An Overview of Digital Health in the Transition of Pediatric to Adult Epilepsy Care

2020 ◽  
Vol 09 (04) ◽  
pp. 106-113
Author(s):  
Ysabeau Bernard-Willis ◽  
Emily De Oliveira ◽  
Shaheen E Lakhan
Keyword(s):  
Health Management ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Health Care Systems ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Pediatric Care ◽  
Medical Mistrust ◽  
Patient Portals ◽  
Language Therapy ◽  
Adult Care ◽  
Care Systems

AbstractChildren with epilepsy often have impairments in cognitive and behavioral functioning which may hinder socio-occupational well-being as they reach adulthood. Adolescents with epilepsy have the added worry of health problems while starting the transition from family-centered pediatric care into largely autonomous adult care. If this transition is not appropriately planned and resourced, it may result in medical mistrust, nonadherence, and worsening biopsychosocial health as an adult. In recent years, there has been increased availability of digital health solutions that may be used during this stark change in care and treating teams. The digital health landscape includes a wide variety of technologies meant to address challenges faced by patients, caregivers, medical professionals, and health care systems. These technologies include mobile health products and wearable devices (e.g., seizure monitors and trackers, smartphone passive data collection), digital therapeutics (e.g., cognitive/behavioral health management; digital speech–language therapy), telehealth services (e.g., teleneurology visits), and health information technology (e.g., electronic medical records with patient portals). Such digital health solutions may empower patients in their journey toward optimal brain health during the vulnerable period of pediatric to adult care transition. Further research is needed to validate and measure their impact on clinical outcomes, health economics, and quality of life.

Adult Care in Cystic Fibrosis

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (06) ◽  
pp. 857-868 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Stuart Elborn
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Cystic Fibrosis ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Health Care Systems ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Models Of Care ◽  
Adult Care ◽  
Care Systems ◽  
Expanding Population ◽  
Almost All

AbstractCystic fibrosis (CF) is now more common in adults than children in countries with well-developed health care systems. The number of adults continues to increase and will further increase if the new cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) modulators are disease modifying. Most of the complex morbidity and almost all the mortality of CF occur in adults and will increasingly follow this pattern even with new effective modulator therapies. Maintaining good quality of life including social functioning and maximizing survival for adults are the key priorities. This requires a highly knowledgeable and adaptable multidisciplinary team, which, though focused on maintaining lung health, requires an increasing range of other disciplines and specialties to maximize well-being. Changes in health care systems will require current models of care to adapt to provide care for the large number of adult patients. With increasing survival and age, many are likely to have both CF morbidities and additional diseases of aging. New models are needed for health care delivery for this expanding population with complex medical conditions.

scholarly journals Transition to Adult Care for Obstructive Sleep Apnea

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 2120
Author(s):  
Austin Heffernan ◽  
Uzair Malik ◽  
Russell Cheng ◽  
Shaun Yo ◽  
Indra Narang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Obstructive Sleep Apnea ◽  
Sleep Apnea ◽  
Health Care Systems ◽  
Unmet Need ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Transition To Adult Care ◽  
Adult Health ◽  
Adult Care ◽  
Obstructive Sleep ◽  
Care Systems

Obstructive sleep apnea may occur throughout the lifespan, with peak occurrences in early childhood and during middle and older age. Onset in childhood is overwhelmingly due to adeno-tonsillar hypertrophy, while in adulthood, contributors include risk factors, such as obesity, male sex, and aging. More recently, there has been a precipitous increase in the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea in youth. Drivers of this phenomenon include both increasing obesity and the survival of children with complex medical conditions into adulthood. Appropriate treatment and long-term management of obstructive sleep apnea is critical to ensure that these youth maintain well-being unfettered by secondary comorbidities. To this end, patient engagement and seamless transition of care from pediatric to adult health care systems is of paramount importance. To date, this is an unacknowledged and unmet need in most sleep programs. This article highlights the need for guideline-driven sleep disorder transition processes and illustrates the authors’ experience with the development of a program for sleep apnea.

Problems and Barriers related to the Use of Digital Health Applications: A Scoping Review Protocol (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Godwin Denk Giebel ◽  
Christian Speckemeier ◽  
Carina Abels ◽  
Kirstin Börchers ◽  
Jürgen Wasem ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Scoping Review ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Health Care Systems ◽  
Grey Literature ◽  
Screening Process ◽  
Care Systems ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Review Protocol ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Health Applications

BACKGROUND Usage of digital health applications (DHA) is increasing internationally. More and more regulatory bodies develop regulations and guidelines to enable an evidence-based and safe use. In Germany, DHA fulfilling predefined criteria (Digitale Gesundheitsanwendungen (="DiGA")) can be prescribed and are reimbursable by the German statutory health insurance scheme. Due to the increasing distribution of DHA problems and barriers should receive special attention. OBJECTIVE This study aims to identify relevant problems and barriers related to the use of DHA fulfilling the criteria of DiGA. The research done in this area will be mapped and research findings will be summarized. METHODS Conduct of the scoping review will follow published methodological frameworks and PRISMA-Scr criteria. Electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, and PsycINFO), reference lists of relevant articles and grey literature sources will be searched. Two reviewers will assess eligibility of articles by a two-stage (title/abstract and full-text) screening process. Only problems and barriers related to DHA fulfilling the criteria of DiGA are included for this research. RESULTS This scoping review serves to give an overview about the available evidence and to identify research gaps with regards to problems and barriers related to DiGA. Results are planned to be submitted to an indexed, peer-reviewed journal in the fourth quarter of 2021. CONCLUSIONS This is the first review identifying problems and barriers specifically to the use of the German definition of DiGA. Nevertheless, our findings can presumably be applied to other contexts and health care systems as well.

