scholarly journals Teleophthalmology: A Model for Eye Care Delivery in Rural and Underserved Areas of India

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vijayaraghavan Prathiba ◽  
Mohan Rema
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
National Level ◽  
Community Outreach ◽  
Community Empowerment ◽  
Eye Care ◽  
Quality Health Care ◽  
Related Data ◽  
Quality Health

Objectives. To describe the application of teleophthalmology in rural and underserved areas of India. Study Design. This paper describes the major teleophthalmology projects in India and its benefits. Results. Teleophthalmology is the use of telecommunication for electronic transfer of health-related data from rural and underserved areas of India to specialities in urban cities. The MDRF/WDF Rural Diabetes Project has proved to be very beneficial for improvement of quality health care in Tamilnadu and can be replicated at the national level. This community outreach programme using telemedicine facilities has increased awareness of eye diseases, improved access to specialized health care, helped in local community empowerment, and provided employment opportunities. Early detection of sight threatening disorders by teleophthalmology and prompt treatment can help decrease visual impairment. Conclusion. Teleophthalmology can be a very effective model for improving eye care delivery system in rural and underserved areas of India.

scholarly journals The potential role of patent and proprietary medicine vendors’ associations in improving the quality of services in Nigeria’s drug shops

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Abisoye S. Oyeyemi ◽  
Oladimeji Oladepo ◽  
Adedayo O. Adeyemi ◽  
Musibau A. Titiloye ◽  
Sarah M. Burnett ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Good Practice ◽  
Regulatory Agencies ◽  
Regulatory Environment ◽  
Quality Health Care ◽  
Main Challenge ◽  
Drug Shops ◽  
Quality Health ◽  
Basic Quality

Abstract Background Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendors (PPMVs) play a major role in Nigeria’s health care delivery but regulation and monitoring of their practice needs appreciable improvement to ensure they deliver quality services. Most PPMVs belong to associations which may be useful in improving their regulation. However, little is known about how the PPMV associations function and how they can partner with relevant regulatory agencies to ensure members’ compliance and observance of good practice. This study sought to describe the PPMV associations’ structure and operations and the regulatory environment in which PPMVs function. With this information we explore ways in which the associations could help improve the coverage of Nigeria’s population with basic quality health care services. Methods A mixed methods study was conducted across four rural local government areas (LGAs) (districts) in two Nigerian states of Bayelsa and Oyo. The study comprises a quantitative data collection of 160 randomly selected PPMVs and their shops, eight PPMV focus group discussions, in-depth interviews with 26 PPMV association executives and eight regulatory agency representatives overseeing PPMVs’ practice. Results The majority of the PPMVs in the four LGAs belonged to the local chapters of National Association of Patent and Proprietary Medicine Dealers (NAPPMED). The associations were led by executive members and had regular monthly meetings. NAPPMED monitored members’ activities, provided professional and social support, and offered protection from regulatory agencies. More than 80% of PPMVs received at least one monitoring visit in the previous 6 months and local NAPPMED was the organization that monitored PPMVs the most, having visited 68.8% of respondents. The three major regulators, who reached 30.0–36.3% of PPMVs reported lack of human and financial resources as the main challenge they faced in regulation. Conclusions Quality services at drug shops would benefit from stronger monitoring and regulation. The PPMV associations already play a role in monitoring their members. Regulatory agencies and other organizations could partner with the PPMV associations to strengthen the regulatory environment and expand access to basic quality health services at PPMV shops in Nigeria.

scholarly journals Nurse practitioner led model of after-hours emergency care in an Australian rural urgent care Centre: health service stakeholder perceptions

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Wilson ◽  
Lisa C. Hanson ◽  
Kathleen E. Tori ◽  
Byron M. Perrin
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Service ◽  
Rural Health ◽  
Nurse Practitioner ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Urgent Care ◽  
Quality Health Care ◽  
Quality Health ◽  
After Hours ◽  
Urgent Care Centre

