Delivery Of Health Care Services Research Articles

Cloud Infrastructure Transformation in Healthcare: A Comprehensive Analysis of Applications, Benefits, and Implementation Challenges

The rapid evolution of cloud infrastructure in healthcare represents a transformative shift in how medical institutions deliver, manage, and optimize patient care services. This comprehensive article examines the integration of cloud-based solutions across diverse healthcare organizations, analyzing the multifaceted impact on operational efficiency, patient care outcomes, and technological capabilities. Through extensive article research combining quantitative performance metrics with qualitative stakeholder insights, this study reveals significant improvements in electronic health record management, telemedicine capabilities, and artificial intelligence integration, while addressing critical security and compliance requirements. The article demonstrates substantial enhancements in operational efficiency, cost reduction, and healthcare service delivery, with organizations achieving meaningful returns on investment and improved patient care capabilities. While acknowledging implementation challenges such as technical barriers, security concerns, and staff training requirements, the article indicates that cloud infrastructure adoption in healthcare yields considerable benefits and positions organizations for future technological advancement. The article concludes that successful cloud integration is essential for modern healthcare delivery, enabling enhanced patient care coordination, improved diagnostic capabilities, and streamlined operational processes, ultimately contributing to a more efficient and responsive healthcare ecosystem.

Patient-Centric Mobile Medical Services Accessed Through Smartphones in the Top 100 Chinese Public Hospitals: Cross-Sectional Survey Study.

Smartphone-based technology has been used to enhance the delivery of health care services to the public in numerous countries. This study aims to investigate the application of patient-centric mobile medical services accessed through smartphones in the top 100 Chinese public hospitals. Data on 124 tertiary public hospitals, ranked among the top 100 by the China Hospital Science and Technology Evaluation Metrics of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019) and China's Hospital Rankings of the Hospital Management Institute of Fudan University (2019), were collected from the WeChat platform (Tencent Inc), mobile phone apps, and official websites until February 10, 2021. A total of 124 tertiary public hospitals, all of which were among the top 100 hospitals according to the 2 ranking lists, were selected for this study. Almost all (122/124, 98.39%) of the hospitals offered basic services such as appointment scheduling, registration, and health education. The majority also provided online access to test reports (95/124, 76.61%), consultations (72/124, 58.06%), and prescriptions (61/124, 49.19%). Among the hospitals offering online prescriptions, the majority (54/61, 88.52%) supported home delivery through third-party carriers. Slightly less than half (57/124, 45.97%) used artificial intelligence for medical guidance. Only a small fraction (8/124, 6.45%) managed chronic diseases through online monitoring and supervision by experienced doctors. Approximately half (60/124, 48.39%) of the included hospitals were officially licensed as internet hospitals approved to provide full online services. Hospitals with official internet hospital licenses provided more extensive digital health offerings. A significantly higher proportion of approved hospitals offered online consultations (29.69% vs 88.33%, r=43.741; P<.001), test reports (62.5% vs 91.67%, r=14.703; P<.001), and chronic disease management (1.56% vs 11.67%, r=5.238; P<.05). These officially approved hospitals tended to provide over 6 mobile medical services, mainly in the regions of Shanghai and Guangdong. This geographic distribution aligned with the overall layout of hospitals included in the study. Patient-centric mobile medical services offered by the top 100 Chinese public hospitals accessed through smartphones primarily focus on online appointment scheduling, registration, health education, and accessing test reports. The most popular features include online consultations, prescriptions, medication delivery, medical guidance, and early-stage chronic disease management. Approved internet hospitals offer a significantly greater variety of patient-centric mobile medical services compared with unapproved ones.

