery expectations, facilitate peer-led clinical and operational teams, foster a learning environment focused on meeting a population's needs, and continuously collect and analyze outcomes data. Physical therapy utilization and change in functional disability were measured to assess relative cost and quality of care. Secondarily, charge data assessed change in physical therapists' application of evidence-based care. Implementation of a quality improvement process was measured by year-over-year improved clinical outcomes, decreased utilization, and increased adherence to evidence-based physical therapy, which was associated with higher-value care. When adult learning and change management theory are combined in quality improvement efforts, common barriers to implementing evidence-based care can be overcome, creating an environment supportive of delivering higher-value physical therapy for patients with low back pain. © 2015 American Physical Therapy Association.

40 CFR 131.13 - General policies.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... STANDARDS Establishment of Water Quality Standards § 131.13 General policies. States may, at their discretion, include in their State standards, policies generally affecting their application and implementation, such as mixing zones, low flows and variances. Such policies are subject to EPA review and...

76 FR 43167 - Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plan; North Carolina; Disapproval of...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-07-20

... stated that the state's conclusion should be supported by an adequate technical analysis. Second, EPA... revision must be supported by an adequate technical analysis, including, but not limited to, information... disapproval where the Agency states: ``* * * without an adequate technical analysis EPA does not believe that...

76 FR 43128 - Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plan; Alabama; Disapproval of Interstate...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-07-20

..., if so, address the impact. The state's conclusion must be supported by an adequate technical analysis...'' provisions, the state's SIP revision must be supported by an adequate technical analysis, including, but not... disapproval where the Agency states: ``* * *without an adequate technical analysis EPA does not believe that...

78 FR 47253 - Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Maine; Oxides of Nitrogen...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-08-05

...-hour ozone standard in any area in the OTR. The State's submittals include detailed technical analyses... areas in the OTR. The State's technical analyses rely on several different techniques used to analyze... Maine's requests? Based on the ME DEP's technical analyses discussed above, EPA believes that the State...

76 FR 43912 - Approval and Promulgation of State Implementation Plan Revisions; Infrastructure Requirements for...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-07-22

... ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 40 CFR Part 52 [EPA-R08-OAR-2010-0301; FRL-9441-6] Approval and... National Ambient Air Quality Standards; South Dakota AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION... approving a June 14, 2010 SIP submittal from the State that revises the State's Prevention of Significant...

78 FR 37530 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-06-21

... implementing teacher testing for state certification or licensure, consistent with Title II of the Higher... DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION [Docket No. ED-2013-ICCD-0040] Agency Information Collection Activities... of Funds Under Title II, Part A: Improving Teacher Quality State Grants--State-Level Activity Funds...

76 FR 48207 - Federal Implementation Plans: Interstate Transport of Fine Particulate Matter and Ozone and...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-08-08

... Problems and NAAQS Addressed 1. Air Quality Problems and NAAQS Addressed 2. FIP Authority for Each State... resolve nonattainment or maintenance problems at downwind state receptors. Downwind states also have... are fossil fuel-fired boilers and turbines producing electricity for sale, as detailed in section VII...

76 FR 70929 - Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; District of Columbia; Regional...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-11-16

...EPA is proposing to approve a revision to the District of Columbia State Implementation Plan (SIP) submitted by the District of Columbia through the District Department of the Environment (DDOE) on October 27, 2011 that addresses regional haze for the first implementation period. This revision addresses the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA) and EPA's rules that require states to prevent any future, and remedy any existing, anthropogenic impairment of visibility in mandatory Class I areas caused by emissions of air pollutants from numerous sources located over a wide geographic area (also referred to as the ``regional haze program''). States are required to assure reasonable progress toward the national goal of achieving natural visibility conditions in Class I areas. EPA is proposing to determine that the Regional Haze plan submitted by the District of Columbia satisfies these requirements of the CAA. EPA is also proposing to approve this revision as meeting the infrastructure requirements relating to visibility protection for the 1997 8-Hour Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) and the 1997 and 2006 fine particulate matter (PM2.5) NAAQS.

Organisational Pressure on Quality-of-Worklife of Women in Tertiary Institutions in Lagos State, Nigeria

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ogunsanya, Mobolaji; Olorunfemi, Adebisi

2012-01-01

An approach to motivation in the contemporary world of work is the implementation of Quality-of-Worklife (QWL) programmes, which is aimed at easing the pressures faced at work by employees. Quality-of-Worklife is a philosophy of improving productivity by providing workers with the opportunities required to put in their best at work, without…

78 FR 44494 - Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; Designation of Areas for Air Quality Planning...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-07-24

...EPA is proposing to approve, as a revision of the California state implementation plan, the State's request to redesignate the Sacramento nonattainment area to attainment for the 24-hour particulate matter of ten microns or less (PM10) National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). EPA is also proposing to approve the PM10 maintenance plan and the associated motor vehicle emissions budgets for use in transportation conformity determinations necessary for the Sacramento area. Finally, EPA is proposing to approve the attainment year emissions inventory. EPA is proposing these actions because the SIP revision meets the requirements of the Clean Air Act and EPA guidance for such plans and motor vehicle emissions budgets.

Remote sensing inputs to National Model Implementation Program for water resources quality improvement

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Eidenshink, J. C.; Schmer, F. A.

1979-01-01

The Lake Herman watershed in southeastern South Dakota has been selected as one of seven water resources systems in the United States for involvement in the National Model Implementation Program (MIP). MIP is a pilot program initiated to illustrate the effectiveness of existing water resources quality improvement programs. The Remote Sensing Institute (RSI) at South Dakota State University has produced a computerized geographic information system for the Lake Herman watershed. All components necessary for the monitoring and evaluation process were included in the data base. The computerized data were used to produce thematic maps and tabular data for the land cover and soil classes within the watershed. These data are being utilized operationally by SCS resource personnel for planning and management purposes.

Semantic Entity-Component State Management Techniques to Enhance Software Quality for Multimodal VR-Systems.

PubMed

Fischbach, Martin; Wiebusch, Dennis; Latoschik, Marc Erich

2017-04-01

Modularity, modifiability, reusability, and API usability are important software qualities that determine the maintainability of software architectures. Virtual, Augmented, and Mixed Reality (VR, AR, MR) systems, modern computer games, as well as interactive human-robot systems often include various dedicated input-, output-, and processing subsystems. These subsystems collectively maintain a real-time simulation of a coherent application state. The resulting interdependencies between individual state representations, mutual state access, overall synchronization, and flow of control implies a conceptual close coupling whereas software quality asks for a decoupling to develop maintainable solutions. This article presents five semantics-based software techniques that address this contradiction: Semantic grounding, code from semantics, grounded actions, semantic queries, and decoupling by semantics. These techniques are applied to extend the well-established entity-component-system (ECS) pattern to overcome some of this pattern's deficits with respect to the implied state access. A walk-through of central implementation aspects of a multimodal (speech and gesture) VR-interface is used to highlight the techniques' benefits. This use-case is chosen as a prototypical example of complex architectures with multiple interacting subsystems found in many VR, AR and MR architectures. Finally, implementation hints are given, lessons learned regarding maintainability pointed-out, and performance implications discussed.

[Certified quality management according to DIN ISO 9001 in a radiology department at a university hospital: measurable changes in academic quality indicators?].

PubMed

Lorenzen, J; Habermann, C; Utler, C; Grzyska, U; Weber, C; Adam, G; Koops, A

2009-10-01

To evaluate the changes in academic quality indicators after implementation of a quality management system according to DIN ISO 9001:2000. After implementation and certification of a quality management system, the actual state based on quality indicators from the fields of student teaching, research, continuing education and the satisfaction of referring physician was determined. After implementation of an action plan for the individual areas, the temporal changes in the ratios were documented in the follow-up. The evaluation of teaching performance obtained by questionnaire among the students of the radiology course showed a steady increase in satisfaction (mean value 2003: 2.7; 2007: 3.9). In the field of research an increase in scientific output was achieved based on the number of an internal publication score (2002: 99 points; 2006: 509). Repeated opinion surveys among our referring physicians found improvements in indicators for the appointment of investigations, consulting service and waiting times for the investigation, while the waiting times for internal transport service did not improve. Exemplary measurements of the success of the advanced training of the staff demonstrated the need for continuing education for quality improvement. The evaluation of quality indicators showed over time a measurable positive impact on processes of a radiological University Hospital after implementation of a QM system according to DIN ISO 9001:2000. Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart-New York.

76 FR 67366 - Revisions to the California State Implementation Plan, Placer County Air Pollution Control...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-11-01

... Metro Air Quality Management District AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Direct... Pollution Control District (PCAPCD) and Sacramento Metro Air Quality Management District (SMAQMD) portions..., this action: Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' subject to review by the Office of Management...

QUALITY MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE NATIONAL CHILDREN'S STUDY

EPA Science Inventory

EPA has taken the lead, in consort with NIH, in developing the Quality Management Plan (QMP) for the National Children's Study (NCS); the QMP will delineate a systematic planning process for the implementation of the NCS. The QMP will state the goals and objectives of the NCS, th...

TQM Reaches the Academy.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Marchese, Ted

1991-01-01

This introduction to the application of Total Quality Management (TQM) on college campuses first reviews the development and application of TQM principles in Japanese industries and recent implementation in industries and the Federal Government in the United States. Twelve principles of TQM are then identified: (1) a focus on quality; (2)…

THE JEFFERSON PARISH-LOUISIANA PROJECT - DELIVERING TIME RELEVANT WATER QUALITY INFORMATION TO YOUR COMMUNITY

EPA Science Inventory

The USEPA has developed a handbook to help state and local governmental officials implement near-real-time water quality monitoring and outreach programs with step-by-step instructions on how to: 1) Employ satellite and robotic water monitoring equipment, 2) collect, transfer, an...

Environmental Assessment for EOD Stand-Up at NAS Fort Worth JRB

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-03-01

Range: Implementation of the Proposed Action would result in a negligible or minor effect on storm water quality and volume. All construction...negligible or minor effect on storm water quality and volume at this site. All construction activities would comply with appropriate local, state, and

Report: Differences in Processing Practices Could Decrease the Reliability of Ozone Data Used for Assessing Air Quality to Protect Public Health

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Report #18-P-0105, February 28, 2018. There is a risk that the state, local and tribal agencies that monitor ambient air quality are not always implementing the EPA’s recommended QA practices for validating ozone data.

Family Support: Fostering Leadership and Partnership to Improve Access and Quality. Building State Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems Series, Number 14

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Thompson, Lisa; Uyeda, Kimberly

2004-01-01

The federal Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) has launched a five-year initiative that will support state efforts to build comprehensive early childhood service systems. This initiative--the State Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems (SECCS) Initiative--provides planning and implementation grants to the state and territory Maternal and…

Implementation of a hospital-based quality assessment program for rectal cancer.

