scholarly journals Return to Work following Ill Health or Disability in a Public-Private Health Care Facility: A Study in South Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 170
Author(s):  
Rubendri Govender ◽  
Deshini Naidoo ◽  
Pragashnie Govender

INTRODUCTION: Disability management involves is dynamic interactional strategies used to promote an individual’s return to work. These strategies revolve around the person’s health condition and contextual factors for example their employer and the work environment. However, there remains limited literature on the strategies used in the public healthcare sector. Objective: To explore the return to work strategies used at a public sector facility in the province of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. METHOD: A case study design, with multiple sources of data contributed towards profiling disability management strategies implemented at a central quaternary health care facility. Data collection methods included a file audit, work ability index assessments and semi-structured interviews with employees. Saturation sampling was used to recruit n = 23 employees who had been referred for occupational therapy vocational assessments over a period of 10 years. Data from the file audit were analysed using descriptive statistics and interviews were analysed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: Fifty six percent (n = 38) of the participants that were currently employed at the institution scored between 28 and 38 (moderate) on the Work Ability Index and required job realignments and reasonable accommodations within their current vocations. Twenty two percent (n = 5) scored 7–9 (poor) and were medically boarded or on long-term incapacity leave. CONCLUSIONS: Occupational therapists play a significant role in disability management within public health care facilities. Return to work strategies and reasonable accommodations can improve productivity in the workplace.

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 1440-1450
Author(s):  
Rubendri Govender ◽  
Pragashnie Govender ◽  
Deshini Naidoo

Background: Job retention, long-term absenteeism and medical boarding pay-outs are significant concerns for employers with- in the public health care sector of South Africa. Objective: To describe disability management policies, procedures and programmes of employees following impairment and disability in a public-private healthcare facility in South Africa. Methods: An exploratory qualitative study design was used with key informants in senior management and nursing managers (n=12) selected via purposive sampling. Audio-recorded data from semi-structured interviews and a focus group were themati- cally analysed using inductive reasoning. Results: There is poor adherence to occupational health and disability management policies and the current referral process is informal with managers using discretion to manage employees with ill health and acquired disability. The procedures prescribed in the policy and procedure on incapacity and ill-health-retirement need to be followed, and an early return to work programme within the health care facility needs to be implemented. Conclusions: Despite South Africa having many policies on recruitment and reasonable accommodations, there is a lack of implementation of these policies. An integrated disability management policy and programme encompassing health prevention, early return to work strategies, vocational rehabilitation and the implementation of reasonable accommodation is required to ensure that employees who have acquired disabilities or ill health are successful in the workplace. Keywords: Disability management; vocational assessments; return to work.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonja Klingberg ◽  
Esther M. F. van Sluijs ◽  
Stephanie T. Jong ◽  
Catherine E. Draper

Abstract Background Nurturing care interventions have the potential to promote health and development in early childhood. Amagugu Asakhula was designed to promote developmentally important dietary and movement behaviours among children of preschool age (3–5 years) in South Africa. An initial formative study in Cape Town found the intervention to be feasible and acceptable when delivered by community health workers (CHWs) linked to a community-based organisation. This study evaluated the delivery of the Amagugu Asakhula intervention by CHWs linked to a public sector primary health care facility in Soweto, as this mode of delivery could have more potential for sustainability and scalability. Methods A qualitative design was utilised to assess feasibility, acceptability, adoption, appropriateness, implementation, fidelity and context. CHWs (n = 14) delivered the intervention to caregivers (n = 23) of preschool-age children in Soweto over 6 weeks. Following the completion of the intervention, focus group discussions were held with CHWs and caregivers. Further data were obtained through observations, study records and key informant interviews (n = 5). Data were analysed using deductive thematic analysis guided by a process evaluation framework. Results The delivery of the Amagugu Asakhula intervention through CHWs linked to a primary health care facility in Soweto was not found to be feasible due to contextual challenges such as late payment of salaries influencing CHW performance and willingness to deliver the intervention. CHWs expressed dissatisfaction with their general working conditions and were thus reluctant to take on new tasks. Despite barriers to successful delivery, the intervention was well received by both CHWs and caregivers and was considered a good fit with the CHWs’ scope of work. Conclusions Based on these findings, delivery of the Amagugu Asakhula intervention is not recommended through public sector CHWs in South Africa. This feasibility study informs the optimisation of implementation and supports further testing of the intervention’s effectiveness when delivered by CHWs linked to community-based organisations. The present study further demonstrates how implementation challenges can be identified through qualitative feasibility studies and subsequently addressed prior to large-scale trials, avoiding the wasting of research and resources.


