Gamification as an Enabler of Mutual Learning in Complex Health Care Systems

In this paper, the authors present a gamified role switching method to promote dialogue and mutual learning in health care organisations facing changes in complex systems. Their research is based on two case studies in which the information exchange between the actors is crucial. 25 stakeholders were interviewed and four workshops were arranged. This study indicates that the gamified role switching method inspired and gave means for the participants to enhance systemic understanding of their organization and to improve dialogue. The role switching method also made the participants to see the situation from the other perspectives and thus promoted collaboration and the change process.

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An Occupational Therapy Course on Community Practice

Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy ◽

10.1177/000841749506200205 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 62 (2) ◽

pp. 76-81 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Constance Vanier ◽

Michèle Hébert

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Occupational Therapy ◽

Health Care Systems ◽

Skill Training ◽

Community Services ◽

The Other ◽

Community Practice ◽

Community Based ◽

Care Systems ◽

The University

This article outlines a course on occupational therapy community practice offered at the University of Ottawa and discusses its assets and limitations in terms of preparing students for the shift to community-based health services. The shift to community services in the health care systems of Ontario and Québec is described. Then the curricular components needed to prepare students for community practice are summarized. Finally, the community practice course at the University of Ottawa including its goal, objectives, class topics and evaluations is outlined. The strength of the community practice course described is that it includes many of the curricular components needed for community practice. On the other hand, limitations include the lack of skill training in some areas, its place in the last year of the programme, and its optional nature. Changes planned for the course and other recommendations for curricula are also discussed.

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A Modelization of the Propagation of COVID-19 in Regions of Spain and Italy with Evaluation of the Transmission Rates Related to the Intervention Measures

Biology ◽

10.3390/biology10020121 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 121

Author(s):

Raul Nistal ◽

Manuel de la Sen ◽

Jon Gabirondo ◽

Santiago Alonso-Quesada ◽

Aitor J. Garrido ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Health Care Systems ◽

The Other ◽

Transmission Rates ◽

Minimum Value ◽

Intervention Measures ◽

Infectivity Rate ◽

Care Systems

Two discrete mathematical SIR models (Susceptible-Infectious-Recovered) are proposed for modelling the propagation of the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) through Spain and Italy. One of the proposed models is delay-free while the other one considers a delay in the propagation of the infection. The objective is to estimate the transmission, also known as infectivity rate, through time taking into account the infection evolution data supplied by the official health care systems in both countries. Such a parameter is estimated through time at different regional levels and it is seen to be strongly dependent on the intervention measures such as the total (except essential activities) or partial levels of lockdown. Typically, the infectivity rate evolves towards a minimum value under total lockdown and it increases again when the confinement measures are partially or totally removed.

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The Management of Chronic Diseases in the Netherlands and in Germany

European Journal of Social Security ◽

10.1177/138826270700900303 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 9 (3) ◽

pp. 243-275

Author(s):

Markus Sichert ◽

Christina Walser

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

The Netherlands ◽

Chronic Diseases ◽

Chronic Disease Management ◽

Health Care Systems ◽

Chronically Ill ◽

The Other ◽

Improve Quality ◽

Care Systems ◽

The One

Chronic diseases pose significant challenges to health insurance systems. On the one hand, the supply of medical care to patients suffering from chronic diseases is very costly; on the other hand, more and more people are becoming chronically ill, and many of them suffer from diabetes. Against this background, steering mechanisms that address chronic disease management are needed, not only to cope with cost containment, but also to improve quality and to overcome obstructive interfaces of supply structures. This article analyses how these challenges are being dealt with and how the respective chronic diseases – the focus will be on diabetes – are managed in the Netherlands and in Germany. The approaches taken in each of these countries present examples of how structures for political and legal steering have been established within health care systems that are subject to frequent reform. Each approach is assessed by analysing the priority given to either regulatory or competitive elements, and particular reference will be made to (subordinated) implementation structures, contracts or models.

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Health Care Organizations: Soft Target during COVID-19 Pandemic

Prehospital and Disaster Medicine ◽

10.1017/s1049023x2100025x ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 36 (3) ◽

pp. 344-347

Author(s):

Harald G. De Cauwer ◽

Francis Somville

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Health Care Organizations ◽

Behavioral Science ◽

Health Care Systems ◽

Health Care Facilities ◽

The Other ◽

Contact Tracing ◽

Cyber Terrorism ◽

Care Systems ◽

Soft Target

AbstractHealth care organizations have been challenged by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic for some time, while in January 2020, it was not immediately suspected that it would take such a global expansion. In the past, other studies have already pointed out that health care systems, and more specifically hospitals, can be a so-called “soft target” for terrorist attacks. This report has now examined whether this is also the case in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.During the lockdown, hospitals turned out to be the only remaining soft targets for attacks, given that the other classic targets were closed during the lockdown. On the other hand, other important factors have limited the risk of such attacks in hospitals. The main delaying and relative risk-reducing factors were the access control on temperature and wearing a mask, no visits allowed, limited consultations, and investigations.But even then, health care systems and hospitals were prone to (cyber)terrorism, as shown by other COVID-19-related institutions, such as pharmaceuticals involved in developing vaccines and health care facilities involved in swab testing and contact tracing. Counter-terrorism medicine (CTM) and social behavioral science can reduce the likelihood and impact of terrorism, but cannot prevent (state-driven) cyberterrorism and actions of lone wolves and extremist factions.