PubMed

Hendren, Samantha; McKeown, Ellen; Morris, Arden M; Wong, Sandra L; Oerline, Mary; Poe, Lyndia; Campbell, Darrell A; Birkmeyer, Nancy J

2014-05-01

Quality improvement programs in Europe have had a markedly beneficial effect on the processes and outcomes of rectal cancer care. The quality of rectal cancer care in the United States is not as well understood, and scalable quality improvement programs have not been developed. The purpose of this article is to describe the implementation of a hospital-based quality assessment program for rectal cancer, targeting both community and academic hospitals. We recruited 10 hospitals from a surgical quality improvement organization. Nurse reviewers were trained to abstract rectal cancer data from hospital medical records, and abstracts were assessed for accuracy. We conducted two surveys to assess the training program and limitations of the data abstraction. We validated data completeness and accuracy by comparing hospital medical record and tumor registry data. Nine of 10 hospitals successfully performed abstractions with ≥ 90% accuracy. Experienced nurse reviewers were challenged by the technical details in operative and pathology reports. Although most variables had less than 10% missing data, outpatient testing information was lacking from some hospitals' inpatient records. This implementation project yielded a final quality assessment program consisting of 20 medical records variables and 11 tumor registry variables. An innovative program linking tumor registry data to quality-improvement data for rectal cancer quality assessment was successfully implemented in 10 hospitals. This data platform and training program can serve as a template for other organizations that are interested in assessing and improving the quality of rectal cancer care. Copyright © 2014 by American Society of Clinical Oncology.

The State of Information and Communication Technology and Health Informatics in Ghana

PubMed Central

Achampong, Emmanuel Kusi

2012-01-01

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has become a major tool in delivery of health services and has had an innovative impact on quality of life. ICT is affecting the way healthcare is delivered to clients. In this paper, we discuss the state of ICT and health informatics in Ghana. We also discuss the state of various relevant infrastructures for the successful implementation of ehealth projects. We analyse the past and present state of health informatics in Ghana, in comparison to other African countries. We also review the challenges facing successful implementation of health informatics projects in Ghana and suggest possible solutions. PMID:23569633

2008 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) Findings of Failure to Submit

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

This final action finds that 15 states and the District of Columbia have failed to submit specific state implementation plan (SIP) elements to satisfy certain nonattainment area, and/or Ozone Transport Region (OTR), planning requirements for the 2008 ozone

Technical Data and Reports on Particulate Matter (PM) Measurements and SIP Status

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

EPA collects data from the states and regions on their air quality, including levels of pollutants such as PM, and state implementation plan (SIP) progress. This information is compiled in a database, and used to create reports, trend charts, and maps.

78 FR 49684 - Approval and Disapproval of Air Quality State Implementation Plans; Arizona; Regional Haze and...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-08-15

... Francisco, CA 94105. Gregory Nudd can be reached at telephone number (415) 947-4107 and via electronic mail... in the United States Court of Appeals for the appropriate circuit by September 28, 2013.'' 3. On page...

75 FR 56027 - Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Texas; Revisions to the New Source...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-09-15

... Implementation Plan (SIP); Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Proposed rule. SUMMARY: EPA is proposing to approve revisions to the Texas PSD State... revision submitted July 16, 2010. This action makes no significant changes to the Texas PSD SIP; it merely...

75 FR 6338 - Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; Georgia: State Implementation Plan Revision

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-02-09

... revisions include multiple modifications to Georgia's Air Quality Rules found at Chapter 391-3-1. These...: Ms. Lynorae Benjamin, Regulatory Development Section, Air Planning Branch, Air, Pesticides and Toxics...-8960. The telephone number is (404) 562-9042. Ms. Harder can also be reached via electronic mail at...

76 FR 55541 - Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; West Virginia: Kentucky; Ohio...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-09-07

... Cabell and Wayne Counties in their entireties and a portion of Mason County (Graham Tax District) in West... reasonable further progress (RFP) plan, contingency measures, and other planning State Implementation Plan... Regulatory Development Section, Air Planning Branch, Air, Pesticides and Toxics Management Division, U.S...

77 FR 18923 - Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; New Mexico; Construction Permit Fees

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-03-29

... Environment Department, Air Quality Bureau, 1190 St. Francis Drive, Santa Fe, New Mexico. FOR FURTHER... Promulgation of Implementation Plans; New Mexico; Construction Permit Fees AGENCY: Environmental Protection... (SIP) for New Mexico submitted by the State of New Mexico on April 11, 2002, and April 25, 2005, which...

76 FR 5078 - Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans: Tennessee; Approval of Section 110...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-01-28

...) Maintenance Plan for the 1997 8-Hour Ozone Standards for the Nashville, TN, Area AGENCY: Environmental... Tennessee State Implementation Plan (SIP) concerning the maintenance plan addressing the 1997 8-hour ozone standards for the Nashville, Tennessee 1997 8-hour ozone maintenance area, which is comprised of Davidson...

77 FR 76427 - Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Wisconsin; Milwaukee-Racine...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-12-28

.... Provide specific examples to illustrate your concerns, and suggest alternatives. 7. Explain your views as... reasonable further progress (RFP) plan, contingency measures, and any other planning State Implementation... did not clearly explain EPA's views on the applicability of CFR 51.1004(c) to the 2006 PM 2.5 NAAQS...

76 FR 41088 - Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; Kentucky; 110(a)(1) and (2) Infrastructure...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-07-13

...EPA is taking final action to approve the December 13, 2007, submission by the Commonwealth of Kentucky, through the Kentucky Division of Air Quality (KDAQ) as demonstrating that the Commonwealth meets the state implementation plan (SIP) requirements of sections 110(a)(1) and (2) of the Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act) for the 1997 8- hour ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS). Section 110(a) of the CAA requires that each state adopt and submit a SIP for the implementation, maintenance, and enforcement of each NAAQS promulgated by the EPA, which is commonly referred to as an ``infrastructure'' SIP. Kentucky certified that the Kentucky SIP contains provisions that ensure the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS is implemented, enforced, and maintained in Kentucky (hereafter referred to as ``infrastructure submission''). Kentucky's infrastructure submission, provided to EPA on December 13, 2007, addressed all the required infrastructure elements for the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS. Additionally, EPA is responding to adverse comments received on EPA's March 17, 2011, proposed approval of Kentucky's December 13, 2007, infrastructure submission.

Effect of the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act on the Nutritional Quality of Meals Selected by Students and School Lunch Participation Rates.

PubMed

Johnson, Donna B; Podrabsky, Mary; Rocha, Anita; Otten, Jennifer J

2016-01-01

Effective policies have potential to improve diet and reduce obesity. School food policies reach most children in the United States. To assess the nutritional quality of foods chosen by students and meal participation rates before and after the implementation of new school meal standards authorized through the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act. This descriptive, longitudinal study examined changes in the nutritional quality of 1,741,630 school meals at 3 middle schools and 3 high schools in an urban school district in Washington state. Seventy two hundred students are enrolled in the district; 54% are eligible for free and reduced-price meals. Student food selection data were collected daily from January 2011 through January 2014 during the 16 months prior to and the 15 months after implementation of the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act. The Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act. Nutritional quality was assessed by calculating monthly mean adequacy ratio and energy density of the foods selected by students each day. Six nutrients were included in the mean adequacy ratio calculations: calcium, vitamin C, vitamin A, iron, fiber, and protein. Monthly school meal participation was calculated as the mean number of daily meals served divided by student enrollment. Mean monthly values of mean adequacy ratio, energy density, and participation were compared before and after policy implementation. After implementation of the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act, change was associated with significant improvement in the nutritional quality of foods chosen by students, as measured by increased mean adequacy ratio from a mean of 58.7 (range, 49.6-63.1) prior to policy implementation to 75.6 (range, 68.7-81.8) after policy implementation and decreased energy density from a mean of 1.65 (range, 1.53-1.82) to 1.44 (range, 1.29-1.61), respectively. There was negligible difference in student meal participation following implementation of the new meal standards with 47% meal participation (range, 40.4%-49.5%) meal participation prior to the implemented policy and 46% participation (range, 39.1%-48.2%) afterward. Food policy in the form of improved nutrition standards was associated with the selection of foods that are higher in nutrients that are of importance in adolescence and lower in energy density. Implementation of the new meal standards was not associated with a negative effect on student meal participation. In this district, meal standards effectively changed the quality of foods selected by children.

What Elements of the 2013 American Nurses Association Safe Patient Handling and Mobility Standards are Reflected in State Legislation?

PubMed Central

Powell-Cope, Gail; Rugs, Deborah

2015-01-01

Many professional organizations have endorsed and provided guidance on the implementation of safe patient handling and mobility (SPHM) programs. In 2013, the American Nurses Association published the interprofessional standards of SPHM. Eleven states have passed laws to implement statewide SPHM programs. This article describes the evaluation of the quality of SPHM legislation against the ANA standards. Information gleaned from this analysis could be used to strengthen existing legislation, craft new bills in the 39 states without SPHM legislation, and provide direction for national legislation. PMID:26413418

An Effect of the Co-Operative Network Model for Students' Quality in Thai Primary Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Khanthaphum, Udomsin; Tesaputa, Kowat; Weangsamoot, Visoot

2016-01-01

This research aimed: 1) to study the current and desirable states of the co-operative network in developing the learners' quality in Thai primary schools, 2) to develop a model of the co-operative network in developing the learners' quality, and 3) to examine the results of implementation of the co-operative network model in the primary school.…

76 FR 21835 - Approval and Promulgation of State Implementation Plans; State of Colorado; Interstate Transport...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-04-19

... another state's air quality through interstate transport. In this action, EPA is proposing to approve the Colorado Interstate Transport SIP provisions that address the requirement of section 110(a)(2)(D)(i) that... Interstate Transport SIP revision for the 1997 8-hour ozone and 1997 PM 2.5 NAAQS. This revision was...

77 FR 3691 - Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Commonwealth of Virginia; Regional...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-01-25

...EPA is proposing a limited approval and a limited disapproval of six revisions to the Virginia State Implementation Plan (SIP) submitted by the Commonwealth of Virginia, through the Department of Environmental Quality (VADEQ), that address regional haze for the first implementation period. These revisions address the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) and EPA's rules that require states to prevent any future and remedy any existing anthropogenic impairment of visibility in mandatory Class I areas (national parks and wilderness areas) caused by emissions of air pollutants from numerous sources located over a wide geographic area (also referred to as the ``regional haze program''). States are required to assure reasonable progress toward the national goal of achieving natural visibility conditions in Class I areas. EPA is proposing a limited approval of these SIP revisions to implement the regional haze requirements for Virginia on the basis that the revisions, as a whole, strengthen the Virginia SIP. Also in this action, EPA is proposing a limited disapproval of these same SIP revisions because of the deficiencies in the Commonwealth's regional haze SIP submittal arising from the remand by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia (DC Circuit) to EPA of the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR). EPA is also proposing to approve this revision as meeting the infrastructure requirements relating to visibility protection for the 1997 8-Hour Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) and the 1997 and 2006 fine particulate matter (PM2.5) NAAQS.

45 CFR 1355.34 - Criteria for determining substantial conformity.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... and implemented standards to ensure that children in foster care placements are provided quality... children in all political subdivisions covered in the State's CFSP; and, (vi) Services that can be...) The State has established and maintains standards for foster family homes and child care institutions...