Author(s):  
Annelet Kruger ◽  
Owen O. Eales ◽  
Sanet Jansen van Vuuren

During the start of the first wave of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, two family physicians in Tshwane, South Africa, reviewed the people at high-risk within their Health Catchment Area. The largest residential mental health care facility in Gauteng fell under their care, and they were responsible for providing care and support to this facility. Family physicians have to lead the primary care team and simultaneously take care of the well-being of their team members. This report discusses how these family physicians used digital platforms and virtual care to successfully coordinate and manage the response to an outbreak of COVID-19 at this mental healthcare facility.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 368-381
Author(s):  
Dr Juhaina Abdulrahiem ◽  
Marwa Zakaria ◽  
Isalam Mohammad ◽  
Hassan Abdullah ◽  
Hala Amer ◽  
...  

This study about Factors that delay return to work of COVID-19 positive health care workers at King Saud medical city Riyadh Saudi Arabia.2020 Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of RNA viruses that cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS-CoV) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV). The aim of this study is to determine the factors that delay return to return to work among COVID-19 positive HCPs also to study the relationship of the associated risk factors and the delay in return to work among positive COVID-19 HCPs and to minimize the delay in return to work among COVID-19 positive HCPs which will maintain staffing levels to provide adequate care to all patients. Health care professional is defined as all staff in the health care facility involved in the provision of care for a COVID-19 infected patient, including those who have been present in the same area as the patient, as well as those who may not have provided direct care to the patient, but who have had contact with the patient’s body fluids, potentially contaminated items or environmental surfaces. Sampling method: The design of the sampling for this study will be Stratified Random Sampling (StRS) cross section study. This study about Factors that delay return to work of COVID-19 positive health care workers at King Saud medical city Riyadh Saudi Arabia mc.2020 Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of RNA viruses that cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS-CoV) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV). The aim of this study is to determine the factors that delay return to return to work among COVID-19 positive HCPs also to study the relationship of the associated risk factors and the delay in return to work among positive COVID-19 HCPs and to minimize the delay in return to work among COVID-19 positive HCPs which will maintain staffing levels to provide adequate care to all patients. Health care professional is defined as all staff in the health care facility involved in the provision of care for a COVID-19 infected patient, including those who have been present in the same area as the patient, as well as those who may not have provided direct care to the patient, but who have had contact with the patient’s body fluids, potentially contaminated items or environmental surfaces. Sampling method: The design of the sampling for this study will be Stratified Random Sampling (STRS) cross section study will use SPSS to analysis.


Facilities ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (1/2) ◽  
pp. 116-134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abimbola Olukemi Windapo ◽  
Astrette Cloete

