Networkcentric Healthcare and the Entry Point into the Network

2011 ◽  
pp. 87-94
Author(s):  
Dag von Lubitz ◽  
Nilmini Wickramasinghe
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare Costs ◽  
Healthcare Delivery ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Limited Range ◽  
Insurance Companies ◽  
Practical Implementation ◽  
Healthcare Operations ◽  
Healthcare Information ◽  
Minimal Impact

The concept of e-health gains rapid and widespread international acceptance as the most practical means of reducing burgeoning healthcare costs, improving healthcare delivery, and reducing medical errors. However, due to profit-maximizing forces controlling healthcare, the majority of e-based systems are characterized by non-existent or marginal compatibility leading to platformcentricity that is, a large number of individual information platforms incapable of integrated, collaborative functions. While such systems provide excellent service within limited range healthcare operations (such as hospital groups, insurance companies, or local healthcare delivery services), chaos exists at the level of nationwide or international activities. As a result, despite intense efforts, introduction of e-health doctrine has minimal impact on reduction of healthcare costs. Based on their previous work, the authors present the doctrine of network-centric healthcare operations that assures unimpeded flow and dissemination of fully compatible, high quality, and operation-relevant healthcare information and knowledge within the Worldwide Healthcare Information Grid (WHIG). In similarity to network- centric concepts developed and used by the armed forces of several nations, practical implementation of WHIG, consisting of interconnected entry portals, nodes, and telecommunication infrastructure, will result in enhanced administrative efficiency, better resource allocation, higher responsiveness to healthcare crises, and—most importantly—improved delivery of healthcare services worldwide.

Network-Centric Healthcare and the Entry Point into the Network

2011 ◽  
pp. 647-652
Author(s):  
Dag von Lubitz ◽  
Nilmini Wickramasinghe
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare Costs ◽  
Healthcare Delivery ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Limited Range ◽  
Insurance Companies ◽  
Practical Implementation ◽  
Healthcare Operations ◽  
Healthcare Information ◽  
Minimal Impact

The concept of e-health gains rapid and widespread international acceptance as the most practical means of reducing burgeoning healthcare costs, improving healthcare delivery, and reducing medical errors. However, due to profit-maximizing forces controlling healthcare, the majority of e-based systems are characterized by non-existent or marginal compatibility leading to platform-centricity that is, a large number of individual information platforms incapable of integrated, collaborative functions. While such systems provide excellent service within limited range healthcare operations (such as hospital groups, insurance companies, or local healthcare delivery services), chaos exists at the level of nationwide or international activities. As a result, despite intense efforts, introduction of e-health doctrine has minimal impact on reduction of healthcare costs. Based on their previous work, the authors present the doctrine of network- centric healthcare operations that assures unimpeded flow and dissemination of fully compatible, high quality, and operation-relevant healthcare information and knowledge within the Worldwide Healthcare Information Grid (WHIG). In similarity to network-centric concepts developed and used by the armed forces of several nations, practical implementation of WHIG, consisting of interconnected entry portals, nodes, and telecommunication infrastructure, will result in enhanced administrative efficiency, better resource allocation, higher responsiveness to healthcare crises, and—most importantly—improved delivery of healthcare services worldwide.

scholarly journals Patient satisfaction survey: A gateway to quality improvement in primary healthcare in the IAF

2021 ◽  
Vol 65 ◽  
pp. 105-108
Author(s):  
VV Joshi ◽  
R Dev ◽  
NK Tripathy
Keyword(s):  
Patient Satisfaction ◽  
Primary Healthcare ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Healthcare Delivery ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Quality Of Healthcare ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Important Indicator ◽  
Tertiary Healthcare

Patient satisfaction is an important indicator to assess and improve quality of healthcare services. In Armed Forces Medical Services, studies on patient satisfaction are scant and mainly hospital based. Hence, a study was conducted with an objective to assess patient satisfaction in seven Primary Healthcare Delivery Centers (PHDCs) in one of the operational commands in the Indian Air Force (IAF). Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire Short Form 18 (PSQ-18), a simple tool, was used for the survey. The study was unique in the sense that few centers in the survey were remotely located from tertiary care hospitals and the Medical Officers in these PHDCs were relatively inexperienced. The analysis of the survey clearly brought out distinct differences in certain dimensions of patient satisfaction across the PHDCs. In addition, utility of the Hindi translated version of PSQ-18 was ascertained. Based on the results of the study, few important conclusions were drawn; (a) patient satisfaction could be assessed using simple questionnaire such as PSQ-18, (b) the Hindi translated version of PSQ-18 can also be used as a useful tool depending on the participants’ preference, and (c) the observed dimensions affecting patient satisfaction could be addressed through specific interventions. Similar survey is recommended to be conducted across primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare establishments in the IAF.