scholarly journals Recommendations for Meeting the Pediatric Patient's Need for a Clinical Pharmacist: A Joint Opinion of the Pediatrics Practice and Research Network of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy and the Pediatric Pharmacy Advocacy Group

2012 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 281-291 ◽  
Author(s):  
Varsha Bhatt-Mehta ◽  
Marcia L. Buck ◽  
Allison M. Chung ◽  
Elizabeth Anne Farrington ◽  
Tracy M. Hagemann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Pharmacy ◽  
Health Care Systems ◽  
Pharmacy Education ◽  
Direct Care ◽  
Research Network ◽  
Pediatric Care ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Clinical Pharmacists ◽  
Care Systems ◽  
Research Initiatives

Children warrant access to care from clinical pharmacists trained in pediatrics. The American College of Clinical Pharmacy Pediatrics Practice and Research Network (ACCP Pediatrics PRN) released an opinion paper in 2005 with recommendations for improving the quality and quantity of pediatric pharmacy education in colleges of pharmacy, residency programs, and fellowships. While progress has been made in increasing the availability of pediatric residencies, there is still much to be done to meet the direct care needs of pediatric patients. The purpose of this Joint Opinion paper is to outline strategies and recommendations for expanding the quality and capacity of pediatric clinical pharmacy practitioners by 1) elevating the minimum expectations for pharmacists entering practice to provide pediatric care; 2) standardizing pediatric pharmacy education; 3) expanding the current number of pediatric clinical pharmacists; and 4) creating an infrastructure for development of pediatric clinical pharmacists and clinical scientists. These recommendations may be used to provide both a conceptual framework and action items for schools of pharmacy, health care systems, and policymakers to work together to increase the quality and quantity of pediatric training, practice, or research initiatives.

Health care and the future of economic growth: exploring alternative perspectives

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 419-439 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Hensher ◽  
John Tisdell ◽  
Ben Canny ◽  
Craig Zimitat
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Expenditure ◽  
Global Economy ◽  
Global Financial Crisis ◽  
Health Care Systems ◽  
Health Financing ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Gdp Growth ◽  
Care Systems

AbstractThe strong and positive relationship between gross domestic product (GDP) and health expenditure is one of the most extensively explored topics in health economics. Since the global financial crisis, a variety of theories attempting to explain the slow recovery of the global economy have predicted that future economic growth will be slower than in the past. Others have increasingly questioned whether GDP growth is desirable or sustainable in the long term as evidence grows of humanity's impact on the natural environment. This paper reviews recent data on trends in global GDP growth and health expenditure. It examines a range of theories and scenarios concerning future global GDP growth prospects. It then considers the potential implications for health care systems and health financing policy of these different scenarios. In all cases, a core question concerns whether growth in GDP and/or growth in health expenditure in fact increases human health and well-being. Health care systems in low growth or ‘post-growth’ futures will need to be much more tightly focused on reducing overtreatment and low value care, reducing environmental impact, and on improving technical and allocative efficiency. This will require much more concerted policy and regulatory action to reduce industry rent-seeking behaviours.

scholarly journals Pacing Forward in the Face of Fragility: Lessons From African Institutions and Governments' Response to Public Health Emergencies

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Byron Bitanihirwe ◽  
Derrick Ssewanyana ◽  
Ismael Ddumba-Nyanzi
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Social Inequalities ◽  
Health Care Systems ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Public Health Emergencies ◽  
Economic Diversity ◽  
Western Africa ◽  
The Face ◽  
Care Systems ◽  
Sustainable Health

Africa is home to 54 United Nation member states, each possessing a wealth of ethno-cultural, physiographic, and economic diversity. While Africa is credited as having the youngest population in the world, it also exhibits a unique set of “unfortunate realties” ranging from famine and poverty to volatile politics, conflicts, and diseases. These unfortunate realities all converge around social inequalities in health, that are compounded by fragile healthcare systems and a lack of political will by the continent's leaders to improve smart investment and infrastructure planning for the benefit of its people. Noteworthy are the disparities in responsive approaches to crises and emergencies that exist across African governments and institutions. In this context, the present article draws attention to 3 distinct public health emergencies (PHEs) that have occurred in Africa since 2010. We focus on the 2013–2016 Ebola outbreak in Western Africa, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic which continues to spread throughout the continent, and the destructive locust swarms that ravaged crops across East Africa in 2020. Our aim is to provide an integrated perspective on how governments and institutions handled these PHEs and how scientific and technological innovation, along with educational response played a role in the decision-making process. We conclude by touching on public health policies and strategies to address the development of sustainable health care systems with the potential to improve the health and well-being of the African people.

