scholarly journals Antimicrobial Resistance of Escherichia coli Urinary Isolates in the Veterans Affairs Health Care System

2017 ◽  
Vol 61 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Haley J. Morrill ◽  
Jacob B. Morton ◽  
Aisling R. Caffrey ◽  
Lan Jiang ◽  
David Dosa ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT We reviewed data for almost 300,000 clinical Escherichia coli urinary isolates (collected in 2009 through 2013) from 127 inpatient and outpatient facilities, to assess antibiotic resistance among Veterans Affairs health care system patients using Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Healthcare Safety Network definitions or guidance. Rates of resistance to amoxicillin or ampicillin/β-lactamase inhibitors were approximately 40% and rates of resistance to fluoroquinolones and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole approached 30%. Rates of resistance to nitrofurantoin, antipseudomonal penicillin/β-lactamase inhibitors, and carbapenems remained less than 10%. The percentage of isolates that were considered multidrug resistant varied (4% to 37%), depending on the definitions used.

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Roya Malekzadeh ◽  
Samereh Yaghoubian ◽  
Edris Hasanpoor ◽  
Matina Ghasemi

Purpose Responsiveness is a reaction to the reasonable expectations of patients regarding ethical and non-clinical aspects of the health-care system. Responsiveness is a characteristic of health-care system and the observance of the patient’s rights. The purpose of this study is to compare the responsiveness of the health-care system based on the hospital ownership in Mazandaran province in Iran. Design/methodology/approach The cross-sectional study design was used on 1,083 patients referred to public and private hospitals and hospitals affiliated to social security organization in Mazandaran province in 2017. The World Health Organization’s responsibility questionnaire was used to collect data. Data were analyzed by using SPSS version 21. Descriptive statistics and one-way ANOVA results are presented is the results section. Findings All responsiveness dimensions were salient for respondents. The response rate in the selected hospitals was very close, which ranged from 85.7 to 90.2%, and there was no significant difference between public, private and social security hospitals (p > 0.05). The most crucial responsiveness dimension in hospitals was autonomy. Originality/value In the current study, the dimensions of communication and confidentiality were identified as priority dimensions based on the least score for breeding actions to improve the responsiveness of the health-care system. At the end, some useful recommendations such as re-engineering the processes, training to engage the employees with patients and encouraging them to fill the gap were suggested.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Asif Salam ◽  
Saleh Bajaba

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.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lior Naamati Schneider

Purpose This study aims to map perceptions and changes in public hospitals in response to competition with the private health system, describes solutions adopted by the public hospitals and considers their implications for the business and strategic management of those hospitals. Design/methodology/approach This paper opted for a qualitative study using the open-ended approach of grounded theory, including 40 in-depth interviews with key figures in the health system and administrators at various levels of management. Findings Public hospitals are constantly adopting changes because of state-mandated reforms and growing competition with private hospitals. Notable measures include making hospitals customer-oriented and adopting business-oriented behaviors and competitive and marketing strategies. However, because public hospitals are unable to institute radical changes, they typically introduce hybrid services (private services within public services) and other creative solutions such as business-funded research foundations operating alongside them. Research limitations/implications The main methodological limitation of this study was the difficulty in obtaining data because of the limited cooperation and lack of transparency of Israel’s health-care system. The interviewees expressed concerns that their department or hospital would appear in a negative light, especially as motivated solely by financial considerations. In anticipation of this difficulty, requests for participation were addressed individually and contained extensive detail regarding the study, the ethics committee’s approval, the data gathering and the strict maintenance of anonymity and confidentiality. Originality/value Adopting business-oriented behaviors in public hospitals is somewhat contrary to the principles of public medicine. Their adaptation to the market is partial, and their creative hybrid solutions require state regulation. The absence of controls leads to duplication and waste, causing various problems, including increased social inequality, costs and deficits.


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