scholarly journals High quality health systems in the SDG era: Country-specific priorities for improving quality of care

PLoS Medicine ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (10) ◽  
pp. e1002946 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gagan Thapa ◽  
Manoj Jhalani ◽  
Sebastián García-Saisó ◽  
Address Malata ◽  
Sanam Roder-DeWan ◽  
...  
2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Keely Jordan ◽  
Todd P. Lewis ◽  
Bayard Roberts

Abstract Background There is a growing concern that the quality of health systems in humanitarian crises and the care they provide has received little attention. To help better understand current practice and research on health system quality, this paper aimed to examine the evidence on the quality of health systems in humanitarian settings. Methods This systematic review was based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocol. The context of interest was populations affected by humanitarian crisis in low- and middle- income countries (LMICs). We included studies where the intervention of interest, health services for populations affected by crisis, was provided by the formal health system. Our outcome of interest was the quality of the health system. We included primary research studies, from a combination of information sources, published in English between January 2000 and January 2019 using quantitative and qualitative methods. We used the High Quality Health Systems Framework to analyze the included studies by quality domain and sub-domain. Results We identified 2285 articles through our search, of which 163 were eligible for full-text review, and 55 articles were eligible for inclusion in our systematic review. Poor diagnosis, inadequate patient referrals, and inappropriate treatment of illness were commonly cited barriers to quality care. There was a strong focus placed on the foundations of a health system with emphasis on the workforce and tools, but a limited focus on the health impacts of health systems. The review also suggests some barriers to high quality health systems that are specific to humanitarian settings such as language barriers for refugees in their host country, discontinued care for migrant populations with chronic conditions, and fears around provider safety. Conclusion The review highlights a large gap in the measurement of quality both at the point of care and at the health system level. There is a need for further work particularly on health system measurement strategies, accountability mechanisms, and patient-centered approaches in humanitarian settings.


Author(s):  
Susan Cleary

Abstract Health systems strengthening (HSS) is firmly on the global health and development agenda. While a growing evidence base seeks to understand the effectiveness of HSS, there is limited evidence regarding cost and cost-effectiveness. Without such evidence, it is hard to argue that HSS represents value for money and the level of investment needed cannot be quantified. This paper seeks to review the literature regarding the economic evaluation of HSS from low- and middle-income country (LMIC) settings, and to contribute towards the development of methods for the economic evaluation of HSS. A systematic search for literature was conducted in PubMed, Scopus and the Health Systems Evidence database. MeSH terms related to economic evaluation were combined with key words related to the concept of HSS. Of the 204 records retrieved, 52 were retained for full text review and 33 were included. Of these, 67% were published between January 2015 and June 2019. While many HSS interventions have system wide impacts, most studies (71%) investigated these impacts using a disease-specific lens (e.g. the impact of quality of care improvements on uptake of facility deliveries). HSS investments were categorized, with the majority being investments in platform efficiency (e.g. quality of care), followed by simultaneous investment in platform efficiency and platform capacity (e.g. quality of care and task shifting). This review identified a growing body of work seeking to undertake and/or conceptualize the economic evaluation of HSS in low- and middle-income countries. The majority assess HSS interventions using a disease-specific or programmatic lens, treating HSS in a similar manner to the economic evaluation of medicines and diagnostics. While this approach misses potential economies of scope from HSS investments, it allows for a preliminary understanding of relative value for money. Future research is needed to complement the emerging evidence base.


2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 34-34
Author(s):  
Marlee Krieger ◽  
Nimmi Ramanujam ◽  
Mary Elizabeth Dotson Libby

PURPOSE Innovative devices are often targeted at increasing access, improving quality, or reducing costs—the three axes of the infamous Iron Triangle of Health Care, which are notoriously difficult to simultaneously optimize. The main aim of this study was to demonstrate that disruptive technologies, if high quality and appropriately implemented, can result in improved access, cost, and quality of care, overcoming the conventional constraints of the Iron Triangle framework. METHODS Our team conducted a global value chain analysis of the Pocket Colposcope in Lima, Peru, and developed surveys and conducted in-depth interviews to evaluate Pocket Colposcope stakeholders. All surveys were developed with consultations from the Duke Evidence Lab and had institutional review board approval. RESULTS The global value chain identified 5 leverage points: regulatory approval, task shifting, collaboration, telemedicine, and patient acceptance. We also identified stakeholders and processes that affect the degree to which the Pocket Colposcope is successfully implemented. Of women surveyed, 39.4% answered that they had previously wanted a cervical cancer screening test, but had been unable to receive one as a result of some barrier. The most common responses were distance to clinics (31.0%), participants could not leave work (27.6%), and patients were afraid of receiving a cancer diagnosis (20.7%). All 4 midwives who participated in the focus group identified the portability of the Pocket Colposcope as the device’s most appealing feature. Providers identified the quality of the image, cost to patient, and ease of use as the 3 most important aspects of the Pocket Colposcope. CONCLUSION The Pocket Colposcope provides an opportunity to make high-quality diagnostic technology more accessible at a cheaper price for more people. Often, disruptive technology in low-income settings is expected to increase access at the cost of reducing quality. In the case of the Pocket Colposcope, the disruptive technology is significantly cheaper than existing technology, but quality is still high enough to succeed.


