Demand For Health Care Services Research Articles

Enhancing Sustainable Hospital Supply Chain Management through Collaboration and Information Flow in the Post-Pandemic Era

The importance of sustainability in Hospital Supply Chain Management (HSCM) has been increasingly recognized, particularly in the post-pandemic era. With growing demands for healthcare services, environmental concerns, and the pressing need for cost-effective solutions, hospitals must reconsider their supply chain strategies to ensure sustainability [1]. One critical aspect of achieving sustainable HSCM is fostering collaboration and information flow among stakeholders. Previously the author discussed about the Hospital Infrastructure Development (HID) which is one of the key elements that can contribute to sustainable HSCM [9]. This article will discuss another key element, the significance of "Collaboration & Information Flow" in ensuring Hospital Supply Chain Management Sustainability.

Healthcare services gap analysis: a supply capture and demand forecast modelling, Dubai 2018–2030

BackgroundHealth systems aim to provide a range of services to meet the growing demand of Dubai's heathcare system aims to provide a range of services to meet the growing demand of its population health needs and to ensure that standards of easy access, quality, equity and responsiveness are maintained. Dubai Health Authority (DHA) uses health services planning tools to assess the health needs of its population and sets priorities and effective regulatory strategies to achieve equilibrium of supply and demand of healthcare services and ensure adequate healthcare services are available, in terms of both quality and quantity. This study aims to measure the gap between demand and supply in health care services in Dubai at the baseline and to forecast the gap size and type (according to medical specialty, key medical planning units and geographical area) till 2030. The specific consequential aim includes identification of appropriate strategic directions for regulation, licensing, policies, insurance.MethodologyThe supply of healthcare services, professionals and medical equipment is captured through a census of all healthcare facilities licensed for practice in the Emirate of Dubai. The demand is estimated using a need based approach, where demand for episodes of medical care are estimated by age and gender and aligned to the internationally defined diagnosis related groups (IR-DGRs). The estimated episodes are then forecasted into the future, until 2030, using three scenarios of population growth (high, medium and low) for the emirate of Dubai. The captured supply and forecasted demand has been categorized into eight key health-planning units (KPUs) to allow for understanding of the population healthcare service needs by main service categories. Using a software for health services planning, a gap analysis between supply and demand is conducted till year 2030.ResultsThe results revealed a current and expected undersupply and oversupply for some healthcare services by medical specialty and geographical area of the Emirate. By 2030, the largest gaps exists in acute beds, which would require 1,590 additional beds, for acute-same day beds, an additional 1575 beds, for outpatient consultation rooms, an additional 2,160 consultation rooms, for emergency department, an additional 107 emergency bays, and for long-term care and rehabilitation beds, an additional 675 beds. The top specialty needs for these categories include cardiology, orthopedics, rheumatology, psychiatry, pediatric medicine & surgery, gastroenterology, hematology & oncology, renal medicine, primary care, respiratory medicine, endocrinology, rehabilitation and long-term care.ConclusionsThere is an existing and growing requirement to support the healthcare services capacity needs for the top service lines and geographical areas with the largest gaps. Future licensing is required to ensure that new facilities are geographically distributed in a balanced way, and requests for licensing that create or augment oversupply should be avoided.

A Fresh Outlook: Workforce Management with Locum Tenens

With the well-documented shortage of physicians and advanced practitioners coupled with the increased demand for healthcare services, it is not surprising that workforce continuity is the top concern of hospital leadership. Old perceptions regarding the use of locum tenens no longer apply. A big shift is occurring in the market, and the increased use of locum tenens makes the difference for struggling healthcare systems.

Intelligent health in the IS area: A literature review and research agenda

As the global demand for healthcare services continues to grow, improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the healthcare ecosystem has become a pressing concern. Information systems are transforming the healthcare delivery process, shifting the focus of healthcare services from passive disease treatment to proactive health prevention and the healthcare management model from hospital-centric to patient-centric. This study focuses on reviewing research in IS journals on the topic of e-health and is dedicated to constructing a theoretical model of intelligent health to provide a research basis for future discussions in this field. In addition, as the innovation of intelligent healthcare services has led to changes in its elements (e.g., an increase in the number of stakeholders), there is an urgent need to sort out and analyze the existing research.