78 FR 32652 - Agency Information Collections Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-05-31

... Reauthorization Act of 2009 (CHIPRA) Quality Demonstration Grant Program: Survey Data Collection.'' In accordance... Grant Program: Survey Data Collection. The Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of... other States in designing and implementing their projects. Of the 10 grantee States selected, six are...

State Implementation Plans: Related Resources

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Guidance, strategies and links are offered for reducing vehicle air pollution, including ozone or smog-forming pollutants, particulate matter and other emissions that pose public health and air quality concerns.

Who are the innovators? Nursing homes implementing culture change.

PubMed

Grabowski, David C; Elliot, Amy; Leitzell, Brigitt; Cohen, Lauren W; Zimmerman, Sheryl

2014-02-01

A key directive of the Affordable Care Act of 2010 is to transform both institutional and community-based long-term care into a more person-centered system. In the nursing home industry, the culture change movement is central to this shift in philosophy. If policymakers are to further encourage implementation of culture change, they need to better understand the factors associated with implementation. Using logistic regression (N = 16,835), we examined the extent to which resident, facility, and state characteristics relate to a nursing home being identified by experts as having implemented culture change over the period 2004 through 2011. At baseline, the 291 facilities that were later identified by experts to have implemented culture change were more often nonprofit-owned, larger in size, and had fewer Medicaid and Medicare residents. Implementers also had better baseline quality with fewer health-related survey deficiencies and greater licensed practical nurse and nurse aide staffing. States experienced greater culture change implementation when they paid a higher Medicaid per diem. To date, nursing home culture change has been implemented differentially by higher resource facilities, and nursing homes have been responsive to state policy factors when implementing culture change.

78 FR 67327 - Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; State of Colorado; Revised...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-11-12

... shall include procedures for interagency consultation, conflict resolution, and public consultation... Determinations by the public, Air Quality Control Commission, and resolution of conflicts''. (2) 40 CFR 93.122(a... of 93.105(d) require specific procedures for resolving conflicts, and the provisions of 93.105(e...

78 FR 40655 - Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; West Virginia; Redesignation of...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-07-08

..., Air Quality Management Division, September 4, 1992 (Calcagni memorandum). See also ``State... of subpart 4. See ``Determination of Attainment for Coso Junction Nonattainment Area,'' (75 FR 27944, May 19, 2010). See also Coso Junction proposed PM 10 redesignation, (75 FR 36023, 36027, June 24, 2010...

76 FR 28453 - Cesar Chavez Special Resource Study-Alameda, Fresno, Imperial, Kern, Los Angeles, Monterey...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-05-17

... Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (Pub L. 91-190) and Council on Environmental Quality's implementing regulations... of California, and other states that are significant to the life of Cesar Chavez and the farm labor... sites posses nationally significant cultural resources; whether the sites include types or quality of...

78 FR 63437 - Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Delaware; Infrastructure...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-10-24

... the 2010 Sulfur Dioxide National Ambient Air Quality Standards AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency... requirements for the 2010 sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ) NAAQS. This action proposes to approve portions of this... and unless it is reversed or otherwise modified by the Supreme Court, states are not required to...

78 FR 12267 - Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Charlotte, Raleigh/Durham and...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-02-22

... maintenance plan update is for the Charlotte, Raleigh/Durham and Winston-Salem carbon monoxide (CO) maintenance areas. Specifically, the State submitted a limited maintenance plan update for CO, showing continued attainment of the 8-hour CO National Ambient Air Quality Standard for the Charlotte, Raleigh...

77 FR 44555 - Partial Approval and Disapproval of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Arizona; State Board...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-07-30

.... ARS 49-478(B) establishes the compositional requirements of the county Air Quality Hearing Boards... County Code 17.04.190 (``Composition'') generally mirrors the language or ARS 49-478 but also includes... membership requirement of ARS 49-478 to interests in persons subject to enforcement orders. However, this...

75 FR 15348 - Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Texas; Revision To Control...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-03-29

.... What Is a SIP? Section 110 of the CAA requires states to develop air pollution regulations and control... air pollution regulations, control strategies, other means or techniques, and technical analyses... provisions of the CAA. A SIP protects air quality primarily by addressing air pollution at its point of...

Developing a Mobile Extension Course for Youth Livestock Producers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Weitzenkamp, Deborah; Dam, Karna; Chichester, Lindsay

2015-01-01

The 4-H Livestock Quality Assurance course is a mobile Extension course for youth and youth leaders. In 3 years of implementation, over 6,600 participants from 16 states have learned about good production practices for animal agriculture through the innovative online Nebraska Livestock Quality Assurance course. By evaluating the needs of our youth…

77 FR 1895 - Revisions to the California State Implementation Plan, South Coast Air Quality Management District

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-01-12

... approve South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) Rule 317, ``Clean Air Act Non- Attainment Fee... Rule 317, an equivalent alternative program, is not less stringent than the program required by section... equivalent alternative programs, and, if so, whether Rule 317 would constitute an approvable equivalent...

77 FR 74372 - Revisions to the California State Implementation Plan, South Coast Air Quality Management District

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-12-14

... of South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) Rule 317, ``Clean Air Act Non- Attainment Fee... determined that SCAQMD's alternative fee-equivalent program is not less stringent than the program required by section 185, and, therefore, is approvable as an equivalent alternative program, consistent with...

Russian Higher Education and European Standards of Quality Assurance

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Motova, Galina; Pykko, Ritta

2012-01-01

This article considers the relevance and implementation of European approaches to quality assurance in the context of the Russian educational system. It covers the issues of transformation of the higher education system during the post-Soviet period, specific features of the state accreditation system, the impact of the European Standards and…

78 FR 57267 - Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; State of Missouri; Conformity of General...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-09-18

... actions that may cause or contribute to violations of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS... cause or contribute to violations of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). This amendment... provide EPA with the discretionary authority to address, as appropriate, disproportionate human health or...

76 FR 41561 - Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; California; 2007 South Coast PM2.5

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-07-14

...EPA is proposing to approve in part and disapprove in part state implementation plan (SIP) revisions submitted by California to provide for attainment of the 1997 fine particulate matter (PM2.5) national ambient air quality standards in the Los Angeles-South Coast area (South Coast). These SIP revisions are the South Coast 2007 Air Quality Management Plan (South Coast 2007 AQMP) (revised 2011) and South Coast-related provisions of the 2007 State Strategy (revised 2009 and 2011). EPA is proposing to approve the emissions inventories; air quality modeling; reasonably available control measures/reasonably available control technology demonstration; the reasonable further progress and attainment demonstrations; and the transportation conformity motor vehicle emissions budgets. EPA is also proposing to grant California's request to extend the attainment deadline for the South Coast to April 5, 2015 and to approve commitments to measures and reductions by the South Coast Air Quality Management District and the California Air Resources Board. Finally, we are proposing to disapprove the SIP's contingency measures and to reject the assignment of 10 tpd of NOX reductions to the federal government. This proposed rule amends EPA's November 22, 2010 proposed rule (75 FR 91294) on the South Coast PM2.5 plan and 2007 State strategy.

Understanding Real-World Implementation Quality and “Active Ingredients” of PBIS

PubMed Central

Molloy, Lauren E.; Moore, Julia E.; Trail, Jessica; Van Epps, John James; Hopfer, Suellen

2014-01-01

Programs delivered in the “real world” often look substantially different from what was originally intended by program developers. Depending on which components of a program are being trimmed or altered, such modifications may seriously undermine the effectiveness of a program. In the present study, these issues are explored within a widely used school-based, non-curricular intervention, Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports. The present study takes advantage of a uniquely large dataset to gain a better understanding of the “real-world” implementation quality of PBIS, and to take a first step toward identifying the components of PBIS that “matter most” for student outcomes. Data from 27,689 students and 166 public primary and secondary schools across seven states included school and student demographics, indices of PBIS implementation quality, and reports of problem behaviors for any student who received an office discipline referral (ODR) during the 2007-2008 school year. Results of the present study identify three key components of PBIS that many schools are failing to implement properly, three program components that were most related to lower rates of problem behavior (i.e., three “active ingredients” of PBIS), and several school characteristics that help to account for differences across schools in the quality of PBIS implementation. Overall, findings highlight the importance of assessing implementation quality in “real-world” settings, and the need to continue improving understanding of how and why programs work. Findings are discussed in terms of their implications for policy. PMID:23408283

Understanding real-world implementation quality and "active ingredients" of PBIS.

PubMed

Molloy, Lauren E; Moore, Julia E; Trail, Jessica; Van Epps, John James; Hopfer, Suellen

2013-12-01

Programs delivered in the "real world" often look substantially different from what was originally intended by program developers. Depending on which components of a program are being trimmed or altered, such modifications may seriously undermine the effectiveness of a program. In the present study, these issues are explored within a widely used school-based, non-curricular intervention, Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports. The present study takes advantage of a uniquely large dataset to gain a better understanding of the "real-world" implementation quality of PBIS and to take a first step toward identifying the components of PBIS that "matter most" for student outcomes. Data from 27,689 students and 166 public primary and secondary schools across seven states included school and student demographics, indices of PBIS implementation quality, and reports of problem behaviors for any student who received an office discipline referral during the 2007-2008 school year. Results of the present study identify three key components of PBIS that many schools are failing to implement properly, three program components that were most related to lower rates of problem behavior (i.e., three "active ingredients" of PBIS), and several school characteristics that help to account for differences across schools in the quality of PBIS implementation. Overall, findings highlight the importance of assessing implementation quality in "real-world" settings, and the need to continue improving understanding of how and why programs work. Findings are discussed in terms of their implications for policy.

76 FR 69927 - Approval of Air Quality Implementation Plans; California; South Coast; Attainment Plan for 1997...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-11-09

...EPA is approving in part and disapproving in part state implementation plan (SIP) revisions submitted by California to provide for attainment of the 1997 fine particulate matter (PM2.5) national ambient air quality standards in the Los Angeles-South Coast area (South Coast). These SIP revisions are the South Coast 2007 Air Quality Management Plan (South Coast 2007 AQMP) (revised 2011) and South Coast-related provisions of the 2007 State Strategy (revised 2009 and 2011). EPA is approving the emissions inventory; reasonably available control measures/reasonably available control technology demonstration; the reasonable further progress and attainment demonstrations and associated air quality modeling; and the transportation conformity motor vehicle emissions budgets. EPA is also granting California's request to extend the attainment deadline for the South Coast to April 5, 2015 and approving commitments to measures and reductions by the South Coast Air Quality Management District and the California Air Resources Board. Finally, we are disapproving the SIP's contingency measures and issuing a protective finding under 40 CFR 93.120(a)(3), and we are rejecting the assignment of 10 tons per day (tpd) of nitrogen oxide (NOX) reductions to the federal government.