Abstract Background The challenges of providing and accessing quality health care in rural regions have long been identified. Innovative solutions are not only required but are also vital if effective, timely and equitable access to sustainable health care in rural communities is to be realised. Despite trial implementation of some alternative models of health care delivery, not all have been evaluated and their impacts are not well understood. The aim of this study was to explore the views of staff and stakeholders of a rural health service in relation to the implementation of an after-hours nurse practitioner model of health care delivery in its Urgent Care Centre. Methods This qualitative study included semi-structured individual and group interviews with professional stakeholders of a rural health service in Victoria, Australia and included hospital managers and hospital staff who worked directly or indirectly with the after-hours NPs in addition to local GPs, GP practice nurses, and paramedics. Thematic analysis was used to generate key themes from the data. Results Four themes emerged from the data analysis: transition to change; acceptance of the after-hours nurse practitioner role; workforce sustainability; and rural context. Conclusions This study suggests that the nurse practitioner-led model is valued by rural health practitioners and could reduce the burden of excessive after-hour on-call duties for rural GPs while improving access to quality health care for community members. As pressure on rural urgent care centres further intensifies with the presence of the COVID-19 pandemic, serious consideration of the nurse practitioner-led model is recommended as a desirable and effective alternative.

scholarly journals Modelling Potential Geographical Access of the Population to Public Hospitals and Quality Health Care in Romania

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (22) ◽  
pp. 8487
Author(s):  
Liliana Dumitrache ◽  
Mariana Nae ◽  
Gabriel Simion ◽  
Ana-Maria Taloș
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Travel Time ◽  
Population Distribution ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Public Hospitals ◽  
Spatial Accessibility ◽  
Quality Health Care ◽  
Geographical Access ◽  
Quality Health

The geographical accessibility to hospitals relies on the configuration of the hospital network, spatial impedance and population distribution. This paper explores the potential geographic accessibility of the population to public hospitals in Romania by using the Distance Application Program Interface (API) Matrix service from Google Maps and open data sources. Based on real-time traffic navigation data, we examined the potential accessibility of hospitals through a weighted model that took into account the hospital competency level and travel time while using personal car transportation mode. Two scenarios were generated that depend on hospitals’ level of competency (I–V). When considering all categories of hospitals, access is relatively good with over 80% of the population reaching hospitals in less than 30 min. This is much lower in the case of hospitals that provide complex care, with 34% of the population travelling between 90 to 120 min to the nearest hospital classed in the first or second category of competence. The index of spatial accessibility (ISA), calculated as a function of real travel time and level of competency of the hospitals, shows spatial patterns of services access that highlight regional disparities or critical areas. The high concentration of infrastructure and specialised medical personnel in particular regions and large cities limits the access of a large part of the population to quality health services with travel time and distances exceeding optimal European level values. The results can help decision-makers to optimise the location of health services and improve health care delivery.

scholarly journals Exploring Traditional Chinese Medicine in Alberta: Challenges and opportunities

2018 ◽  
Vol 01 (03) ◽  
pp. 181-192
Author(s):  
Vesna Nguyen ◽  
Janice Leung ◽  
Richard Lewanczuk ◽  
Sunita Vohra ◽  
Carl Amrhein
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Chinese Medicine ◽  
Traditional Chinese Medicine ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Policy Framework ◽  
Maturity Model ◽  
Quality Health Care ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Quality Health ◽  
Canadian Provinces

Integrative medicine is commonplace across the world, but in North America, it is considered a complement, rather than a mainstay of health care delivery. In Canada, where conventional Western medicine dominates modern health practices, we explore the progress, challenges, and opportunities of complementary medical practices, in particular Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in the province of Alberta. We provide a TCM policy framework and maturity model as tools to assess the overall state of TCM practices and apply them in an Albertan context. While Alberta has made significant progress in developing capacity, competence, and accountability within TCM practices, the maturity of its practices may be considered to be in their infancy compared to more developed Chinese jurisdictions and some other Canadian provinces. We highlight significant gaps and barriers that limit the potential for complementary medicine to become part of mainstream health care as safe, effective, and quality health care choices, and discuss possible next steps.

Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas v. Harris: A Dubious Consequence of Piecemeal Health Care Legislation

1983 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 205-224
Author(s):  
Deborah K. Berk
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Health Care Financing ◽  
Care Plan ◽  
Quality Health Care ◽  
Circuit Court ◽  
Presbyterian Hospital ◽  
Court Of Appeals ◽  
Quality Health ◽  
Judicial Policymaking

AbstractFor almost forty years, legislators have advocated comprehensive measures designed to assure Americans quality health care. Instead of implementing an integrated health care plan, Congress has intermittently enacted statutes which address specific health care delivery problems. At times the judiciary has stretched the ambit of existing health legislation in response to particular plaintiffs’ urgent claims. This Case Comment examines the dilemma of piecemeal legislation and judicial policymaking as exemplified by Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas v. Harris, a Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals health care financing decision whose outcome Congress has flatly rejected.

scholarly journals Answering the Call to Accessible Quality Health Care for All Using a New Model of Local Community Not-for-Profit Charity Clinics: A Return to Christ-Centered Care of the Past

2017 ◽  
Vol 84 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-56
Author(s):  
Yuri Cuellar De la Cruz ◽  
Stephen Robinson
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Human Dignity ◽  
Common Good ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Quality Health Care ◽  
For Profit ◽  
Not For Profit ◽  
Quality Health ◽  
The Common ◽  
The U.S

This article uses studies and organizational trends to understand available solutions to the lack of quality health care access, especially for the poor and needy of local U.S. communities. The U.S. healthcare system seems to be moving toward the World Health Organization's recommendation for universal health coverage for healthcare sustainability. Healthcare trends and offered solutions are varied. Christian healthcare traditionally implements works of mercy guided by a Christian ethos embracing the teachings of human dignity, solidarity, the common good, and subsidiarity. Culture of Life Ministries is one of many new sustainable U.S. healthcare models which implements Christ-centered health care to meet the need of quality and accessible health care for the local community. Culture of Life Ministries employs a model of charity care through volunteerism. Volunteer workers not only improve but also transform the local healthcare system into a personal healing ministry of the highest quality for every person. Summary The lack of access to quality health care is a common problem in the U.S. despite various solutions offered through legislative and socioeconomic works: universal healthcare models, insurance models, and other business models. U.S. health care would be best transformed by returning to the implementation of a traditional system founded on the Christian principles of human dignity, solidarity, subsidiarity, and the common good. Culture of Life Ministries is an example of such a local ministry in Texas, which has found success in practically applying these Christ-centered, healthcare principles into an emerging not-for-profit, economically sustainable, healthcare model.

Quality Shortfalls From Health Care Waste: A Unifying Root Cause of Burnout

2020 ◽  
pp. 37-46
Author(s):  
Stephen J. Swensen ◽  
Tait D. Shanafelt
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Quality Of Care ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Health Care Delivery System ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Quality Health Care ◽  
Root Cause ◽  
Quality Health

The current health care delivery system is perfectly designed to create high rates of professional burnout in physicians, nurses, advanced practice providers, and other health care professionals. In most organizations, a gap exists between the quality of care professionals aspire to deliver and the quality of care actually delivered, which creates burnout. Poor quality health care is fundamentally about waste, and leaders in the health care industry have primary accountability and responsibility for system waste. The following are five categories of waste in health care: Failures of care delivery and care coordination, overtreatment, administrative complexity, pricing failures, and fraud and abuse.

scholarly journals THE EMINENT THREATS OF COUNTERFEIT DRUGS TO QUALITY HEALTH CARE DELIVERY IN AFRICA: UPDATES ON CONSEQUENCES AND WAY FORWARD

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nafiu Aminu ◽  
Mahmud Sani Gwarzo
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Delivery ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Counterfeit Drugs ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Quality Health Care ◽  
Drug Companies ◽  
Drug Policies ◽  
Quality Health ◽  
The Impact

Counterfeit drugs (CDs) continue to cause serious public health problems in many countries around the globe, particularly in the African countries which are their major consumers. Soft penalties for the drug counterfeiters; recent increase in internet commerce; ignorance and lack of effective partnership between drug companies, drug regulatory agencies, law enforcement bodies, customs, among others, have contributed to the rise in counterfeiting menace. However, governments at various levels in some of the affected countries do not accede to the menace of CDs, as they are implementing many strategies through the recent innovations and advancement in technology to curtail it. Nevertheless, there is still needs for taking more rigorous steps to achieve complete eradication of the crime. This review article presented the impact of CDs in the Africa’s quality health-care delivery, with particular attention to the causes, magnitude, and consequences. The review also identifies areas where concerted drug policies and actions are required to eradicate the drug counterfeiting crimes and also provides suggestions to drug’s policymakers and relevant stakeholders that may be useful in making decisions that can safeguard the public from the danger of CDs.

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