Enhancing the Role of Healthcare Providers to Manage the Outpatient Department of Public Private Hospitals

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 118
Author(s):  
Sandesh Kumar Sharma
Author(s):  
Gilda A. Barabino

AbstractThe role of engineers in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and in the elimination of health disparities, while not always visible, has important implications for the attainment of impactful solutions. The design skills, systems approach, and innovative mindset that engineers bring all have the potential to combat crises in novel and impactful ways. When a disparities lens is applied, a lens that views gaps in access, resources, and care, the engineering solutions are bound to be more robust and equitable. The disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on the Black community and other communities of color is linked to inequities in health rooted in a centuries long structural racism. Engineers working collaboratively with physicians and healthcare providers are poised to close equity gaps and strengthen the collective response to COVID-19 and future pandemics.


2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 1932702
Author(s):  
Lashanda Skerritt ◽  
Alexandra de Pokomandy ◽  
Nadia O’Brien ◽  
Nadia Sourial ◽  
Ann N Burchell ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Ching Siang Tan ◽  
Saim Lokman ◽  
Yao Rao ◽  
Szu Hua Kok ◽  
Long Chiau Ming

AbstractOver the last year, the dangerous severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has spread rapidly around the world. Malaysia has not been excluded from this COVID-19 pandemic. The resurgence of COVID-19 cases has overwhelmed the public healthcare system and overloaded the healthcare resources. Ministry of Health (MOH) Malaysia has adopted an Emergency Ordinance (EO) to instruct private hospitals to receive both COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients to reduce the strain on public facilities. The treatment of COVID-19 patients at private hospitals could help to boost the bed and critical care occupancy. However, with the absence of insurance coverage because COVID-19 is categorised as pandemic-related diseases, there are some challenges and opportunities posed by the treatment fees management. Another major issue in the collaboration between public and private hospitals is the willingness of private medical consultants to participate in the management of COVID-19 patients, because medical consultants in private hospitals in Malaysia are not hospital employees, but what are termed “private contractors” who provide patient care services to the hospitals. Other collaborative measures with private healthcare providers, e.g. tele-conferencing by private medical clinics to monitor COVID-19 patients and the rollout of national vaccination programme. The public and private healthcare partnership must be enhanced, and continue to find effective ways to collaborate further to combat the pandemic. The MOH, private healthcare sectors and insurance providers need to have a synergistic COVID-19 treatment plans to ensure public as well as insurance policy holders have equal opportunities for COVID-19 screening tests, vaccinations and treatment.


Author(s):  
Elham Monaghesh ◽  
Alireza Hajizadeh

Abstract Purpose The outbreak of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) is a public health emergency of international concern. Telehealth is effective option to fight COVID-19 outbreak. The aim of this systematic review was to identify the role of telehealth services during COVID-19 outbreak.Methods This systematic review was conducted through searching five databases including PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science and Science direct. Inclusion criteria included studies clearly defined role of telehealth services in COVID-19 outbreak, published from December 31, 2019, written in English language and published in peer reviewed. Two reviewers independently assessed search results, extracted data, and assessed quality of included studies. Quality assessment was based on the Critical Appraisal Skills Program (CASP) checklist. Narrative synthesis was undertaken to summarize and report the findings.Results Eight studies met the inclusion out of the 142 search results. Currently, healthcare providers and patients who are self-isolating, telehealth is certainly appropriate to minimizing the risk of COVID-19 transmission. This solution has the potential to avoidance of direct physical contact, provide continuous care to the community and finally reduce morbidity and mortality in COVID-19 outbreak.Conclusions The use of telehealth improves the provision of health services. Therefore, telehealth should be an important tool in caring services while keeping patients and health providers safe as the COVID-19 outbreak.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tayah M. Liska ◽  
Angie Kolen

Abstract Purpose: As a result of a cancer diagnosis and treatment, many cancer survivors experience persistent physical, mental, and emotional symptoms that affect their quality of life. Physical activity has been identified as an intervention that may help to manage the side effects of a cancer diagnosis and its treatment. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of physical activity on overall quality of life in adult cancer survivors. Methods: One-on-one semi structured interviews were conducted in person or via telephone with 13 adult (≥18 yrs) cancer survivors who had completed cancer treatment. Results: These cancer survivors described their physical activity as improving their physical functioning and mental health, as a means of positive social engagement, and adding positivity to their daily life. Conclusion: These results support the role of physical activity to enhance cancer survivors’ quality of life regardless of the individuals’ treatment(s) type, duration, or time since the end of active cancer treatment. Further research is warranted to (a) expand this research with a larger sample, (b) examine healthcare providers’ knowledge and application of exercise guidelines to cancer survivors in cancer care, and (c) explore implementation strategies for greater advocacy for healthcare providers to share the exercise recommendations with cancer survivors.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 312-321
Author(s):  
J. Tonui ◽  
W. Chepkutto ◽  
J. Rotich

