scholarly journals Dynamic active telepathology over National Health Laboratory service network, South Africa: feasibility study using Nikon Coolscope

2008 ◽  
Vol 3 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. S3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lech Banach ◽  
Andrzej Stepien ◽  
Johann Schneider ◽  
Elizabeth Wichrzycka-Lancaster
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Feasibility Study ◽  
National Health ◽  
Service Network ◽  
Laboratory Service

scholarly journals The growth patterns of the medical technology profession in South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Malcolm T. Ellapen ◽  
Terry J. Ellapen ◽  
Yvonne Paul
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
National Health ◽  
Medical Technology ◽  
Growth Patterns ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
Laboratory Service ◽  
Medical Technologists ◽  
Technology Profession ◽  
Public And Private Sector ◽  
Student Intern

Background: Constant appraisal of healthcare workforce trends is vital; this measure determines the adequacy of the workforce in meeting its society’s healthcare demands. This includes determining the number of the incoming workforce (students, interns) and the active or practising workforce relevant registries.Objective: This study aimed to examine patterns of workforce growth in the medical technology profession (students, interns and practitioners) from 2008 to 2018 in South Africa.Methods: Student, intern and practitioner medical technology registries, from the 2012/2013, 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) annual reports, were analysed. The number of National Health Laboratory Service and private laboratory posts were secured from the National Health Laboratory Service plan performance report. A comparison between the total number of South African medical technology (private and public) posts occupied versus the HPCSA practitioner 2016 register was completed, to determine the saturation status.Results: Annual student, intern, and practitioner registries indicated a mean growth of 6.8%, 28.9%, and 0.7% from 2008 to 2018. The transition of interns to practitioners is progressively dwindling (2015–2018). The practitioner register showed a 1.2% decline in registration from 2013 until 2018. In 2016, only 55.9% of the HPCSA registered medical technologists were employed (p 0.001).Conclusion: There are more medical technologists than available public and private sector posts. The progressively growing student register compared to the dwindling practitioner register indicates attrition in the profession. An investigation identifying the reasons why graduates neglect to register as practising medical technologists should be undertaken.

scholarly journals Implications of the introduction of laboratory demand management at primary care clinics in South Africa on laboratory expenditure

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ozayr H. Mahomed ◽  
Ruth Lekalakala ◽  
Shaidah Asmall ◽  
Naseem Cassim
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
National Health ◽  
Laboratory Tests ◽  
Clinical Laboratory ◽  
Demand Management ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Full Blood Count ◽  
Potential Cost ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Laboratory Service

Background: Diagnostic health laboratory services are regarded as an integral part of the national health infrastructure across all countries. Clinical laboratory tests contribute substantially to health system goals of increasing quality of care and improving patient outcomes.Objectives: This study aimed to analyse current laboratory expenditures at the primary healthcare (PHC) level in South Africa as processed by the National Health Laboratory Service and to determine the potential cost savings of introducing laboratory demand management.Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional analysis of laboratory expenditures for the 2013/2014 financial year across 11 pilot National Health Insurance health districts was conducted. Laboratory expenditure tariff codes were cross-tabulated to the PHC essential laboratory tests list (ELL) to determine inappropriate testing. Data were analysed using a Microsoft Access database and Excel software.Results: Approximately R35 million South African Rand (10%) of the estimated R339 million in expenditures was for tests that were not listed within the ELL. Approximately 47% of expenditure was for laboratory tests that were indicated in the algorithmic management of patients on antiretroviral treatment. The other main cost drivers for non-ELL testing included full blood count and urea, as well as electrolyte profiles usually requested to support management of patients on antiretroviral treatment.Conclusions: Considerable annual savings of up to 10% in laboratory expenditure are possible at the PHC level by implementing laboratory demand management. In addition, to achieve these savings, a standardised PHC laboratory request form and some form of electronic gatekeeping system that must be supported by an educational component should be implemented.

scholarly journals Towards a needs-based design of the physical rehabilitation workforce in South Africa: trend analysis [1990–2017] and a 5-year forecasting for the most impactful health conditions based on global burden of disease estimates

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Q. Louw ◽  
K. Grimmer ◽  
K. Berner ◽  
T. Conradie ◽  
D. T. Bedada ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
National Health ◽  
Burden Of Disease ◽  
Temporal Trends ◽  
Physical Rehabilitation ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Global Burden ◽  
Musculoskeletal Conditions ◽  
Respiratory Conditions ◽  
Best Fit

