Smart Talk: Doctors recognizing dementia; Geography education

What to look for on Smart Talk Wednesday, March 30, 2016:

Do healthcare professionals always recognize when a patient they are treating for another condition or illness has dementia? The Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority concludes the answer is not always.

A Northampton County woman had firsthand experience.  Pam Tripaldi of Walnutsport witnessed her father, who had been diagnosed with dementia, providing incorrect information to doctors who asked about his medical history.

She went to the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority for a solution such as a colored wristband.

The Authority conducted a multi-year analysis which we’ll learn about on Wednesday’s Smart Talk.

Michelle Feil, the safety analyst who conducted the research appears on the program.

Also, the Pennsylvania State Geography Bee is scheduled for Friday at the State Museum in Harrisburg.  Some of the brightest young people from throughout the state will be participating.  But when it comes to geography education in the K thru 12 grades, geography is often a forgotten subject.

In fact, nearly three-quarters of eighth graders tested below proficient in geography on the 2014 National Assessment of Education Progress.

Part of the explanation could be geography is not a required subject in most states.

We discuss the geography bee and geography education on Wednesday’s show with Kristin Byers, Program Manager for the Pennsylvania Alliance for Geographic Education and the Pennsylvania State Level Coordinator for the National Geographic Bee and Nicole Eshelman, a teacher at Manheim Township High School and an active member of PA Alliance for Geographic Education.