Healthcare Quality and Cost Transparency Using Web-Based Tools

This chapter explores the use of Web sites to provide patients with understandable information about the quality and price of healthcare healthcare transparency). Our first objective is to discuss patients’ perceptions of empowerment and need for quality and cost information when choosing medical providers and facilities for healthcare procedures. To meet this objective, we address issues of patient awareness of sources of healthcare quality and cost information, perceived responsibility for managing healthcare costs, and knowledge of appropriate actions to exercise choice of providers. Our second objective is to investigate the potential of Webbased tools, which provide healthcare quality and cost information, to facilitate patients’ decisionmaking processes regarding choice of provider for healthcare services, particularly common outpatient procedures. To meet this second objective, we use insights from user-centered design procedures (e.g., focus groups and in-depth interviews) associated with the development of a healthcare transparency Web-based tool.

Citizen Consultaions via Government Web Sites

Encyclopedia of Digital Government ◽

10.4018/978-1-59140-789-8.ch024 ◽

2011 ◽

pp. 163-168

Author(s):

M. Holzer ◽

R. W. Schwester

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Service Delivery ◽

Citizen Participation ◽

Web Sites ◽

The Internet ◽

Government Officials ◽

Web Based ◽

Government Web Sites ◽

Traditional Structures

Cynicism toward government is largely a function of trust and social capital (Berman 1997; Putnam 2000). The relationship between government and its citizens has been strained. First, some citizens cynically feel as though government officials abuse their powers in the interest of self-aggrandizement; second, citizens often feel disconnected from government; third, government service delivery is frequently portrayed as inadequate. Administrative strategies to reverse these perceptions typically emphasize the benefits of government and improved service delivery. Some go further, offering individuals a means of influencing public policy and government decision-making, as opposed to traditional structures and cultures of policymaking that minimize citizen input. The Internet is a potentially powerful means for citizen consultation, and may help cultivate a governmental landscape in which information is more accessible, people feel more connected to government, and citizens are better able to participate in political and decision-making processes. This article examines the Internet as a consultative medium, whereby emphasis is placed on government efforts to use Web-based applications as a means of promoting meaningful citizen participation.

Citizen Consultaions via Government Web Sites

Electronic Government ◽

10.4018/978-1-59904-947-2.ch214 ◽

2011 ◽

pp. 2867-2874

Author(s):

Mark Holzer ◽

Richard W. Schwester

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Service Delivery ◽

Citizen Participation ◽

Web Sites ◽

The Internet ◽

Government Officials ◽

Web Based ◽

Government Web Sites ◽

Traditional Structures

Cynicism toward government is largely a function of trust and social capital (Berman 1997; Putnam 2000). The relationship between government and its citizens has been strained. First, some citizens cynically feel as though government officials abuse their powers in the interest of self-aggrandizement; second, citizens often feel disconnected from government; third, government service delivery is frequently portrayed as inadequate. Administrative strategies to reverse these perceptions typically emphasize the benefits of government and improved service delivery. Some go further, offering individuals a means of influencing public policy and government decision-making, as opposed to traditional structures and cultures of policymaking that minimize citizen input. The Internet is a potentially powerful means for citizen consultation, and may help cultivate a governmental landscape in which information is more accessible, people feel more connected to government, and citizens are better able to participate in political and decision-making processes. This article examines the Internet as a consultative medium, whereby emphasis is placed on government efforts to use Web-based applications as a means of promoting meaningful citizen participation.

Family caregivers’ involvement in decision-making processes regarding admission of persons with dementia to nursing homes

Dementia ◽

10.1177/1471301218814641 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 19 (6) ◽

pp. 2038-2055 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Lill Sverresdatter Larsen ◽

Bodil Hansen Blix ◽

Torunn Hamran

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Family Caregivers ◽

Service Providers ◽

Healthcare Services ◽

Positioning Theory ◽

Ageing In Place ◽

Complex Decision Making ◽

Complex Decision ◽

The current Western health policy of ageing in place relies on a triad collaboration among patients, healthcare service providers and family caregivers. Such collaborations presuppose involvement in a vague juridical landscape. This article explores family caregivers’ experiences with involvement in and influence on nursing home decision-making processes for persons with dementia. The data consist of 12 in-depth interviews with family caregivers. Using positioning theory, we demonstrate how family caregivers strive to balance their assumed duty to care for the person with their needs to care for themselves. Their involvement (or non-involvement) in the complex decision-making process is demonstrated through the following seven positions: (1) self-condemning determiner, (2) dominant, (3) proponent, (4) saluting, (5) pending, (6) prisoner, and (7) stooge. Furthermore, we discuss why expedient positions are more available for some individuals and the consequences of family caregivers’ various positions on the healthcare policy aims of collaboration and equal healthcare services.