IRIS Summary and Supporting Documents for Methylmercury ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

In January 2001, U.S. EPA finalized the guidance for methylmercury in the water quality criteria for states and authorized tribes. The links below take you to the best resources for this guidance. This final Guidance for Implementing the January 2001 Methylmercury Water Quality Criterion provides technical guidance to states and authorized tribes on how they may want to use the January 2001 fish tissue-based recommended water quality criterion for methylmercury in surface water protection programs (e.g., TMDLs, NPDES permitting). The guidance addresses questions related to water quality standards adoption (e.g., site-specific criteria, variances), assessments, monitoring, TMDLs, and NPDES permitting. The guidance consolidates existing EPA guidance where relevant to mercury.

Federal Implementation Plans for Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin To Reduce Interstate Transport of Ozone (76 FR 40662)

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

EPA provides an opportunity for public comment on our conclusion that emissions from six states significantly contribute to downwind nonattainment or interfere with maintenance of the 1997 ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards in other states.

76 FR 38977 - Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans, State of Louisiana

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-07-05

... submitted by the State of Louisiana, and include formatting changes, regulatory wording changes, substantive... other material, such as copyrighted material will be publicly available only in hard copy. Publicly available docket materials are available either electronically in http://www.regulations.gov or in hard copy...

76 FR 43136 - Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plan; Kentucky; Disapproval of Interstate...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-07-20

... supported by an adequate technical analysis. Second, EPA recommended the various types of information that... technical analysis, including, but not limited to, information concerning emissions in the state...: ``* * * without an adequate technical analysis EPA does not believe that states can sufficiently address the...

40 CFR 52.1520 - Identification of plan.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... plan. (a) Purpose and scope. This section sets forth the applicable State Implementation Plan for New... provisions for retention and availability of air quality data Statewide 3/23/1972 7/27/1972, 37 FR 15080 See..., 1998 stating a negative declaration for the aerospace coating operations Control Techniques Guideline...

40 CFR 52.1520 - Identification of plan.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... plan. (a) Purpose and scope. This section sets forth the applicable State Implementation Plan for New... provisions for retention and availability of air quality data Statewide 3/23/1972 7/27/1972, 37 FR 15080 See..., 1998 stating a negative declaration for the aerospace coating operations Control Techniques Guideline...

77 FR 11914 - Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Vermont; Regional Haze

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-02-28

... United States. Through source apportionment modeling, MANE-VU assisted States in determining their... Contributions of Pollutants to Visibility Impairments 2. Procedure for Identifying Sources To Evaluate for... is visibility impairment that is produced by a multitude of sources and activities which are located...

40 CFR 52.2565 - Original identification of plan.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

...) Amended Regulations VI and VII, and an Identification and Analysis of the Impact of the 1979 West Virginia... State of West Virginia on November 4, 1983 which establishes an Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Network...) Revision to the State implementation plan consisting of a good engineering practice (GEP) for stack heights...

40 CFR 52.2565 - Original identification of plan.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

...) Amended Regulations VI and VII, and an Identification and Analysis of the Impact of the 1979 West Virginia... State of West Virginia on November 4, 1983 which establishes an Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Network...) Revision to the State implementation plan consisting of a good engineering practice (GEP) for stack heights...

40 CFR 52.2565 - Original identification of plan.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

...) Amended Regulations VI and VII, and an Identification and Analysis of the Impact of the 1979 West Virginia... State of West Virginia on November 4, 1983 which establishes an Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Network...) Revision to the State implementation plan consisting of a good engineering practice (GEP) for stack heights...

40 CFR 52.2565 - Original identification of plan.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

...) Amended Regulations VI and VII, and an Identification and Analysis of the Impact of the 1979 West Virginia... State of West Virginia on November 4, 1983 which establishes an Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Network...) Revision to the State implementation plan consisting of a good engineering practice (GEP) for stack heights...

ISO 9001 certification for hospitals in Bulgaria: does it help service?

PubMed

Stoimenova, Assena; Stoilova, Ani; Petrova, Guenka

2014-03-04

The aim of our study is to review the published literature on establishment and implementation of ISO 9001 QMS in European hospitals, to study the availability of International Organization for Standardization (ISO) quality management systems (QMS) in Bulgarian hospitals and to outline the main advantages of ISO implementation in the hospitals in Bulgaria. The information on availability of ISO QMS in the hospitals in Bulgaria was gathered via Bulgarian certification register, the registries of various quality associations, websites of hospitals and certification companies presented in Bulgaria. A total number of 312 hospitals in Bulgaria were screened for the availability of QMS certified against the ISO 9001 requirements. The experience of European hospitals that implemented QMS is positive and the used approaches to improve the processes and the demonstrated effects from ISO implementation are analysed by the researchers. Unlike other European Union member states, the establishment of quality management systems in Bulgaria is not compulsory. However, our study revealed that 14.42% of the hospitals in Bulgaria have implemented and have certified quality systems against the requirements of ISO 9001. Our study confirmed that a quality management system using the ISO 9001 standard is useful for the hospitals as it can help to increase the operational efficiencies, to reduce errors, improve patient safety and produce a more preventive approach instead of a reactive environment.

76 FR 41158 - Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; West Virginia; Regional Haze State...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-07-13

...EPA is proposing a limited approval and a limited disapproval of a revision to the West Virginia State Implementation Plan (SIP) submitted by the State of West Virginia through the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) on June 18, 2008, that addresses regional haze for the first implementation period. This revision addresses the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA) and EPA's rules that require states to prevent any future, and remedy any existing, anthropogenic impairment of visibility in mandatory Class I areas caused by emissions of air pollutants from numerous sources located over a wide geographic area (also referred to as the ``regional haze program''). States are required to assure reasonable progress toward the national goal of achieving natural visibility conditions in Class I areas. EPA is proposing a limited approval of this SIP revision to implement the regional haze requirements for West Virginia on the basis that the revision, as a whole, strengthens the West Virginia SIP. Also in this action, EPA is proposing a limited disapproval of this same SIP revision because of the deficiencies in the State's June 2008 regional haze SIP submittal arising from the remand by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia (D.C. Circuit) to EPA of the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR). EPA is also proposing to approve this revision as meeting the requirements of 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II) and 110(a)(2)(J), relating to visibility protection for the 1997 8-Hour Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) and the 1997 and 2006 fine particulate matter (PM2.5) NAAQS.

78 FR 26255 - Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Texas; Approval of Texas Low...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-05-06

...EPA is granting direct final approval of a revision to the Texas State Implementation Plan (SIP) concerning the Texas Low Emission Diesel fuel rules. The revisions clarify existing definitions and provisions, revise the approval procedures for alternative diesel fuel formulations, add new registration requirements, and update the rule to reflect the current program status because the rule is now fully implemented. This SIP revision meets statutory requirements.

78 FR 26301 - Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Texas; Approval of Texas Low...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-05-06

...EPA is proposing approval of a revision to the Texas State Implementation Plan (SIP) concerning the Texas Low Emission Diesel (TxLED) Fuel rules. The revisions clarify existing definitions and provisions, revise the approval procedures for alternative diesel fuel formulations, add new registration requirements, and update the rule to reflect the current program status because the rule is now fully implemented. This SIP revision meets statutory requirements.

The Relationship between Teachers' Perceptions about Job-Embedded Professional Development and Teacher Efficacy in Implementing Technology

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cooper, Calvin H., Jr.

2014-01-01

Consistent with a recognized challenge across the United States, the local problem addressed in this study was teachers' inability to implement new technologies in the classroom. Professional development is the channel through which teachers improve, and high-quality professional development has been shown to enhance teacher efficacy. Professional…

77 FR 42833 - Approval, Disapproval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Arizona; Regional...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-07-20

... the problem of visibility impairment in Class I areas, states, or the EPA when implementing a FIP... explanation and rationale for its determinations. While we find these problems in all of ADEQ's BART analyses... problems resulted in control determinations that are inconsistent with the RHR and the BART Guidelines. We...

77 FR 58076 - Revisions to the California State Implementation Plan, South Coast Air Quality Management District

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-09-19

... Implementation Plan (SIP). These revisions concern lead emissions from large lead-acid battery recycling....1 Emissions Standard For Lead 11/5/10 9/27/11 From Large Lead-Acid Battery Recycling Facilities. On.... SCAQMD Rule 1420.1 imposes these revised emission standards for large lead-acid battery recycling...

78 FR 68367 - Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Ohio; Ohio NOX

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-11-14

... Clean Air Act, which allows for Ohio's Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) NO X Ozone Season Trading Program rules to supersede Ohio's nitrogen oxides (NO X ) State Implementation Plan (SIP) Call Budget Trading Program rules, but leave other requirements of the NO X SIP Call in place for units not covered by...

75 FR 6813 - Approval of Air Quality Implementation Plans; New Mexico; Albuquerque/Bernalillo County

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-02-11

...). ACTION: Direct final rule. SUMMARY: The EPA is approving revisions to the State Implementation Plan (SIP.... Background III. Summary of Changes to the New Mexico SIP IV. Final Action V. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews I. What Action Is EPA Taking? Today we are approving revisions to the New Mexico SIP, submitted by...

75 FR 9103 - Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Illinois; NOX

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-03-01

... State Implementation Plan (SIP) that would terminate the provisions of the Nitrogen Oxides (NO X ) Budget Trading Program that apply to electric generating units. EPA is no longer operating the NO X Budget Trading Program as a compliance option under the NO X SIP Call. These sources are now subject to...

75 FR 9146 - Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Illinois; NOX

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-03-01

... Illinois State Implementation Plan (SIP) that would terminate the provisions of the Nitrogen Oxides (NO X ) Budget Trading Program that apply to electric generating units. EPA is no longer operating the NO X Budget Trading Program as a compliance option under the NO X SIP Call. These sources are now subject to...

Conformity Adequacy Review: Region 10

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Resources are for air quality and transportation government and community leaders. Information on the adequacy/inadequacy of state implementation plans (SIPs) in EPA Region 10 (AK, ID, OR, WA) is provided here.

Conformity Adequacy Review: Region 2

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Resources are for air quality and transportation government and community leaders. Information on the adequacy/inadequacy of state implementation plans (SIPs) in EPA Region 2 (NJ, NY, PR, VI) is provided here.

Conformity Adequacy Review: Region 7

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Resources are for air quality and transportation government and community leaders. Information on the adequacy/inadequacy of state implementation plans (SIPs) in EPA Region 7 (IA, KS, MO, NE) is provided here.

Lean Manufacturing and the Infantry: Retaining Quality during Total Mobilization

DTIC Science & Technology

United States last decisive war against a peer threat, World War II, required significant manpower resources. Prioritizing quality manpower ...distribution to technical jobs resulted in the degradation of the infantry, which then required the Army to implement corrective measures to reverse the...deficiency in quality. Should another decisive war occur in the future, the lethality and speed of modern warfare will increase the demand for manpower , which

Air quality impacts of distributed power generation in the South Coast Air Basin of California 1: Scenario development and modeling analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rodriguez, M. A.; Carreras-Sospedra, M.; Medrano, M.; Brouwer, J.; Samuelsen, G. S.; Dabdub, D.