HealthSphere: Integrated AI-Powered and Blockchain Based Health Management and Support System

The healthcare sector is undergoing a significant transformation as it embraces advanced technologies to address some of the most pressing challenges related to accessibility, data security, and operational efficiency. Among these innovations, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Blockchain technology have emerged as key enablers of enhanced healthcare delivery. AI-powered chatbots are being increasingly utilized to provide immediate, real-time assistance to patients, helping them assess symptoms, obtain basic medical advice, and access information without the need for in-person consultations. These chatbots, powered by Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Machine Learning (ML) algorithms, can efficiently handle a wide range of patient inquiries, improving accessibility and reducing the burden on healthcare providers. On the other hand, Blockchain technology is revolutionizing the way health records are managed. It offers a decentralized, secure, and transparent method of storing and sharing health data, ensuring data integrity, and empowering patients with control over their own medical information. By enabling smart contracts and secure data transactions, Blockchain ensures that health records are easily shared among authorized entities, reducing the risks of unauthorized access and data breaches. This paper provides an in-depth survey of the integration of these technologies into a unified healthcare management system. It explores the practical applications of AI chatbots in improving patient engagement, symptom management, and appointment scheduling, while also discussing how Blockchain can enhance the security, transparency, and interoperability of health records. The paper further addresses the challenges that come with implementing these technologies, including issues related to scalability, data privacy, and regulatory compliance. Finally, it proposes a scalable, secure, and user-friendly platform that combines the strengths of both AI chatbots and Blockchain to create an efficient and reliable healthcare system, poised to improve the overall delivery of healthcare services..

SimPy Simulation to Optimize Remote Patient Monitoring and Server Usage in Healthcare System

The recent pandemic has shown us the necessity of handling a huge mass of patients in real-time scenarios. This is important because in real-time scenarios when the entire healthcare system is operating in its full swing to deliver services to the patient, it is equally important to monitor the arrival time of the patient at the hospital till the disposal of a patient from the hospital. Hence, that each patient must wait minimum time frame there by using the existing remote healthcare infrastructure. To perform this micro level (i.e. patient level) monitoring of the remote healthcare ecosystem, an integrated cloud-based healthcare system (CHS) should be proposed which will analyse, simulate, and predict a huge load of service requests of a patient. At the same time, it can prepare the entire healthcare ecosystem to face the real-time need of any nation and deliver corresponding service response to every patient in a fastest possible manner. In this regard, Discrete event simulation in SimPy (DES) methodology is of utmost help to the amplification of remote healthcare infrastructure on a real scale. In this report, authors have found 80 percent server efficiency and 1.4 s waiting time average for each patient in the proposed model. Server efficiency and patient waiting time mapping typically has become very promising action for any remote cloud-assisted healthcare service delivery model. Idle time analysis of servers can stimulate remote resource utilization and scalability in patient modelling.

The evaluation of a lean healthcare concept to improve the implementation of Digital Health innovations in secondary health care: a qualitative study within a Dutch hospital setting

BackgroundDigital health innovations are considered a promising avenue in transforming the resourcing, organization and delivery of healthcare services and are often nurtured in organization-based innovation labs. One of their biggest challenges is developing effective processes for sifting through ideas. To improve the existing work process, innovation management is often rooted in lean thinking principles. To illustrate the optimization of the efficiency of innovation processes, an example of a lean innovation process concept will be evaluated in this study.MethodsThe setting of this study was the Health Innovation Lab (HIL) of the Maastricht University Medical Center + (MUMC +) in the Netherlands. The aim was to evaluate its lean “speed dating” concept to improve the implementation of Digital Health innovations in secondary health care. A qualitative study was performed based on a focus group and semi-structured interviews. 36 stakeholders were selected by purposive sampling. Data was collected from 11 respondents. The transcripts of the focus group and interviews were coded according to the open and axial coding phases of the methods of Grounded Theory.ResultsFive major themes emerged during the thematic analysis of the transcriptions: (1) Preparation before the Sign in, (2) Mapping out the process between Sign in and Sign out, (3) Defining the roles and deliverables of experts, (4) Guiding the idea owner, and (5) Supporting capacity of resources.ConclusionsThrough multidisciplinary interaction, by encouraging creative thinking and by fostering innovative behavior, innovation labs cultivate the development of innovative solutions. While the creative phase of innovation commonly exhibits non-linearity, most innovation pilots and implementations follow a linear path. This linearity seems to contradict the importance of flexible approaches to prevent waste in the context of innovation. However, our results suggest that improving cooperation between stakeholders may be a strategy to mitigate this effect. This paper broadens the knowledge on how multidisciplinary interaction during a lean innovation process can be improved, thereby enhancing the implementation of DH innovations.