Effect of user fees on healthcare accessibility and waiting time in Nigeria

PurposeThis study investigates the effect of user fees on access and waiting time in Nigeria. For access, the effect of user fees on both preventive and curative care; and the effect of user fees on waiting time at public healthcare facilities were examined. User fees are vital for the fiscal sustainability of healthcare provision for most African economies. Its imposition could debar healthcare access by the poor while its removal can reduce quality of care and induce longer waiting time.Design/methodology/approachThe wave 3 of the Nigerian General Household Survey (2015/16) data was used for users of public health facilities. Access to healthcare was modelled using utilization data in a logistic regression model while waiting time was through the Negative Binomial Regression Model (NBRM).FindingsThe analyses showed significant effects of user fees on access to both preventive and curative care and on time spent waiting to make use of healthcare services. Individuals were able to access healthcare services regardless of amounts paid. Also, there was a non-negative effect of user fee imposition on waiting time.Practical implicationsNigeria should improve healthcare facilities to address the enormous demand for healthcare services when designing policy for health sector.Originality/valueThis paper shows that even with the imposition of user fees, healthcare facilities could still not cater for the rising healthcare needs of the populace but cautioned that its abolition may not be a preferred option.

Role of Technology Innovation in Telemedicine: Focus on Sport Nutrition

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a significant transformation in the field of telehealth and telemedicine, as systems have been improved to meet the increased demand for remote healthcare services. Many ordinary technologies have been equipped to facilitate the normal relationship between patients and specialists. These technologies were put into action in a short period of time, creating a gap between the limits of common technologies and the special needs of telemedicine patients. Furthermore, focusing the lens on the special needs of sports in terms of nutrition, we see that research demonstrates the possibility of improving athletic performance by introducing technological diet support. This review aims to provide an overview of the technologies successfully implemented in telemedicine systems, a look at new modeling approaches, and a study on the roles of new enabling technologies in the process. It aims to highlight the results of the employment of telemedicine in sports dietary support and present open research challenges and recommendations for future research on a new application of technologies in telemedicine, for both the industrial and academic sectors. Literature was identified through intensive research work, reviewing articles related to the topics of new technologies in telemedicine and sports dietary support systems. The review concludes that it is possible to envisage the design of future models in the eHealth sector related to nutrition and sports, confirming the important role of telemedicine in a healthy lifestyle.

The Role of Private Equity in Health Care for Older Adults

With demographic shifts in longevity, healthcare has struggled to adequately meet the needs of older adults who are living longer and with more complex illness than ever. These demographic trends pose a substantial opportunity for emerging business ventures focused on health care for older adults. The operational inefficiencies, inequities in access, and increasing consumer demands for quality care also make health care ripe for innovation and disruption. Thus, it is no surprise that private equity (PE) firms are playing an increasing role in the business of the US health care system. PE investment in health care has grown dramatically over the last decade; estimated annual deal values have gone from $41.5 billion in 2010 to $119.9 billion in 2019, totaling approximately $750 billion (Scheffler et al., 2021). PE firms raise capital from investors or acquire private operating companies, improve their financial condition and business prospects with an expectation to have 20%–30% returns, and sell companies to the public through an initial public offering or to a strategic buyer at a profit within a truncated frame (3–7 years; Gondi & Song, 2019). The PE model puts enormous financial pressure on the delivery of health care to produce short-term profits, which is often achieved through operational and management changes, staffing restructuring, standardization, and cost containment. PE investment in health care is increasing because health care is an essential industry that functions on a reimbursement structure and is largely insulated from recession. The growing demand in health care services for the aging and chronic disease population is also contributing to the increased investment in health care from PE.

Online Dental Appointment Booking System

In today’s fast-paced world, patients are seeking more efficient and convenient ways to schedule appointments with healthcare providers. With the increasing demand for convenient and efficient healthcare services, online appointment booking systems have become essential for dental practices. In response to this need, we have designed and implemented an online dental appointment website using ASP .Net and SQL Server. This paper discusses the features of online appointment booking systems, how they can enhance the overall experience for patients and dental clinics, and the website's design and implementation, including the database schema, user interface, and server-side scripting. The website allows patients to schedule appointments, view their appointment history, view and download their medical reports and update their personal information. Dentists can view their upcoming appointments, update their schedules, generate the patient’s medical reports and manage their patient database. Key Word: Online Dental Booking, Managing schedules, Download the reports, Sql Server.

