Health Care Services Sectors Research Articles

Vision-Based Mobile Robot Controllers: A Scientific Review

Today, there are different types of self-controlled robots. Some of them had critical effects on our lives like industrial and medical robots. Others are for military usages such as drones and the pets robots just for entertainment. The crucial differences between this kind of robot and the controlled ones are their ability to move on their own and make decisions based on their observations of the world around them. Mobile robots must have a data source used as an input dataset and processed to change their behavior; for instance, moving, stopping, rotating, or doing any required action based on the information gathered from the surrounding environment. Different types of sensors were used to feed robots controllers with data. Such data source could be ultrasonic sensor, laser sensor, torque sensor, or vision sensor. Robots integrated with cameras were becoming an essential field of study. They recently attracted significant attention from researchers it has been commonly used in many sectors of healthcare, manufacturing, and many other services. The robot needs a controller with a powerful mechanism of realization to deal with such incoming data. The world of mobile robot controllers is discussed in this paper, and the latest trends were reviewed. This review aims to provide a general understanding of robot controllers and navigation methods developed over the last few years.

Analysis of digital technologies as antecedent to care service transparency and orchestration

Digital technologies adoption includes the Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence, has become a topic of utmost interest over the last decade. Healthcare sectors across the developed countries have already started adopting digital technologies in their service delivery scapes. However, in developing countries like India, the healthcare service sector has yet to take full advantage of such digital technology-enabled platforms to transform itself while catering to patients, managers, physicians, and healthcare practitioners. Thus, there is a need for a conceptual understanding with an overarching goal of clarifying the outcomes of digital technologies adoption on healthcare services and its orchestration. This paper analyses the impact of digitized healthcare technology adoption on the transparency and orchestration aspect of care services empirically. The theoretical relationships between digital technologies adaptation with care service transparency and orchestration have been validated here and also analyze path linkages through Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). The results of SEM highlight the fact that the adoption of digitized technology platforms can achieve care service-orchestration. This study results, supporting the hypotheses for achieving care service orchestration, might pave the way and motivate potential sets of hospitals, characterized by decision dilemma, waiting at the verge of digital technology adoption in the healthcare context, especially in the Indian subcontinental context.

COVID-19 fear and compliance in preventive measures precautions in workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

ObjectiveThe aim of the study is to identify the relationship between the fear of COVID-19 and the preventive measures of healthcare workers and service sector employees during the covid-19 pandemic.MethodsThe present study is a descriptive type of research. The study’s sample group consisted of 735 people and included healthcare workers (n = 426) and service sector employees (n = 309). In this study, sociodemographic characteristics, employment in the healthcare or service sector, having a relative with COVID-19, losing any relative due to COVID-19 and taking preventive measures were taken as independent variables. The dependent variable was the score from the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S).ResultsThe FCV-19S median value was 14 for the service sector and 17 for the healthcare sector. While no difference was found between occupational groups and the FCV-19S score in the service sector, there was a significant correlation between occupational groups and the FCV-19S score in the healthcare sector. The FCV-19S median value of midwives was 21, and it was higher than those of other occupational groups were. The mean FCV-19S scores of those who thought they had COVID-19 symptoms due to stress or panic were higher among the healthcare workers.ConclusionThe healthcare workers need more support in fear management than those engaged in service sector employees, and it is recommended that raising the awareness of service sector employees in terms of compliance with preventive measures should be prioritized.

The economic burden of vertigo and dizziness in the United States.

Vertigo and dizziness are extremely common conditions in the adult population and therefore place a significant social and economic burden on both patients and the healthcare system. However, limited information is available for the economic burden of vertigo and dizziness across various health care settings. Estimate the economic burden of vertigo and dizziness, controlling for demographic, socioeconomic, and clinical comorbidities. A retrospective analysis of data from the Medical Expenditures Panel Survey (2007-2015) was performed to analyze individuals with vertigo or dizziness from a nationally representative sample of the United States. Participants were included via self-reported data and International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision Clinical Modification codes. A cross-validated 2-component generalized linear model was utilized to assess vertigo and dizziness expenditures across demographic, socioeconomic and clinical characteristics while controlling for covariates. Costs and utilization across various health care service sectors, including inpatient, outpatient, emergency department, home health, and prescription medications were evaluated. Of 221,273 patients over 18 years, 5,275 (66% female, 34% male) reported either vertigo or dizziness during 2007-2015. More patients with vertigo or dizziness were female, older, non-Hispanic Caucasian, publicly insured, and had significant clinical comorbidities compared to patients without either condition. Furthermore, each of these demographic, socioeconomic, and clinical characteristics lead to significantly elevated costs due to having these conditions for patients. Significantly higher medical expenditures and utilization across various healthcare sectors were associated with vertigo or dizziness (p < 0.001). The mean incremental annual healthcare expenditure directly associated with vertigo or dizziness was $2,658.73 (95% CI: 1868.79, 3385.66) after controlling for socioeconomic and demographic characteristics. Total annual medical expenditures for patients with dizziness or vertigo was $48.1 billion. Vertigo and dizziness lead to substantial expenses for patients across various healthcare settings. Determining how to limit costs and improve the delivery of care for these patients is of the utmost importance given the severe morbidity, disruption to daily living, and major socioeconomic burden associated with these conditions.