Distributed generation (DG) is generally defined as the operation of many small stationary power generators throughout an urban air basin. Although DG has the potential to supply a significant portion of the increased power demands in California and the rest of the United States, it may lead to increased levels of in-basin pollutants and adversely impact urban air quality. This study focuses on two main objectives: (1) the systematic characterization of DG installation in urban air basins, and (2) the simulation of potential air quality impacts using a state-of-the-art three-dimensional computational model. A general and systematic approach is devised to construct five realistic and 21 spanning scenarios of DG implementation in the South Coast Air Basin (SoCAB) of California. Realistic scenarios reflect an anticipated level of DG deployment in the SoCAB by the year 2010. Spanning scenarios are developed to determine the potential impacts of unexpected outcomes. Realistic implementations of DG in the SoCAB result in small differences in ozone and particulate matter concentrations in the basin compared to the baseline simulations. The baseline accounts for population increase, but does not consider any future emissions control measures. Model results for spanning implementations with extra high DG market penetration show that domain-wide ozone peak concentrations increase significantly. Also, air quality impacts of spanning implementations when DG operate during a 6-h period are larger than when the same amount of emissions are introduced during a 24-h period.

Roadmap for K-12 and Postsecondary Linkages: Key Focus Areas to Ensure Quality Implementation. Data for Action

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Data Quality Campaign, 2014

2014-01-01

States rely on data from both the K-12 and postsecondary sectors to inform policy discussions; chart the progress of students, schools, districts, colleges, and the state; pinpoint best practices and areas of need; allocate scarce resources; and make other important education decisions every day. However, states need to securely link limited, but…

Conformity Adequacy Review: Region 6

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Resources are for air quality and transportation government and community leaders. Information on the adequacy/inadequacy of state implementation plans (SIPs) in EPA Region 6 (AR, LA, NM, OK, TX) is provided here.

Project-Level Conformity and Hot-Spot Analyses

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

This page contains policy guidance issued by EPA and/or the U.S. Department of Transportation to assist state and local transportation and air quality agencies implement the transportation conformity program.

Effect of Medicaid Disease Management Programs on Emergency Admissions and Inpatient Costs

PubMed Central

Conti, Matthew S

2013-01-01

Objective To determine the impact of state Medicaid diabetes disease management programs on emergency admissions and inpatient costs. Data National InPatient Sample sponsored by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Project for the years from 2000 to 2008 using 18 states. Study Design A difference-in-difference methodology compares costs and number of emergency admissions for Washington, Texas, and Georgia, which implemented disease management programs between 2000 and 2008, to states that did not undergo the transition to managed care (N = 103). Data Extraction Costs and emergency admissions were extracted for diabetic Medicaid enrollees diagnosed in the reform and non-reform states and collapsed into state and year cells. Principal Findings In the three treatment states, the implementation of disease management programs did not have statistically significant impacts on the outcome variables when compared to the control states. Conclusions States that implemented disease management programs did not achieve improvements in costs or the number of emergency of admissions; thus, these programs do not appear to be an effective way to reduce the burden of this chronic disease. PMID:23278435

Effect of Medicaid disease management programs on emergency admissions and inpatient costs.

PubMed

Conti, Matthew S

2013-08-01

To determine the impact of state Medicaid diabetes disease management programs on emergency admissions and inpatient costs. National InPatient Sample sponsored by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Project for the years from 2000 to 2008 using 18 states. A difference-in-difference methodology compares costs and number of emergency admissions for Washington, Texas, and Georgia, which implemented disease management programs between 2000 and 2008, to states that did not undergo the transition to managed care (N = 103). Costs and emergency admissions were extracted for diabetic Medicaid enrollees diagnosed in the reform and non-reform states and collapsed into state and year cells. In the three treatment states, the implementation of disease management programs did not have statistically significant impacts on the outcome variables when compared to the control states. States that implemented disease management programs did not achieve improvements in costs or the number of emergency of admissions; thus, these programs do not appear to be an effective way to reduce the burden of this chronic disease. © Health Research and Educational Trust.

Improving state Medicaid contracts and plan practices for children with special needs.

PubMed

Fox, H B; McManus, M A

1998-01-01

The rapid transition of state Medicaid beneficiaries into fully capitated managed care plans requires a special focus on children with chronic or disabling conditions, who often depend on numerous pediatric physicians and other specialty services for health care and related services. Because managed care arrangements for this population are growing in popularity nationwide, it is important that states craft managed care contracts to address the unique needs of children with complex physical, developmental, and mental health problems. Based on the research reported in this article, in-depth interviews with state Medicaid agency staff, interviews with medical directors and administrators of managed care plans serving Medicaid recipients, and input from experts in pediatrics and managed care, a set of recommendations is made for tailoring managed care contracts to meet the needs of this vulnerable group of children. Six contracting elements that should be adopted by state Medicaid agencies include (1) clarifying the specificity of pediatric benefits, (2) defining appropriate pediatric provider capacity requirements, (3) developing a medical necessity standard specific to children, (4) identifying pediatric quality-of-care measures, (5) setting appropriate pediatric capitation rates, and (6) creating incentives for high-quality pediatric care. Nine approaches that should be adopted by managed care practices interested in providing high-quality care for children with special needs also are identified. These include (1) ensuring that assigned primary care providers have appropriate training and experience, (2) offering support systems for primary care practices, (3) providing specialty consultation for primary care providers, (4) establishing arrangements for the comanagement of primary and specialty pediatric services, (5) arranging for comprehensive care coordination, (6) establishing flexible service authorization policies, (7) implementing provider profiling systems that adjust for pediatric case mix, (8) creating financial incentives for serving children with special needs, and (9) encouraging family involvement in plan operations. Implementing these changes to managed care contracting could have a major impact on the quality and comprehensiveness of health care received by children with special needs. Successful implementation, however, requires strong support from both state Medicaid agencies and the managed care plans dedicated to serving this population.

Studies on the current state of water quality in the Segamat River

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Razelan, Faridah Mohd; Tahir, Wardah; E. M Yahaya, Nasehir Khan

2018-04-01

Nowadays, pollution has become a major concern in developed and developing countries. In a study on the current state of Segamat River water quality; on-site data collection and observation and also laboratory data analysis have been implemented. Studies showed that the downstream of the Segamat River has recorded a significant reduction in quality of water during the dry season compared to the wet season. The deterioration of water quality is caused by the activities along the river such as palm oil plantation, municipal waste and waste from settlements. It was also recorded that the point sources were dominating the pollution at Segamat River during the dry season. However, during the wet season, the water quality was impaired by the non-point sources which originated from the upstream of the river.

California State Implementation Plan; Final Approval of Revision; Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District; Reasonably Available Control Technology Requirements for 1997 8-hour Ozone NAAQS

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

EPA is taking final action to approve a revision to the Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District (YSAQMD) portion of the California SIP concerning YSAQMD regarding RACT)requirements the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS and approve negative declarations into SIP.

77 FR 29271 - Effective Date for the Water Quality Standards for the State of Florida's Lakes and Flowing Waters

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-05-17

.... Entities discharging nitrogen or phosphorus to lakes and flowing waters of Florida could be indirectly.../phosphorus pollution in Florida's waters may be affected through implementation of Florida's water quality... phosphorus, nitrate+nitrite, and chlorophyll a for the different types of Florida's inland waters to assure...

77 FR 45962 - Approval and Promulgation of State Implementation Plans: Idaho; Boise-Northern Ada County Air...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-08-02

... Ada County Air Quality Maintenance Area will maintain air quality standards for carbon monoxide (CO... Avenue, Suite 900, Seattle, WA 98101. Hand Delivery/Courier: U.S. EPA Region 10, 1200 Sixth Avenue, Suite... deliveries are only accepted during normal hours of operation, and special arrangements should be made for...

78 FR 56185 - Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; State of Colorado; Second Ten-Year...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-09-12

... monoxide (CO) National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). This limited maintenance plan (LMP) addresses maintenance of the CO NAAQS for a second 10-year period beyond the original redesignation. This action is... Program, EPA, Region 8, Mailcode 8P-AR, 1595 Wynkoop Street, Denver, Colorado 80202-1129. Hand Delivery...

76 FR 27973 - Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; State of Delaware; Regional Haze...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-05-13

... Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) and the 1997 and 2006 fine particulate matter (PM 2... particle precursors react in the atmosphere to form fine particulate matter, which impairs visibility by... distance, in kilometers or miles, at which a dark object can be viewed against the sky. B. Background...

76 FR 61069 - Revisions to the California State Implementation Plan, Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-10-03

... from organic chemical manufacturing, soil decontamination, and polyester resin operations. We are... Rule 464 (Organic Chemical Manufacturing Operations), VCAPCD Rule 74.29 (Soil Decontamination), and...

Conformity Adequacy Review: Region 1

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Resources are for air quality and transportation government and community leaders. Information on the adequacy/inadequacy of state implementation plans (SIPs) in EPA Region 1 (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT) is provided here.

Conformity Adequacy Review: Region 9

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Resources are for air quality and transportation government and community leaders. Information on the adequacy/inadequacy of state implementation plans (SIPs) in EPA Region 9 (AZ, CA, HI, NV, AS, GU) is provided here.

Ensuring Quality Cancer Care: A Follow-Up Review of the Institute of Medicine’s Ten Recommendations for Improving the Quality of Cancer Care in America

PubMed Central

Spinks, Tracy; Albright, Heidi W.; Feeley, Thomas W.; Walters, Ron; Burke, Thomas W.; Aloia, Thomas; Bruera, Eduardo; Buzdar, Aman; Foxhall, Lewis; Hui, David; Summers, Barbara; Rodriguez, Alma; DuBois, Raymond; Shine, Kenneth I.

2011-01-01

Responding to growing concerns regarding the safety, quality, and efficacy of cancer care in the United States, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the National Academy of Sciences commissioned a comprehensive review of cancer care delivery in the US healthcare system in the late 1990s. The National Cancer Policy Board (NCPB), a twenty-member board with broad representation, performed this review. In its review, the NCPB focused on the state of cancer care delivery at that time, its shortcomings, and ways to measure and improve the quality of cancer care. The NCPB described an ideal cancer care system, where patients would have equitable access to coordinated, guideline-based care and novel therapies throughout the course of their disease. In 1999, the IOM published the results of this review in its influential report, Ensuring Quality Cancer Care. This report outlined ten recommendations, which, when implemented, would: 1) improve the quality of cancer care; 2) increase our understanding of quality cancer care; and, 3) reduce or eliminate access barriers to quality cancer care. Despite the fervor generated by this report, there are lingering doubts regarding the safety and quality of cancer care in the United States today. Increased awareness of medical errors and barriers to quality care, coupled with escalating healthcare costs, has prompted national efforts to reform the healthcare system. These efforts by healthcare providers and policymakers should bridge the gap between the ideal state described in Ensuring Quality Cancer Care and the current state of cancer care in the United States. PMID:22045610

75 FR 74517 - Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; State of California; 2008 San Joaquin Valley...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-11-30

...EPA is proposing to approve in part and disapprove in part state implementation plan (SIP) revisions submitted by California to provide for attainment of the 1997 annual and 24-hour fine particulate matter (PM2.5) national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) in the San Joaquin Valley (SJV) nonattainment area. The SIP revisions are the SJV 2008 PM2.5 Plan (revised 2010) and portions of the 2007 State Strategy (revised 2009). Specifically, EPA is proposing to approve the emissions inventories as meeting the requirements of the Clean Air Act and EPA's fine particle implementing rule and to approve commitments to implement specific measures and meet specific aggregate emissions reductions by the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District and the California Air Resource Board. In addition, we are proposing to find that volatile organic compounds are a PM2.5 attainment plan precursor in the SJV for which controls should be evaluated. EPA is proposing to disapprove the attainment demonstration. EPA is also proposing to disapprove the reasonably available control measures/reasonably available control technology demonstration, the air quality modeling, the reasonable further progress (RFP) demonstration, the contingency measures, and the attainment and RFP conformity motor vehicle emissions budgets. EPA is also proposing to not grant California's request to extend to April 5, 2015 the deadline for the SJV nonattainment area to attain the 1997 PM2.5 NAAQS.