Advancements and gaps in natural language processing and machine learning applications in healthcare: a comprehensive review of electronic medical records and medical imaging

This article presents a thorough examination of the progress and limitations in the application of Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Machine Learning (ML), particularly Deep Learning (DL), in the healthcare industry. This paper examines the progress and limitations in the utilisation of Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Machine Learning (ML) in the healthcare field, specifically in relation to Electronic Medical Records (EMRs). The review also examines the incorporation of Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Machine Learning (ML) in medical imaging as a supplementary field, emphasising the transformative impact of these technologies on the analysis of healthcare data and patient care. This review attempts to analyse both fields in order to offer insights into the current state of research and suggest potential chances for future advancements. The focus is on the use of these technologies in Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) and medical imaging. The review methodically detects, chooses, and assesses literature published between 2015 and 2023, utilizing keywords pertaining to natural language processing (NLP) and healthcare in databases such as SCOPUS. After applying precise inclusion criteria, 100 papers were thoroughly examined. The paper emphasizes notable progress in utilizing NLP and ML methodologies to improve healthcare decision-making, extract information from unorganized data, and evaluate medical pictures. The key findings highlight the successful combination of natural language processing (NLP) and image processing to enhance the accuracy of diagnoses and improve patient care. The study also demonstrates the effectiveness of deep learning-based NLP pipelines in extracting valuable information from electronic medical records (EMRs). Additionally, the research suggests that NLP has the potential to optimize the allocation of medical imaging resources. The identified gaps encompass the necessity for scalable and practical implementations, improved interdisciplinary collaboration, the consideration of ethical factors, the analysis of longitudinal patient data, and the customization of approaches for specific medical situations. Subsequent investigations should focus on these deficiencies in order to fully exploit the capabilities of natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning (ML) in the healthcare sector, consequently enhancing patient outcomes and the delivery of healthcare services.

COVID-19 policies and tuberculosis services in private health sectors of India, Indonesia, and Nigeria

IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic created unprecedented challenges in the field of global health. Nigeria, Indonesia and India are three high tuberculosis (TB) burden countries with large private health sectors. Both TB and the private health sector faced challenges in these countries because of COVID-19. This study aimed to compare the COVID-19 control measures and policies in the provision of TB care services and gain insights from policymakers on how the pandemic affected the provision of TB services in the private healthcare sector, how each country adapted, and identify lessons learned for health system preparedness MethodsQualitative, in-depth interviews were conducted among a purposive sample of 11 national and sub-national policymakers in each country. Thematic content analysis was conducted on the data collected using an adapted WHO Health Equity Policy Framework. ResultsResults revealed three policy dimensions under costs, access, and quality. Under healthcare costs, policymakers highlighted resource allocation and diversion of TB resources to COVID response, and increased operational costs for private provider. Under healthcare access, key themes included key themes included reduced TB case detection due to fear of COVID-19, disrupted diagnostic services, and adaptations such as extended medicine supplies and virtual consultations. Under healthcare quality, themes included compromised TB diagnostic accuracy due to similar respiratory symptoms with COVID-19, and strain on laboratory infrastructure due to competing demands from both diseases. Policymakers across the three countries pointed to the need for strengthening private–public partnerships (PPP) for healthcare service delivery and continued private sector investment to facilitate the continuity of TB care within a pandemic context. ConclusionThe results of this study provide an overview of the impact of the pandemic from the perspective of private facilities and policymakers in Nigeria, Indonesia and India, which can inform future policy and ways forward in strengthening PPP for healthcare service delivery in high TB burden countries.

UN SDG 3 and Context-specific effects of stakeholder engagement on health care service delivery and policy implementation: A local government health sector case study in Pakistan’s Complex Governing Structure

In this study effects of context-specific stakeholder involvement in implementing the health care related policies as well as providing health care services in the Gujrat, Pakistan local government's health sector is empirically explored. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect qualitative dataset from government bureaucrats, healthcare providers and civic representatives. The study found enhanced operational efficiency, better health outcomes are outcomes of successful stakeholder engagement achieved through collaborative partnerships and participatory methods. Conversely, these improvements face major complications due to resistance from some stakeholders who are motivated by entrenched malpractices and political agendas. This study highlights importance of inclusive and transparent governance system by classifying strategies for incorporating stakeholder interest/s, concerns into policy-making. Current paper advances study of stakeholder theory by highlighting significance of addressing power dynamics and consequences of stakeholder involvement in health sector.

