Managers’ perspectives on using routine health information systems for effective child healthcare programmes in Namibia

The objective of this study is to analyze the effectiveness of Government Policy on Contracting out Midwives at Health Centers in District of Donggala, Central Sulawesi-Indonesia. The study applied the direct distribution method for cost allocation. It was obtained from the total provider (government) cost such as labor costs, utility costs and operating costs from the budget of Maternal and Child Health Care Project (Proyek Peningkatan Pelayanan Kesehatan Masyarakat). The cost was the true cost of delivery services to patients or target population with regard to Maternal and Child Health care program. This study employs a purposive (non-probability) sampling by choosing 11 subdistricts of 17 subdistricts in the District of Donggala. Two villages were chosen from each of the 11 subdistricts. One has a Contracted Midwife and another has a Civil Servant Midwife to represent its subdistrice. This study found that Contraced Midwives consumed the higher proportion of cost compared with the civil Servant Midwives during their training until they work. The percentage of difference in the effectiveness of the Contracted Midwives performance compared with the Civil Servant Midwives was considerably small but the percentage of difference on the costs consumed between the Contracted Midwives and the Civil Servant Midwives was considerably high. Each Contracted Midwife acpuired the higher fringe benefits and salary than that of each Civil Servant Midwife but the performance among them was not so much different It is recommended that the policy of contracting midwives should be reformed due to this policy can not produce the expected outcomes. Also the government should reconsider the policy on providing the higher proportion of fringe benefits and salary that the Contracted Midwives acquired. For example, the higher proportion of fringe benefits could be related to the utilization rate of services they performed. The higher utilization rate can significantly reduce the average cost of activity and will increase the effectiveness ratio as well. This study could be of some practival use as it can introduce ideas and information to policy makers of Ministry of Health, managers of Maternal and Child Health care program and managers of Human Resources Development Division of Ministry of Health. It would be vital to refer and operate more studies in order to apply the results of this research into their works.

The objective of this study is to analyze the effectiveness of Government Policy on Contracting out Midwives at Health Centers in District of Donggala, Central Sulawesi-Indonesia. The study applied the direct distribution method for cost allocation. It was obtained from the total provider (government) cost such as labor costs, utility costs and operating costs from the budget of Maternal and Child Health Care Project (Proyek Peningkatan Pelayanan Kesehatan Masyarakat). The cost was the true cost of delivery services to patients or target population with regard to Maternal and Child Health care program. This study employs a purposive (non-probability) sampling by choosing 11 subdistricts of 17 subdistricts in the District of Donggala. Two villages were chosen from each of the 11 subdistricts. One has a Contracted Midwife and another has a Civil Servant Midwife to represent its subdistrice. This study found that Contraced Midwives consumed the higher proportion of cost compared with the civil Servant Midwives during their training until they work. The percentage of difference in the effectiveness of the Contracted Midwives performance compared with the Civil Servant Midwives was considerably small but the percentage of difference on the costs consumed between the Contracted Midwives and the Civil Servant Midwives was considerably high. Each Contracted Midwife acpuired the higher fringe benefits and salary than that of each Civil Servant Midwife but the performance among them was not so much different It is recommended that the policy of contracting midwives should be reformed due to this policy can not produce the expected outcomes. Also the government should reconsider the policy on providing the higher proportion of fringe benefits and salary that the Contracted Midwives acquired. For example, the higher proportion of fringe benefits could be related to the utilization rate of services they performed. The higher utilization rate can significantly reduce the average cost of activity and will increase the effectiveness ratio as well. This study could be of some practival use as it can introduce ideas and information to policy makers of Ministry of Health, managers of Maternal and Child Health care program and managers of Human Resources Development Division of Ministry of Health. It would be vital to refer and operate more studies in order to apply the results of this research into their works.