An adapted model of cost-related medication nonadherence among older adult patients with chronic diseases: an Iranian qualitative study

BackgroundFollowing the rapid aging of population, some concerns have emerged regarding increasing demand for health care services and the consequent increase in health costs. Besides, older adult patients with chronic disease are more prone to show cost-related medication non-adherence (CRN) to cope with their medication costs. The objective of this qualitative study was to develop an adopted conceptual framework on the contextual determinants that affect the CRN in older adult patients with chronic diseases.MethodsProblem-centered, semi-structured, in-depth, and face-to-face interviews, were conducted with healthcare informants in Iran, from Sep. 2021 to Feb. 2022. Collected data were analyzed using deductive and inductive analytic approaches and content analysis methodology was used to develop the model. This study applies to the COREQ checklist.ResultsFifteen informants, including 8 (60%) males, with mean ± SD age of 44.4 ± 9.7 years, entered into the study. Based on the data analysis performed on the information obtained from the interview with 3 subgroups of geriatricians, health policymakers, and pharmacists, six major themes identified as determinants: 1) socio-economic factors, 2) health system-related factors, 3) healthcare provider-related factors, 4) medication-related factors, 5) disease-related factors, and 6) patient-related factors. There were also 23 minor themes which were matched with the aforementioned six major themes.ConclusionThe final framework obtained in this qualitative study depicts CRN as an issue that is highly likely affected by six main determinants among older patients with chronic disease. Our findings emphasize that policymakers would focus on certain major themes and allocate resources to programs to improve medication therapy management in older adult patients.

Essential collaboration of advanced practice RN roles.

In Brief The collaboration between two advanced practice RN roles (clinical nurse specialist and nurse practitioner) is critical to successful patient outcomes, particularly when the demands for healthcare services continue to intensify.

Mechanisms for Increasing the Economic and Organizational Efficiency of the Management of the Medical Service Sector

The medical service sector is one of the most important and rapidly growing sectors globally. However, the efficient management of this sector faces various challenges, including limited resources, increasing costs, and rising demand for healthcare services.

Efectos económicos de un posible deterioro duradero en la salud general de la población española

Rationale The last year has seen growing demand for healthcare services, but the causes of this increase, and how persistent it will be, are as yet uncertain. Should these dynamics prove to be long-lasting and associated with a prolonged deterioration in the general health of the Spanish population, they could have a significant economic impact. Takeaways •The latest waves of the Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas healthcare barometer show an increase in demand for healthcare services in Spain. The number of workers losing work days as a result of illness, temporary disability or injury has also risen. •There is considerable uncertainty as to the causes and potential persistence of these developments, although some dynamics appear to be in line with the predictions made in the literature studying COVID-19 sequelae among a widely vaccinated population. •If these developments prove to be long-lasting and associated with a prolonged deterioration in the general health of the Spanish population, they may require a structural increase in healthcare expenditure that is as yet difficult to estimate, as well as having an adverse, but highly uncertain, impact on potential output.

Assessing consumer preferences on halal service: the emergence of Sharia hospitals for Muslim consumer

PurposeThis study aims to examine customer preferences toward Sharia hospitals and to provide a new viewpoint by looking at consumers’ perspectives on choosing health-care services. Despite the growing demand for halal products, halal services, particularly hospital and Sharia-based health-care services, receive very little attention in the literature compared to other Sharia-type services such as Sharia banking, insurance or even hospitality. Previous research on health care discussed under the Sharia perspective mainly focused on service quality, directing discussions to the service providers’ perspectives.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses choice-based conjoint analysis to examine customer preferences toward Sharia health-care service. There are five attributes with three levels each. To reduce respondent fatigue, the authors used SPSS Orthoplan to generate an orthogonal factorial design, which resulted in 21 choice cards. Cross-sectional data were collected from an online survey using a platform from Populix, an independent panel survey provider, to ensure no sample selection bias. A total of 270 responses were obtained to represent Muslim populations across Indonesia.FindingsThe results showed that the highest preference is highly rated to the familiarity and certification of the hospital brand that implies trust and guarantees to add value with the existence of halal certification for hospitals. In addition, this study revealed that Sharia services have higher positive signals over the physical infrastructure in determining preferences. On the other hand, add-on components that support the integration of other halal industries, such as halal culinary tourism, halal tourism and integration with transportation and halal accommodation, are still minor in the current preference.Originality/valuePrevious research on health care discussed under the Sharia perspective mainly focused on service quality, which directs the discussions to the service providers’ perspectives. This study provides a new point of view by looking at consumers’ perspectives about their preferences and decisions to choose a Sharia hospital.

Incidence, Inequality and Determinants of Catastrophic Health Expenditure in India

This study tries to estimate the incidence, intensity and inequality of Catastrophic Health Expenditure in India and its determinants using unit-level data from the four consecutive surveys of NSSO on ‘Healthcare Consumption and Morbidity’ spread across a 23-year period. For CHE incidence, a 10% threshold level of household consumption expenditure is considered. Additionally, socio-economic determinants of CHE were identified using multivariate logistic regression. Study reveals that the demand for healthcare services has increased gradually during the period 1995–2014 but this demand is primarily financed from out-of-pocket expenditures and hence leading to an increased risk of financial catastrophe, peaking at 23.45% in 2014. But a significant reduction in demand for healthcare is seen in the latest 75th round. Although the incidence of catastrophe has decreased, the inequality of catastrophic burden has increased. The results show that economic and social vulnerability have a significant impact on the likelihood of CHE incidence in households. The findings suggest that a targeted approach is required to alleviate the socially and economically vulnerable households from health expenditure catastrophe.

