scholarly journals An online emergency medical management information system using mobile computing

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarandis Mitropoulos ◽  
Christos Mitsis ◽  
Petros Valacheas ◽  
Christos Douligeris
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Information System ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Human Resources ◽  
Emergency Care ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Emergency Medical ◽  
Care System

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the way technology affects the provision of prehospital emergency care, upgrading the quality of services offered and significantly reducing the risk of premature termination of the patients.Design/methodology/approachThe paper presents the development of the eEKAB, a pilot emergency medical information system that simulates the main services offered by the Greek National Instant Aid Centre (EKAB). The eEKAB was developed on an agile system methodology. From a technical perspective, the features and the technology were mainly chosen to provide reliable and user-friendly interfaces that will attract many users. eEKAB is based on three important pillars for offering health care to the patients: the “On-time Incident Reporting”, the “On-time Arrival at the Incident” and “Transfer to the Health Center”. According to the literature review, the emergency medical services (EMS) systems that combine all the features are very few.FindingsIt reduces the total time of the EMS procedures and it allows for an easier management of EMS, by providing a better allocation of human resources and a better geographical distribution of ambulances. The evaluation displayed that it is a very helpful application for the ambulance drivers as it reduces the ambulance response time to arrive in the patient's location and contributes significantly to the general performance of the prehospital medical care system. Also, the survey verified the importance of implementing eEKAB on a larger scale beyond the pilot usage. It is worth mentioning that the younger ambulance drivers had a more positive view for the purpose of the application.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper clearly identifies implications for further research. Regarding interoperability, the mobile app cooperates with the Operational Center of EKAB, while further collaboration could be achieved with other operational ambulance handling center, mainly, of the private sector. The system can evolve to include better communications among the EKAB departments. Particularly, the ambulance crew as well as the doctors should be informed with more incident features such as the emergency signal so that they know whether to open the siren, the patient's name, etc. The authors are currently working on implementing some features to provide effective medical health services to the patient in the ambulance.Practical implicationseEKAB will have very significant implications in case of its enforcement, such as the reduction of the total time of EMS procedures with a corresponding reduction of the operating costs of an accident management system and an ambulance fleet handling system while in parallel informing in time the doctors/clinics. It will provide better distribution of ambulances as well as of total human resources. It will greatly assist ambulance drivers, while reducing ambulance response time to reach the patient's location. In other words, the authors will have a better performance of the whole prehospital care system.Social implicationsProviding emergency care before the hospital is of great importance for upgrading the quality of health services provided at the accident site, thus significantly reducing the risk of premature death of patients. This in itself has a significant social implication.Originality/valueThe paper demonstrates a solid understanding in the field of the EMS systems and the corresponding medical services offered. It proposes the development of an effective, feasible and innovative EMS information system that will improve the existing emergency health care system in Greece (EKAB). An in depth literature review and presentation of the adopted new technologies and the respective architecture take place. An evaluation and statistical validation were conducted for proving the high applicability of eEKAB in case of real-life running.

The role of transformative healthcare technology on quality of life during the COVID-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Asif Salam ◽  
Saleh Bajaba
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
Health Care System ◽  
Service System ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Care System

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of the COVID-19 health-care system quality (HSQ) and its impact on the individual (satisfaction) and social (quality of life [QOL]) outcomes in the context of a transformative health-care delivery system using service-dominant logic (SDL). Design/methodology/approach A sample consisting of 1,008 individuals who have experienced the COVID-19 health-care system was drawn from four different regions of Saudi Arabia using the simple random sampling technique. The survey was conducted using an online survey and 1,008 respondents answered, based on their experience and knowledge of the COVID-19 health-care system. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was applied to test the proposed research model. Findings The study findings suggest that service system satisfaction (SAT) significantly mediates the role of the HSQ in delivering and enhancing the QOL. HSQ also has a significant role to play on the SAT as well as the QOL. These findings contribute to the body of knowledge on SDL in the context of HSQ in understanding the significant role of technologies can play in enhancing service satisfaction and better QOL during a crisis such as COVID-19. This study also improves the understanding of the importance of customer-centricity, real-time visibility through tracking and tracing of service flow, agile decision-making, fewer but better-defined service objectives, and finally shaping mindsets and behaviors of all the relevant parties involved in the HSQ service delivery process. Research limitations/implications One of the major limitations of this study is that, although COVID-19 is an ongoing global pandemic, cross-sectional data were collected in only one country. The findings may not be generalizable across subsequent waves of the pandemic. The best practices of HSQ could be studied around the globe and the results used to support continuous improvement. Originality/value This study advances the understanding of the SDL in the context of a transformative health-care system for a transitional economy by focusing on individual and social well-being during an unexpected crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic. This study also contributes toward the understanding of the roles of enabling technologies to improve the service delivery system which results in an improved SAT, as well as better QOL for the society at large. Based on SDL this research validates the HSQ model, relevant measures and its overall impact on SAT and QOL in the context of a transformative health-care service system in Saudi Arabia.