2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
P Margozzini ◽  
A Passi ◽  
M Kruk ◽  
G Danaei

Abstract Background Chilean Health System has fully implemented Universal Health Coverage (UHC) for acute cardiovascular events since 2005. Age-adjusted cardiovascular mortality has decreased, but there is limited information about coverage and quality of chronic health care given to cardiovascular disease (CVD) survivors at the national level. Purpose To assess the prevalence and quality of care in Chilean adult CVD survivors. Methods Chilean National Health Survey 2016–2017 (ENS 2016–2017) is a random stratified multistage sample of non-institutionalized population over 14 years (n=6240). Age, education, gender, rural/urban and geographical area weighted prevalence of CVD survivors (self-reported medical diagnosis of myocardial infarction or cerebrovascular attack) were calculated. High quality of care was defined as meeting six criteria simultaneously: under 70mg% LDL- C level, statin use, aspirin use, blood pressure under 130/80 mmHg, HgA1C<7 or 8 (>74-year-old) and non-smoking. Quality of care was explored using multivariate linear and logistic regression adjusting by age, gender, education and year of diagnosis (before or after UHC). Results Weighted national prevalence of CVD survivors in over 20-year-old population was 6.1%. The sample size for the CVD survivor analyses was n=455. 28.7% of CVS had their first event before the year 2005 (n=141). Overall 27.9% had LDL-C under 70mg%, 37.8% used statins, 41.4% used aspirin, 37.8% had controlled blood pressure, 78.3% were non-smokers and 84.3% had good glycemic control. National “high quality of care” prevalence in CVD survivors was 0.3%, 0.4% and 0.1% for men and women respectively. LDL and Blood pressure control prevalence (meet both criteria simultaneously) was 4,4%. In the adjusted multivariate model age was associated to a higher number of quality criteria achievement. Conclusion The number of CVD survivors in Chile is a huge challenge for the health care system. Universal coverage does not guarantee the quality of chronic life long care. Specific surveillance in high-risk population is needed to assess the system's effectiveness and accountability. Acknowledgement/Funding ENS 2016-2017 was funded by the chilean Ministry of Health (MINSAL)


2021 ◽  
pp. 95-108
Author(s):  
Hartmut Gross ◽  
Jeffrey A. Switzer

Evaluation and treatment of acute stroke is the oldest and most widespread application of telemedicine. Telestroke systems allow provision of the same high quality of care provided at specialized stroke centers to patients at emergency departments without stroke coverage. The early treatment achieved with telestroke leads to better functional outcomes in stroke patients, thereby lowering overall cost of patient care. Telestroke networks facilitate optimal care, decrease hospital and physician liability, educate health care professionals, and keep many patients closer to home. Admissions to, rather than transfers from, rural sites retain hospitalization revenues locally and help keep small, financially struggling hospitals viable.


2013 ◽  
Vol 185 (12) ◽  
pp. E590-E596 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.-D. Beaulieu ◽  
J. Haggerty ◽  
P. Tousignant ◽  
J. Barnsley ◽  
W. Hogg ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S401-S401
Author(s):  
Mark Katlic

Abstract The American College of Surgeon’s Coalition for Quality in Geriatric Surgery will formally launch a national initiative aimed to improve the quality of surgical care for all older adults in July 2019. The first-year goal will be to recruit and successfully verify 100+ medical centers. This presentation will provide an overview of dissemination efforts for the standards set for providing high quality surgical care for older adults as well as processes to measure the quality of care provided to older adults at these medical centers. It our vision that this national initiative will lead the effort to the improvement of surgical care of all older adults.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 205435812097739
Author(s):  
Lisa Dubrofsky ◽  
Ali Ibrahim ◽  
Karthik Tennankore ◽  
Krishna Poinen ◽  
Sachin Shah ◽  
...  

Background: Quality indicators are important tools to measure and ultimately improve the quality of care provided. Performance measurement may be particularly helpful to grow disciplines that are underutilized and cost-effective, such as home dialysis (peritoneal dialysis and home hemodialysis). Objective: To identify and catalog home dialysis quality indicators currently used in Canada, as well as to evaluate these indicators as a starting point for future collaboration and standardization of quality indicators across Canada. Design: An environmental scan of quality indicators from provincial organizations, quality organizations, and stakeholders. Setting: Sixteen-member pan-Canadian panel with expertise in both nephrology and quality improvement. Patients: Our environmental scan included indicators relevant to patients on home dialysis. Measurements: We classified existing indicators based on the Institute of Medicine (IOM) and Donabedian frameworks. Methods: To evaluate the indicators, a 6-person subcommittee conducted a modified version of the Delphi consensus technique based on the American College of Physicians/Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality criteria. We shared these consensus ratings with the entire 16-member panel for further examination. We rated items from 1 to 9 on 6 domains (1-3 does not meet criteria to 7-9 meets criteria) as well as a global final rating (1-3 unnecessary to 7-9 necessary) to distinguish high-quality from low-quality indicators. Results: Overall, we identified 40 quality indicators across 7 provinces, with 22 (55%) rated as “necessary” to distinguish high quality from poor quality care. Ten indicators were measured by more than 1 province, and 5 of these indicators were rated as necessary (home dialysis prevalence, home dialysis incidence, anemia target achievement, rates of peritonitis associated with peritoneal dialysis, and home dialysis attrition). None of these indicators captured the IOM domains of timely, patient-centered, or equitable care. Limitations: The environmental scan is a nonexhaustive list of quality indicators in Canada. The panel also lacked representation from patients, administrators, and allied health professionals. Conclusions: These results provide Canadian home dialysis programs with a starting point on how to measure quality of care along with the current gaps. This work is an initial and necessary step toward future collaboration and standardization of quality indicators across Canada, so that home dialysis programs can access a smaller number of highly rated balanced indicators to motivate and support patient-centered quality improvement initiatives.


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