The use of a policy dialogue to facilitate evidence-informed policy development for improved access to care: the case of the Winnipeg Central Intake Service (WCIS)

Renewable energy has become the buzzword in the 21st century especially during the United Nations declarations of the Submit 21 in which world leaders renewed their efforts in achieving the seventeen sustainable development goals. One of the challenges of the developing world is achieving a reliable energy supply for industrialization and energy security. Thailand is one of the countries with the highest energy consumption within the ASEAN region and hence, several policies have been implemented to deploy a clean source of energy for both domestic and manufacturing purposes. However, there are many institutional factors that seem to impede this drive for a greener energy supply in the country. This study sought to investigate the institutional factors that support sustainable renewable energy policy development in the Thai context. The study selected 400 respondents from renewable energy producing companies in Bangkok and Ayutthaya using a survey instrument. The results were analyze using SPSS version 22.0 with multiple regression technique. The results showed that institutional variables such as stakeholder involvement, government R&D framework, regulatory procedures, and government subsidies had an influence on sustainable renewable policy development. The study recommends that future government policies should engage key stakeholders in the policy dialogue and implementation process.

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Policies and Processes for Social Inclusion: Using EquiFrame and EquIPP for Policy Dialogue Comment on "Are Sexual and Reproductive Health Policies Designed for All? Vulnerable Groups in Policy Documents of Four European Countries and Their Involvement in Policy Development"

International Journal of Health Policy and Management ◽

10.15171/ijhpm.2015.200 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 5 (3) ◽

pp. 193-196 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Malcolm MacLachlan ◽

Hasheem Mannan ◽

Tessy Huss ◽

Alister Munthali ◽

Mutamad Amin

Keyword(s):

Reproductive Health ◽

Policy Development ◽

Social Inclusion ◽

Sexual And Reproductive Health ◽

European Countries ◽

Health Policies ◽

Vulnerable Groups ◽

Policy Dialogue ◽

Policy Documents

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Appointment Lead Time Policy Development to Improve Patient Access to Care

Applied Clinical Informatics ◽

10.4338/aci-2016-03-ra-0044 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 07 (04) ◽

pp. 954-968 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Sarah Bach ◽

Yu-Li Huang

Keyword(s):

Access To Care ◽

Health Care Providers ◽

Policy Development ◽

Lead Time ◽

Lead Times ◽

Patient Access ◽

Care Providers ◽

Data Driven Approach ◽

The Difference ◽

Improve Patient

Summary Background Patient access to care has been a known and continuing struggle for many health care providers. In spite of appointment lead time policies set by government or clinics, the problem persists. Justification for how lead time policies are determined is lacking. Objectives This paper proposed a data-driven approach for how to best set feasible appointment target lead times given a clinic’s capacity and appointment requests. Methods The proposed approach reallocates patient visits to minimize the deviation between actual appointment lead time and a feasible target lead time. A step-by-step algorithm was presented and demonstrated for return visit (RV) and new patient (NP) types from a Pediatric clinic excluding planned visits such as well-child exam and the same day urgent appointments. The steps are: 1. Obtain appointment requests; 2. Initialize a target lead time; 3. Set up an initial schedule; 4. Check the feasibility based on appointment availability; 5. Adjust schedule backward to fill appointment slots earlier than the target; 6. Adjust schedule forward for appointments not able to be scheduled earlier or on target to the later slots; 7. Trial different target lead times until the difference between earlier and later lead time is minimized. Results The results indicated a 59% lead time reduction for RVs and a 45% reduction for NPs. The lead time variation was reduced by 75% for both patient types. Additionally, the opportunity for the participating clinic to achieve their organization’s goal of a two-week lead time for RVs and a twoday lead time for NPs is discussed by adjusting capacity to increase one slot for NP and reduce one slot for RV. Conclusions The proposed approach and study findings may help clinics identify feasible appointment lead times. Citation: Huang Y, Bach SM. Appointment lead time policy development to improve patient access to care.

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‘Rowing against the current’: the policy process and effects of removing user fees for caesarean sections in Benin

BMJ Global Health ◽

10.1136/bmjgh-2017-000537 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. e000537 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Jean-Paul Dossou ◽

Jenny A Cresswell ◽

Patrick Makoutodé ◽

Vincent De Brouwere ◽

Sophie Witter ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Universal Health Coverage ◽

