The Health Maintenance Organization Strategy: A Corporate Takeover of Health Services Delivery

1975 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 609-624 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Warren Salmon

This paper presents a political economic framework for viewing the social organization of the delivery of health care services and predicting a qualitatively different institutional configuration involving the health maintenance organization. The principal forces impacting American capitalism today are leading to a fundamental restructuring for increased social efficiency of the entire social welfare sector, including the health services industry. The method to achieve this restructuring involves health policy directed at raising the contribution to the social surplus from the delivery of health care services and eventual corporate domination. The health maintenance organization conceptualization is examined with suggestions as to how the HMO strategy promoted by the state leads to this corporate takeover. The mechanism and extent of the present corporate involvement are examined and implications of health services as a social control mechanism are presented.

1970 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 74-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
B Devkota

Background: Ensuring delivery of quality health services in a sustainable and equitable manner is a challenge in Nepal. A host of factors may have impeded the access, quality and utilization of the health services particularly by the marginalized and disadvantaged sections of the population. Review essential health care services (EHCS) provided by the public health facilities, level of progress, effectiveness, sustainability, equity and efficiency, quality of care and inclusion of marginalized and disadvantaged populations in health care servicesMethods: A total of 40 VDCs from 10 districts representing five regions and three eco-zones were covered. Altogether 800 mothers with under two year children, 40 health service providers, 145 key informants and 40 exit clients were interviewed. Forty focused group discussions were also conducted. From each district, health records of one hospital, PHCC, HP, SHP and Ayurvedic health facility each were collected.Results: More than two-third (68.2%) of the mothers received antenatal checks, highest in hills (85%) followed by terai (64.5%) and mountain districts (52.8%).Tetanus vaccine coverage (80.7%) seems higher compared to Nepal Demographic Health Survey 2001 (45%). FP use rate in mountain, hill and terai are 57.6%, 54.1% and 49.7%, higher than in DoHS 2003/2004 statistics, which were 26.8%, 36.4% and 45.3% respectively. Nine out of ten patients visiting the health facilities were outpatients. The coverage of DPT 3, Polio 3, BCG and measles are 92.8%, 93.4%, 95.2% and 90.7% respectively. From the service utilization perspective, disparities in terms of gender, ecological regions, season of the year and health facility were revealed.Conclusion: Health sector services are yet to be made responsive to the ecological and district specific health problems, and be made more inclusive linking with doable safety nets.  Key words: Essential health care services; Effectiveness; Sustainability; Equity and efficiency; Quality of care and inclusion  doi: 10.3126/jnhrc.v6i2.2188Journal of Nepal Health Research Council Vol. 6 No. 2 Issue 13 Oct 2008 Page: 74-83 


Author(s):  
Chudamani Poudel ◽  
Ramesh Baral

There are many barriers that keep people with disabilities from fully engaging in health care services. This study assessed the direct medical, direct non-medical and indirect cost as well as potential barriers and obstacles that people with spinal cord injury and intellectual disabilities faced in accessing health care services. This study conducted in Chitwan district of Nepal used both quantitative and qualitative information. For quantitative study, structured interview were conducted to assess the cost involved in health care services with 60 persons divided into Physical (spinal cord injury) and intellectual disability. In-depth interviews and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were conducted for qualitative study to find out their experiences regarding barriers, coping strategies and their needs and expectation when accessing health care services.Physical (spinal cord injury) disability accounted 46.67% while 53.33% were intellectual disabled. 48.3% were in poor health and 51.67% in fair health condition. The total mean values of direct medical cost for both types of disability were Rs. 6682.53 in the past six month. The qualitative reports suggest that people with severe disability faces numbers of barriers in accessing health services. This is seen as the key reason for their poor health outcome. High cost incurred in medical services and physical health maintenance, worse socio-economic status, and layers of barriers in accessing health care services were the reason of poorer health outcome and exclusion from the society.Economic Journal of Development Issues Vol. 23&24 No. 1-2, (2017) Combined Issue, Page : 102-112


2014 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Turkan Ahmet

The past few decades of ongoing war in Iraq has had a dramatic impact on the health of Iraq’s population. Wars are known to have negative effects on the social and physical environments of individuals, as well as limit their access to the available health care services. This paper explores the personal experiences of my family members, who were exposed to war, as well as includes information that has been reviewed form many academic sources. The data aided in providing recommendations and developing strategies, on both local and international levels, to improve the health status of the populations exposed to war.


