Potential benefits of regionalizing major surgery in Medicare patients. (1/59)

CONTEXT: Given the strong "volume-outcome" relations observed with many surgical procedures, concentrating surgery in high-volume hospitals could substantially reduce the number of surgical deaths. We explored the potential benefits of regionalizing 10 high-risk procedures for the 38 million Americans enrolled in Medicare. COUNT: Number of lives saved in 1 year. CALCULATION: Current number of deaths occurring with each procedure multiplied by the average mortality reductions that plausibly could be achieved with regionalization. DATA SOURCE: The current number of surgical deaths was obtained from the 1995 MEDPAR file of the Medicare claims database. Expected mortality rate reductions with regionalization, estimated from published volume-outcome studies, were tested over a wide range in sensitivity analysis. RESULTS: Of 381,000 Medicare patients undergoing any 1 of the 10 procedures in 1995, approximately 17,000 surgical deaths occurred. The total number of lives saved by regionalization depends on assumptions about the mortality reductions likely to be achieved, varying from 853 (5% reduction) to 4266 (25% reduction). Regionalizing common, intermediate-risk procedures (e.g., cardiovascular procedures) would save far more lives than regionalizing less-common, higher-risk operations (e.g., major cancer resections). CONCLUSIONS: Even with conservative assumptions about reduction in surgical mortality likely to be achieved, the benefits of regionalizing major procedures in Medicare patients could be substantial. Policymakers should focus on common procedures before less-common, high-risk operations.  (+info)

New facility picture archiving and communication system implementation strategy. (2/59)

Strategies for deployment of picture archiving and communications systems (PACS) in new hospitals often involve the establishment of initial PACS operations. Such a strategy is flawed in the sense that the clinical and radiological users must adapt to PACS operations, while being faced with several other new facility learning curves. This increases the complexity and risk of the radiological services. A strategy of implementing PACS operations in the old facility and performing a zero-downtime transition into the new facility offers several advantages to this method. The successful undertaking of such a project will support not only the physical movement of the existing PACS, but the accomplishment of other re-engineering goals associated with the new hospital. This report will describe the strategy used in two successful transitions of PACS into newly constructed hospitals.  (+info)

The role of the hospital in a changing environment. (3/59)

Hospitals pose many challenges to those undertaking reform of health care systems. This paper examines the evolving role of the hospital within the health care system in industrialized countries and explores the evidence on which policy-makers might base their decisions. It begins by tracing the evolving concept of the hospital, concluding that hospitals must continue to evolve in response to factors such as changing health care needs and emerging technologies. The size and distribution of hospitals are matters for ongoing debate. This paper concludes that evidence in favour of concentrating hospital facilities, whether as a means of enhancing effectiveness or efficiency, is less robust than is often assumed. Noting that care provided in hospitals is often less than satisfactory, this paper summarizes the evidence underlying three reform strategies: (i) behavioural interventions such as quality assurance programmes; (ii) changing organizational culture; and (iii) the use of financial incentives. Isolated behavioural interventions have a limited impact, but are more effective when combined. Financial incentives are blunt instruments that must be monitored. Organizational culture, which has previously received relatively little attention, appears to be an important determinant of quality of care and is threatened by ill-considered policies intended to 're-engineer' hospital services. Overall, evidence on the effectiveness of policies relating to hospitals is limited and this paper indicates where such evidence can be found.  (+info)

Distribution of hospital provision: policy themes and resource variations. (4/59)

There has been much discussion in the past about the inequitable distribution of N.H.S. resources between different regions. This paper examines the distribution of hospital resources in terms of current revenue and beds in different specialties in eight regions (49 area health authorities). Variations between A.H.A.s are far more important than those between regions, and indeed they are so large (even in the acute specialties) that it is doubtful whether some A.H.A.s can be considered to be offering a comprehensive service. In the light of these findings the paper explores policy problems involved in trying to secure a more equitable distribution of N.H.S. resources at a time of financial stringency.  (+info)

Waiting lists for radiation therapy: a case study. (5/59)

BACKGROUND: Why waiting lists arise and how to address them remains unclear, and an improved understanding of these waiting list "dynamics" could lead to better management. The purpose of this study is to understand how the current shortage in radiation therapy in Ontario developed; the implications of prolonged waits; who is held accountable for managing such delays; and short, intermediate, and long-term solutions. METHODS: A case study of the radiation therapy shortage in 1998-99 at Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Relevant documents were collected; semi-structured, face-to-face interviews with ten administrators, health care workers, and patients were conducted, audio-taped and transcribed; and relevant meetings were observed. RESULTS: The radiation therapy shortage arose from a complex interplay of factors including: rising cancer incidence rates; broadening indications for radiation therapy; human resources management issues; government funding decisions; and responsiveness to previous planning recommendations. Implications of delays include poorer cancer control rates; patient suffering; and strained doctor-patient relationships. An incompatible relationship exists between moral responsibility, borne by government, and legal liability, borne by physicians. Short-term solutions include re-referral to centers with available resources; long-term solutions include training and recruiting health care workers, improving workload standards, increasing compensation, and making changes to the funding formula. CONCLUSION: Human resource planning plays a critical role in the causes and solutions of waiting lists. Waiting lists have harsh implications for patients. Accountability relationships require realignment.  (+info)