Comparison of COVID-19 hospitalization costs across care pathways: a patient-level time-driven activity-based costing analysis in a Brazilian hospital

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic raised awareness of the need to better understand where and how patient-level costs are incurred in health care organizations, as health managers and other decision-makers need to plan and quickly adapt to the increasing demand for health care services to meet patients’ care needs. Time-driven activity-based costing offers a better understanding of the drivers of cost throughout the care pathway, providing information that can guide decisions on process improvement and resource optimization. This study aims to estimate COVID-19 patient-level hospital costs and to evaluate cost variability considering the in-hospital care pathways of COVID-19 management and the patient clinical classification.MethodsThis is a prospective cohort study that applied time-driven activity-based costing (TDABC) in a Brazilian reference center for COVID-19. Patients hospitalized during the first wave of the disease were selected for their data to be analyzed to estimate in-hospital costs. The cost information was calculated at the patient level and stratified by hospital care pathway and Ordinal Scale for Clinical Improvement (OSCI) category. Multivariable analyses were applied to identify predictors of cost variability in the care pathways that were evaluated.ResultsA total of 208 patients were included in the study. Patients followed five different care pathways, of which Emergency + Ward was the most followed (n = 118, 57%). Pathways which included the intensive care unit presented a statistically significant influence on costs per patient (p < 0.001) when compared to Emergency + Ward. The median cost per patient was I$2879 (IQR 1215; 8140) and mean cost per patient was I$6818 (SD 9043). The most expensive care pathway was the ICU only, registering a median cost per patient of I$13,519 (IQR 5637; 23,373) and mean cost per patient of I$17,709 (SD 16,020). All care pathways that included the ICU unit registered a higher cost per patient.ConclusionsThis is one of the first microcosting study for COVID-19 that applied the TDABC methodology and demonstrated how patient-level costs vary as a function of the care pathways followed by patients. These findings can be used to develop value reimbursement strategies that will inform sustainable health policies in middle-income countries such as Brazil.

Health Care Organization in Poland in Light of the Refugee Crisis Related to the Military Conflict in Ukraine.

Poland is witnessing a migration crisis caused by the ongoing military conflict in Ukraine. In addition to housing and necessities, 1.8 million Ukrainians that had taken refuge in Poland must have access to medical care. We aim to propose a strategy for implementing the changes in the Polish health care system in response to the Ukrainian refugee crisis. A literature review on organizational changes in the functioning of health care systems during the migration crises worldwide in recent years and brainstorming in order to develop a strategy for implementing changes in the Polish health care system in response to the Ukrainian refugee crisis. The proposed strategy for implementing the changes in the Polish health care system is based on building health care resilience and adaptation to different crises. The operational objectives of organization-related activities are: (1) preparation of medical facilities to provide help for refugees, (2) development and implementation of the communication system, (3) implementation of available digital solutions, (4) organization of the diagnostic and medical services, (5) and implementation of changes in the management of medical facilities. Urgent reorganization is required to respond to an unavoidable increase in the demand for health care services.

Upholding Quality and Patient Safety during COVID-19 Pandemic-A Jordanian Case Study.

The advent of the COVID-19 pandemic caused a rapid increase in demand for healthcare services over a prolonged period, and the hospital emergency preparedness system has been essential. Therefore, this study aimed to explore Jordanian hospitals' response to emergency situations and examine the underlying role and effect of accreditation programs as a "Quality and Patient Safety" tool to deal with emergency situations during the pandemic. An online survey for a cross-sectional study was conducted in Jordan between 1 March and 30 May 2022, to examine the opinions of hospitals' top, senior, and middle managers using a validated questionnaire. A total of 200 healthcare providers from 30 hospitals participated in the study. From the areas within accreditation standards that were investigated, capacity building on emergency preparedness and communication abilities received the least scores (2.46 and 2.48, respectively). Additionally, hospitals with mature quality and patient safety culture (>3 accreditation cycles) demonstrated a statistically significant difference in score in two domains-emergency preparedness (p = 0.027) and infection prevention and control (p = 0.024). During outbreaks, hospitals that are required to comply with accreditation standards that address all emergency preparedness aspects will fare better in quality performance.