scholarly journals Neo-Hippocratic healthcare policies: professional or industrial healthcare delivery? A choice for doctors, patients, and their organisations

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (S2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Pierre Unger ◽  
Ingrid Morales ◽  
Pierre De Paepe ◽  
Michel Roland
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Private Insurance ◽  
Healthcare Delivery ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Insurance Companies ◽  
Mutual Aid ◽  
Team Culture ◽  
Managed Services ◽  
European Policies ◽  
Universal Health

Abstract Background Ethical medical practice requires managing health services to promote professionalism and secure accessibility to care. Commercially financed and industrially managed services strain the physicians’ clinical autonomy and ethics because the industry’s profitability depends on commercial, clinical standardisation. Private insurance companies also reduce access to care whilst fragmenting and segmenting health systems. Against this background, given the powerful, symbolic significance of their common voice, physicians’ and patients’ organisations could effectively leverage together political parties and employers’ organisations to promote policies favouring access to professional care. Main text To provide a foundation for negotiations between physicians’ and patients’ organisations, we propose policy principles derived from an analysis of rights-holders and duty-bearers’ stakes, i.e., patients, physicians and health professionals, and taxpayers. Their concerns are scrutinised from the standpoints of public health and right to health. Illustrated with post-WWII European policies, these principles are formulated as inputs for tentative action-research. The paper also identifies potential stumbling blocks for collective doctor/patient negotiations based on the authors’ personal experience. The patients’ concerns are care accessibility, quality, and price. Those of physicians and other professionals are problem-solving capacity, autonomy, intellectual progress, ethics, work environment, and revenue. The majority of taxpayers have an interest in taxes being progressive and public spending on health regressive. Mutual aid associations tend to under-estimate the physician’s role in delivering care. Physicians’ organisations often disregard the mission of financing care and its impact on healthcare quality. Conclusion The proposed physicians-patients’ alliance could promote policies in tune with professional ethics, prevent European policies’ putting industrial concerns above suffering and death, bar care financing from the ambit of international trade treaties, and foster international cooperation policies consistent with the principles that inspire the design of healthcare policies at home and so reduce international migration. To be credible partners in this alliance, physicians’ associations should promote a public health culture amongst their members and a team culture in healthcare services. To promote a universal health system, patients’ organisations should strive to represent universal health interests rather than those of patients with specific diseases, ethnic groups, or social classes.

The Role of Health Technology in Transforming Healthcare Delivery and Enhancing Spending Efficiency ​

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ziyad S. Almalki ◽  
Duaa A. Simsim
Keyword(s):  
Health Services ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Healthcare Costs ◽  
Grey Literature ◽  
Healthcare Delivery ◽  
Healthcare Spending ◽  
Health Technology ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Health Technologies

Objectives: Advances in technology are changing the way healthcare services are delivered. The adoption of different health technologies has significantly improved health access and efficiency. In addition, health-technology adoption can help immensely in improving health outcomes and enhancing public and private healthcare spending efficiency. However, the role of health technology in transforming healthcare delivery and enhancing spending efficiency is not well understood. In this paper, we reviewed the role of emerging technologies in delivering health services that promote health outcomes, improve productivity of the healthcare provider, and reduce healthcare costs. Methods: A narrative review was conducted of published articles as well as grey literature on application of technology in delivering medical care. Studies that met the following criteria were included: addressed a relevant aspect of technology in healthcare delivery; written in English; published between 1994 and June 2020; qualitative and quantitative study designs, systematic reviews, and primary and secondary research. Main results and conclusions: Utilizing technologies in delivering health services showed promise in improving health outcomes, enhancing healthcare productivity, and reducing overall healthcare costs. However, before these technologies are implemented, reimbursement and equity are two main issues that need to be addressed.

Professional dilemmas for caregivers in Turkish home care settings in Germany

2014 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Basche
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Insurance Companies ◽  
Or Education ◽  
Migrant Communities ◽  
Caregiver Relationship ◽  
International Nursing ◽  
Nursing Literature ◽  
Intercultural Care ◽  
The Given

While calling for culturally sensitive healthcare services in migrant communities, the international nursing literature on intercultural care predominantly describes nursing staff as lacking cultural competences and immigrant customers as lacking cleverness to navigate the labyrinths of national healthcare systems. Congruences in language, culture and religion in the customer-caregiver relationship can decisively improve the quality of care. However, they do not automatically guarantee smooth working processes in monocultural in-home settings. On the contrary, new problems occur here for Turkish caregivers which are unknown to the legions of native professionals who feel challenged by migrants and which go beyond differences such as age, sex, income or education. While no cultural or religious brokering is necessary between customers and personnel in the given context in Germany, new challenges arise when caregivers are expected to legally broker between customers and insurance companies or doctors. Conflicting expectations of customers and management as well as their own colliding social and professional roles put the caregivers in a quandary and must be competently managed.

