Measures of health status, functional abilities, and quality-of-life are being used increasingly to evaluate health care practice, and to measure outcomes from the patient’s perspective. There is thus a need to reassess the use of growth and neurodevelopmental status that have traditionally been used as measures of outcome after neonatal intensive care. The quality of neonatal intensive care co...

Objectives: The purpose of this pilot study was to compare differences between traditional occupational therapy (OT) and OT delivered with a dog and handler, or animal-assisted therapy (AAT), on selected treatment goals for a 3-year-old child with cerebral palsy. Methods: This mixed-methods research study included an A-B single subject design to collect data related to the child participant’s O...

Objectives: The purpose of this pilot study was to compare differences between traditional occupational therapy (OT) and OT delivered with a dog and handler, or animal-assisted therapy (AAT), on selected treatment goals for a 3-year-old child with cerebral palsy. Methods: This mixed-methods research study included an A-B single subject design to collect data related to the child participant’s O...

The Military Health System (MHS) finds itself operating in a competitive market. TRICARE, the military managed care system, allows family members to seek care outside the uniformed network. In this competitive environment, it is necessary to deliver healthcare in such a way that meets or exceeds patients’ expectations and perceptions. Doing so not only ensures the existence of a robust MHS, but...