Health Services Industry Research Articles

Patients User Experiences with Technologies in Health Service Industry

The purpose of this exploratory study was to identify usability problems encountered by patients, as passive users, during the interpretation of technologies that are used during patient care by clinicians and nurses. Participants were asked to interpret key artifacts in the health information technology display and determine potential outcomes. The results from this study indicate that the majority of participants were not able to accurately interpret information from the display, which may have implications for patients’ health care experiences and decision-making. Patients’ perceptions of technologies used while seeking and receiving health services can be explored using human-computer interaction methods, theories, and design tools.

A critique of the undergraduate nursing preceptorship model.

The preceptorship model is a cornerstone of clinical undergraduate nursing education in Canadian nursing programs. Their extensive use means that nursing programs depend heavily on the availability and willingness of Registered Nurses to take on the preceptor role. However, both the health service and education industries are faced with challenges that seem to undermine the effectiveness of the preceptorship clinical model. Indeed, the unstable nature of the clinical setting as a learning environment in conjunction with faculty shortages and inadequate preparation for preceptors and supervising faculty calls us to question if the preceptorship model is able to meet student learning needs and program outcomes. In a critical analysis of preceptorship, we offer a deconstruction of the model to advance clinical nursing education discourse.

Productive Efficiency And Optimal Firm Size: The Case Of US Health Services Industry

This paper examines the link between firm size and productive efficiency. In so doing, it attempts to determine optimal firm sizes in terms of market capitalization and total asset thereby allowing firms to achieve higher level of productive efficiency. The results indicate that the optimal firm size in terms of market capitalization is $13.1 billion. In terms of total asset, the optimal firm size is $10.3 billion. The results also suggest that there is a threshold above which an increase in firm size adversely affects the level of productive efficiency. The results have important implications for managerial policies regarding firm restructuring. To achieve higher productive efficiency, smaller firms have to pursue expansion strategies through mergers and acquisitions. Larger firms, on the other hand, have to pursue divestment strategies to reduce the size of their assets, particularly by refocusing on core competencies.

실감미디어 산업의 경제적 파급효과 분석

디지털 정보기술 및 네트워크 기술의 발전에 따라 방송을 중심으로 실감미디어를 활용한 실감형 서비스들이 출현하고 시장의 수요가 증가함에 따라 실감미디어 기술에 대한 연구가 활발히 진행되고 있다. 실감콘텐츠의 제작 전송 기술 및 이를 서비스하는 산업을 통칭하여 실감미디어 산업이라고 한다. 실감미디어 산업은 교육, 건강, 여행, 공공 서비스 등 타 산업분야와 융복합을 통해 사업영역 확대가 용이하고 시장성이 높아 차세대 전략 산업으로 주목받고 있다. 실감미디어 산업의 주도권을 확보하기 위한 미국, 일본, 유럽 등 선진국의 노력이 가시화됨에 따라 우리 정부도 실감미디어 산업을 육성하기 위한 계획을 마련 중에 있다. 이처럼 실감미디어 산업은 미래 방송/통신산업과 콘텐츠산업을 아우르는 최첨단 융복합산업이며 차세대 국가성장동력의 핵심산업군으로 떠오르고 있다. 이에 따라 본 연구에서는 실감미디어 산업의 경제적 파급효과를 계량적인 측면에서 분석하고 산업구조적 특성을 규명하기 위해 산업연관표를 이용하여 실감미디어 연관산업과 타 연계산업과의 관계를 분석하고자 하였다. 분석 결과 실감미디어 산업의 생산유발효과 및 부가가치유발효과, 고용유발효과는 각각 6,109억 원, 4,687억 원, 3,258명 등으로 나타났다. The research on the immersive media technology is actively being done with the emergence of immersive services using immersive media, especially in the broadcasting industry and with the increased market demand for it. The industry which produces, transmits, processes and services the immersive contents is commonly called Immersive Media Industry. Immersive Media Industry has recently received attention as next-generation strategic industry with its high marketability and its high possibility of market expansion through convergence with other industry such as education, health, advertisement, travel and public service industry. As other advanccd country such as the U.S., Japan and Europe buckle down to take the innitiative in the immersive media industry, Korea government also begins to make plan to promote the immersive media industry. As above, immersive media industry is a cutting-edge convergence industry which embraces broadcasting, telecommunication and contents industry and it is rising as core growth engine industry. This article analyses the economic effects of immersive media industry through quantatitive method and evaluates the relations between the immersive media industry and the other related industries. As a result, the effect on production inducement of immersive media industry is 610.9 billion Korean Won; the effect on value-added inducement is 468.7 billion Korean Won; and it is measured that 3,258 job will be created by the immersive media industry.