Voluntary self-disclosed Indigenous identity of patients in four Canadian health care settings: A multiple-site qualitative case study.

The lack of Indigenous health care data in Canada makes it challenging to plan health care services and inform Indigenous leadership on the health care needs of their respective Nations and communities. Several Canadian health care organizations have implemented a voluntary Indigenous identifier of patients within their electronic medical records. This study examines facilitators and barriers to implementing such a voluntary self-reported Indigenous identifier, from the perspective of key stakeholders who work at four Canadian health providers where an Indigenous identifier has been implemented. The four Canadian sites comprise three hospitals and one health authority. At each site, key stakeholders participated in semi-structured qualitative interviews. Interviews were transcribed and coded. Relevant documents that were publicly available or provided by each site were reviewed. There were four primary findings. First, for the introduction of an Indigenous identifier to be successful there must be pre-existing strong and trusting relationships between Indigenous communities and health care organizations. Second, health care organizations must provide training for those who ask clientele to self-identify as Indigenous, to overcome issues such as any patient backlash. Third, for the relationship between Indigenous people and health organizations to flourish, data governance must be Indigenous-led. Finally, the collection of Indigenous identifier data can enhance Indigenous health care services and health care service planning and delivery. Due to the ongoing distrust of government and health care services among Indigenous peoples and communities, special considerations are required prior to the implementation of an Indigenous identifier. Of primary importance is how health care organizations can contribute to Indigenous data governance and minimize potential harms associated with the collection of such data. The findings of this study can be used to guide other health care sites and Indigenous leaders aspiring for more robust health data by implementing voluntary Indigenous identity data collection.

Challenges for the veterinary profession: A grounded theory study of veterinarians' experiences of caring for older horses.

In Great Britain, owners are keeping their horses into increasingly older age, reflecting societal changes in human-animal relationships. The uptake of routine veterinary services is reported to reduce as horses age. Horse owners seek information regarding their animal's health from alternative sources before and/or following veterinary involvement. Information regarding the experiences and behaviours of veterinarians toward older horse health care provision is limited. This study sought to explore how veterinary care for the ageing horse is conceptualised and approached by veterinarians treating horses in Great Britain. Exploratory qualitative. A subset of qualitative data, collected as part of a larger study investigating how owners and veterinarians make decisions regarding the care of the older horses, was analysed using a constructivist grounded theory approach. Data included semi-structured in-depth interviews with nine veterinarians and veterinary clinical records pertaining to the horses of 13 participating owners. Veterinarians valued regular interactions with owners to optimise a horse's management, however, the timing and nature of veterinary involvement varied. The context of older age shaped decision-making and 'age-appropriate' interventions were negotiated within the context of each horse and owner. Where participants had concerns about a horse, they sought to achieve an owner's adherence to their advice while navigating the veterinarian-owner relationship. Interpersonal dimensions of veterinarian-owner interactions appeared to shape, and could challenge, veterinarians' delivery of health care services and their own sense of being a professional who cares for animals, and about people. A sample of veterinarians were recruited for this study based on horse owners' involvement. The provision of veterinary care for the older horse rests upon networks of relationships. Collaboration between the profession and owners in both the design and delivery of, veterinary health care services may better enable different types of knowledge and values to be brought together more effectively.

Parent carer and disabled young people’s perspectives on the impacts of changes to service provision for children and young people in England during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study

ObjectivesIn England, the delivery of health, education and social care services changed substantially during COVID-19. Some services closed, some had reduced capacity and there was a shift to the use...