Hospital information systems in developing countries: a state-of-the-art systematic review

Kybernetes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jie Lei ◽  
Jianming Liu ◽  
Wu Li
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Information System ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Local Conditions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Government

Purpose Hospital information system (HIS) can be examined as a vital factor for developing the quality of health care and cost managing. There exists abundant literature on HISs, but implementation-based literature of HIS is rare, typically about progressive countries. However, a study that can comprehensively review published articles is scarce. Therefore, this paper aims to examine the systematic and comprehensive study of HIS in developed countries. Together, the benefits and harms relevant to HIS’s different mechanisms have been considered, and the fundamental challenges of them are addressed to design more efficient HIS in the future. Design/methodology/approach HIS has been used globally for numerous years and is now being used in a wide area. HIS is broadly used in clinical settings. Information technology (IT) and information system have been suggested as a required piece to solve the health-care-related issues. Hence, to improve HIS’s ability, this paper conducted a review method concentratating on research related to HIS until 2019. A total of 21 papers were recognized and examined as principal research for the summary. Findings The authors found that HIS can help in reduction of medical mistakes, enhancement doctors’ performance and increase in the quality of the care provided. HIS management can be used to provide better health-care services. Therefore, HIS must be sensible and use clear structures. The authors conclude that, generally, with an increase in awareness, acceptability and the need for HIS worldwide, there will be more strategies and approaches available. Research limitations/implications First, this paper provides an outline of the status of HIS. Second, it identifies some distinct research gaps that could be worth studying. Some flawless work may be removed because of applying some filters to select the original articles. Surveying all the papers on the topic of HIS is impossible, too. Practical implications Design and sustainability of HIS is still a big issue for most developing countries, despite its wide usage in the developed countries. The technology is changing rapidly, so the field should be reviewed regularly. This paper suggests a suitable framework that will guide HIS in the local conditions of developing countries. Social implications The government will be assisted by the suggested solving ways in its performance and design of electronic health-care projects. Originality/value The study brings the viewpoints on the state of HIS mechanisms in developing countries. The paper’s results can offer visions into future research requirements. By providing comparative information and analyzing the current growths in this area, this study will support researchers and professionals to understand the progress in HIS mechanisms better.

Debunking the myth of industry 4.0 in health care: insights from a systematic literature review

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 849-868 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mauro Cavallone ◽  
Rocco Palumbo
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Intelligence ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Systematic Literature Review ◽  
Industry 4.0 ◽  
Services Quality ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
The State ◽  
Content Type

PurposeIndustry 4.0, artificial intelligence and digitalization have got a momentum in health care. However, scholars and practitioners do not agree on their implications on health services' quality and effectiveness. The article aims at shedding light on the applications, aftermaths and drawbacks of industry 4.0 in health care, summarizing the state of the art.Design/methodology/approachA systematic literature review was undertaken. We arranged an ad hoc research design, which was tailored to the study purposes. Three citation databases were queried. We collected 1,194 scientific papers which were carefully considered for inclusion in this systematic literature review. After three rounds of analysis, 40 papers were taken into consideration.FindingsIndustry 4.0, artificial intelligence and digitalization are revolutionizing the design and the delivery of care. They are expected to enhance health services' quality and effectiveness, paving the way for more direct patient–provider relationships. In addition, they have been argued to allow a more appropriate use of available resources. There is a dark side of health care 4.0 involving both management and ethical issues.Research limitations/implicationsIndustry 4.0 in health care should not be conceived as a self-nourishing innovation; rather, it needs to be carefully steered at both the policy and management levels. On the one hand, comprehensive governance models are required to realize the full potential of health 4.0. On the other hand, the drawbacks of industry 4.0 should be timely recognized and thoroughly addressed.Originality/valueThe article contextualizes the state of the art of industry 4.0 in the health care context, providing some insights for further conceptual and empirical developments.

scholarly journals Addressing health literacy in the digital domain: insights from a literature review

Kybernetes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rocco Palumbo ◽  
Capolupo Nicola ◽  
Paola Adinolfi
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Scientific Knowledge ◽  
Health Care Organizations ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Organizational Level ◽  
Digital Environment ◽  
Content Type