Physiotherapy-Led Musculoskeletal Telephone Triage and Advice Service: A Valid Option for Patients Referred From the Emergency Department.

Introduction Musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions create a significant demand for healthcare services in the United Kingdom. The emergency department is one of the main providers of initial care for patients with MSK disorders or injuries. As attendances increase within the emergency department the demand for MSK physiotherapy services also increases. The MSK physiotherapy department at Queens Hospital, Burton, GBR introduced a telephone triage and advice (TTAD) service for patients referred from the emergency department to try and reduce waiting times and the number of initial appointments not attended. The primary outcome of the study was to investigate the number of patients discharged via the TTAD service. Secondly, the study aimed to assess if the TTAD service eased the pressures of face-to-face appointments as well as analyze the effects on the number of failed attendances and canceled appointments for both initial and follow-up face-to-face appointments. Method Data were collected retrospectively from the electronic medical records system Meditech Version 6 (Medical Information Technology, Inc., MA) from the months of August, September, and October in 2017 (pre-TTAD) and 2018 (post-TTAD). Once the data had been collected, analysis was performed comparing results from 2017 to 2018 using Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) (IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Armonk, NY)analysis software. Results The overall number of referrals from emergency to MSK physiotherapy increased by 11.2% between 2017 and 2018. Following the introduction of the TTAD service, 59.8% of the total referrals were offered a face-to-face initial appointment with 40.2% of patients referred being discharged via the TTAD service in 2018. The percentage of patients that failed to attend the initial appointment in 2018 also fell by 4.9%. Conclusion The introduction of a TTAD service for referrals from the emergency department has been demonstrated to be effective in reducing the number of face-to-face appointments required in the MSK physiotherapy management of these patients. Both initial and follow-up face-to-face appointments were lower in 2018 when compared to 2017, this is despite an 11.2% increase in the number of referrals throughout August, September, and October. It can therefore be concluded that the TTAD service also had a positive impact on the failed attendance rate of initial face-to-face appointments.

Factors Affecting Patient Loyalty Through Intervening Patient Satisfaction at Bunda Hospital Purwokerto

This paper aims to measure patients' satisfaction and comprehend their assumptions, which are important for hospital management in responding to customers' growing demand for quality healthcare services. This study used a quantitative approach in the form of a survey method. The findings revealed that Bunda Hospital Purwokerto's quality services have a positive effect on outpatient satisfaction. Successful service organizations understand the complexities and multidimensionality of quality. However, they must decide which aspects to compete in and improve, as well as strategically focus their efforts on responding to those customer-driven areas. Improvement in a hospital can be accomplished through a variety of methodologies, philosophies, and tools that focus on other areas of the business.

A Patient-Centered Self-Management Intervention to Improve Glycemic Control, Self-Efficacy and Self-Care Behaviors in Adults with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A SPIRIT Compliant Study Protocol for Randomized Controlled Trial.

The rising burden of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and its associated complications is affecting the functional capacity of the individuals, their quality of life and demand for healthcare services with significant economic impact on health care systems and the national economies. Given the enormous health and economic impact, preventing type 2 DM progression and reducing the risk of complications require immediate attention. Evidence from western countries suggests that self-management can slow the progression of type 2 DM and minimize the risk of major complications lowering health-care costs. Effective self-management, however, demands patients' confidence and their full commitment to perform self-care tasks necessitating a patient-centered approach. This study aims to test the efficacy of a patient-centered self-management intervention to improve glycemic control, self-efficacy and self-care behaviors in adults with type 2 DM. The study will be carried out as a parallel arm, randomized, controlled trial in four public tertiary care hospitals in Faisalabad, Pakistan. A total of 612 patients with type 2 DM will be recruited and randomly assigned to two groups: a control and an intervention group. The intervention group will receive a patient-centered self-management intervention for eight weeks duration. Subjects will be followed up for three months. The primary outcome will be glycemic control (HbA1c), and secondary outcome variables will include self-efficacy and self-care behaviors all measured at three points in time (baseline, at the end of intervention and at three months follow-up). This randomized controlled trial will provide critical information about the efficacy of patient-centered self-management intervention in improving HbA1c, self-efficacy and self-care behaviors. If successful, this evidence-based care intervention may be provided to all DM patients by updating hospital policies. NIH: US National Library of Medicine clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT05491252, Shifa Tameer e Millat University Protocol Record: 335-21. Registration date: August 08, 2022. Recruitment began: April 21, 2022. Recruitment completed: July 27, 2022. URL http://www.clinicaltrials.gov.