How COVID-19 Affected the G7 Stock Markets: Early Evidence from a ST-HAR Model

Our paper investigates the impact of COVID-19 on stock markets across G7 countries (the US, the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan) and sectors (Consumer Goods, Consumer Services, Financials, Healthcare, Industrials, Materials, Oil & Gas, Technology, Telecommunications and Utilities) and highlight the synchronicity and severity of this unprecedented crisis. We find strong transition evidence to a crisis regime for all countries and all sectors suggesting the universal impact of COVID-19. However, not all business sectors were affected with the same intensity or at the same time. The Health Care and Consumer services sectors were the most severely affected; a reflection of the COVID-19 drug-race and the dire situation of the airlines. Technology were among those sectors that was hit the latest and least severely, as lock downed people were looking for distraction and entertainment elsewhere. Country-wise the UK and the US were hit the hardest, while exhibiting the highest heterogeneity in their business sectors’ response; a possible reflection on the financial markets of the ambiguity of these countries’ political response to the pandemic crisis.

The impact of Covid-19 on G7 stock markets volatility: Evidence from a ST-HAR model

We investigate the impact of Covid-19 on stock markets across G7 countries and their business sectors. We highlight the synchronicity and severity of this unprecedented crisis. We find strong transition evidence to a crisis regime in all countries and sectors, yet crisis intensity and timings vary. The Health Care and Consumer services sectors were the most severely affected; a reflection of the Covid-19 drug-race and international travel restrictions. The Technology sector was hit the latest and least severely, as imposed lockdown measures forced people to explore various web-based entertainment and distraction options. Country-wise the UK and the US were the most affected with the highest heterogeneity in their business sectors' response; a possible reflection of the ambiguity in the initial response and adoption of lockdown measures. Financial markets' response to Covid-19 is akin to response in previous financial crisis rather than previous pandemics. A series of robustness checks confirms our findings.

The scope of environmental disclosure in the European healthcare sector - an empirical study

Purpose: The aim of the paper is to present the scope of environmental information disclosed by organi-zations from the healthcare services sector in Europe. Methodology/approach: The aim was achieved by studying the GRI Sustainability Disclosure Database, where non-financial reports are published, and performing a content analysis. The research sample con-tains 252 reports issued by 65 healthcare organizations between 2001 and 2019. Findings: The research results indicate that information concerning energy is disclosed most frequently – in 213 reports (95%). In 194 non-financial reports (86%), organizations inform about healthcare waste. The third and fourth main environmental issues are water and effluents (168 reports – 75%), and emis-sions (166 reports – 74%). Information related to materials is included in 134 sustainability reports (60%) and environmental compliance in 125 reports (56%). Biodiversity (60 reports – 27%) and supplier envi-ronmental assessment (51 reports – 23%) are disclosed least frequently. Research implications/limitations: The paper presents a complete picture of environmental disclosure practices in the European healthcare services sector in the past 20 years and offers interesting insights into non-financial reports, which are the most common instruments used by organizations to provide account-ability about their environmental performance. However, there are some limitations – the GRI Sustaina-bility Disclosure Database does not include all reports produced by European healthcare organizations. Originality/value: This research contributes to the growing literature on sustainability reporting in the healthcare services sector by providing an empirical view of its current state in Europe. It fills a research gap in the field of non-financial reporting practices of healthcare organizations.

DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION IN HEALTHCARE SERVICES SECTOR OF BANGLADESH: CURRENT STATUS, CHALLENGES AND FUTURE DIRECTION

Digital transformation in healthcare services has massive potential to ensure healthcare quality, accessibility, equality &amp; affordability in developing countries. Bangladesh is not exception to this trend for digitalization of healthcare sector as a part of vision 2021 of digital Bangladesh. This paper aims to explore the current standing of the digital transformation in healthcare services sector of the public, private &amp; NGOs, as well as the managerial and technical challenges facing the digitalization of healthcare projects in Bangladesh. The digital transformation in healthcare is at the introductory stage in Bangladesh. Studies explored that although digitalization of this sector remains somewhat problematic, the difficulties and challenges could be overcome. Due to lack of technological knowhow, literacy, poverty, trust, attitudes, resistance to change and infrastructural facilities, this project does not work effectively and efficiently. Based on the assessment of this sector, the scope of some fields requires further improvement. The findings will help government agencies, policymakers, healthcare providers and mobile phone companies to make effective decisions regarding the digitalization of Healthcare services.

Cross-Layer Energy-Efficient Multimedia Transmission using Hybrid Fuzzy GWO in MIMO-OFDM

Wireless communication multimedia applications are increasing day by day in traffic, security, agriculture and health care service sectors. Multimedia communication itself involves a complex process that consumes more power at transmitter and receiver. Our research evolves start to end layer design margin to reduce power consumption and increase multimedia data quality. In this we propose the MIMO-OFDM system with a hybrid fuzzy GWO technique to minimize consumed power. Cross-layer margins are optimized by Grey Wolf Optimizer with a fuzzy algorithm that analysed compression and communication techniques for wireless communication. This cross-layer design provides power reduction and energy-efficient multimedia data transmission in the MIMO-OFDM system. We use a fuzzy approach for the fast processing speed of GWO

The relationship between perceived dissimilarity and feedback avoidance behaviour

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to understand the conditions in which subordinates, after making a mistake, are more likely to engage in feedback avoidance behaviour (FAB), a set of behaviours that could ultimately jeopardise patient safety in a health care context.Design/methodology/approachThis study used a sample of 183 independent leader-subordinate dyads in the health care service sector. For this study, a multiple mediator model in which three types of conflict (task conflict, relationship conflict and process conflict) were tested and acted as mediating mechanisms that transmitted the effects of perceived dissimilarity to FAB.FindingsThe results supported the mediating role of two of the three forms of conflict and highlighted the consequences of dissimilarity between supervisors and subordinates in the healthcare setting.Research limitations/implicationsOne of the noteworthy limitations of this study was that this study used cross-sectional time-lagged data. Future research should use a more rigorous longitudinal approach such as a cross-lagged design (Whitman et al., 2012) to explore the dynamic nature of dyadic relationships over time.Practical implicationsAn important implication of our study results suggests that health care leadership development training should provide opportunities to increase awareness of the tendency of leaders to treat subordinates perceived as dissimilar more negatively.Originality/valueThese results contribute to our understanding of the interpersonal processes between subordinates and their supervisors, which could have a significant impact on organisational outcomes in the health care setting.

Technology Startup Ecosystem in India

A startup is a business entity in the initial stages of business operations. In recent years, a lot of buzz has been generated around technology startups. Since the start of the millennium; the advent of the information technology (IT) era and more recently, the digital revolution with Industry 4.0; India witnessed a significant rise in number of tech-startups due to various macro-environmental factors. These startups have come largely in e-commerce, healthcare, financial technologies, education, travel, artificial intelligence (AI) and customer services sectors. This review paper illustrates growth phenomenon of current Indian technology startup ecosystem with holistic approach. It analyses various constituents of ecosystem for tech-startups in India, i.e., policy framework, educational environment, financial support from domestic and international funds, support organisations like incubators, accelerators, etc. Based on these factors, bottlenecks of the ecosystem are identified and policy measures have been suggested to bridge the gap.

PALLIATIVE CARE NEEDS ASSESSMENT OF A RURAL AND FRONTIER STATE

Background: Palliative Care (PC) is a valuable tool for improving the lives of people living with chronic illness. However, access to PC is limited in rural areas. The purpose of this study is to describe the current PC needs and barriers to care in a rural state. Methods: An online survey was disseminated through professional organizations, licensing boards, and the University of Wyoming. Rurality of counties was classified using Rural Urban Continuum Codes (RUCC). Descriptive statistics were calculated using SPSS. Results: Responses were received from 336 individuals across 20 of 23 counties (i.e., RUCC range 3 - 9; 1=most metropolitan, 9=most rural). The majority worked in healthcare or social service sectors (n = 265, 78.8%). Approximately one-half (n = 119, 50.6%) of these individuals endorsed providing PC (i.e., typically symptom management, supportive resources, and family support). Over one-half of respondents (n = 173, 51.5%) rated availability of PC services in their communities as “poor” or “somewhat good.” Key barriers to providing PC were lack of patient information and knowledge (n = 215), access to PC specialists (n = 183), and funding and reimbursement (n = 181). Approximately one third of healthcare professionals (n = 78, 32.8%) had received formal training in PC. A majority of healthcare and social service respondents (n = 139, 59.1%) endorsed interest in PC continuing education. Conclusions: This study provides insight into the state of PC across a rural state. Results highlight the need to design accessible education and implement system transformation to improve PC access.