Integration of family planning into the primary health care in Ethiopia: results from national assessment

BackgroundFamily planning (FP) is part of Ethiopia’s essential health service package. However, integrating FP into other health care services is a relatively new concept. Integrated service can minimize missed opportunities and allow health workers to provide FP services and Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent, and Nutrition (RMNCAH-N) services simultaneously. Thus, the objective of this study was to assess the levels of FP integration into maternal and child health (MCH) services at primary health care service delivery units in Ethiopia.MethodsThis was a facility-based cross-sectional study conducted from July to October 2022. We conducted a nationally representative survey of primary health care (PHC) facilities selected from seven regions and two-city administrations in Ethiopia to assess the current level of FP integration across four service delivery units (antenatal care unit, postnatal care unit, post-abortion care unit, and immunization unit) of the facilities. We collected data from selected health facilities through interview with health facility managers, healthcare providers in the selected service units, clients seeking health services, and extraction of data from facility records. We employed descriptive analysis, and categorized the degree of FP integration according to the FP information and services provided in the selected service delivery units.ResultsThis national FP integration survey included 122 health facilities (39 primary hospitals, 42 health centers, and 41 health posts) from seven regions and two city administrations. The study found a huge discrepancy regarding FP counselling given at ANC, PNC, PAC, and immunization service delivery units as reported by health care providers and clients. The proportion of PNC and immunization clients who received FP counselling was higher at health post compared to hospitals and health centers. Moreover, the proportion of PAC clients who received FP information was higher in primary hospitals compared to health centers.ConclusionData from facility records and provider interviews showed significant FP integration within ANC, PNC, and immunization units of PHC facilities. However, client exit interviews indicated low FP counselling integration. Facility records revealed few PNC and PAC clients received contraceptives in the past year. The study found high FP counselling and provision of at least one short- or long-acting contraceptive at PNC and PAC units. No facility offered contraceptives at immunization units, indicating missed FP integration opportunities.

Artificial intelligence and big data from digital health applications: publication trends and analysis.

The integration of big data with artificial intelligence in the field of digital health has brought a new dimension to healthcare service delivery. AI technologies that provide value by using big data obtained in the provision of health services are being added to each passing day. There are also some problems related to the use of AI technologies in health service delivery. In this respect, it is aimed to understand the use of digital health, AI and big data technologies in healthcare services and to analyze the developments and trends in the sector. In this research, 191 studies published between 2016 and 2023 on digital health, AI and its sub-branches and big data were analyzed using VOSviewer and Rstudio Bibliometrix programs for bibliometric analysis. We summarized the type, year, countries, journals and categories of publications; matched the most cited publications and authors; explored scientific collaborative relationships between authors and determined the evolution of research over the years through keyword analysis and factor analysis of publications. The content of the publications is briefly summarized. The data obtained showed that significant progress has been made in studies on the use of AI technologies and big data in the field of health, but research in the field is still ongoing and has not yet reached saturation. Although the bibliometric analysis study conducted has comprehensively covered the literature, a single database has been utilized and limited to some keywords in order to reach the most appropriate publications on the subject. The analysis has addressed important issues regarding the use of developing digital technologies in health services and is thought to form a basis for future researchers. In today's world, where significant developments are taking place in the field of health, it is necessary to closely follow the development of digital technologies in the health sector and analyze the current situation in order to guide both stakeholders and those who will work in this field.

The "Doing" of Compassionate Care in the Context of Childbirth From a Women's Perspective.

Women who are giving birth need to be met with compassion and understanding from healthcare professionals. However, there are growing concerns about the perceived lack of compassion in the delivery of healthcare services in general and maternity care in particular. We conducted 15 qualitative interviews with women who had given birth in Norway within the previous year, asking them to describe their experiences of compassionate care. We aimed to explore what healthcare professionals "do" that is experienced as compassionate. The analysis was informed by Paul Gilbert's theory of compassion and a concept analysis of compassionate midwifery undertaken by Ménage and colleagues. The compassionate caring actions of healthcare professionals that were identified in the women's narratives generated five themes: attuning actions, validating actions, contextualizing actions, empowering actions, and small acts of kindness. The findings build on the prior theoretical concepts used for the study and provide a nuanced account of how women perceive compassionate care from healthcare professionals. They could contribute to understanding more of the meaning and nature of compassionate care during childbirth. The analysis indicates the importance of ensuring that compassionate care is at the very core of maternity care services.