Author(s):  
Fatemeh Rahmanian ◽  
Soheila Nazarpour ◽  
Masoumeh Simbar ◽  
Ali Ramezankhani ◽  
Farid Zayeri

AbstractBackgroundA dimension of reproductive health services that should be gender sensitive is reproductive health services for adolescents.ObjectiveThis study aims to assess needs for gender sensitive reproductive health care services for adolescents.MethodsThis was a descriptive cross-sectional study on 341 of health care providers for adolescents in health centers and hospitals affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in Iran in 2016. The subjects of the study were recruited using a convenience sampling method. The tools for data collection were: (1) a demographic information questionnaire and; (2) a valid and reliable questionnaire to Assess the Needs of Gender-Sensitive Adolescents Reproductive Health Care Services (ANQ-GSARHS) including three sections; process, structure and policy making for the services. Data were analyzed using SPSS 21.ResultsThree hundred and forty-one health providers with an average working experience of 8.77 ± 5.39 [mean ± standard deviation (SD)] years participated in the study. The results demonstrated the highest scores for educational needs (92.96% ± 11.49%), supportive policies (92.71% ± 11.70%) and then care needs (92.37% ± 14.34%) of the services.ConclusionsProviding gender sensitive reproductive health care services for adolescents needs to be reformed as regards processes, structure and policies of the services. However, the gender appropriate educational and care needs as well as supportive policies are the priorities for reform of the services.


2005 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlo Hanau

L’autore affronta il tema della allocazione delle risorse sanitarie adottando una prospettiva etico-politica di tipo solidale. In particolare, viene messo in risalto come la sanità pubblica italiana comporti una spesa a carico del cittadino sempre maggiore, soprattutto per determinate categorie di soggetti quali i malati cronici non autosufficienti. Una indagine condotta per conto dell’OMS rileva infatti che in Italia i malati affetti da patologie più gravi ricevono in proporzione meno cure dei pazienti con patologie di grado lieve/moderato. Si tratta, dunque, del cosiddetto “effetto Matteo” - mutuato dalla espressione evangelica - secondo cui “a chi ha sarà dato e a chi non ha sarà tolto anche quello che ha”. Traslato alla realtà sanitaria ciò esita nel deprecabile superamento del criterio di severità clinica quale caposaldo dell’assistenza socio-sanitaria a vantaggio di criteri economicistici rappresentati da un uso improprio del sistema di remunerazione delle prestazioni sanitarie secondo DRG, che penalizza il produttore il quale sfori il limite di budget fissato dalle autorità sanitarie, magari a motivo di una maggiore attenzione all’assistenza dei malati cronici e/o disabili. Va peraltro considerato che la medicina attuale sconta altri limiti oltre a quelli relativi alle risorse, in particolare il limite rappresentato dalla finitezza umana, di cui occorrerebbe prendere serenamente atto. L'articolo considera peraltro in modo analitico alcuni strumenti utilizzati per la valutazione dell’efficacia e dell’efficienza degli interventi sanitari (QALYs, EQALYs, UVG, UVH, ROSES), mettendone in risalto punti di forza e criticità. In definitiva, occorre riferirsi sempre ad un criterio solidaristico, adottando peraltro una rigorosa logica di cura ed assistenza personalizzate, il che consentirebbe un utilizzo ottimale di risorse. ---------- The Author faces the issue of the allocation of the health resources adopting a solidarity ethical perspective. Particularly, it is underlined that Italian health care system involve an expense more and more in charge of the citizen, above all for subjects with chronic pathologies. In fact, a survey by WHO highlights that in Italy the sick affected by serious pathologies (disability, mental disease) receive less care than patients with slight/moderate diseases: therefore, the so called “Matthew effect”. In this perspective, the “clinical severity” criterion is overcome by the economical one, the perspective payment system of health care services is utilized in improper way and penalizes the health maintenance organization that dedicate great attention to chronic sick. On the other hand, the medicine has indubitable limits: resources, but above all, the probabilistic nature of outcomes and the finite nature of man. The article considers some tools used for the evaluation of effectiveness and the efficiency of health interventions (QALYs, EQALYs, UVG, UVH, ROSES), bringing out strengths and weaknesses. Finally, it is always necessary to refer to a solidarity criterion, adopting a rigorous logics of care and personalized care: this approach would allow a better use of resources.