PurposePromoting health literacy, i.e. the ability to access, collect, understand and use health-related information, is high on the health policy agenda across the world. The digitization of health-care calls for a reframing of health literacy in the cyber-physical environment. The article systematizes current scientific knowledge about digital health literacy and investigates the role of health-care organizations in delivering health literate health-care services in a digital environment.Design/methodology/approachA literature review was accomplished. A targeted query to collect relevant scientific contributions was run on PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science. A narrative approach was undertaken to summarize the study findings and to envision avenues for further development in the field of digital health literacy.FindingsDigital health literacy has peculiar attributes as compared with health literacy. Patients may suffer from a lack of human touch when they access health services in the digital environment. This may impair their ability to collect health information and to appropriately use it to co-create value and to co-produce health promotion and risk prevention services. Health-care organizations should strive for increasing the patients’ ability to navigate the digital health-care environment and boosting the latter’s value co-creation capability.Practical implicationsTailored solutions should be designed to promote digital health literacy at the individual and organizational level. On the one hand, attention should be paid to the patients’ special digital information needs and to avoid flaws in their ability to contribute to health services’ co-production. On the other hand, health-care organizations should be involved in the design of user-friendly e-health solutions, which aim at engaging patients in value co-creation.Originality/valueThis contribution is a first attempt to systematize extant scientific knowledge in the field of digital health literacy specifically focused on the strategies and initiatives that health-care organizations may take to address the limited digital health literacy pandemic.

scholarly journals OpenMRS FRAMEWORK : HEALTH INFORMATION SYSTEM SOLUTION TO DEVELOP IN SABHA, LIBYA

Respati ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (27) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mostafa Abobaker ◽  
Selo Sulistyo ◽  
Adhistya Erna Permanasari
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Information System ◽  
Information Systems ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Health Care System ◽  
Health Information System ◽  
Health Information Systems ◽  
Care System ◽  
The Revolution

The health care system in Libya in recent years does not change significantly, less developed and modernized. This problem is further exacerbated by the revolution that occurred in Libya. The revolution that occurred in 2011 has caused the health care system into collapse. In this study conducted a review for the development of health information systems in Libya by using OpenMRS Framework.At the stage of gathering information using questionnaires concluded that the majority of respondents (about 95.35%) wanted the development of a new system that can resolve the main problems that occurred in Libya, the health information system ineffective and inefficient in which this system has led to wastage of time and increased operating costs. Based on analysis of system vulnerabilities using PIECES method could also be concluded that the current system is not used effectively and efficiently. In this study is also presented on how to implement OpenMRS.Based on the results of the discussion it can be concluded that OpenMRS is a solution that can be taken for the development of a health information system that is fast, low cost, and is an open source application that only requires a little setting in the system of patient management and care. OpenMRS can be implemented to support the health services of a small clinic to the health services with enterprise scale. Therefore, OpenMRS could be the answer to the development of health information systems in various countries around the world, including Libya.

Code Red

2017 ◽  
Vol 43 (4) ◽  
pp. 344-387 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shaun Ossei-Owusu
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care System ◽  
Emergency Care ◽  
Safety Net ◽  
The United States ◽  
Medicaid Expansion ◽  
American Health Care System ◽  
Free Rider Problem ◽  
Emergency Medical ◽  
Care System

The United States' health care system is mired in uncertainty. Public opinion on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (“ACA”) is undeniably mixed and politicized. The individual mandate, tax subsidies, and Medicaid expansion dominate the discussion. This Article argues that the ACA and reform discourse have given short shrift to a more static problem: the law of emergency care. The Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act of 1986 (“EMTALA”) requires most hospitals to screen patients for emergency medical conditions and provide stabilizing treatment regardless of patients' insurance status or ability to pay. Remarkably, this law strengthened the health safety net in a country that has no universal health care. But it is an unfunded mandate that responded to the problem of emergency care in a flawed fashion and contributed to the supposed “free rider” problem that the ACA attempted to cure.But the ACA has also not been effective at addressing the issue of emergency care. The ACA's architects reduced funding for hospitals that serve a disproportionate percentage of the medically indigent but did not anticipate the Supreme Court's ruling in NFIB v. Sebelius, which made Medicaid expansion optional. Public and non-profit hospitals now face a scenario of less funding and potentially higher emergency room utilization due to continued uninsurance or underinsurance. Alternatives to the ACA have been insufficiently attentive to the importance of emergency care in our health system. This Article contends that any proposal that does not seriously consider EMTALA is incomplete and bound to produce some of the same problems that have dogged the American health care system for the past few decades. Moreover, the Article shows how notions of race, citizenship, and deservingness have filtered into this health care trajectory, and in the context of reform, have the potential to exacerbate existing health inequality. The paper concludes with normative suggestions on how to the mitigate EMTALA's problems in ways that might improve population health.

scholarly journals Making Emergency Care in Rural Areas Fit for Future: Protocol for multi-method and multi-perspective longitudinal analysis and control group study (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camilla Metelmann ◽  
Bibiana Metelmann ◽  
Dorothea Kohnen ◽  
Clara Prasser ◽  
Rebekka Süss ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Emergency Care ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Statutory Health Insurance ◽  
First Aid ◽  
Medical Services ◽  
Emergency Medical Care ◽  
Free Interval ◽  
Emergency Medical