Abstract Background Rehabilitation can improve function in many people with chronic health conditions. It is important to consider priority conditions requiring rehabilitation, so it can be realistically positioned and costed in national health financing systems like South Africa (SA)‘s proposed National Health Insurance (NHI). This paper describes temporal trends of top-ranked conditions on years lived with disability (YLDs) rates in SA, for which physical rehabilitation can ameliorate associated disability. Methods This study is a systematic synthesis of publicly available Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2017 estimates. The top 11 conditions contributing most to YLDs and for which evidence-based rehabilitation interventions exist were identified. Age-standardized rates per 100,000 and YLDs counts were extracted from 1990 to 2017. Significance of changes in temporal trends was determined using Mann-Kendall trend tests. Best-fit rates of yearly changes were calculated per condition, using GBD estimates (2012–2017), and extrapolated (by imposing the best-fit regression line onto results for each subsequent predicted year) as forecasts (2018–2022). Results Trends for YLDs counts per condition year (1990–2017) and forecasted values (2018–2022) showed an overall steady increase for all conditions, except HIV and respiratory conditions. YLDs counts almost doubled from 1990 to 2017, with a 17% predicted increase from 2017 to 2022. The proportionate contribution to YLDs counts reduced over time for all conditions, except HIV. Although age-standardized YLDs rates appear relatively stable over the analyzed periods for all conditions (except HIV, respiratory conditions and type 2 diabetes), trend changes in YLDs rates over 28 years were significant for all conditions, except neonatal (p = 0.855), hearing loss (p = 0.100) and musculoskeletal conditions (p = 0.300). Significant trend decreases were apparent for 4/9 conditions, implying that another 5/9 conditions showed trend increases over 28 years. Predicted all-age prevalence in 2022 suggests relatively large increases for cardiovascular disease and heart failure, and burns, while relative decreases are predicted for fractures and dislocations, stroke, and musculoskeletal conditions. Conclusion Rehabilitation needs in SA are potentially massive and unmet, highlighting the need for innovative and context-specific rehabilitation that considers current local needs and projected changes. These findings should be considered when designing the NHI and other schemes in SA to ensure human and financial resources are deployed efficiently.

scholarly journals Public awareness and knowledge of the National Health Insurance in South Africa

2015 ◽  
Vol 22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geoffrey Setswe ◽  
Samson Muyanga ◽  
Jacqueline Witthun ◽  
Peter Nyasulu
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Health Insurance ◽  
National Health Insurance ◽  
National Health ◽  
Public Awareness

scholarly journals Cancer in HIV-positive and HIV-negative adolescents and young adults in South Africa: a cross-sectional study

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. e043941
Author(s):  
Tafadzwa Dhokotera ◽  
Julia Bohlius ◽  
Matthias Egger ◽  
Adrian Spoerri ◽  
Jabulani Ronnie Ncayiyana ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Adolescents And Young Adults ◽  
Hiv Positive ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Hiv Status ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Laboratory Service ◽  
Living With Hiv

ObjectiveTo determine the spectrum of cancers in adolescents and young adults (AYAs) living with and without HIV in South Africa.DesignCross-sectional study with cancer records provided by the National Cancer Registry (NCR) and HIV records from the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS).Setting and participantsThe NHLS is the largest provider of pathology services in the South African public sector. The NCR is a division of the NHLS. We included AYAs (aged 10–24 years) diagnosed with cancer by public health sector laboratories between 2004 and 2014 (n=8479). HIV status was obtained through record linkages and text mining.Primary and secondary outcomesWe determined the spectrum of cancers by HIV status in AYAs. We used multivariable logistic regression to describe the association of cancer in AYAs with HIV, adjusting for age, sex, ethnicity and calendar period. We imputed (post hoc) the HIV status for AYA with unknown HIV status.Results8479 AYAs were diagnosed with cancer, HIV status was known for 45% (n=3812). Of those whose status was known, about half were HIV positive (n=1853). AYAs living with HIV were more likely to have Kaposi’s sarcoma (adjusted OR (aOR) 218, 95% CI 89.9 to 530), cervical cancer (aOR 2.18, 95% CI 1.23 to 3.89), non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (aOR 2.12, 95% CI 1.69 to 2.66) and anogenital cancers other than cervix (aOR 2.73, 95% CI 1.27 to 5.86) than AYAs without HIV. About 44% (n=1062) of AYAs with HIV-related cancers had not been tested for HIV.ConclusionsTargeted HIV testing for AYAs diagnosed with cancer, followed by immediate start of antiretroviral therapy, screening for cervical precancer and vaccination against human papilloma virus is needed to decrease cancer burden in AYAs living with HIV in South Africa.

scholarly journals In-depth investigation of turn-around time of full blood count tests requested from a clinical haematology outpatient department in Cape Town, South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonard Mutema ◽  
Zivanai Chapanduka ◽  
Fungai Musaigwa ◽  
Nomusa Mashigo
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Blood Count ◽  
Cape Town ◽  
Outpatient Department ◽  
Full Blood Count ◽  
Academic Hospital ◽  
Time Intervals ◽  
Laboratory Service ◽  
Retrospective Audit ◽  
Turn Around Time

Background: The performance of laboratories can be objectively assessed using the overall turn-around time (TAT). However, TAT is defined differently by the laboratory and clinicians; therefore, it is important to determine the contribution of all the different components making up the laboratory test cycle.Objective: We carried out a retrospective analysis of the TAT of full blood count tests requested from the haematology outpatient department at Tygerberg Academic Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa, with an aim to assess laboratory performance and to identify critical steps influencing TAT.Methods: A retrospective audit was carried out, focused on the full blood count tests from the haematology outpatient department within a period of 3 months between 01 February and 30 April 2018. Data was extracted from the National Health Laboratory Service laboratory information system. The time intervals of all the phases of the test cycle were determined and total TAT and within-laboratory (intra-lab) TAT were calculated.Results: A total of 1176 tests were analysed. The total TAT median was 275 (interquartile range [IQR] 200.0–1537.7) min with the most prolonged phase being from authorisation to review by clinicians (median 114 min; IQR: 37.0–1338.5 min). The median intra-lab TAT was 55 (IQR 40–81) min and 90% of the samples were processed in the laboratory within 134 min of registration.Conclusion: Our findings showed that the intra-lab TAT was within the set internal benchmark of 3 h. Operational phases that were independent of the laboratory processes contributed the most to total TAT.

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