Executive Leadership Development in U.S. Health Systems

The healthcare industry is known for constant and rapid change, highlighting the need for strong executive leadership. Within this industry, multihospital healthcare systems present particular executive leadership challenges due to their size and complexity, yet our understanding of how these executive-level health system leaders are developed has been extremely limited. The objective of this research was to study the establishment, organization, content, process, evaluation, and evolution of executive leadership development (ELD) programs in U.S. healthcare systems. Results of a national survey of health system CEOs, supplemented by interviews with multiple health system key informants, showed that ELD programs existed in around half of responding U.S. health systems and were especially prevalent among smaller systems. On average the programs were fairly new, with most having been established since 2003. ELD programs were reportedly valued by the health systems, as reflected by respondents' perceptions of program payoffs and sustained budgetary commitment. Specifically, ELD programs are believed to help further healthcare systems' strategic goals, initiate succession planning, and provide local development opportunities. In addition, the majority of program elements were reportedly worth the investment in improving executives' leadership skills and capabilities. Given the imperative to improve leadership capabilities in healthcare, ELD programs provide important opportunities to enable health systems to meet the challenges of a changing health services industry.

Lean Thinking as applied to the adult education environment

Lean production has transformed into applications loosely called Lean Thinking and spread to areas such as health care, construction, distribution and service industry. Lean Thinking looks at the value chain and posits: How can work be structured so that the function under consideration does nothing but add value, and does that as rapidly as possible? This paper examines broader interpretation and adaptation of Lean Thinking to adult education. Applying Lean Thinking practices to course design and delivery requires instructors to challenge current views regarding how and what they teach. Some examples of application are suggested.

Sample Size Planning for the Squared Multiple Correlation Coefficient: Accuracy in Parameter Estimation via Narrow Confidence Intervals

Methods of sample size planning are developed from the accuracy in parameter approach in the multiple regression context in order to obtain a sufficiently narrow confidence interval for the population squared multiple correlation coefficient when regressors are random. Approximate and exact methods are developed that provide necessary sample size so that the expected width of the confidence interval will be sufficiently narrow. Modifications of these methods are then developed so that necessary sample size will lead to sufficiently narrow confidence intervals with no less than some desired degree of assurance. Computer routines have been developed and are included within the MBESS R package so that the methods discussed in the article can be implemented. The methods and computer routines are demonstrated using an empirical example linking innovation in the health services industry with previous innovation, personality factors, and group climate characteristics.

An Ethical Analysis of Contemporary Healthcare Practices and Issues

The purpose of this analysis is to examine specific segments of healthcare policy and practice, applying various ethical perspectives. We examine the economic and political influences that surround ethical behavior in health services, as well as how practitioners, patients, and families respond and act as a result of such influences. We then delve into the fundamental principles that guide ethical behavior by medical practitioners, including the Hippocratic Oath and vows of medical professionalism. Further, we analyze disparities in healthcare provisions based on gender, race, and ethnicity. Ethical theory is weaved into each of these sections, as the philosophical and ethical writings of prominent scholars illuminate how the conditions of contemporary healthcare administration are affected by the injustices and political influences that pervade the entire health services industry.

The influence of strategic HRM and sector on perceived performance in health services organizations

In this study, we examine a variety of management characteristics of for-profit and not-for-profit organizations in the health services (HS) industry. Data collected from Australian senior executives are used to test the relationships between managerial constructs such as employee commitment, customer demandingness, strategic HRM orientation and the adoption of human capital-enhancing human resource (HR) practices and perceived overall performance. Data analysis conducted using the Partial Least Square Modeling show a statistically significant path from commitment to employees, customer demandingness and strategic HRM orientation to the adoption of human capital-enhancing HR practices (such as selective staffing, comprehensive training, and performance appraisal) to perceived organizational performance. The results also show that private sector health service organizations have a higher level of perceived performance.