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic began in December 2019 in Wuhan City China where it is believed to have been transmitted to humans from an unknown animal species. The public health, social and economic impact of the pandemic world over is detrimental. Health care providers at the frontline in the fight against COVID-19 are at the greatest risk of infection and so far, many have been infected and some have already died from the disease. Thus, it is imperative that healthcare providers have adequate knowledge of infectious diseases and microbial pathogens to comprehend the scale of risk for better recognition and response. Microbiological concepts of infection prevention and control, hand hygiene and aseptic techniques are essential in slowing down the spread of the virus. COVID-19 has proven that infectious agents can emerge from any region in the world and can spread rapidly with ominous consequences to all humanity. This narrative review discusses the role of college-learnt microbiology in health care provider preparedness for emerging infectious diseases in light of the current pandemic. Keywords: Emerging; Infections; Preparedness; Response; Microbiology; COVID-19; Training


2004 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 106
Author(s):  
Michael Roff ◽  
Leonie Segal

TO THE EDITOR: Since its introduction on 1 January 1999, the 30% rebate has been the subject of much misleading comment by the opponents of the private health sector. A recent addition to these ranks was published in the first edition for 2004 of Australian Health Review (Segal 2004). There is no real attempt at balance in the article. While Segal argues that the rebate has failed to take the pressure off public hospitals, we are not told, for example, that almost one-in-five extra patients admitted by public hospitals in the three years to 2002-03 were actually private patients! Similarly, the article is littered with generalisations and, in some cases, misleading or completely incorrect statements, such as ?Private hospitals do not offer a complete hospital service . . .? Even a cursory examination of the available national data indicates that private hospitals provide services in all but 7 of the 654 diagnosis-related groups (DRGs) recorded. Private hospitals perform all the remaining 647 DRGs.


Author(s):  
Michelle Krawczyk

People with disabilities use various assistance devices to improve their capacity to lead independent and fulfilling lives. Service dogs can be crucial lifesaving companions for their owners. As the use of service dogs increases, nurses are more likely to encounter them in healthcare settings. Service dogs are often confused with therapy or emotional support dogs. While some of their roles overlap, service dogs have distinct protection under the American Disabilities Act (ADA). Knowing the laws and proper procedures regarding service dogs strengthens the abilities of healthcare providers to deliver holistic, patient-centered care. This article provides background information about use of dogs, and discusses benefits to patients and access challenges for providers. The author reviews ADA laws applicable to service dog use and potential challenges and risks in acute care settings. The role of the healthcare professional is illustrated with an exemplar, along with recommendations for future research and nursing implications related to care of patients with service dogs.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadia Minian ◽  
Sheleza Ahad ◽  
Laurie Zawertailo ◽  
Arun Ravindran ◽  
Claire de Oliveira ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Knowledge brokering is an emerging knowledge translation strategy used within healthcare to bridge the gap between evidence and practice. Reported studies indicate that the day-to-day role of a knowledge broker often involves in-person communication with frontline workers and decision makers. However, travelling to primary care sites can be cost- and resource-intensive and thus not feasible. In this paper, we describe the role and experience of a remote knowledge broker (rKB) working in an academic health sciences centre, delivering tailored one-on-one support to end-users using phone and email communications. Methods: A rKB was hired to support (n = 62) English-speaking Family Health Teams (FHTs) across Ontario with implementing mood management interventions as part of an existing smoking cessation program, the Smoking Treatment for Ontario Patients (STOP) program. We describe the eight categories of tasks performed by the rKB over a 12-month period, as well as their experience communicating via technology to develop relationships with healthcare providers (HCPs). Results: Sixty-one of the 62 FHTs (n = 73 HCPs) were provided rKB services. The total number of successful phone and email communications with the rKB ranged from 3-98 interactions over 12 months. Common barriers to implementation reported by FHTs were associated with the Inner and Outer Setting domains of the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) and included lack of time, resources, and patient engagement. Conclusions: The role of the rKB involved building relationships with HCPs, identifying and helping to problem solve barriers, and building capacity in the field. Similar to traditional knowledge brokering, this analysis shows that developing a meaningful relationship between a remotely situated KB and HCPs could take anywhere between 1-6 months. Using implementation frameworks such as CFIR can help the rKB identify barriers and be ready to address them. In addition, hiring a rKB with previous engagements and knowledge of the local context may facilitate clinical practice change. Our future work will evaluate the cost-effectiveness of rKBs to inform its potential to be scaled up.


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