Is it feasible to plan secondary care services for coronary heart disease rationally? A quantified modelling approach for a UK Health Authority. (6/59)

BACKGROUND: Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the major cause of mortality in the UK. This paper explores the difficulties facing health authorities in applying a rational and needs based approach to the planning of hospital based services and describes a simple model used to bring available information to bear on this problem. METHOD: Published estimates of CHD incidence were identified and methodologies were critically appraised. Estimates were extrapolated to a district population. A three month cohort study of patients with suspected CHD was undertaken within a district general hospital and a model of these clinical pathways was used to examine the volumes of patients and services required to meet the estimated levels of need. RESULTS: From published studies, estimates of CHD incidence ranged from 83 to 3600 per 100 000. From the cohort study, of patients referred with possible CHD 62% received a definitive diagnosis of CHD, 56% underwent an exercise ECG, 16% received an angiogram, 4% received a CABG and 2% a PTCA. Using these figures together with the cohort study, estimated activity ranges from 247 to 6475 surgical interventions per million population compared with the National Service Framework for Coronary Heart Disease recommendations of 1500 procedures per million. CONCLUSIONS: Current research on CHD incidence gives a very wide variation in estimated need. This makes its value for service planning questionable and the model highlights a need for further high quality research. The model provides a link between epidemiological research and secondary care service planning and supports the implementation of recommendations within the National Service Framework for Coronary Heart Disease.  (+info)

Social democratic government and spatial distribution of health care facilities. The case of hospital beds in Germany. (7/59)

BACKGROUND: In this paper, the hypothesis that the spatial distribution of hospital beds is more even in countries with socialist or social democratic governments than in countries with conservative or Christian democratic governments was tested. To avoid the confounding influences of historical and institutional differences between countries, we used the Federal Republic of Germany as a case study. The German federal states have their own governments who play an important role in creating structures for the planning of hospital facilities. METHODS: The test of the hypothesis was largely quantitative. At the level of federal states the rank correlation was computed between the weighted number of years of left-wing government participation and the coefficient of variation in the number of hospital beds per 1000 inhabitants. In addition to this, the hospital plans of two federal states were studied. RESULTS: The hypothesis was supported by the data, showing a positive association between the number of years of left-wing government participation and regional variation in the number of hospital beds. A comparison of the hospital plans of two contrasting federal states showed less government interference in hospital planning in the state with a tradition of right-wing government. CONCLUSION: There seems to be a relation between left-wing government participation in West German states and a more equal distribution of the number of hospital beds per 1,000 inhabitants.  (+info)

Will alternative immediate care services reduce demands for non-urgent treatment at accident and emergency? (8/59)

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the potential of general practice, minor injury units, walk in centres and NHS Direct to reduce non-urgent demands on accident and emergency (A&E) departments taking into account the patient's reasons for attending A&E. METHODS: A questionnaire survey and notes review of 267 adults presenting to the A&E department of a large teaching hospital in Sheffield, England, triaged to the two lowest priority treatment streams, was conducted over seven weeks. Using defined criteria, patients were classified by the suitability of the presenting health problem to be managed by alternative immediate care services or only by A&E, and also by the likelihood, in similar circumstances, of patients presenting to other services given their reasons for seeking A&E care. RESULTS: Full data were obtained for 96% of participants (255 of 267). Using objective criteria, it is estimated that 55% (95% CI 50%, 62%) of the health problems presented by a non-urgent population attending A&E are suitable for treatment in either general practice, or a minor injury unit, or a walk in centre or by self care after advice from NHS Direct. However, in almost one quarter (24%) of low priority patients who self referred, A&E was not the first contact with the health services for the presenting health problem. The reason for attending A&E cited most frequently by the patients was a belief that radiography was necessary. The reason given least often was seeking advice from a nurse practitioner. Taking into account the objective suitability of the health problem to be treated elsewhere, and the reasons for attending A&E given by the patients, it is estimated that, with similar health problems, as few as 7% (95% CI 3%, 10%) of the non-urgent A&E population may be expected to present to providers other than A&E in the future. CONCLUSIONS: The increasing availability of alternative services offering first contact care for non-urgent health problems, is likely to have little impact on the demand for A&E services.  (+info)