scholarly journals Economic Crises as a Motive for Change in Health Care Systems – A Historical Perspective with Reference to the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 355-374
Author(s):  
Snježana Kaštelan ◽  
Martina Sopta ◽  
Milena Radonjić ◽  
Uršula Kaštelan ◽  
Boris Kasun
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Systems ◽  
Economic Recession ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Healthcare Systems ◽  
Economic Crises ◽  
Social Equality ◽  
Social Reforms ◽  
Care Systems ◽  
Potential Damage

Economic crises throughout history have often given an impetus for health and social reforms leading to the introduction of general healthcare systems and social equality in a large number of countries. The aim of this paper is to present the major economic crises and their effect on healthcare and social system chronologically. Bismarck’s and Beveridge’s model, the two most prominent healthcare models, which emerged primarily as a response to major economic crises, constitute the basis for the functioning of most health care systems in the world. An overview of historical events and experiences may be valuable in predicting future developments and potential effects of the crisis on healthcare systems and health in general. An analysis of past crises as well as current health and economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and their impact on the healthcare system can facilitate the comprehension of the mechanisms of action and consequences of economic recession. It may also help identify guidelines and changes that might reduce the potential damage caused by future crises. The historical examples presented show that a crisis could trigger changes, which, in theiressence, are not necessarily negative. The response of society as a whole determines the direction of these changes, and it is up to society to transform the negative circumstances brought about by the recession into activities that contribute to general well-being and progress.

scholarly journals Governance of health care systems in an ageing world – the case of Australia

2015 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 729-735 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ewa Banasik
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care System ◽  
Health Care Systems ◽  
Well Being ◽  
World Health ◽  
The Political ◽  
Central Component ◽  
Australian Health ◽  
Care Systems ◽  
Care System

The main argument of this paper is that because the burden of diseases increases with age, a greater numbers of older individuals will increase the demand for health care, and whether this demand will be met very much depends on how health care systems are governed. This task is particularly complex in jurisdictions with multi-layer governing systems such as the Australian health care system. Governance, described in terms of stewardship of the well-being of the population and as a central component for building effective health care systems, is increasingly considered to be very important for a well performing health care system (World Health Organization, 2000, 2007). Governance is, however, the least studied function in a health care system (Alliance 2009). Furthermore, the limited governance frameworks and assessments that have been developed thus far fail to include the political context in which health care systems operate (Baez-Camargo and Jacobs, 2011). This paper intends to fill this knowledge gap by exploring the political dynamics of the Australian health care system’s governance and its accountability. Furthering the discourse on governance is especially important in times when health care systems are confronted with the challenges of ageing populations

scholarly journals Novel Digital Architecture of a “Low Carb Program” for Initiating and Maintaining Long-Term Sustainable Health-Promoting Behavior Change in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

JMIR Diabetes ◽  
10.2196/15030 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. e15030 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlotte Summers ◽  
Kristina Curtis
Keyword(s):  
Type 2 Diabetes ◽  
Behavior Change ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Health Care Systems ◽  
Noncommunicable Diseases ◽  
Digital Architecture ◽  
Care Systems ◽  
Long Term Impact

Globally, the burden of noncommunicable diseases such as type 2 diabetes is crippling health care systems. Type 2 diabetes, a disease linked with obesity, affects 1 in every 30 people today and is expected to affect 1 in 10 people by 2030. Current provisions are struggling to manage the trajectory of type 2 diabetes prevalence. Offline, face-to-face education for patients with type 2 diabetes has shown to lack long-term impact or the capacity for widespread democratized adoption. Digitally delivered interventions have been developed for patients with type 2 diabetes, and the evidence shows that some interventions provide the capacity to support hyperpersonalization and real-time continuous support to patients, which can result in significant engagement and health outcomes. However, digital health app engagement is notoriously difficult to achieve. This paper reviews the digital behavior change architecture of the Low Carb Program and the application of health behavioral theory underpinning its development and use in scaling novel methods of engaging the population with type 2 diabetes and supporting long-term behavior change.

scholarly journals Transformations and Reforms of European Health Care Systems: The Case of Estonia

2014 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 123-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jadwiga Suchecka
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Global Financial Crisis ◽  
Health Management ◽  
Health Care Systems ◽  
Mixed System ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Care Systems ◽  
European Health ◽  
The Global Financial Crisis ◽  
The Impact

The purpose of this article is to present the main directions of changes in the Estonian health care system following the transformation of the national economy and the accession of Estonia to the European Union. Special attention has been paid to the ways of sourcing, and the collection and redistribution of financial resources allocated to health care in different periods of the transformation. The initial changes introduced far-reaching decentralization of the health system, while further reforms led to his re-centralization. The intensity of the re-centralization of finance and health management processes was accelerated after 2008, when the impact of the global financial crisis on the condition of the economy of Estonia was significant. As a result of the introduced changes, Bismarck’s mixed system – a hybrid system – has been formed.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document