Introduction to Health Care Management is a concise, reader-friendly, introductory healthcare management book that covers a wide variety of healthcare settings, from hospitals to nursing homes and clinics. Filled with examples to engage the reader's imagination, the important issues in healthcare management, such as ethics, cost management, strategic planning and marketing, information technology, and human resources, are all thoroughly covered. Guidelines and rubrics along with numerous case studies make this text both student-friendly and teacher friendly. It is the perfect resource for students of healthcare management, nursing, allied health, business administration, pharmacy, occupational therapy, public administration, and public health. Drs. Buchbinder and Shanks have done a masterful job in selecting topics and authors and putting them together in a meaningful and coherent manner. Each chapter of the book is designed to give the student the core content that must become part of the repertoire of each and every healthcare manager, whether entry level or senior executive. Each of the chapters and accompanying cases serve to bring to life what it means to be a truly competent healthcare manager. -Leonard H. Friedman, PhD, MPA, MPH, Professor, Dept of Health Services Management and Leadership, and Director of the Master of Health Services Administration program, George Washington University, School of Public Health and Health Services am very happy with Health Care Management and will be adopting it for a new course that I will be teaching. This is probably the best management text I have seen so far. I was thrilled to receive it. -Sally K. Fauchald, PhD, RN, Assistant Professor of Nursing, The College of St. Scholastica A solid text that covers a wide range of management topics. -Michael H. Sullivan, Director HCA Program, Methodist University, Fayetteville, North Carolina

The challenges brought on by the pandemic triggered a renewed scholarly focus on managing during crises. Now, 3 years on, having covered the initial crisis response, it is important to reevaluate what the crisis has taught us about health care management more generally. In particular, it is useful to consider the persistent challenges that continue to face health care organizations in the wake of a crisis. The present article aims to identify the biggest challenges that currently face health care managers in order to formulate a postcrisis research agenda. We employ an exploratory qualitative study, utilizing in-depth interviews with hospital executives and management to explore the persistent challenges facing managers in practice. Our qualitative inquiry reveals three key challenges that extend beyond the crisis and are salient for health care managers and organizations in the years to come. Specifically, we identify the centrality of human resource constraints (amidst increasing demand), the necessity of collaboration (amidst competition), and a need to reconsider the approach to leadership (utility of humility). We conclude by drawing upon relevant theories such as paradox theory to formulate a research agenda for health care management scholars that can support the creation of novel solutions and approaches to persistent challenges in practice. We identify several implications for organizations and health systems, including the need to eliminate competition and the importance of building human resource management capacities within organizations. In highlighting areas for future research, we provide organizations and managers with useful and actionable insights to address their most persistent challenges in practice.

PurposeAlthough strategic planning promised to boost organizational performance, many health care managers found it difficult to implement it successfully. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the success of strategic planning in health care organizations of Iran.Design/methodology/approachThis descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted in 2016 using a valid and reliable questionnaire completed by 99 health care managers in Tehran province, Iran.FindingsStrategic planning was positively related to organizational performance including employees’ and patients’ satisfaction and organizational productivity. However, strategic planning was moderately successful in enhancing organizational performance of Iranian health care organizations (score of 2.84 out of 5). The most and least success was observed in the planning and employee management constructs of organizational performance. Process management, organizational culture and customer management constructs had the most effect on the success of strategic plans in health care organizations.Practical implicationsStrategic planning is effective and provides a clear focused direction for health care organizations. Understanding the success factors of strategic planning would enable managers to develop more effective methods for developing, implementing and evaluating strategic plans in health care organizations.Originality/valueThis paper highlights the relationship between strategic planning and organizational performance and offers suggestions on how to develop and implement strategic plans to achieve higher organizational performance.

Healthcare management has become increasingly complex due to the evolving demands of health systems worldwide. This paper aims to review the key aspects of healthcare management, including leadership, strategic planning, and the efficient allocation of resources in healthcare institutions. The study analyzes the major challenges faced by healthcare managers and provides recommendations for improving organizational performance and patient outcomes. We conclude with a discussion of future trends in healthcare management, such as digital transformation and the integration of artificial intelligence in decision-making.