BACKGROUND The German Emergency Medical Services is a two-tiered system with paramedic staffed ambulances as primary response supported by pre-hospital emergency doctors for life-threatening conditions. As in all European health care systems, German medical practitioners are in short supply whilst the demand for timely emergency medical care is constantly growing. In rural areas, this has led to critical delays in the provision of emergency medical care. In particular, in cases of cardiac arrest, time is of essence [1], because with each minute passing, the chance of survival with good neurological outcome decreases. OBJECTIVE The project follows four main objectives: 1) Reducing the therapy-free interval through widespread reinforcement of resuscitation skills and motivating the public to provide help (called bystander-CPR), (2) fast, professional first aid in addition to rescue services through alarming trained first aiders via smartphone, (3) faster and higher availability of emergency physicians through introducing the tele-emergency physician (TEP) system, and (4) enhanced emergency care through improving the cooperation between statutory health insurance on-call medical services (German: Kassenärztlicher Bereitschaftsdienst) and emergency medical services. METHODS The implementation of the project is evaluated through a tripartite prospective and intervention study: (1) in medical evaluation, the influences of various project measures on quality of care are assessed using multiple methods. (2) The economic evaluation mainly focuses on the valuation of inputs and outcomes of the different measures while considering various relevant indicators. (3) As part of the scientific work and organizational evaluation important work- and occupational-related parameters but also network and regional indexes are assessed. RESULTS The project was started in 2017 and enrollment will be completed in 2020. The pre-analysis phase recently finished. CONCLUSIONS Overall, the implementation of the project entails the realignment of emergency medicine in rural areas and the enhancement of quality of medical emergency care in the long-term. It is expected to lead to a measurable increase in medical laypersons’ individual motivation to provide resuscitation, to strengthen resuscitation skills as well as much more frequently provided first aid through medical laypersons. Furthermore, the project is intended to decrease the therapy-free interval in cases of cardiac arrest by dispatching first aiders via smartphones. As demonstrated by previous projects in urban regions, the TEP system has already proven a higher availability and quality of emergency call-outs in regular health care. A closer interrelation of emergency practices of statutory health insurance physicians with the rescue service is expected to lead to a better coordination of rescue and on-call services. CLINICALTRIAL Ethikkomission (ethics comission) an der Universität Greifswald BB 111/17 http://www2.medizin.uni-greifswald.de/ethik/

scholarly journals Diabetic macular edema: a literature review

2020 ◽  
Vol 45 (Suppl.3) ◽  
pp. e020108
Author(s):  
Wellington Fernando Risso ◽  
Matheus Roque Pinheiro ◽  
Leonardo Amarante Pereira ◽  
Júlio Zaki Abucham-Neto ◽  
Glaucia Luciano da Veiga ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Disease Control ◽  
Macular Edema ◽  
Diabetic Macular Edema ◽  
Health Care System ◽  
Active Population ◽  
Care System

Diabetic Macular Edema is a major cause of visual impairment in economically active population, being responsible for a significant impact in quality of life in the affected population, as well as high costs to the health care system. Over decades, some studies have compared treatments using Laser, Anti-VEGF and intravitreous corticosteroids, establishing protocols to reach effectives therapies. Thus, it is essential an entire understanding of available therapies to reach the goal of disease control, in an individual basis and in a collective health care system, as efficient as possible.

scholarly journals Quality of Life (QoL) among Health Care Workers with Diabetes Mellitus: A Literature Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 801-826
Author(s):  
Warda Alamri ◽  
Aisha Alhofaian ◽  
Nahed Mersal
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Diabetes Mellitus ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Health Care System ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Care System

Objective: This scoping literature review explores the impact of diabetes mellitus (DM) on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of health care workers (HCWs). HCWs play a vital role in the global health care system, with the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrating their effectiveness and worth beyond any doubt. However, HCWs are among the most vulnerable members of the health care system because they are most susceptible to stress, exhaustion, and occupational health risks. Method: The review was conducted in 2021 and included articles published in English in the past five years that explore diabetic HCWs’ QoL and studies intended to assess the relationship between work stress and DM. In total, 27 relevant articles were found that satisfied the inclusion criteria and were critically and thematically analyzed. Results: Most DM studies have focused on the clinical management of patients, but researchers have paid little attention to the high-risk group of HCWs with diabetes. In addition to fulfilling their job mandate, HCWs are burdened with various sociological stressors that affect their QoL. Conclusion: This literature review suggests DM has a significant impact on QoL in the work–life context. However, there is limited evidence to demonstrate the impact of DM on the QoL of HCWs. Thus, further research is needed in this area to improve the provision of integrated care.

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