76 FR 78194 - Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Commonwealth of Kentucky; Regional...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-12-16

...EPA is proposing a limited approval and a limited disapproval of two revisions to the Kentucky State Implementation Plan (SIP) submitted by the Commonwealth of Kentucky through the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet, Division of Air Quality (KYDAQ), on June 25, 2008, and May 28, 2010, that address regional haze for the first implementation period. These revisions address the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) and EPA's rules that require states to prevent any future and remedy any existing anthropogenic impairment of visibility in mandatory Class I areas (national parks and wilderness areas) caused by emissions of air pollutants from numerous sources located over a wide geographic area (also referred to as the ``regional haze program''). States are required to assure reasonable progress toward the national goal of achieving natural visibility conditions in Class I areas. EPA is proposing a limited approval of these SIP revisions to implement the regional haze requirements for Kentucky on the basis that the revisions, as a whole, strengthen the Kentucky SIP. Also in this action, EPA is proposing a limited disapproval of these same SIP revisions because of the deficiencies in the Commonwealth's regional haze SIP submittal arising from the remand by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (DC Circuit) to EPA of the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR).

76 FR 10544 - Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans, State of Louisiana

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-02-25

..., were submitted by the State of Louisiana, and include formatting changes, regulatory wording changes... available only in hard copy. Publicly available docket materials are available either electronically in http://www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the Air Planning Section (6PD- L), Environmental Protection...

76 FR 14835 - Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plan; Missouri; Proposed Disapproval of...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-03-18

... the state's conclusion should be supported by an adequate technical analysis. EPA recommended the...)(2)(D)(i)(I) must be supported by an adequate technical analysis.\\5\\ EPA recommended the various..., the state did not further evaluate or demonstrate with a technical analysis that these measures...

76 FR 43175 - Approval of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Indiana and Ohio; Disapproval of Interstate...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-07-20

... impact. EPA stated that the state's conclusion should be supported by an adequate technical analysis. EPA... by an adequate technical analysis. IDEM did not provide a technical analysis in its submittal, but... technical analysis and justification necessary to make that demonstration. Indiana did not provide any...

America's Challenge: Effective Teachers for At-Risk Schools and Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dwyer, Carol A., Ed.

2007-01-01

The National Comprehensive Center for Teacher Quality (NCCTQ) was launched in 2005 as part of a comprehensive system of content-based technical assistance to support states in implementing the priorities of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act. NCCTQ's mission is to support Regional Comprehensive Centers (RCCs), states, and other education…

76 FR 4268 - Approval and Disapproval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Colorado; Revision...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-01-25

... State discretion, without going through a SIP revision, to modify emissions limitations for stationary... limited circumstances) from taking any action to modify requirements of a SIP with respect to stationary.... The State in subsequent revisions sent to EPA modified the Affirmative Defense provision. EPA acted on...

77 FR 11879 - Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; State of Mississippi; Regional...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-02-28

... Goals (RPGs) D. Best Available Retrofit Technology (BART) E. Long-Term Strategy (LTS) F. Coordinating... analysis of Mississippi's regional haze submittal? A. No Affected Class I Areas in Mississippi B. Long-Term... haze program will require long-term regional coordination among states, tribal governments, and various...

75 FR 70140 - Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; New York Prevention of Significant...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-11-17

... Significant Deterioration of Air Quality (PSD) and Nonattainment New Source Review (NNSR) State regulations. These revisions create a new New York State PSD regulation program and modify the existing New York... EPA is taking no action at this time on the PSD permitting threshold provisions to the extent that...

77 FR 68087 - Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans and Designation of Areas for Air Quality...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-11-15

... Source Review (NSR) permit programs); provisions for air pollution modeling; and provisions for public... the eastern United States (i.e., the Transport Rule, also known as the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule... and applicable federal air pollution control regulations and other permanent and enforceable...

78 FR 22827 - Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; State of Kansas; Infrastructure SIP...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-04-17

... strategies to reduce air pollution. Based upon review of the state's infrastructure SIP submissions for the... the Kansas Air Quality Act through the Division of Environment within KDHE. Air pollution is defined... cause or contribute to air pollution. Furthermore, the Secretary has the authority to require such air...

77 FR 39938 - Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Maryland; Regional Haze State...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-07-06

... responses are provided below. Comment 1: The Commenter recommended that emission controls for a coal... Dakota. The Commenter stated that initially the coal cleaning facility was identified as BART-eligible... further evaluate controls at the coal cleaning facility and the three EGUs under the reasonable progress...

All over the Map: A Progress Report on the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Edmunds, Margo; Teitelbaum, Martha; Gleason, Cassy

The State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) was designed in 1997 to support working families by providing affordable, quality health coverage for their children in an efficient, effective, and coordinated way. This report examines the progress made in implementing CHIP nationwide. Information sources included the following: (1) federal…

LINKING CHANGES IN UTILITY NO X EMISSIONS TO CHANGE IN OZONE AIR QUALITY

EPA Science Inventory

The NO_x State Implementation Plan (SIP) Call was designed to reduce Northeastern U.S. NO_x emissions from utilities. With these reductions, it was anticipated that the amount of ozone attributed to transport from other states would in turn be reduced. In th...

Building an Ecosystem for a New Engineering Program

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grebski, Wieslaw; Grebski, Michalene Eva

2018-06-01

Penn State Hazleton has recently developed and implemented a new Engineering program with a focus on energy efficiency and energy sustainability. To accelerate the implementation cycle of the program, it was necessary to very rapidly create and establish the components of an ecosystem needed for the Engineering program to prosper and grow. This paper describes the individual components of the ecosystem as well as the methods used to establish them. The paper also discusses the different initiatives to increase enrollment as well as placement rates for graduates. Continuous quality improvement procedure applied to maintain the quality of the program is also being discussed.

Progress toward poliomyelitis eradication in Nigeria.

PubMed

Ado, J Mohammed; Etsano, Andrew; Shuaib, Faisal; Damisa, Eunice; Mkanda, Pascal; Gasasira, Alex; Banda, Richard; Korir, Charles; Johnson, Ticha; Dieng, Boubacar; Corkum, Melissa; Enemaku, Ogu; Mataruse, Noah; Ohuabunwo, Chima; Baig, Shahzad; Galway, Michael; Seaman, Vincent; Wiesen, Eric; Vertefeuille, John; Ogbuanu, Ikechukwu U; Armstrong, Gregory; Mahoney, Frank J

2014-11-01

Transmission of wild poliovirus (WPV) has never been interrupted in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Nigeria. Since 2003, infections with WPV of Nigerian origin have been detected in 25 polio-free countries. In 2012, the Nigerian government created an emergency operations center and implemented a national emergency action plan to eradicate polio. The 2013 revision of this plan prioritized (1) improving the quality of supplemental immunization activities (SIAs), (2) implementing strategies to reach underserved populations, (3) adopting special approaches in security-compromised areas, (4) improving outbreak response, (5) enhancing routine immunization and activities implemented between SIAs, and (6) strengthening surveillance. This report summarizes implementation of these activities during a period of unprecedented insecurity and violence, including the killing of health workers and the onset of a state of emergency in the northeast zone. This report reviews management strategies, innovations, trends in case counts, vaccination and social mobilization activities, and surveillance and monitoring data to assess progress in polio eradication in Nigeria. Nigeria has made significant improvements in the management of polio eradication initiative (pei) activities with marked improvement in the quality of SIAs, as measured by lot quality assurance sampling (LQAS). Comparing results from February 2012 with results from December 2013, the proportion of local government areas (LGAs) conducting LQAS in the 11 high-risk states at the ≥90% pass/fail threshold increased from 7% to 42%, and the proportion at the 80%-89% threshold increased from 9% to 30%. During January-December 2013, 53 polio cases were reported from 26 LGAs in 9 states in Nigeria, compared with 122 cases reported from 13 states in 2012. No cases of WPV type 3 infection have been reported since November 2012. In 2013, no polio cases due to any poliovirus type were detected in the northwest sanctuaries of Nigeria. In the second half of 2013, WPV transmission was restricted to Kano, Borno, Bauchi, and Taraba states. Despite considerable progress, 24 LGAs in 2012 and 7 LGAs in 2013 reported ≥2 cases, and WPV continued to circulate in 8 LGAs that had cases in 2012. Campaign activities were negatively impacted by insecurity and violence in Borno and Kano states. Efforts to interrupt transmission remain impeded by poor SIA implementation in localized areas, anti-polio vaccine sentiment, and limited access to vaccinate children because of insecurity. Sustained improvement in SIA quality, surveillance, and outbreak response and special strategies in security-compromised areas are needed to interrupt WPV transmission in 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Infectious Diseases Society of America 2014. This work is written by (a) US Government employee(s) and is in the public domain in the US.

78 FR 17157 - Approval of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Indiana; Disapproval of State Implementation Plan...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-03-20

... as fuel, along with coke oven gas and natural gas, in the facility's blast furnace stoves, power... boilers operate on a combination of blast furnace gas, coke oven gas, and natural gas, their full... would remove the SO 2 emission limit for the blast furnace gas flare at the facility. For the reasons...

Two of a Kind: Are Your Districts' Evaluation Systems Equivalent? Ask the Team

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jacques, Catherine

2013-01-01

States in the midst of implementing evaluation reforms face a common dilemma: how to ensure that all your districts are implementing quality educator evaluation systems while still providing them with the flexibility to design systems best suited to their own unique needs. One answer is to create an equivalency process (also known as an approval…

78 FR 44881 - Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Wisconsin; Disapproval of PM2.5

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-07-25

... promulgated by the 2008 implementation rule does not conflict with the decision. Wisconsin's submission did... accounting for the condensable fraction of PM 2.5 and PM 10 emissions in applicability determinations and... role is to approve state choices, provided that they meet the criteria of the CAA. In this context, in...

Conformity Adequacy Review: Region 4

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Resources are for air quality and transportation government and community leaders. Information on the adequacy/inadequacy of state implementation plans (SIPs) in EPA Region 4 (AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN) is provided here.

Conformity Adequacy Review: Region 5

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Resources are for air quality and transportation government and community leaders. Information on the conformity SIP adequacy/inadequacy of state implementation plans (SIPs) in EPA Region 5 (IL, IN, MI, OH, WI) is provided here.