A Typology of Health Marketing Research Methods–Combining Public Relations Methods with Organizational Concern

SUMMARY Research plays a critical role throughout virtually every conduit of the health services industry. The key terms of research, public relations, and organizational interests are discussed. Combining public relations as a strategic methodology with the organizational concern as a factor, a typology of four different research methods emerges. These four health marketing research methods are: investigative, strategic, informative, and verification. The implications of these distinct and contrasting research methods are examined.

Data Collection Automation and Total Quality Management: Case Studies in the Health-Service Industry

ABSTRACT The limitations, immeasurable, and seemly unquantifiable aspects of the healthcare service industry, make it imperative that quality assurance programs include total quality management (TQM) and automatic identification and data capture (AIDC)-related technologies. Most of standards used in TQM and AIDC require data, to measure improvement and achieve standardization. Major difference between managing a service firm and managing a product-manufacturing firm is the difficulty of achieving consistently high quality. Examination of two different healthcare service providers in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area offers different views as to the implementation and practice of total quality management techniques and AIDC integration. Since the healthcare service industry must take into account its high customization needs, there are positive steps to make the hospital structure itself more patient friendly and quality related; hence improving its heath-marketing strategies to the general public.

Predicting absenteeism and turnover intentions in the health professions

The study examined the mediating influence of individual psychological reactions to work on the relationship between organisational climate and job withdrawal behaviours (viz, intention to leave and absenteeism). 1097 hospital employees were surveyed using the Queensland Public Agency Staff Survey (QPASS) to obtain measures of organisational climate, psychological reactions to work, job satisfaction, and self-reported levels of intention to leave. Group-level absenteeism data were provided from the Health Service District files. Two psychological states, quality of work life and job satisfaction, were found to fully mediate the relationship between the organisational climate variable, role clarity, and intention to leave, while individual distress was found to partially mediate the same relationship. However, the hypothesised mediation effect of psychological states on the relationship between organisational climate and absenteeism did not emerge. Skills shortages and increasing demands for health services make retention of staff in the health service industry vitally important. As a means of addressing this issue, this study presents an emergent mediating model defining relationships among individual psychological factors, aspects of organisational climate and intention to leave. Identification of the processes associated with staff withdrawal behaviours or intentions will assist in devising interventions to improve retention.

The Dynamics of Market Structure and Market Size in Two Health Services Industries

The relationship between the size of a market and the competitiveness of the market has been of long-standing interest to IO economists. Empirical studies have used the relationship between the size of the geographic market and both the number of firms in the market and the average sales of the firms to draw inferences about the degree of competition in the market. This paper extends this framework to incorporate the analysis of entry and exit flows. A key implication of recent entry and exit models is that current market structure will likely depend upon the history of past participation. The paper explores these issues empirically by examining producer dynamics for two health service industries, dentistry and chiropractic services. We find that the number of potential entrants and past number of incumbent firms are correlated with current market structure. The empirical results also show that as market size increases the number of firms rises less than proportionately, firm size increases, and average productivity increases. However, the magnitude of the correlations are sensitive to the inclusion of the market history variables.

Integrated Information Systems for Strategic Management in Hospitals

With the institutional and market changes in hospitals, strategic management has become increasingly important. Strategic managerial innovations can have impact on market pioneering and hospital performance, enabling better customer satisfaction, productivity improvement, and quality management. Hospital Information systems also require strategic planning to improve functionality in all aspects. This article reviewed the concept of strategic management and strategic information system (SIS), and summarized a framework for developing SIS for hospitals. The SIS formulation process consists of two interrelated phases: organizational analysis and SIS development. The first phase involves an analysis of the hospital’s current position and the development of the hospital’s vision and goals. The second phase incorporates three activities: SIS goals assessment, strategic information requirements analysis (SIRA), and SIS implementation planning. In particular, in SIRA, four dimensions of SIS and their interrelationships between dimensions would permit an organization to specify the strategic information needs within a hospital. Hospitals that integrate this framework with other aspects of their own hospital management information systems cope more effectively with the rapid changes and challenges encountered in today's health service industry. (Journal of Korean Society of Medical Informatics 13-3, 189-196, 2007)

Work Exposures to Animal Neurocarcinogens

The initiation of brain tumors has been demonstrated in animals exposed to industrial chemicals, results which have not been demonstrated in humans. This report describes the National Occupation Exposure Survey conducted by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health during the years 1981-1983, which included information about 16 known and suspected animal neurocarcinogens. Acrylonitrile, ethylene oxide, and 1-H-benzotriazole had national exposure estimates of more than 50,000 workers. The health services industry had the largest number of workers potentially exposed to a single agent and the most diverse exposures in the workplace. These data provide some evidence for the pattern and presence of animal neurocarcinogens in the occupational environment and provide a basis on which to begin to develop occupational exposure tools and to prioritize further research.