There is increasing emphasis on interdisciplinary involvement by health care managers. The objective of the present paper was to identify the level of involvement that middle manager heads of department have in strategy development in acute care hospitals in Ireland, and to identify if professional clinicians were more involved than non-clinicians. Twenty-five interviews were undertaken. Findings indicated that middle managers were strategically involved and that non-clinicians perceived that they were more involved in strategy development than professional clinicians. Strategic involvement appeared to result from a higher level of strategic awareness and confidence by non-clinicians in the process. Professional clinicians perceived that their expertize was not recognized or appreciated by non-clinicians or by senior management. Agreement of strategy amongst both groups is critical, as exclusion will lead to demotivation and consequent deterioration in health care delivery.

Assessment of management capacity to improve the value of health-care systems: a survey

This study aims to systematically examine global research on digital human resource management (HRM) in healthcare using bibliometric analysis of 61 documents published between 1988 and 2024. This number reflects the emerging and highly specialized nature of digital HRM in healthcare research. VOSviewer software was utilized to map co-authorship networks and keyword co-occurrences and to generate overlay and density visualizations. A threshold-based approach was applied to identify key themes and research patterns across the literature. There has been significant publication growth, especially after 2018, with the United States, United Kingdom, and India emerging as the leading contributors. Results reveal four thematic clusters representing technological, organizational, demographic, and governance perspectives. These insights illuminate underexplored areas, such as leadership integration and equity, which are essential for guiding digital transformation in healthcare workforce management. Healthcare managers and policymakers should prioritize the strategic integration of digital HRM tools into system-level planning. Emphasis should be placed on aligning digital solutions with organizational leadership, workforce development, and public health goals, particularly in resource-constrained settings.

The role of digital health for post-surgery care of older patients with hip fracture: A scoping review

Interventions to reduce pneumonia mortality exist; however, stakeholder engagement is needed to prioritize these. We explored diverse stakeholder opinions on current policy challenges and priorities for pediatric pneumonia in Nigeria. We conducted a mixed-methods study, with a web-survey and semi-structured interviews, to explore stakeholder roles, policy barriers, opportunities, and priorities. Web-survey participants were identified through stakeholder mapping, including researchers' networks, academic and grey literature, and "Every Breath Counts" coalition membership. Stakeholders included actors involved in pediatric pneumonia in Nigeria from non-governmental, government, academic, civil society, private, and professional organizations. Stakeholder interviews were conducted with local government, healthcare managers, professional associations, and local leaders in Lagos and Jigawa states. Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively; qualitative data were analyzed using a thematic framework. Of 111 stakeholders, 38 (34%) participated in the web-survey and 18 stakeholder interviews were conducted. Four thematic areas emerged: current policy, systems barriers, intervention priorities, and champions. Interviewees reported a lack of pneumonia-specific policies, despite acknowledging guidelines had been adopted in their settings. Barriers to effective pneumonia management were seen at all levels of the system, from the community to healthcare to policy, with key issues of resourcing and infrastructure. Intervention priorities were the strengthening of community knowledge and improving case management, focused on primary care. While stakeholders identified several key actors for pediatric pneumonia, they also highlighted a lack of champions. Consistent messages emerged to prioritize community and primary care initiatives, alongside improved access to oxygen, and pulse oximetry. There is a need for clear pneumonia policies, and support for adoption at a state level.

Institutional governance has traditionally been frequently undermined by developing countries, but this behaviour has immensely impacted economic growth and development outcome with long term implications. More fundamentally, the Nigeria oil and gas industry governance are beset with various challenges including regulatory compliance, monitoring capacity, enforcement mechanism, politics and very frequently plagued with blame games. Consequently, the study conducted primary and secondary data to problematized gaps in institutional governance from the standpoint of development discourse to establish a convergence of evidences within the context of the quality of state institutions that unarguably reflects the Nigeria scenario. Institutional and regulatory compliance gaps permeate the gamut of the oil and gas industry so resolutely in the global South like Nigeria, orchestrated by the political elites who are so perverse, rent seeking, inept and greed driven with no clear sense of patriotism compare to the global North like Norway that is more effective and nationalistic. The findings of the study highlight weaknesses in policy framework, corrupt practices, poor contract management, compromised professional integrity, inadequate funding, poor contract management and systemic gap in revenue management as a consequence of gaps in natural resources governance in the oil and gas industry in Nigeria. It explains this on the basis of existing mechanisms and empirical evidences. These evidently exemplify that Nigeria has struggled for several decades from lethargic institutional and regulatory compliance capacity as the presence of oil and gas does not translate or appear to systematically support development outcome in many developing countries.

BackgroundAntimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a significant threat to global health, particularly in Western sub-Saharan Africa where 27.3 deaths per 100,000 lives are affected, and surveillance and control measures are often limited. Genomics research plays a crucial role in understanding the emergence, spread and containment measures of AMR. However, its implementation in such settings is particularly challenging due to limited human capacity. This manuscript outlines a three-day bioinformatics workshop in Cameroon, highlighting efforts to build human capacity for genomics research to support AMR surveillance using readily accessible and user-friendly web-based tools. The workshop introduced participants to basic next-generation sequencing concepts, data file formats used in bacterial genomics, data sharing procedures and considerations, as well as the use of web-based bioinformatics software to analyse genomic data, including in silico prediction of AMR, phylogenetics analyses, and a quick introduction to Linux© command line.ResultsBriefly, a substantial increase in participants’ confidence in bioinformatics knowledge and skills was observed before and after the workshop. Notably, before the workshop most participants lacked confidence in their ability to identify next-generation sequencing technologies or workflows (64%) and analyse genetic data using web-based bioinformatics tools (81%). After the workshop, majority of participants were extremely confident using NCBI BLAST and other web-based bioinformatics tools for data analysis with a score ≥ 5 among which 45%, 9% and 18% had a score of 8, 9, and 10, respectively.ConclusionOur findings highlight the effectiveness of this training approach in empowering local researchers and bridging the bioinformatics gap in genomics surveillance of AMR in resource-constrained settings. We provide a detailed description of the relevant training approaches used, including workshop structure, the selection and planning, and utilization of freely available web-based tools, and the evaluation methods employed. Our approach aimed to overcome limitations such as inadequate infrastructure, limited access to computational resources, and scarcity of expertise. By leveraging the power of freely available web-based tools, we demonstrated how participants can acquire fundamental bioinformatics skills, enhance their understanding of biological data analysis, and contribute to the field, even in an underprivileged environment. Building human capacity for genomics research globally, and especially in resource-constrained settings, is imperative for ensuring global health and sustainable containment of AMR.

This study examines how health care managers responded to the accountable care organization (ACO). The effect of perceived benefits and barriers of the commitment to develop a strategic plan for ACOs and willingness to participate in ACOs is analyzed, using organizational social capital, health information technology uses, health systems integration and size of the health networks, geographic factors, and knowledge about ACOs as predictors. Propensity score matching and analysis are used to adjust the state and regional variations. When the number of perceived benefits is greater than the number of perceived barriers, health care managers are more likely to reveal a stronger commitment to develop a strategic plan for ACO adoption. Health care managers who perceived their organizations as lacking leadership support or commitment, financial incentives, and legal and regulatory support to ACO adoption were less willing to participate in ACOs in the future. Future research should gather more diverse views from a larger sample size of health professionals regarding ACO participation. The perspective of health care managers should be seriously considered in the adoption of an innovative health care delivery system. The transparency on policy formulation should consider multiple views of health care managers.

It has been increasingly recognized that the application of simulation methods can be instrumental in addressing the multi-faceted challenges health care is facing at present and more importantly in the future. But the application of these methods seems not to be as widespread as in other sectors, where such methods when used as part of their core operation, reap significant benefits. This paper examines the potential use of modeling and simulation in health care, drawing the parallels and marking the mismatches from the business and manufacturing world. Methods from the latter sectors will be reviewed with the intention to assess their potential usefulness to healthcare. To focus this discussion, we propose and discuss seven axes of differentiation: patient fear of death; medical practitioners (for example approach to healing, investigation by experimentation and finance); healthcare support staff; health care managers; political influence and control; 'society's view'; and utopia.