Policy Development ◽

National Level ◽

Implementation Fidelity ◽

Policy Formulation ◽

West African ◽

User Fees ◽

Policy Dialogue ◽

Health Coverage ◽

Universal Health

BackgroundIn 2009, the Benin government introduced a user fee exemption policy for caesarean sections. We analyse this policy with regard to how the existing ideas and institutions related to user fees influenced key steps of the policy cycle and draw lessons that could inform the policy dialogue for universal health coverage in the West African region.MethodsFollowing the policy stages model, we analyse the agenda setting, policy formulation and legitimation phase, and assess the implementation fidelity and policy results. We adopted an embedded case study design, using quantitative and qualitative data collected with 13 tools at the national level and in seven hospitals implementing the policy.ResultsWe found that the initial political goal of the policy was not to reduce maternal mortality but to eliminate the detention in hospitals of mothers and newborns who cannot pay the user fees by exempting a comprehensive package of maternal health services. We found that the policy development process suffered from inadequate uptake of evidence and that the policy content and process were not completely in harmony with political and public health goals. The initial policy intention clashed with the neoliberal orientation of the political system, the fee recovery principles institutionalised since the Bamako Initiative and the prevailing ideas in favour of user fees. The policymakers did not take these entrenched factors into account. The resulting tension contributed to a benefit package covering only caesarean sections and to the variable implementation and effectiveness of the policy.ConclusionThe influence of organisational culture in the decision-making processes in the health sector is often ignored but must be considered in the design and implementation of any policy aimed at achieving universal health coverage in West African countries.

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Access to Care as a Barrier to Mammography for Black Women

Policy Politics & Nursing Practice ◽

10.1177/1527154420965537 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 152715442096553

Author(s):

Mollie E. Aleshire ◽

Adebola Adegboyega ◽

Omar A. Escontrías ◽

Jean Edward ◽

Jennifer Hatcher

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Black Women ◽

Access To Care ◽

Health Care Access ◽

Mammography Screening ◽

Policy Development ◽

Insurance Coverage ◽

Personal Factors ◽

Structural Barriers ◽

Urban City

Racial disparities in breast cancer screening, morbidity, and mortality persist for Black women. This study examines Black women’s mammography beliefs and experiences with specific focus on barriers to mammography access in an urban city in the South East, United States. This retrospective, qualitative study used Penchansky and Thomas’ conceptualization of health care access as the framework for the data analysis. In-depth, semistructured interviews were conducted with 39 Black women. Structural and personal factors continue to create barriers to mammography among Black women. Barriers to mammography were identified for each of the Penchansky and Thomas five dimensions of access to care: accessibility, affordability, availability, accommodation, and acceptability. Clinical practice strategies to increase mammography screening in Black women must be multifactorial, patient-centered, and culturally congruent. Policy development must address the structural barriers to mammography screening through expansion of health insurance coverage and increased accessibility to health care.

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FRESHER and RARE 2030: scanning the horizon emerging trends in health and healthcare

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckaa165.182 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽

Author(s):

G Giuffre ◽

L G Sisti ◽

A Ricci

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Rare Diseases ◽

Policy Development ◽

Participatory Approach ◽

Policy Dialogue ◽

Emerging Trends ◽

Horizon Scanning ◽

Wide Range ◽

The Future

Abstract Background Health and healthcare are facing novel challenges ranging from broad, shifting trends to emerging innovative technologies and social practices. Foresight methodology aims to analyse emerging trends, building different future scenarios and identifying policy options to support the policy dialogue. Methods FRESHER and RARE 2030 are two EU-H2020 projects. FRESHER- FoRESight for hEalth policy development and Regulation (2016-2018) aimed at representing long term alternative health Scenarios testing future policies to tackle the burden of Non-Communicable Diseases. A micro-simulation model, specifically enhanced by the project, also computed the health outcomes of the different four Scenarios. Rare 2030-Foresight in Rare Diseases Policy (2019-2020) uses a participatory approach to identify the most relevant trends, anticipate their influence over the next decade and propose policy recommendations that could lead to a better future for people living with Rare Diseases. Different in scope, these projects share common features. Both follow a four steps foresight methodology: horizon scanning, trends identification and ranking, scenarios building, back-casting and policy elaboration. Taking a participatory approach, these studies apply structured qualitative tools, involve a wide range of stakeholders and include regional case studies. Results 20 trends emerged as key for the future of health and healthcare, among them: demographic change, rise of inequality, urbanisation, climate change and low carbon development, innovation in medicine, citizens empowerment and the potential for big data and Artificial Intelligence application. Conclusions The 20 trends analysed offering a litmus test for future proofing current health and healthcare policies. Foresight has proven to be a valid methodology to gather collective intelligence for identifying emerging trends and scenarios, evaluating risks and opportunities, setting long term goals and helping the decision making in health. Key messages To promote a transition toward better health policies, it is crucial supporting the collaborative attitude and ensuring a greater involvement of citizens and patients in the decision making. The importance and unpredictability recognized to the equity trend in both projects reveals the need for urgent actions to ensure the future access to better health and care to all European citizens.

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