Secondary use of routinely collected administrative health data for epidemiologic research: Answering research questions using data collected for a different purpose.

The use of routinely collected administrative health data for research can provide unique insights to inform decision-making and, ultimately, support better public health outcomes. Yet, since these data are primarily collected to administer healthcare service delivery, challenges exist when using such data for secondary purposes, namely epidemiologic research. Many of these challenges stem from the researcher's lack of control over the quality and consistency of data collection, and - furthermore - a lessened understanding of the data being analyzed. That said, we assert that these challenges can be partly mitigated through careful, systematic use of these data in epidemiologic research. This article presents considerations derived from experiences analyzing administrative health data (e.g., healthcare practitioner billings, hospitalizations, and prescription medication data) in the Canadian province of British Columbia (population of over 5 million in 2024), though we believe the underlying principles generalize beyond this region. Key considerations were organized around four themes: 1) Know the data and their primary use (understand their scope and limitations); 2) Understand classification and coding systems (appreciate the nuances regarding classification systems, versions, how they are employed in the primary uses of the data, and querying the values); 3) Transform data into meaningful forms (process data and apply identification algorithms, when necessary); 4) Recognize the importance of validity when defining analytic variables (make meaningful inferences based on data/algorithms). Although this article is not an exhaustive list of all considerations, we believe that it will provide pragmatic insights for those interested in leveraging administrative health data for epidemiologic research.

Assessment of Health Services in East Jerusalem: A Cross-Sectional Study

Aim: This study aims to evaluate healthcare service delivery and population indicators in East Jerusalem (EJ) for use in health planning, evaluation, and decision-making at both institutional and policy levels. Methods: A mixed-methods approach was adopted. The quantitative component involved a household survey that assessed health conditions and healthcare utilization across 3,747 households, covering 16,433 individuals. The qualitative component included semi-structured interviews with healthcare institution managers. Results: Among children, respiratory illnesses (0.50%) and cardiovascular diseases (0.30%) were the most common. In adults, diabetes (4.32%) and cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension (2.84%), were prevalent. The five hospitals in EJ, with a total of 651 beds, serve residents of EJ, the West Bank, and Gaza. In 2018, EJ hospitals treated over 80,000 inpatients and 240,000 outpatients. The Palestinian Ministry of Health referred 43,256 cases to EJ hospitals, accounting for 40% of all external referrals. Smoking prevalence among adults over 18 was 29.0%. Rehabilitation services were available in 55% of health centers, but mental health services were limited. Around 63% of patients expressed satisfaction with healthcare services, though language barriers and long wait times were issues when referred to Israeli hospitals. Conclusions: EJ hospitals operate near capacity, providing essential tertiary healthcare services and managing substantial referrals from the West Bank and Gaza. Key challenges include long waiting times, high competition among healthcare centers, and shortages in mental health, physiotherapy, and rehabilitation staff. Drug use, particularly in Shu'fat, is a significant social issue. Although patient satisfaction is high, Israeli hospitals are often preferred due to their advanced technologies. There is a clear need to invest in local healthcare centers, improve service quality, and increase specialized care availability, particularly in diagnostics, rehabilitation, and mental health services.

AI in Healthcare Supply Chain Management: Enhancing Efficiency and Reducing Costs with Predictive Analytics

This paper explores the transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI) and predictive analytics in enhancing operational efficiency within healthcare supply chains. By leveraging AI-driven business analytics, healthcare organizations can optimize inventory management, improve demand forecasting, and streamline supply chain processes. The study presents a comprehensive review of recent advancements, challenges, and opportunities in the integration of AI technologies, focusing on their application in various healthcare contexts. Through systematic analysis of existing literature, the findings emphasize the significance of adopting AI and predictive analytics for effective decision-making, cost reduction, and improved service delivery in healthcare. The research highlights the need for organizations to embrace digital transformation and foster a collaborative approach in the implementation of AI-driven solutions to enhance overall supply chain resilience.