Appraisal of Health Maintenance Organisations' Performance in the Nigerian Healthcare Service Sector.

The quality of healthcare service delivery under the existing health maintenance organisations (HMOs) in Nigeria has been a major concern to enrollees who have contested the value received from their respective HMO accredited hospitals under the program. This paper appraised health maintenance organisations' performance in the Nigerian healthcare service sector capturing enrollees' experience on the issues of access, responsiveness, and quality of healthcare service choice to measure the success or failure of the program since inception. The study adopted survey design with three hundred forty enrollees of ten leading HMOs in Nigeria that operate in different parts of Lagos Metropolis. Data collected were analysed with relevant descriptive and inferential statistics while hypotheses tested were at 0.05 level of significance. Findings revealed that HMO accredited hospitals have not ensured adequate access of enrollees to healthcare services, their responsiveness to enrollees' healthcare requests have not been impressive, and quality of healthcare services to enrollees have also not been excellent. Based on the findings, the study recommends that HMOs and government should improve on monitoring the quality of healthcare service delivery at their accredited hospitals and concluded that the performance of the HMOs in the area of healthcare service delivery is not world class when it comes to access, responsiveness, and quality of service delivery.

Design of controllers for omnidirectional robot based on the ystem identification technique for trajectory tracking

Omnidirectional wheeled mobile robots are gaining a lot of importance owing to its widespread applications in healthcare, industries and various other service sectors. Most of these applications demand the mobile base to track the desired trajectory with the desired speed, optimal time and energy consumption. This work focusses on the trajectory tracking of the four-wheeled mobile robot with omnidirectional wheels. Most of the existing works make use of the models developed using first principles but in this work, system modeling is carried out by the system identification technique using the data obtained from the fabricated mobile base. Trajectory tracking is then carried out using PID and Linear Quadratic Tracking (LQT) based controllers. The simulation results are compared for tracking errors and energy consumption and the results obtained in real time are presented.

Family Resilience And Connection Promote Flourishing Among US Children, Even Amid Adversity.

The outcome of flourishing and its predictors have not been well documented among US children, especially those who face adversity. Using data for 2016 and 2017 from the National Survey of Children's Health, we determined the prevalence and predictors of flourishing among US children ages 6-17. A three-item index included indicators of flourishing: children's interest and curiosity in learning new things, persistence in completing tasks, and capacity to regulate emotions. The national prevalence of flourishing was 40.3percent (29.9-45.0percent across states). At each level of adverse childhood experiences, household income, and special health care needs, the prevalence of flourishing increased in a graded fashion with increasing levels of family resilience and connection. Across the sectors of health care, education, and human services, evidence-based programs and policies to increase family resilience and connection could increase flourishing in US children, even as society addresses remediable causes of childhood adversity.

Collaboration in Health Care and Social Service Networks for Older Adults: Association With Health Care Utilization Measures.

Services targeting social determinants of health-such as income support, housing, and nutrition-have been shown to improve health outcomes and reduce health care costs for older adults. Nevertheless, evidence on the properties of effective collaborative networks across health care and social services sectors is limited. The main objectives of this study were to identify features of collaborative networks of health care and social services organizations associated with avoidable health care use and spending for older adults. Through a 2017 survey, we collected data on collaborative ties among health care and social service organizations in 20 US communities with either high or low performance on avoidable health care use and spending for Medicare beneficiaries. Six types of ties were measured: any collaboration, referrals, sharing information, cosponsoring projects, financial contracts, and joint needs assessment. We examined how characteristics of collaborative networks were associated with performance. High-performing networks were distinguished from low-performing networks by 2 features: (1) health care organizations occupied positions of significantly greater centrality (P<0.01), and (2) subnetworks of cosponsorship ties were more cohesive, as measured by centralization (P=0.05) and density (P=0.06). Across all networks, Area Agencies on Aging were more centrally positioned than any other type of organization (P<0.05). Cross-sector engagement by health care organizations, particularly development of deeper types of collaborative ties such as cosponsorship, may reduce preventable health care use and spending. Efforts to foster effective partnerships could leverage the Area Agencies on Aging, which are already positioned as network brokers.