Purpose This paper aims to examine briefing practices and whether these are related to the quality of brief documents and client satisfaction in constructed health-care facilities in South Africa. The rational for the examination stems from the view held by scholars that the briefing process is critical to the success of projects, as well as client/user satisfaction in the constructed facility, and also because of undocumented reports of client/end-user dissatisfaction in constructed health-care facilities in South Africa. Design/methodology/approach The research process consisted of a literature review to identify existing briefing framework and practices in use applicable to facilities. This was supported by an exploratory case study of a recently completed public hospital in East London, South Africa. Data collection for the study was undertaken by means of conducting semi-structured interviews with two groups consisting of client representatives and the technical design team on the project. Findings The research established that in the context of this case study, inadequate client consultation took place, not all design consultants were adequately involved in the development of the project brief, limited use was made of a specific briefing framework in developing the project brief and that despite these shortcomings in the briefing process followed, a comprehensive good quality briefing document was produced and the client was satisfied with the health-care facility constructed. Research limitations/implications The results of this study are generalizable with health-care facilities only. As such, research inferences and projections can only be made within this set and may not necessarily be applicable to the wider construction sector or to all projects within this sector. Practical implications The implications of this research are applicable to constructed health-care facilities. Practical inferences include the need to acknowledge that there is a need for a briefing framework, which should outline the involvement of all design consultants and client representatives when developing the project briefs for health-care facilities. The briefing framework is proposed for use in addressing the shortcomings in the briefing processes and practices and will also help the client in the choice of a brief process and practice which will comprehensively capture their requirements, give clear directives/information to the design consultants and will result in higher levels of end-user/patient satisfaction in the constructed health-care facility. Social implications Clients and allied professionals in charge of health-care facilities’ construction are encouraged to consider the implementation of a standard framework for use in the briefing process. This reflection should encourage engagement through formative legislative provision and transparent awareness campaigns. Originality/value This work is original insofar, as it directly addresses the alignment of briefing practices to quality of brief documents and client satisfaction in constructed health-care facilities within the context of the South African construction industry. However, similar exercises have been undertaken on briefing practices in the wider construction sector.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (11) ◽  
pp. e0260200
Author(s):  
Nosivuyile Vanqa ◽  
Graeme Hoddinott ◽  
Baxolele Mbenyana ◽  
Muhammad Osman ◽  
Sue-Ann Meehan

Background Delayed linkage to tuberculosis (TB) treatment leads to poor patient outcomes and increased onward transmission. Between 12% and 25% of people diagnosed with TB are never linked to a primary health care facility for continued care. The TB health program is for creating processes that promote and facilitates easy access to care. We explored how TB patients experience TB services and how this influenced their choices around linkage to TB care and treatment. Methods We enrolled 20 participants routinely diagnosed with TB in hospital or at primary health care facilities (PHC) in a high TB/HIV burdened peri-urban community in South Africa. Using the Western Cape Provincial Health Data centre (PHDC) which consolidates person-level clinical data, we used dates of diagnosis and treatment initiation to select participants who had been linked (immediately, after a delay, or never). Between June 2019 and January 2020, we facilitated in-depth discussions to explore both the participants’ experience of their TB diagnosis and their journey around linking to TB care at a primary health care facility. We analysed the data using case descriptions. Results Twelve of twenty (12/20) participants interviewed who experienced a delay linking were diagnosed at the hospital. Participants who experienced delays in linking or never linked explained this as a result of lack of information and support from health care providers. Unpleasant previous TB treatment episodes made it difficult to ‘face’ TB again and being uncertain of their TB diagnosis. In contrast, participants said the main motivator for linking was a personal will to get better. Conclusion The health care system, especially in hospitals, should focus on strengthening patient-centred care. Communication and clear messaging on TB processes is key, to prepare patients in transitioning from a hospital setting to PHC facilities for continuation of care. This should not just include a thorough explanation of their TB diagnosis but ensure that patients understand treatment processes. Former TB patients may require additional counselling and support to re-engage in care.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (SPL1) ◽  
pp. 380-384
Author(s):  
Priyanka Paul Madhu ◽  
Yojana Patil ◽  
Aishwarya Rajesh Shinde ◽  
Sangeeta Kumar ◽  
Pratik Phansopkar

disease in 2019, also called COVID-19, which has been widely spread worldwide had given rise to a pandemic situation. The public health emergency of international concern declared the agent as the (SARS-CoV-2) the severe acute respiratory syndrome and the World Health Organization had activated significant surveillance to prevent the spread of this infection across the world. Taking into the account about the rigorousness of COVID-19, and in the spark of the enormous dedication of several dental associations, it is essential to be enlightened with the recommendations to supervise dental patients and prevent any of education to the dental graduates due to institutional closure. One of the approaching expertise that combines technology, communications and health care facilities are to refine patient care, it’s at the cutting edge of the present technological switch in medicine and applied sciences. Dentistry has been improved by cloud technology which has refined and implemented various methods to upgrade electronic health record system, educational projects, social network and patient communication. Technology has immensely saved the world. Economically and has created an institutional task force to uplift the health care service during the COVID 19 pandemic crisis. Hence, the pandemic has struck an awakening of the practice of informatics in a health care facility which should be implemented and updated at the highest priority.


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