scholarly journals Combined quantum tunnelling and dielectrophoretic trapping for molecular analysis at ultra-low analyte concentrations

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Longhua Tang ◽  
Binoy Paulose Nadappuram ◽  
Paolo Cadinu ◽  
Zhiyu Zhao ◽  
Liang Xue ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Limited Range ◽  
Practical Implementation ◽  
Successful Operation ◽  
Detection Rates ◽  
Quantum Tunnelling ◽  
Conductive Substrate ◽  
Scanning Tunnelling ◽  
Tunnelling Microscopy ◽  
Transport Molecules ◽  
Magnitude Increase

AbstractQuantum tunnelling offers a unique opportunity to study nanoscale objects with atomic resolution using electrical readout. However, practical implementation is impeded by the lack of simple, stable probes, that are required for successful operation. Existing platforms offer low throughput and operate in a limited range of analyte concentrations, as there is no active control to transport molecules to the sensor. We report on a standalone tunnelling probe based on double-barrelled capillary nanoelectrodes that do not require a conductive substrate to operate unlike other techniques, such as scanning tunnelling microscopy. These probes can be used to efficiently operate in solution environments and detect single molecules, including mononucleotides, oligonucleotides, and proteins. The probes are simple to fabricate, exhibit remarkable stability, and can be combined with dielectrophoretic trapping, enabling active analyte transport to the tunnelling sensor. The latter allows for up to 5-orders of magnitude increase in event detection rates and sub-femtomolar sensitivity.

scholarly journals Views and experiences of family physicians about Syrian refugee patients in Turkey: a qualitative research

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Duygu Ayhan Baser ◽  
Özge Mıhcı ◽  
Meltem Tugce Direk ◽  
Mustafa Cankurtaran
Keyword(s):  
Primary Healthcare ◽  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Healthcare Delivery ◽  
Family Physicians ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Free Access ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Syrian Refugee

Abstract Aim: The aim of this study was to describe the attitudes, views and solution proposals of family physicians (FPs) about primary healthcare problems of Syrian refugee patients. This study would be the very first study for Turkey that evaluates the attitudes, views and solution proposals of FPs about primary healthcare problems of Syrian refugee patients. Background: Following the anti-regime demonstrations that started in March 2011, the developments in Syria created one of the biggest humanitarian crises in the world and the largest number of asylum seekers continue to be hosted in Turkey. There are some studies evaluating asylum seekers’ access to healthcare services in Europe, and the common result is that refugees have free access to primary healthcare services in most countries; however, they face many obstacles when accessing primary healthcare services. While there are studies in the literature evaluating the situation of access to primary healthcare services from the perspective of asylum seekers; there are few studies evaluating the opinions/views of FPs. Methods: A qualitative methodology informed by the grounded theory was used to guide the research. A total of 20 FPs were interviewed face to face through semi-structured interviews, using 12 questions about their lived experience and views caring of refugee population. Interviews were analysed thematically. Finding: The following themes were revealed: Benefiting from Primary Health Care Services, Benefiting from Rights, Differences Between the Approach/Attitudes of Turkish Citizens and Refugees, Barriers to Healthcare Delivery, Training Needs of Physicians, Solution proposals. FPs reported that there is a need for support in primary care and a need for training them and refugees in this regard and they specified refugee healthcare centres are the best healthcare centres for refugees; however, the number of these and provided services should be increased.

scholarly journals Association of patients’ perception of quality of healthcare received and colorectal cancer screening uptake: An analysis of two national surveys in the United States

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karan Chawla ◽  
Angesom Kibreab ◽  
Victor & Scott ◽  
Edward L. Lee ◽  
Farshad Aduli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Colorectal Cancer ◽  
United States ◽  
Healthcare Delivery ◽  
Quality Of Healthcare ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
The United States ◽  
Crc Screening ◽  
Fair Poor ◽  
National Trends

Objective: It is unknown whether patients’ ratings of the quality of healthcare services they receive truly correlate with the quality of care from their providers. Understanding this association can potentiate improvement in healthcare delivery. We evaluated the association between patients’ ratings of the quality of healthcare services received and uptake of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening. Subject and Methods: We used two iterations of the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) of adults in the United States. HINTS 2007 (4,007 respondents; weighted population=75,397,128) evaluated whether respondents were up-to-date with CRC screening while HINTS 4 cycle 3 (1,562 respondents; weighted population=76,628,000) evaluated whether participants had ever received CRC screening in the past. All included respondents from both surveys were at least 50 years of age, had no history of CRC, and had rated the quality of healthcare services that they had received at their healthcare provider’s office in the previous 12 months. Results: HINTS 2007 data showed that respondents who rated their healthcare as good, or fair/poor were significantly less likely to be up to date with CRC screening compared to those who rated their healthcare as excellent. We found comparable results from analysis of HINTS 4 cycle 3 data with poorer uptake of CRC screening as the healthcare quality ratings of respondents’ reduced. Conclusion: Our study suggested that patients who reported receiving lower quality of healthcare services were less likely to have undergone and be compliant with CRC screening recommendations. It is important to pay close attention to patient feedback surveys in order to improve healthcare delivery.