Qualitative Explanation of the Effect of Changes in the Educational System on the Development of Professionalism in Medical Residents

Background The development of professionalism is one of the fundamental goals of educational systems, especially in medical sciences. Medical students, in addition to acquiring clinical knowledge and skills, should somehow benefit from moral values and professionalism in order to practice in a professional manner. The development of professional ethics is heavily influenced by the hidden curriculum affected by changes in the educational system. The health reform plan is launched in Iran in recent years. Objectives The current study aimed at qualitatively explaining the effects of changes to the educational system on the development of the professionalism in medical residents. Methods The current qualitative study was performed by the content analysis method. A total of 26 interviews were conducted with 12 prominent professors of medical education, 13 third-year internal medicine residents, as well as a focus group including 10 residents. The purposive sampling method with maximum diversity was used in the current study and continued until data saturation. Data were analyzed using the content analysis method. The Lincoln and Guba criteria were used to increase the credibility of the findings. Results The most important finding of the current study was the challenge of developing professionalism due to environmental changes. The main theme included the challenges of professionalism development in the existing educational system, changes related to the sociocultural environment of the community, changes related to health reform plan, and the shift from training to health services and promtion of faculty member. Conclusions Changes and interventions in the health care services sector, such as the health reform plan, greatly affect the development of professionalism in medical residents. The plans that affect the health system, a special attention should be paid to the education section and the educational documents should be prepared initially and implemented simultaneously.

Clinical Governance Climate Within Disability Service Organizations from the Perspective of Allied Health Professionals

AbstractWithin the healthcare service sector across many Western countries, clinical governance frameworks have been adopted to ensure consistent and effective service provision. There is merit in adopting such frameworks within disability service organizations as a mechanism to enhance service quality. This study explored whether disability service organizations exhibit organizational climates conducive to supporting clinical governance from the perspective of allied health professionals (AHPs). A total of 88 AHPs completed the Clinical Governance Climate Questionnaire via an online questionnaire. AHPs reported that planned quality improvement initiatives tend to be crisis‐driven within their organizations, with immediate and pressing work pressures taking precedence. AHPs also report that clinical risk data are routinely collected within their organizations, with a lack of consensus around how this information is used to improve practice. In addition, dedicated time for professional development was not available to many of the AHPs, and many reported the presence of hierarchies. Correlation analyses implied that planned quality improvement initiatives appear to be the lynchpin to ensuring quality service provision within disability service organizations. Further research into the organizational climate issues identified in this study is needed—from the perspective of all staff working within disability service organizations—in an effort to inform the development of strategies to effectively implement clinical governance in disability services.

A Conceptual Framework of Antecedents of Service Loyalty in Health Care: Patients’ Perspective

As the health care sector in India is becoming more and more competitive, researchers and practitioners are getting increasingly interested in exploring how post-purchase behaviour of patients can be managed and high level of patient loyalty can be ensured. Patient loyalty has gained immense importance in health care service sector in India because of the drastic changes that have taken place in health care market in the last two decades. Today, the health care market is characterized by intense competition and specialization. Hospital management is increasingly recognizing the need to focus on patient loyalty as a means to achieve profitability and also to improve their competitive position. In this article, we theoretically explore the relationship of the antecedents of patient loyalty (service quality, perceived value, corporate image and perceived price fairness) and its outcomes (patients’ satisfaction and patient loyalty). The outcome of this research is a conceptualization of antecedents of patients’ loyalty in the context of health care supported by research propositions based on the existing literature. The article contributes to the existing literature a hypothesized model that permits the examination of consumer behavioural procedures with regard to service quality, perceived value, perceived price fairness, corporate image, patient satisfaction and patient loyalty. Exploring these processes through empirical studies in future will provide new insights, which will help hospital management retain existing customers and attract new customers.

Learnings from a Practitioner’s Executive Education Experiences in India

The author with the help of caselets helps showcase learnings in the area of executive education in India, from across sectors and organisations. These include sectors of retail, healthcare and IT services and include instances of different types of executive education—at the supervisory, managerial, leadership, technical leadership, management trainee and head of department levels. The author captures key learnings during specific learning interventions in the caselets and also notes the results from such interventions.