Author(s):  
Hasan M. Reza ◽  
M. Abdul M. Sarkar

Background: The urbanization and urban growth is going through very rapid in Bangladesh. This growth is being fuelled by rising incomes due to rapid expansion of commerce and industry. The rapid and incessant growth of urbanization on Kushtia district is creating continuous pressure on urban health care services. Urban poor people are also a vital factor for promoting urban primary health care services delivery project (UPHCSDP) to provide health care facilities.Methods: A cross sectional survey was carried out among 576 patients in 3 selected urban primary health care centres in Kushtia Municipality with a major concentration of people residing in urban areas. Data were collected using questionnaires regarding type of care or treatment patients demanded and type of care they received from the clinic.Results: Study results showed that total of 46.5% of the subjects demanded maternal and obstetric health services and 8.6% demanded child health diagnosis and care. It was found that a total of 22.0% of the subjects received physical diagnosis from the centres. About 7.1% clients received advice or suggestions and 8.0% received normal delivery service from the centres.Conclusions: The result shows that these clinics provide a lot of health care services to the clients especially on maternal and child health care delivery system. These services are provided to the patient with less or free of cost. Study exhibited that the overall health care services of health care centres are good. The clients come to these centres for the good quality of treatment.


2012 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Mlenzana ◽  
R. Mwansa

To establish satisfaction level of persons with disabilitiesregarding health services at primary health care centres in Ndola, Zambia.Key stakeholders views on satisfaction of services is an important componentof service rendering thus obtaining information is important in assistingwith the evaluation of health care service delivery. This will assist in improvingeffectiveness and availability of health care services to persons with physicaldisabilities.All persons with disabilities attending both rehabilitation centres andprimary health care centres in Ndola, Zambia, were targeted for this study. Willing participants were convenientlyselected to take part in the study.A cross sectional, descriptive study design using quantitative methods of data collection was used. The GeneralPractice Assessment Questionnaire was adjusted, piloted for Ndola population and used in this study to establishsatisfaction of participants. The study was ethically cleared at the University of the Western Cape and Zambia.Information and consent forms were signed by participants.Quantitative data was analysed descriptively and was reported in percentages.In the current study there were 191 participants of whom 56% were male and 44% were female with age rangefrom 18-65 years. Fifty-two percent of the participants presented with learning disabilities and 38% of persons withphysical disabilities. Majority of clients (54%) were dissatisfied with availability of services and health care servicesat the health care centres. Areas that clients were dissatisfied with were accessibility, consultation with health professionals,waiting times and opening hours of the health care centres.Clients with disabilities who accessed health care services from selected health centres in Ndola were dissatisfiedwith aspects of health services. Accessibility, consultation with health professionals, waiting times and opening hoursof the health care centres were the origin of client dissatisfaction. Other clients were satisfied with thoroughness ofhealth care providers regarding symptoms, feelings, reception and treatment received at the primary health care centre.Understanding the views of the clients is essential in improving health delivery services and could impact on thecompliance of people attending primary health care services.


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