Applying the National Aquatic Resource Survey Data

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

The NARS generate nationally-consistent water quality data across a variety of indicators. States have applied the NARS data to help address local policy questions and to implement changes regarding aquatic resource management.

Summary statistics and graphical comparisons of historical hydrologic and water-quality data, Seco Creek Watershed, South-Central Texas

USGS Publications Warehouse

Brown, David W.; Slattery, Richard N.; Gilhousen, Jon R.

1998-01-01

The U.S. Geological Survey collected hydrologic (rainfall, streamflow, and reservoir content) and water-quality data in the Seco Creek watershed, south-central Texas. Most of the data from 15 sites were collected as part of a study in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board to evaluate the effects of agricultural best-management practices on surface- and ground-water quantity and quality in the 255-square-mile watershed. Nearly 400 best-management practices at 58 sites were implemented by landowners in the watershed during March 1990-September 1995. Most of the data are from the early 1990s, the period during and after implementation of best-management practices. Data from five sites include water quality and are summarized in tables and graphics in the text; and data from all 15 sites are summarized on a diskette. Maximum annual rainfall among the sites for which data are presented in the text (excluding one site) for the during-and-after-implementation period (March 1990-September 1995) was 53.27 inches in water year 1992. Maximum annual total streamflow among the sites for the period was 63,400 acre-feet, also in water year 1992. At the one site with water-quality data (under base-flow conditions) for both the before-implementation period and the during-and-after implementation period of best-management practices, percentiles (5, 25, 50, 75, 95) for specific conductance, nitrate concentration, and fecal coliform density were less for the during-and-after-implementation period than for the before-implementation period.

The impact of parity on major depression treatment quality in the Federal Employees' Health Benefits Program after parity implementation.

PubMed

Busch, Alisa B; Huskamp, Haiden A; Normand, Sharon-Lise T; Young, Alexander S; Goldman, Howard; Frank, Richard G

2006-06-01

Since the 1990s, parity laws have been implemented to reduce inequities in mental health coverage compared with that for general medical conditions. It is unclear if parity under managed care is associated with improvements in mental health treatment quality. Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a prevalent but often undetected and undertreated and thus could potentially benefit from parity implementation. The objective of this study was to examine the association between parity implementation and changes in MDD treatment quality in the Federal Employees' Health Benefits (FEHB) Program. We conducted retrospective analyses of insurance claims data. Logistic regression models estimated quality changes for MDD-diagnosed enrollees from pre- to postparity. Subjects included MDD-diagnosed FEHB insured enrollees, aged 18-64, across multiple states and 6 FEHB plans before (1999-2000) and after (2001-2002) parity implementation. Measures included receipt of any antidepressant or psychotherapy within a given calendar year of diagnosis; receipt of appropriate psychotherapy frequency/intensity and duration; and pharmacotherapy duration during acute-phase treatment episodes. Postparity, several plans improved significantly in the likelihood of receiving antidepressant medication. In the acute-phase episodes, the greatest improvement was seen in the likelihood of follow up >or=4 months. Few or no other changes were observed in the acute-phase treatment intensity or duration quality measures. Parity under managed care was associated with modest improvements. The observed improvements were consistent with secular trends in MDD treatment. Whereas mental health parity is an important policy goal, these results highlight its limitations: improving the financing of care may not be sufficient to improve quality.

[IMPLEMENTATION OF A QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN A NUTRITION UNIT ACCORDING TO ISO 9001:2008].

PubMed

Velasco Gimeno, Cristina; Cuerda Compés, Cristina; Alonso Puerta, Alba; Frías Soriano, Laura; Camblor Álvarez, Miguel; Bretón Lesmes, Irene; Plá Mestre, Rosa; Izquierdo Membrilla, Isabel; García-Peris, Pilar

2015-09-01

the implementation of quality management systems (QMS) in the health sector has made great progress in recent years, remains a key tool for the management and improvement of services provides to patients. to describe the process of implementing a quality management system (QMS) according to the standard ISO 9001:2008 in a Nutrition Unit. the implementation began in October 2012. Nutrition Unit was supported by Hospital Preventive Medicine and Quality Management Service (PMQM). Initially training sessions on QMS and ISO standards for staff were held. Quality Committee (QC) was established with representation of the medical and nursing staff. Every week, meeting took place among members of the QC and PMQM to define processes, procedures and quality indicators. We carry on a 2 months follow-up of these documents after their validation. a total of 4 processes were identified and documented (Nutritional status assessment, Nutritional treatment, Monitoring of nutritional treatment and Planning and control of oral feeding) and 13 operating procedures in which all the activity of the Unit were described. The interactions among them were defined in the processes map. Each process has associated specific quality indicators for measuring the state of the QMS, and identifying opportunities for improvement. All the documents associated with requirements of ISO 9001:2008 were developed: quality policy, quality objectives, quality manual, documents and records control, internal audit, nonconformities and corrective and preventive actions. The unit was certified by AENOR in April 2013. the implementation of a QMS causes a reorganization of the activities of the Unit in order to meet customer's expectations. Documenting these activities ensures a better understanding of the organization, defines the responsibilities of all staff and brings a better management of time and resources. QMS also improves the internal communication and is a motivational element. Explore the satisfaction and expectations of patients can include their view in the design of care processes. Copyright AULA MEDICA EDICIONES 2014. Published by AULA MEDICA. All rights reserved.

Soil erosion and sediment control laws. A review of state laws and their natural resource data requirements

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Klein, S. B.

1980-01-01

Twenty states, the District of Columbia, and the Virgin Islands enacted erosion and sediment control legislation during the past decade to provide for the implementation or the strengthening of statewide erosion and sediment control plans for rural and/or urban lands. That legislation and the state programs developed to implement these laws are quoted and reviewed. The natural resource data requirements of each program are also extracted. The legislation includes amendments to conservation district laws, water quality laws, and erosion and sediment control laws. Laws which provides for legislative review of administrative regulations and LANDSAT applications and/or information systems that were involved in implementing or gathering data for a specific soil erosion and sediment control program are summarized as well as principal concerns affecting erosion and sediment control laws.

Implementation of the Patients' Rights in Cross-border Healthcare directive in Latvia.

PubMed

Olsena, Solvita

2014-03-01

Latvia, being one of the EU Member States, has an obligation to implement the rules stated by the Directive 2011/24/EU on Patients' Rights in Cross-border Healthcare (hereinafter--the Directive) before 25 October 2013 in existing national legislation and practice. Implementation was carried out under pressured circumstances. A National Contact Point has been established, information is provided for patients in Latvian and to some extent in English, the Medical Treatment Risk Fund will start operations to provide compensation for harm, and the restrictions and procedure for prior authorisation have been stated. The need to secure quality of care and patient safety and well as privacy protection are the most challenging tasks for Latvia. It can be concluded that some progress in patients' rights can be achieved, but it is doubtful if patients' mobility will be stimulated.

Quality improvement nursing facilities: a nursing leadership perspective.

PubMed

Adams-Wendling, Linda; Lee, Robert

2005-11-01

The purposes of this study were to characterize the state of quality improvement (QI) in nursing facilities and to identify barriers to improvement from nursing leaders' perspectives. The study employed a non-experimental descriptive design, using closed- and open-ended survey questions in a sample of 51 nursing facilities in a midwestern state. Only two of these facilities had active QI programs. Furthermore, turnover and limited training among these nursing leaders represented major barriers to rapid implementation of such programs. This study is consistent with earlier findings that QI programs are limited in nursing homes.

Responses of Massachusetts hospitals to a state mandate to collect race, ethnicity and language data from patients: a qualitative study.

PubMed

Jorgensen, Selena; Thorlby, Ruth; Weinick, Robin M; Ayanian, John Z

2010-12-31

A Massachusetts regulation implemented in 2007 has required all acute care hospitals to report patients' race, ethnicity and preferred language using standardized methodology based on self-reported information from patients. This study assessed implementation of the regulation and its impact on the use of race and ethnicity data in performance monitoring and quality improvement within hospitals. Thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with executives from a representative sample of 28 Massachusetts hospitals in 2009. The number of hospitals using race, ethnicity and language data internally beyond refining interpreter services increased substantially from 11 to 21 after the regulation. Thirteen of these hospitals were utilizing patient race and ethnicity data to identify disparities in quality performance measures for a variety of clinical processes and outcomes, while 16 had developed patient services and community outreach programs based on findings from these data. Commonly reported barriers to data utilization include small numbers within categories, insufficient resources, information system requirements, and lack of direction from the state. The responses of Massachusetts hospitals to this new state regulation indicate that requiring the collection of race, ethnicity and language data can be an effective method to promote performance monitoring and quality improvement, thereby setting the stage for federal standards and incentive programs to eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in the quality of health care.

The Utility of the OMI HCHO/NO2 in Air Quality Decision-Making Activities

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Duncan, Bryan

2010-01-01

I will discuss a novel and practical application of the OMI HCHU and NO2 data products to the "weight of evidence" in the air quality decision-making process (e.g., State Implementation Plan (SIP)) for a city, region, or state to demonstrate that it is making progress toward attainment of the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for ozone. Any trend, or lack thereof, in the observed OMI HCHO/NO2 may support that an emission control strategy implemented to reduce ozone is or is not occurring for a metropolitan area. In addition, the observed OMI HCHO/NO2 may be used to define new emission control strategies as the photochemical environments of urban areas evolve over time. I will demonstrate the utility of the OMI HCHO/NO2 over the U.S. for air quality applications with support from simulations with both a regional model and a photochemical box model. These results support mission planning of an OMI-like instrument for the proposed GEO-CAPE satellite that has as one of its objectives to study air quality from space. However, I'm attending the meeting as the Aura Deputy Project Scientist, so I don't technically need to present anything to justify the travel.

Clinical guidelines in the European Union: mapping the regulatory basis, development, quality control, implementation and evaluation across member states.

PubMed

Legido-Quigley, Helena; Panteli, Dimitra; Brusamento, Serena; Knai, Cécile; Saliba, Vanessa; Turk, Eva; Solé, Meritxell; Augustin, Uta; Car, Josip; McKee, Martin; Busse, Reinhard

2012-10-01

Clinical guidelines are advocated to improve the quality of care, especially for chronic diseases. However, the regulatory basis of clinical guidelines, their development, quality control, implementation and use as well as evaluation within countries across the European Union is not systematically known. Using information collected from key informants in each country by means of a structured questionnaire, this mapping exercise illustrates the varied status of guideline production in European Union countries. Most European Union countries have an established national, regional or local clinical guideline programme, and a substantial proportion have developed guidelines on the prevention and management of chronic diseases. Several countries have mechanisms in place to ensure the quality of scientific evidence used for the development of guidelines is high and that the process is consistent and transparent. Others are only now taking an interest in guideline development and are taking the first steps towards establishing ways of implementing them. The majority of countries have no legal basis for the development of guidelines and those that have well established systems mostly implement them on a voluntary basis. The process of guideline development varies in its degrees of decentralisation across countries with many different types of organisations taking on this responsibility. There is general acceptance of the value of the instrument developed by the AGREE collaboration for evaluating the methodological robustness of guidelines. However, the extent to which guidelines are implemented in Europe is unknown, as there is no systematic data collection and, in most countries, no structure to enable it. There are few examples of formal evaluations of the development, quality, implementation and use of guidelines. Our findings call for renewed efforts to respond to the severe lack of standardized guideline terminology and accessibility as well as rigorous studies to evaluate the relationship between different ways to develop guidelines and their methodological quality, between their quality and the actual implementation and usage, and finally between implementation and health outcomes. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Ozone: Stage Two Vapor Recovery Rule and Guidance

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

This page includes the guidance document, fact sheet, memorandum, and final rule on removing Stage II Gasoline Vapor Control Programs from State Implementation Plans (SIP) for the Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)

77 FR 71533 - Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Michigan; Regional Haze State...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-12-03

... place more modern technology than its competitors, such as Lafarge's Alpena plant.'' Elsewhere, SMC... in control requirements. Lafarge's Alpena facility has long wet kilns, a different design with...