AN ANALYSIS ON THE PREPAREDNESS FOR IMPLEMENTING THE MINIMAL STANDARDS FOR SERVICE IN THE HEALTH FIELD AT DEPOK CITY IN 2017

Journal of Indonesian Health Policy and Administration ◽

10.7454/ihpa.v4i1.2000 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Zakiah Muhammad Rokib ◽

Purnawan Junadi

Keyword(s):

Monitoring And Evaluation ◽

Healthcare Services ◽

Fundamental Rights ◽

Noncommunicable Diseases ◽

Web Based ◽

The Government ◽

Specialized Team ◽

Depth Interviews ◽

Health Field ◽

The Ideal

Abstract. Health is one of the fundamental rights for every person, therefore it must be provided by the government. To guarantee the quality and type of health services, the Minimal Standards for Services (SPM) must be established. This includes the SPM for the productive age healthcare services (SPM BKUP). This type of healthcare is important since it covers about 60-70% of the current population. In this research, we analyzed the discrepancy between the reality and the ideal in the implementation of the SPM BKUP qualitatively through in-depth interviews, focus group discusions, and studying the related documents. We discovered that in Depok City 10 of the 13 indicators for implementation were incomplete. These were the Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) risk factor conseling, technical trainings for the screening officer and web-based surveillance, NCDs integrated services, recording and reporting, monitoring and evaluation, communication, the attitude of the implementer, manpower, facilities, and funding. And that the other three indicators, incentives for the implementers that reached the target, standard operational procedures for the implementation of the SPM BKUP, and a specialized team for the implementation. Therefore, Depok City was only minimally prepared to implement the SPM.Abstrak. Kesehatan adalah hak yang sangat mendasar bagi manusia, untuk itu negara harus hadir dalam pemenuhannya. Dalam era otonomi daerah, Standar Pelayanan Minimal (SPM) bidang kesehatan menjadi jaminan penyelenggaraan pelayanan kesehatan dengan jenis dan mutu pelayanan dasar yang sama. Salah satu jenis layanan dasar adalah SPM bidang kesehatan pada usia produktif (SPM BKUP). Jenis layanan dasar ini bernilai strategis bagi kinerja Pemerintah Daerah, karena berdasarkan BPS (2017) komposisi penduduk usia produktif menempati proporsi 60-70% dari seluruh jumlah penduduk dan nilai strategis bagi pengendalian Penyakit Tidak Menular (PTM) karena bentuk skrining. Analisis kesiapan ditujukan untuk melihat seberapa besar jarak antara kondisi ideal dengan kenyataan yang sebenarnya. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode kualitatif dengan teknik WM, FGD dan telaah dokumen terkait. Hasil penelitian didapatkan 10 dari 13 indikator kesiapan implementasi, belum lengkap dimiliki Kota Depok, meliputi konseling faktor risiko PTM, Pelatihan teknis petugas skrining dan surveilans berbasis web, pelayanan terpadu PTM, pencatatan pelaporan, monitoring evaluasi, komunikasi, sikap pelaksana, ketersediaan SDM, fasilitas dan dana. Sementara 3 indikator yang belum sama sekali dimiliki yaitu insentif bagi pelaksana yang mencapai target, SOP pelaksanaan SPM BKUP dan Tim penanggung jawab penyelenggaraan SPM BKUP. Kesimpulan didapatkan bahwa Kota Depok memiliki kesiapan yang minimal dalam rangka implementasi SPM BKUP.

A City Too Busy to Remember? Aging, Structural Violence, and the Politics of Forgetting in Atlanta’s Gentrification

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.1266 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 393-393

Author(s):

John Pothen ◽

Keland Yip ◽

Ellen Idler

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Structural Violence ◽

Aging In Place ◽

Healthcare Services ◽

The Past ◽

Critical Theories ◽

Property Owners ◽

Ongoing Development ◽

The City ◽

Abstract Can forgotten stories from the past inform a city’s future? As older adults continue to live longer and comprise more of the population than ever before, the suitability of gentrifying spaces for older adults aging in place is increasingly important. Critical theories of gentrification argue that remembering the experiences of older adults in this context - experiences of suffering, resilience, and structural violence - is essential to promote changes in support aging in place. In this study, we tell a story of individual experiences, structural violence, and aging in the ongoing gentrification of one neighborhood in southwest Atlanta. We construct this narrative through a qualitative analysis of 1,500 local newspaper articles from 1950 to the present day and 10 in-depth interviews with ex-residents of the neighborhood aged 65-87. Drawing on the theory of planetary rent gaps, we frame gentrification as a class struggle between property-owners and working class residents. We highlight the city government’s role as a facilitator for property-owners through projects including the Model City initiative, preparation for the 1996 Olympics, and ongoing development surrounding the Atlanta BeltLine. We show how these projects have affected the prospects for aging in place in general and, specifically, by affecting access to healthcare services. We share this story in an effort to combat the politics of forgetting and to inform a richer, more inclusive, and more equitable future for gentrifying spaces.