Performance Measures and Pay for Performance

Performance measures and pay for performance are terms creating considerable angst among physicians today. Understanding the driving forces behind these concepts will help practitioners to strategically plan for their impact on individual physician practices and on health care in general. Medical societies can play a vital role in assisting physicians in the identification of appropriate performance measures used to gauge physician practices and by supporting efforts to develop equitable principles driving reimbursement based on adherence to those measures. Performance measures and pay for performance are terms evoking considerable angst across all sectors of the health services industry.

Antitrust Enforcement in the Medical Services Industry: What Does It All Mean?

Before 1975, federal antitrust authorities neglected the health care sector, thereby allowing the entrenchment of many anticompetitive practices and institutions that seemed not only "natural," but also beneficial to the quality and professionalism of doctor-patient relations. While antitrust enforcement shares the usual physician preference for free enterprise, prosecutorial discretion is often feared as eroding professional discretion and even well-intentioned reform. However, strengthened competition in the health services industry offers a way to bring some stability to health policy, and to resolve some of the conflicts between advocates of institutional status quo and enthusiasts for increased government regulatory power.

Costs of Occupational Injury and Illness within the Health Services Sector

Knowledge of costs is essential to allocate medical resources efficiently. The authors' goal was to estimate and compare costs across occupations, industries, gender, race, and types of nonfatal injuries and illnesses. This is an incidence study of nationwide data, 1993. Nonfatal incidence data were drawn from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Annual Survey. Medical costs were from the Detailed Claims Information data set. Productivity (wage) costs were calculated using the Current Population Survey. Pain and suffering costs were estimated from data on jury verdicts. Injuries and illnesses to nursing aides and orderlies cost 2,200 million dollars; costs were 900 million dollars for registered nurses and 40 million dollars for licensed practical nurses. The ranking of health services industries in terms of costs was: hospitals (52 percent of all costs), nursing care facilities (38 percent), home care services (6 percent), physicians' offices (4 percent), and laboratories (<1 percent). Types of injuries (sprains, strains, fractures) were similar across occupations and industries, but types of illness (carpal tunnel syndrome, respiratory diseases) varied. The most costly injured body parts were: back, shoulder, knee, wrist, and neck. Injuries and illnesses comprised roughly 90 percent and 10 percent, respectively, of total costs. The hospital industry was the third most expensive of 313 U.S. industries. Costs of occupational injury and illness in the health services industry were high and varied across occupation, industry, disease, race, and gender.

Volume Flexible Strategies in Health Services: A Research Framework

The prevalence of fluctuating demand is increasingly seen as a serious and ongoing issue facing the health services industry. Volume flexibility in a health care setting represents a means to improve service delivery and it allows organizations to leverage their scarce resources for optimal utilization in response to fluctuations in patient demand. This paper develops a research framework that describes four volume flexible strategies based on literature reviews and structured field interviews of health care administrators at a Carnegie I research and teaching hospital. This prescriptive framework and the propositions that are developed create a foundation to help guide future research on the important relationships between demand uncertainty, volume flexible strategies, and organizational performance.

Strategic HRM in for-profit and non-profit organizations in a knowledge-intensive industry

This article examines the adoption of strategic Human Resource Management (HRM) by for-profit and non-profit knowledge-intensive health services (HS) organizations in the Australian context. Survey data collected from senior executives are used to test the relationships between a strategic HRM model and firm performance. Path analysis found that for HS firms, irrespective of whether for-profit or non-profit, adopting strategic HRM could increase organizational performance. Strategic HRM could be achieved through the cultivation of an external orientation to customers' demands and a commitment to employees. Building an external orientation with internal structural dimensions such as commitment to employees, allows HS organizations to develop a strategic HRM approach with human capital-enhancing HRM practices. Public and non-profit organizations in the HS industry facing or undergoing health sector reform need to be aware of both of these orientations in order to adopt strategic HRM and improve their performance.