Region 10: Oregon Oakridge Adequate Letter (6/21/2017)

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

EPA approves motor vehicle emissions budget in the Oakridge-Westfir PM2.5 Attainment State Implementation Plan for the 2006 PM2.5 national ambient air quality standard, adequate for transportation conformity purposes.

HMA Longitudinal Joint Evaluation and Construction

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2011-02-01

Longitudinal joint quality is essential to the successful performance of asphalt pavements. A number of states have begun to implement longitudinal joint specifications, and most are based on determinations of density. However, distress at the joint ...

78 FR 885 - Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Utah; Determination of Clean Data...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-01-07

... finalizing a determination that the Ogden City nonattainment area in Utah is currently attaining the 24-hour... monitoring data for the years 2009 through 2011. The State of Utah submitted a letter dated March 30, 2000... attaining the 24-hour PM 10 NAAQS based on certified and quality-assured data from the most recent three...

A Comparison of Methodological Approaches for Evaluating the Quality of Basic Skills Programs. AIR Forum 1982 Paper.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dumont, Richard G.; And Others

A multiple-indicator and multiple-design approach for evaluating the quality of basic skills programs in reading, writing, and mathematics that has been implemented within a statewide system of higher education in the southeastern United States was assessed. Several of the evaluation methodologies are compared in order to determine whether results…

Online Ratings Systems for Physicians and Institutions: Limitations of the Current State of the Art.

PubMed

Daskivich, Timothy J; Spiegel, Brennan; Kim, Hyung L

2017-03-01

Consumers are increasingly using online ratings tools that compare surgeons and institutions to identify high-quality providers. However, concerns regarding their limitations-data quality, validity of statistical comparisons, and impact on access to care-should be considered before full-scale implementation. Copyright © 2016 European Association of Urology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

78 FR 46861 - Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; State of Colorado; Second Ten-Year...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-08-02

...) section 175A(b) second 10-year maintenance plan for the Greeley area for the carbon monoxide (CO) National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). This limited maintenance plan (LMP) addresses maintenance of the CO..., Mailcode 8P-AR, 1595 Wynkoop Street, Denver, Colorado 80202-1129. Hand Delivery: Carl Daly, Director, Air...

76 FR 10817 - Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; State of Nevada; PM-10; Determinations...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-02-28

... meter ([micro]g/m\\3\\) with no more than one expected exceedance per year. The annual primary PM-10... contains three consecutive years of complete, quality-assured and certified PM-10 data for the 1999-2001... consecutive years of complete, quality-assured and certified PM-10 data for the 2007-2009 period, the most...

Sociological Perspectives on Ethnic Minority Teachers in China: A Review of the Research Literature

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lee, MaryJo Benton

2016-01-01

Improving the quality of education has been a central goal of the People's Republic of China since its founding in 1949. Particular concern has been focused on ethnic minority areas where educational quality lags behind that of other regions. Since 1986 the State Education Commission has been working toward the implementation of nine years of…

77 FR 39181 - Revisions to the California State Implementation Plan, Mojave Desert Air Quality Management...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-07-02

... Register on February 28, 2012 and concern glass furnaces and biomass boilers. We are approving local rules... MDAQMD 1165 Glass Melting Furnaces......... 08/12/08 12/23/08 YSAQMD 2.43 Biomass Boilers 11/10/10 04/05.... * * * * * (388) * * * (i) * * * (F) Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District. (1) Rule 2.43, ``Biomass Boilers...

Episode-Based Payment for Perinatal Care in Medicaid: Implications for Practice and Policy.

PubMed

Jarlenski, Marian; Borrero, Sonya; La Charité, Trey; Zite, Nikki B

2016-06-01

Medicaid is an important source of health insurance coverage for low-income pregnant women and covers nearly half of all deliveries in the United States. In the face of budgetary pressures, several state Medicaid programs have implemented or are considering implementing episode-based payments for perinatal care. Under the episode-based payment model, Medicaid programs make a single payment for all pregnancy-related medical services provided to women with low- and medium-risk pregnancies from 40 weeks before delivery through 60 days postpartum. The health care provider who delivers a live birth is assigned responsibility for all care and must meet certain quality metrics and stay within delineated cost-per-episode parameters. Implementation of cost- and quality-dependent episode-based payments for perinatal care is notable because there is no published evidence about the effects of such initiatives on pregnancy or birth outcomes. In this article, we highlight challenges and potential adverse consequences related to defining the perinatal episode and assigning a responsible health care provider. We also describe concerns that perinatal care quality metrics may not address the most pressing health care issues that are likely to improve health outcomes and reduce costs. In their current incarnations, Medicaid programs' episode-based payments for perinatal care may not improve perinatal care delivery and subsequent health outcomes. Rigorous evaluation of the new episode-based payment initiatives is critically needed to inform policymakers about the intended and unintended consequences of implementing episode-based payments for perinatal care.

76 FR 41100 - Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; Alabama; 110(a)(1) and (2) Infrastructure...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-07-13

...EPA is taking final action to approve the December 10, 2007, submission by the State of Alabama, through the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) as demonstrating that the State meets the state implementation plan (SIP) requirements of sections 110(a)(1) and (2) of the Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act) for the 1997 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS). Section 110(a) of the CAA requires that each state adopt and submit a SIP for the implementation, maintenance, and enforcement of each NAAQS promulgated by the EPA, which is commonly referred to as an ``infrastructure'' SIP. Alabama certified that the Alabama SIP contains provisions that ensure the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS is implemented, enforced, and maintained in Alabama (hereafter referred to as ``infrastructure submission''). Alabama's infrastructure submission, provided to EPA on December 10, 2007, addressed all the required infrastructure elements for the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS. Additionally, EPA is responding to adverse comments received on EPA's March 17, 2011, proposed approval of Alabama's December 10, 2007, infrastructure submission.

Public Reporting of Nursing Home Quality of Care: Lessons from the United States Experience for Canadian Policy Discussion

PubMed Central

Hutchinson, Alison M.; Draper, Kellie; Sales, Anne E.

2009-01-01

While the demand for continuing care services in Canada grows, the quality of such services has come under increasing scrutiny. Consideration has been given to the use of public reporting of quality data as a mechanism to stimulate quality improvement and promote public accountability for and transparency in service quality. The recent adoption of the Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) throughout a number of Canadian jurisdictions means that standardized quality data are available for comparisons among facilities across regions, provinces and nationally. In this paper, we explore current knowledge on public reporting in nursing homes in the United States to identify what lessons may inform policy discussion regarding potential use of public reporting in Canada. Based on these findings, we make recommendations regarding how public reporting should be progressed and managed if Canadian jurisdictions were to implement this strategy. PMID:21037828

[Comprehensive implementation of interprofessional quality circles regarding early prevention of childhood disadvantage in Baden Württemberg (Germany)].

PubMed

Siebolds, Marcus; Münzel, Brigitte; Müller, Roland; Häußermann, Sigrun; Paul, Mechthild; Kahl, Cornelia

2016-10-01

The integration of available early interventions and healthcare for families with children by practicing pediatricians has yet to be systematically established. For this reason, the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians of Baden-Wuerttemberg established overarching, accredited, cross-system quality circles that serve to integrate all representatives of the healthcare system as well as child and youth welfare services. These quality circles are led by specially trained moderator tandems consisting of pediatricians and staff members from youth welfare services. The goal was to evaluate the endpoints of the regional implementation of cross-system quality circles for early interventions in the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg as well as the feasibility of establishing long-term training programs for cross-system moderator tandems. This was a noncontrolled, longitudinal study to prepare a yearly evaluation of the quality-circle assessments as well as to gather statistics on the training of the moderator tandems within the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians of Baden-Wuerttemberg. A total of 59 moderator tandems were trained in nine separate training sessions within the project period from 2011 to 2015. Overall, 33 quality circles were founded. In 2015, 566 persons were participating in the respective circles. Over the course of the study between 26 and 33 of the 44 urban and rural districts in the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg had at least one quality circle dedicated to early interventions. Ten further circles are presently in the process of being founded; 29 moderators have yet to commence their activity or have withdrawn from the program. Between 59 and 81 % of the urban and rural districts implemented cross-system quality circles. The training of the moderator tandems proceeded without complications. Because of the dropout quota of the trained moderator tandems, systematic and continual training of new tandems proves to be necessary.

Level of Adoption of Quality Management Systems Into the Mexican Pork Industry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maldonado-Siman, Em; Ruíz-Flores, Agustín; Núñez-Domínguez, Rafael; González-Alcorta, Mariano; Hernández-Rodríguez, Bertha Alicia

This research studies the characteristics of the Mexican pork sector; adoption status of quality management systems, and product destinations. Ninety six percent of fifty enterprises have fully answered a questionnaire. Ninety percent are small and medium-sized, the rest are large-sized firms. Nineteen percent of them have totally adopted HACCP, sixty three percent are implementing or planning to do it, the rest have no plans to adopt it. Thirteen percent of the enterprises had ISO 9000. Thirty four percent of their sales go to supermarkets, 57% to other retail chains and 9% to exportation. Product destinations are mainly Central America, United States of America, Asia and Mexico. To improve efficiency and the quality of process it is necessary to implement HACCP. Besides, customers and legal requirements are the external factors, which result in this adoption. In the process of implementing, there are some problems, such as staff motivation and training. The results suggest that HACCP system operating is important for the Mexican pork industry. It also has relevant implications in domestic trade. It is necessary to encourage adoption of quality management systems in the sector.

77 FR 37842 - Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; United States Virgin Islands...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-06-25

..., and be free of any defects or viruses. For additional information about EPA's public docket visit the... anticipated to result from the use of such technology. States are free to determine the weight and... compounds in the presence of nitrogen oxides and radicals. The development of an emission inventory for...

Southeastern Institute for Faculty Training (SIFT): A Training Model for Systems Change. Final Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

North Carolina Univ., Chapel Hill. Frank Porter Graham Center.

This report describes a training program designed to assist 15 Southeastern states in preparing quality early intervention personnel to serve young children with disabilities and their families. The goals of the project are described, including: (1) increasing states' progress in implementing the personnel preparation component of Part H of the…