The interactive effect of the application of accreditation standards (JCIs) and the practice of administrative control in improving the quality of health services: a study on Yemeni hospitals

BackgroundThis study aimed to examine the interactive effect of applying JCI accreditation standards and administrative control in improving the quality of health services in Yemeni hospitals. By examining the synergistic relationship between these two components, this study sought to shed light on how hospitals can improve their performance and achieve sustainable advancements in healthcare quality.MethodsThis study utilized a quantitative research design and collected data from Yemeni hospitals. The sample size was determined via the Krejcie and Morgan table, which provides a recommended sample size on the basis of the population. A total of 310 healthcare professionals were selected through a random sampling technique. Hypotheses were formulated to examine the impact of JCI accreditation standards and administrative control on healthcare quality. Statistical analyses were also conducted to test these hypotheses and determine the interaction effect between the two variables.ResultsThe results confirmed that applying JCI accreditation standards has a statistically significant positive effect on improving the quality of health services in hospitals. Additionally, the practice of administrative control had a statistically significant effect on healthcare quality. Furthermore, there was an interactive effect between the application of JCI accreditation standards and administrative control, indicating that their combined implementation led to even greater improvements in healthcare quality.ConclusionThe significance of this study lies in its potential to inform healthcare policymakers, administrators, and practitioners about the importance of integrating accreditation standards with robust administrative control measures. The findings emphasize the need for hospitals to prioritize both the implementation of accreditation standards and the establishment of effective administrative control systems to ensure the delivery of high-quality healthcare services. This study contributes to the literature by highlighting the interactive impact of these factors and providing insights into their synergistic relationship.

Considering patient-centred care and patient empowerment as essential to quality health care delivery in Ghana.

Rising cases of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), poor health choices, mistrust of the health system, self-medication, resistance of diseases to medication and dissatisfaction with the service experience serve as red flags on the path to Universal Health Coverage (UHC). This study explored the importance of patient-centred care (PCC) and patient empowerment (PE) within the context of healthcare service delivery in Ghana. The study considered PCC and PE from the perspective of three public healthcare facilities within the Greater Accra region. The researcher adopted a qualitative exploratory research approach. The study employed purposive sampling for the selection of healthcare facilities and healthcare providers. Convenience sampling was applied to select patient participants. A total of 33 in-depth interviews and 4 focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted across the three sampled facilities as part of the data collection process. Healthcare providers and patients unanimously view quality as essential for effective healthcare delivery. The application of the capacitating role of PE and PCC is inexact and largely left to subjective interpretation. The Ministry of Health (MOH) has recognised that patient experiences, a key indicator of care quality, have often been suboptimal and is actively working to address these weaknesses. This study supports the call for health systems to remain committed to efforts to achieve UHC, with a focus on PCC and PE.

Survivor Health Connection Project: Understanding Experiences of Accessing Health Care Among Those Affected by Intimate Partner Violence During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) has short- and long-term health effects, including physical injuries and traumatic brain injury, as well as sexual, reproductive, and mental health issues. However, accessing necessary health care is often challenging for IPV survivors and became even more difficult during the COVID-19 pandemic. We examined access to health care among those affected by IPV during the COVID-19 pandemic to better connect survivors to health and social support services. The Health Resources and Services Administration's Office of Women's Health partnered with its Bureau of Primary Health Care, the Administration for Children and Families' Office of Family Violence Prevention and Services, and the National Domestic Violence Hotline (Hotline) on the 2-year Survivor Health Connection Project. The Hotline administered 2 surveys to its contacts: a 2-question postinteraction survey from March 29, 2021, through September 30, 2022, and a longer focused survey in 2021 and 2022 that measured barriers and restrictions to accessing health care, telehealth safety, and interactions with health care providers. Of 9918 respondents to the postinteraction survey, 6173 (62.2%) reported current health needs related to their abusive experience. Nearly half of 242 respondents to the 2021 survey (n = 106, 43.8%) indicated that the frequency or intensity of abuse increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, and 157 of 338 respondents to the 2022 survey (46.4%) reported that their partner had controlled and/or restricted their access to health care. Participants described barriers to accessing health care, including finances, health insurance coverage, and transportation. Findings illuminate opportunities to further support the health and social needs of those experiencing IPV, including continued coordination of efforts across health care and social service delivery partners.