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Turning the Crisis Into an Opportunity: Digital Health Strategies Deployed During the COVID-19 Outbreak (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.19106 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Pol Pérez Sust ◽

Oscar Solans ◽

Joan Carles Fajardo ◽

Manuel Medina Peralta ◽

Pepi Rodenas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Health Care ◽

Information Exchange ◽

Health Information Exchange ◽

Digital Health ◽

Health Care Systems ◽

Public Health Care ◽

Health Technologies ◽

Health Strategy ◽

Care Systems

UNSTRUCTURED Digital health technologies offer significant opportunities to reshape current health care systems. From the adoption of electronic medical records to mobile health apps and other disruptive technologies, digital health solutions have promised a better quality of care at a more sustainable cost. However, the widescale adoption of these solutions is lagging behind. The most adverse scenarios often provide an opportunity to develop and test the capacity of digital health technologies to increase the efficiency of health care systems. Catalonia (Northeast Spain) is one of the most advanced regions in terms of digital health adoption across Europe. The region has a long tradition of health information exchange in the public health care sector and is currently implementing an ambitious digital health strategy. In this viewpoint, we discuss the crucial role digital health solutions play during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic to support public health policies. We also report on the strategies currently deployed at scale during the outbreak in Catalonia.

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Medication Use among Veterans across Health Care Systems

Applied Clinical Informatics ◽

10.4338/aci-2016-10-ra-0184 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 26 (01) ◽

pp. 235-249 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Khoa A. Nguyen ◽

David A. Haggstrom ◽

Susan Ofner ◽

Susan M. Perkins ◽

Dustin D. French ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Information Exchange ◽

Health Information Exchange ◽

Systems Of Care ◽

Health Care Systems ◽

Medication Use ◽

Electronic Record ◽

Department Of Veteran Affairs ◽

Care Systems ◽

Medication Dispensing

SummaryIntroduction: Dual healthcare system use can create gaps and fragments of information for patient care. The Department of Veteran Affairs is implementing a health information exchange (HIE) program called the Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record (VLER), which allows providers to access and share information across healthcare systems. HIE has the potential to improve the safety of medication use. However, data regarding the pattern of outpatient medication use across systems of care is largely unknown. Therefore, the objective of this study is to describe the prevalence of medication dispensing across VA and non-VA health care systems among a cohort Veteran population Methods: This study included all Veterans who had two outpatient visits or one inpatient visit at the Indianapolis VA during a 1-year period prior to VLER enrollment. Source of medication data was assessed at the subject level, and categorized as VA, INPC (non-VA), or both. The primary target was identification of sources for medication data. Then, we compared the mean number of prescriptions, as well as overall and pairwise differences in medication dispensing.Results: Out of 52,444 Veterans, 17.4% of subjects had medication data available in a regional HIE. On average, 40 prescriptions per year were prescribed for Veterans who used both sources compared to 29 prescriptions per year from VA only and 25 prescriptions per year from INPC only sources. The annualized prescription rate of Veterans in the dual use group was 36% higher than those who had only VA data available and 61% higher than those who had only INPC data available.Conclusions: Our data demonstrated that 17.4% of subjects had medication use identified from non-VA sources, including prescriptions for antibiotics, antineoplastics, and anticoagulants. These data support the need for HIE programs to improve coordination of information, with the potential to reduce adverse medication interactions and improve medication safety.

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Turning the Crisis Into an Opportunity: Digital Health Strategies Deployed During the COVID-19 Outbreak

JMIR Public Health and Surveillance ◽

10.2196/19106 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 (2) ◽

pp. e19106 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Pol Pérez Sust ◽

Oscar Solans ◽

Joan Carles Fajardo ◽

Manuel Medina Peralta ◽

Pepi Rodenas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Health Care ◽

Information Exchange ◽

Health Information Exchange ◽

Digital Health ◽

Health Care Systems ◽

Public Health Care ◽

Health Technologies ◽

Health Strategy ◽

Care Systems

Digital health technologies offer significant opportunities to reshape current health care systems. From the adoption of electronic medical records to mobile health apps and other disruptive technologies, digital health solutions have promised a better quality of care at a more sustainable cost. However, the widescale adoption of these solutions is lagging behind. The most adverse scenarios often provide an opportunity to develop and test the capacity of digital health technologies to increase the efficiency of health care systems. Catalonia (Northeast Spain) is one of the most advanced regions in terms of digital health adoption across Europe. The region has a long tradition of health information exchange in the public health care sector and is currently implementing an ambitious digital health strategy. In this viewpoint, we discuss the crucial role digital health solutions play during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic to support public health policies. We also report on the strategies currently deployed at scale during the outbreak in Catalonia.

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