scholarly journals The impact of asynchronous e-visits on clinical outcomes and healthcare delivery: A systematic review (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oliver T. Nguyen ◽  
Amir Alishahi Tabriz ◽  
Jinhai Huo ◽  
Karim Hanna ◽  
Christopher M. Shea ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Quality Of Care ◽  
Clinical Outcomes ◽  
Healthcare Costs ◽  
Healthcare Delivery ◽  
Healthcare Quality ◽  
Antibiotic Prescribing ◽  
Infection Management ◽  
The Impact

BACKGROUND E-visits involve asynchronous communication between providers and patients through a secure web-based platform, such as a patient portal, to elicit symptoms and determine a diagnosis and treatment plan. E-visits are now reimbursable through Medicare due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The state of the evidence regarding e-visits, such as the impact on clinical outcomes and healthcare delivery, is unclear. OBJECTIVE To address this gap, this systematic review examines how e-visits have impacted clinical outcomes and healthcare quality, access, utilization, and costs. METHODS MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science were searched from January 2000 through October 2020 for peer-reviewed studies that assessed e-visits’ impact on clinical and healthcare delivery outcomes. RESULTS Out of 1,858 papers, 19 studies met the inclusion criteria. E-visit usage was associated with improved or comparable clinical outcomes, especially for chronic disease management (e.g., diabetes care, blood pressure management). The impact on quality of care varied across conditions. Quality of care was equivalent or better for chronic conditions but variable quality was observed in infection management (e.g., appropriate antibiotic prescribing). Similarly, the impact on healthcare utilization varied across conditions (e.g., lower utilization for dermatology) but mixed impact in primary care. Healthcare costs were lower for e-visits for a wide-range of conditions (e.g., dermatology and acute visits). No studies examined the impact of e-visits on healthcare access. Available studies are observational in nature and it is difficult to draw firm conclusions about effectiveness or impact on care delivery. CONCLUSIONS Overall, the evidence suggests e-visits may provide comparable clinical outcomes to in-person care and reduce healthcare costs for certain healthcare conditions. At the same time, there is mixed evidence on healthcare quality, especially regarding infection management (e.g., sinusitis, urinary tract infections, conjunctivitis). Further studies are needed to test implementation strategies that might improve delivery (e.g., clinical decision support for antibiotic prescribing) and to assess which conditions are amenable to e-visits and which conditions require in-person or face-to-face care (e.g., virtual visit). CLINICALTRIAL not applicable

scholarly journals Addressing Health Insurance Deductions through an Interventional Study: the Case of a Large Central Hospital

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 39-48
Author(s):  
Erfan Kharazmi ◽  
Asiyeh Salehi ◽  
Neda Hashemi ◽  
Shekufe Ghaderi ◽  
Nahid Hatam
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare Provider ◽  
Failure Mode ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Intervention Programs ◽  
Medical Services ◽  
Mode Effects ◽  
The Social ◽  
Potential Failure ◽  
Efficiency And Productivity

Objective: A large proportion of hospitals’ private income is provided by insurance organisations. Hospitals in Iran face various problems in terms of insurance deductions from insurance organisations resulting from inefficient performance by both the hospitals and the insurers. These problems necessitate more specific cost control in this area. This research assesses the causes of insurance deductions by using the Failure Mode Effects Analysis (FMEA) technique, and addresses the issues resulting in deductions by providing some interventions through the Pareto technique. Design: The 10-step pattern of FMEA was implemented for assessing the main causes of insurance deduction in this study. Setting: Data was collected from deduced amounts by three main/largest contracting party insurance organisations (e.g. the Social Security Insurance Organisation, Medical Services Insurance Organisation and Armed Forces Medical Services Insurance Organisation of Namazi Hospital, a large healthcare provider in the South of Iran, in 2014. Findings: Sixty-five potential failure causes were identified, of which 26 were related to the anaesthesia unit, 23 were related to the surgery room unit and 16 were related to the hospitalisation unit. Deductions in the anaesthesia and hospitalisation units and the surgery room were reduced after intervention programs by 14.42%, 57.76%, and 51.52%, respectively. Conclusions: Using the FMEA technique in a large healthcare provider in Iran resulted in identifying the main causes of insurance deductions and provided intervention programs in order to increase the efficiency and productivity of healthcare services. Abbreviations: FMEA – Failure Mode Effects Analysis; RPN – Risk Priority Number.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document