scholarly journals The Utilization and Benefits of Telehealth Services by Health Care Professionals Managing Breast Cancer Patients During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Author(s):  
Donovan A. McGrowder ◽  
Fabian Miller ◽  
Kurt Vaz ◽  
Melisa Anderson Cross ◽  
Lennox Anderson-Jackson ◽  
...  

Telehealth is the delivery of many health care services and technologies to individuals at different geographical areas and is categorized as asynchronously or synchronously. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused major disruptions in health care delivery to breast cancer (BCa) patients and there is increasing demand for telehealth services. Globally, telehealth has become an essential means of communication between patient and health care provider. The application of telehealth to the treatment of BCa patients is evolving and increasingly research has demonstrated its feasibility and effectiveness in improving clinical, psychological and social outcomes. Two areas of telehealth that have significantly grown in the past decade and particularly since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic are telerehabilitation and teleoncology. There two technological systems provides opportunities at every stage of the cancer care continuum for BCa patients. We conducted a systematic literature review that examined the use of telehealth services via its various modes of delivery among BCa patients particularly in areas of screening, diagnosis, treatment modalities, as well as satisfaction among patients and health care professionals. The advantages of telehealth models of service and delivery challenges in delivery to patients in remote arears are discussed.

Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 1401
Author(s):  
Donovan A. McGrowder ◽  
Fabian G. Miller ◽  
Kurt Vaz ◽  
Melisa Anderson Cross ◽  
Lennox Anderson-Jackson ◽  
...  

Telehealth is the delivery of many health care services and technologies to individuals at different geographical areas and is categorized as asynchronously or synchronously. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused major disruptions in health care delivery to breast cancer (BCa) patients and there is increasing demand for telehealth services. Globally, telehealth has become an essential means of communication between patient and health care provider. The application of telehealth to the treatment of BCa patients is evolving and increasingly research has demonstrated its feasibility and effectiveness in improving clinical, psychological and social outcomes. Two areas of telehealth that have significantly grown in the past decade and particularly since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic are telerehabilitation and teleoncology. These two technological systems provide opportunities at every stage of the cancer care continuum for BCa patients. We conducted a literature review that examined the use of telehealth services via its various modes of delivery among BCa patients particularly in areas of screening, diagnosis, treatment modalities, as well as satisfaction among patients and health care professionals. The advantages of telehealth models of service and delivery challenges to patients in remote areas are discussed.


1983 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 335-356
Author(s):  
Charles H. Baron

AbstractWhile state medical licensure laws ostensibly are intended to promote worthwhile goals, such as the maintenance of high standards in health care delivery, this Article argues that these laws in practice are detrimental to consumers. The Article takes the position that licensure contributes to high medical care costs and stifles competition, innovation and consumer autonomy. It concludes that delicensure would expand the range of health services available to consumers and reduce patient dependency, and that these developments would tend to make medical practice more satisfying to consumers and providers of health care services.I don't know that I cared much about these osteopaths until I heard you were going to drive them out of the State; but since I heard this I haven't been able to sleep . Now what I contend is that my body is my own, at least I have always so regarded it. If I do harm through my experimenting with it, it is I who suffer, not the State."Mark Twain


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ajeng Viska Icanervilia ◽  
Lina Choridah ◽  
Antoinette D.I. Asselt ◽  
Johanna P.M Vervoort ◽  
Maarten J. Postma ◽  
...  

Abstract ObjectivesEarly detection is of vital importance in breast cancer management. BPJS Kesehatan, as Indonesia’s national health insurance, is expected to provide an adequate health service for breast cancer patients. This study aimed to obtain insight into the current conditions of health care services in Indonesia, related to early detection of breast cancer, particularly after BPJS Kesehatan implementation. MethodsThe study was conducted in 2017 in Yogyakarta, Indonesia with a wide range of socio-demographic backgrounds. Subjects comprised breast cancer patients and their relatives, health care professionals (HCPs), and healthy women from the general population who had no history of breast cancer and no family members with breast cancer. The subjects’ experiences and knowledge of health care services regarding early detection of breast cancer, were investigated through in-depth interviews. The thematic analysis guided the result synthesis from semi-structured in-depth interviews with 25 participants.ResultsDespite more patients with earlier stages presenting in high level of care after the implementation of universal coverage, this study identified the lack of both screening as well as diagnostic procedures as a prominent obstacle in breast cancer management. Study results indicated a lack of knowledge and misperception among the community about breast cancer screening. Also, problems in implementing early diagnosis were revealed such as the lack of urgency and access for patients to get a proper diagnostic procedure. Furthermore, varying adherence to the guidelines in all levels of care were found. ConclusionsThis study identified several issues that cause delay in the detection of breast cancer in Indonesia. All these factors lead to suboptimal breast cancer management. BPJS Kesehatan (the national health insurance) must focus its attention on the improvement of enabling factors in all levels of care for early detection (i.e. increasing awareness, access, referral system and facilities).


Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 528
Author(s):  
Cristian Lieneck ◽  
Brooke Herzog ◽  
Raven Krips

The delivery of routine health care during the COVID-19 global pandemic continues to be challenged as public health guidelines and other local/regional/state and other policies are enforced to help prevent the spread of the virus. The objective of this systematic review is to identify the facilitators and barriers affecting the delivery of routine health care services during the pandemic to provide a framework for future research. In total, 32 articles were identified for common themes surrounding facilitators of routine care during COVID-19. Identified constructed in the literature include enhanced education initiatives for parents/patients regarding routine vaccinations, an importance of routine vaccinations as compared to the risk of COVID-19 infection, an enhanced use of telehealth resources (including diagnostic imagery) and identified patient throughput/PPE initiatives. Reviewers identified the following barriers to the delivery of routine care: conservation of medical providers and PPE for non-routine (acute) care delivery needs, specific routine care services incongruent the telehealth care delivery methods, and job-loss/food insecurity. Review results can assist healthcare organizations with process-related challenges related to current and/or future delivery of routine care and support future research initiatives as the global pandemic continues.


2021 ◽  
Vol 46 (8) ◽  
pp. 1-2
Author(s):  
John F. Brehany ◽  

Since their inception in 1948, The Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services (ERDs) have guided Catholic health care ministries in the United States, aiding in the application of Catholic moral tradition to modern health care delivery. The ERDs have undergone two major revisions in that time, with about twenty years separating each revision. The first came in 1971 and the second came twenty-six years ago, in 1995. As such, a third major revision is due and will likely be undertaken soon.


2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 160-171
Author(s):  
Rachel Fisher ◽  
Jasneet Parmar ◽  
Wendy Duggleby ◽  
Peter George J. Tian ◽  
Wonita Janzen ◽  
...  

Introduction Family caregivers (FCGs) play an integral, yet often invisible, role in the Canadian health-care system. As the population ages, their presence will become even more essential as they help balance demands on the system and enable community dwelling seniors to remain so for as long as possible. To preserve their own well-being and capacity to provide ongoing care, FCGs require support to the meet the challenges of their daily caregiving responsibilities. Supporting FCGs results in better care provision to community-dwelling seniors receiving health-care services, as well as enhancing the quality of life for FCGs. Although FCGs rely upon health-care professionals (HCPs) to provide them with support and services, there is a paucity of research pertaining to the type of health workforce training (HWFT) that HCPs should receive to address FCG needs. Programs that train HCPs to engage with, empower, and support FCGs are required. Objective To describe and discuss key findings of a caregiver symposium focused on determining components of HWFT that might better enable HCPs to support FCGs. Methods A one-day symposium was held on February 22, 2018 in Edmonton, Alberta, to gather the perspectives of FCGs, HCPs, and stakeholders. Attendees participated in a series of working groups to discuss barriers, facilitators, and recommendations related to HWFT. Proceedings and working group discussions were transcribed, and a qualitative thematic analysis was conducted to identify key themes. Results Participants identified the following topic areas as being essential to training HCPs in the provision of support for FCGs: understanding the FCG role, communicating with FCGs, partnering with FCGs, fostering FCG resilience, navigating healthcare systems and accessing resources, and enhancing the culture and context of care. Conclusions FCGs require more support than is currently being provided by HCPs. Training programs need to specifically address topics identified by participants. These findings will be used to develop HWFT for HCPs.


2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (13) ◽  
pp. 2059-2070 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Bendix Andersen ◽  
Kirsten Beedholm ◽  
Raymond Kolbæk ◽  
Kirsten Frederiksen

When setting up patient pathways that cross health care sectors, professionals in emergency units strive to fulfill system requirements by creating efficient patient pathways that comply with standards for length of stay. We conducted an ethnographic field study, focusing on health professionals’ collaboration, of 10 elderly patients with chronic illnesses, following them from discharge to their home or other places where they received health care services. We found that clock time not only governed the professionals’ ways of collaborating, but acceleration of patient pathways also became an overall goal in health care delivery. Professionals’ efforts to save time came to represent a “monetary value,” leading to speedier planning of patient pathways and consequent risks of disregarding important issues when treating and caring for elderly patients. We suggest that such issues are significant to the future planning and improvement of patient pathways that involve elderly citizens who are in need of intersectoral health care delivery.


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