Mothers’ Experiences and Perceptions of Facility-based Delivery Care in Rural Ethiopia

Health Services Insights ◽

10.1177/11786329211017684 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 ◽

pp. 117863292110176

Author(s):

Elin Mordal ◽

Ingrid Hanssen ◽

Andargachew Kassa ◽

Solfrid Vatne

Keyword(s):

Family Involvement ◽

Healthcare Facility ◽

Healthcare Services ◽

Skilled Birth Attendants ◽

Adequate Treatment ◽

Rural Ethiopia ◽

Birth Attendants ◽

Southern District ◽

Depth Interviews ◽

Respectful Care

In Ethiopia, delivery wards are a part of primary healthcare services. However, although the maternal mortality rate is very high, approximately 50% of mothers use skilled birth attendants. This study focused on how women in a rural southern district of Ethiopia experience maternity care offered at the local delivery wards. In this qualitative, exploratory study, 19 women who had given birth in a healthcare facility were interviewed in 2019. Individual in-depth interviews were supplemented with observations conducted at 2 different delivery wards in the same district in 2020. Two main themes emerged from the thematic content analysis: increased awareness and safety were the primary reasons for giving birth at a healthcare facility, and traditions and norms affected women’s birth experiences in public maternity wards. The main shortcomings were a shortage of medicine, ambulance not arriving in time, and lack of care at night. For some women, being assisted by a male midwife could be challenging, and the inability to afford necessary medicine made adequate treatment inaccessible. Providing continuous information gave the women a certain feeling of control. Strong family involvement indicated that collectivistic expectations were key to rural delivery wards. The healthcare system must be structured to meet women’s needs. Moreover, managers and midwives should ensure that birthing women receive high-quality, safe, timely, and respectful care.

Experiences of recovery from colorectal cancer surgery after hospital discharge among the oldest old: A qualitative study

Nordic Journal of Nursing Research ◽

10.1177/2057158521994451 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 205715852199445

Author(s):

Kristina Sundt Eriksen ◽

Sissel Iren Eikeland Husebø ◽

Hartwig Kørner ◽

Kirsten Lode

Keyword(s):

Colorectal Cancer ◽

Thematic Analysis ◽

Oldest Old ◽

Healthcare Services ◽

Hospital Data ◽

Colorectal Cancer Surgery ◽

Discharge From Hospital ◽

Depth Interviews ◽

Inductive Thematic Analysis

Colorectal cancer affects a large number of people aged ≥80 years. Little is known about how they manage after discharge from hospital. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of individuals aged ≥80 years recovering from surgery for colorectal cancer, and the challenges they may encounter after discharge from hospital. Data were collected between January and March 2016 through in-depth interviews with ten participants approximately one month after surgery. Inductive thematic analysis was employed to analyse the data. The COREQ checklist was used in reporting this study. Two themes were identified: Managing the recovery from CRC surgery, and Insufficient follow-up from the healthcare services after CRC surgery. The findings indicate that older people treated for colorectal cancer manage surprisingly well after discharge despite challenges in their recovery; however, there are seemingly areas of improvement in their follow-up healthcare.

Reputation-Seeking by a Government Agency in Europe

Administration & Society ◽

10.1177/0095399714528177 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 49 (2) ◽

pp. 163-189 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Erik Baekkeskov

Keyword(s):

Influenza Pandemic ◽

Swine Influenza ◽

Empirical Support ◽

Health Agency ◽

Regional Governance ◽

Federal Agencies ◽

European Context ◽

2009 H1n1 ◽

Reputation-seeking can explain some decisions of U.S. federal agencies. However, it has remained unclear whether it could be used in the European context where agencies have proliferated in national and regional governance in the past few decades. This article shows that reputation-seeking can occur at autonomous agencies in the European context. A unique participant-observational study of an international public health agency acting in response to the 2009 H1N1 “swine” influenza pandemic provides bases for this conclusion. It adds empirical support for the proposition using real-time observations of and in-depth interviews on the agency’s decision-making processes.

Providing Patient Centered Care for Adolescents with Chronic Conditions

The International Journal of Person Centered Medicine ◽

10.5750/ijpcm.v6i1.560 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. 22-29

Author(s):

Nabeel Al-Yateem

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

Healthcare Professionals ◽

Transition Process ◽

Healthcare Services ◽

Adolescents And Young Adults ◽

Study Phase ◽

Patient Centered ◽

Centered Care ◽

Group Interviews ◽

Background: It is well acknowledged that clear, structured healthcare services that are mutually developed between the patient and the healthcare professionals are likely to be of high quality, desirable, and effective. Such service should address the complexity of the illness-health experience in terms of the factors that influence it as well as the physical and psychosocial consequences on the patient. The required focus should be on treating the patient rather than just treating the disease.Objectives: To develop relevant and feasible care guidelines that may inform more competent and patient centered services for adolescents and young adults with chronic conditions.Methodology: A sequential exploratory mixed method design guided this study. The first qualitative phase employed in-depth interviews to explore the experiences of adolescents and young adults about the health services they were receiving. This was followed by focus group interviews with healthcare professionals to discuss the patients’ reported needs and to suggest interventions that would address them. Finally, a second quantitative phase was carried out through a survey to explore the views of a larger sample of service stakeholders about the relevance and feasibility of the suggested guidelines for clinical practice.Results: The in-depth interviews revealed four main themes, as follows: a current amorphous service, sharing knowledge, the need to be at the center of service, and easing the transition process to adulthood. The second study phase yielded 32 proposed guidelines that may contribute to more competent and patient centered health care.