Performance-based Initiatives Research Articles

From PROBE to net zero: A study of soft landings’ contribution

This study reviews Soft Landings (SL) implementations, focusing on its role in achieving Low and Net Zero Emission (LZE) buildings and reducing the energy performance gap. With buildings contributing significantly to global carbon emissions, it is crucial to understand the effect of integrating approaches like SL for meeting Net Zero goals. Notably, this research identified that the extended 3-year aftercare phase of SL does not always lead to reduced operational carbon emissions. While SL promotes collaboration and structured delivery, its overall impact on consistently achieving LZE buildings remains unclear, largely due to insufficient in-use performance data. The paper advocates for integrating SL with other performance-based methods, emphasising the need for enhanced industry collaboration and data sharing to augment the understanding and effectiveness of SL in delivering LZE buildings. Practical Application This paper offers a thorough analysis of the Soft Landings (SL) framework in achieving Low and Net Zero Emission (LZE) buildings. It examines barriers at each project lifecycle stage and evaluates SL’s effectiveness through case studies, revealing inconsistencies in reducing operational emissions. The findings emphasise integrating SL with performance-based initiatives and enhancing industry collaboration and data sharing. Built environment professionals can leverage these insights to improve project delivery, optimise building performance, and achieve LZE goals more effectively.

Cost of Environmental and Human Health Impacts of Repairing Earthquake Damage

Extending existing performance-based initiatives, this paper provides a richer understanding of how earthquakes affect the environment and human health. Utilizing a detailed structural model, a host of emissions is predicted. Subsequently, the cost of environmental damage, such as climate change, and the cost of damage to human health, such as respiratory diseases, are calculated as a monetary value measured in dollars. A shear wall and a 6-story building serve as case studies to demonstrate the methodology and to provide quantitative insights into the effect of earthquakes on the environment and human health. The building is subjected to an earthquake ground motion, and wood, steel, and reinforced concrete options are compared for the load bearing system. The results suggest that the wood option has the lowest cost of emissions associated with repairs. The results provide a detailed account of emissions-related costs during the ground shaking and for different ground shaking intensities.

Performative justice? The role of theatre and performance in facilitating transitional justice

Interactions between theatre and performance studies and trauma and memory studies have grown in depth and ampleur in the last two decades. Theatre and performance can offer new perspectives on, and potential coping mechanisms for, dealing with trauma that are also salient to other fields of study, such as transitional justice. Literature on transitional justice deals with the question of how societies can deal with violence and trauma inflicted by predecessor regimes. This literature stands to be enriched by theatre and performance scholars’ experience with the transformation of trauma, violence, complexity and confusion. Yet, the dominance of legal practitioners in this field has given rise to a learned blind spot for theatre and performance studies, and also scholars in the field of theatre and performance studies themselves have been reluctant to address transitional justice practitioners and scholars. This article proposes a normative and praxis-based perspective on the potential and desirability of integrating insights from the field of theatre and performance studies into transitional justice studies. I do not consider one specific – set of – plays, but rather the techniques and assumptions which theatre makers have been using in their work in transitional societies. The article urges theatre and performance scholars to engage more fully with the domain of transitional justice, in order to increase the legitimacy of performance-based initiatives in the context of transitional justice interventions and to recast some of the basic assumptions of the transitional justice architecture.

MP51-07 TEACHING COMMUNICATION SKILLS IN UROLOGY RESIDENCY PROGRAMS: A MISSED OPPORTUNITY FOR IMPROVEMENT?

You have accessJournal of UrologySurgical Technology & Simulation: Training & Skills Assessment I1 Apr 2017MP51-07 TEACHING COMMUNICATION SKILLS IN UROLOGY RESIDENCY PROGRAMS: A MISSED OPPORTUNITY FOR IMPROVEMENT? Jorge Whitley, Geolani Dy, Marcy Rosenbaum, Byron Joyner, and Kathleen Kieran Jorge WhitleyJorge Whitley More articles by this author , Geolani DyGeolani Dy More articles by this author , Marcy RosenbaumMarcy Rosenbaum More articles by this author , Byron JoynerByron Joyner More articles by this author , and Kathleen KieranKathleen Kieran More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.juro.2017.02.1616AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookTwitterLinked InEmail INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES Postgraduate medical education has historically focused on the acquisition of didactic knowledge and technical skills, with less overt emphasis on the development of interpersonal and communication skills. Recent emphasis on patient satisfaction and performance-based initiatives has made this third dimension of medical training increasingly relevant. To date, there have been no studies on how communication skills are taught or evaluated in surgical specialties, including urology. We undertook this study to describe the current state of communication skill teaching in ACGME-accredited urology training programs in the United States. METHODS We surveyed 126 urology training programs via email and follow up phone calls, asking for an assessment of attending and resident communication skills as well as a description of how communication skills were taught in each program, and whether communication skills were evaluated (formally or informally) during interviews of prospective residents. RESULTS 48 programs (38.1%) completed the survey. All program leaders characterized attending communication skills as at least “adequate,” with most characterizing attendings as having “excellent” (52.2%) or “outstanding” (13.0%) communication skills. Most program leaders characterized residents as having “excellent” (50%) or “outstanding” (6.5%) communication skills, although 2.2% characterized residents as having “poor” communication skills. Only 10 (20.8%) programs had formal curricula to teach communication skills to residents. Resident observation of attendings (43/48=89.6%), faculty observation of residents (34/48=70.8%), and resident observation of other residents (29/48=60.4%) were cited as the most common ways for residents to learn communication skills. A minority of programs used dedicated didactic time (22/48=45.8%) or simulation (17/48=35.4%); formal feedback was provided to learners in only 5 (10.4%) programs. Prospective residents were evaluated on communication skills during the interview day either formally (6.4%) or informally (76.6%) by most programs. CONCLUSIONS The importance of good communication skills in urology residents is acknowledged by the high proportion of programs that assess interpersonal skills during the resident selection process. However, comprehensive formal communication skills training during urology residency is lacking. These findings may be helpful to urology program directors wishing to augment their contemporary approach to communication skills teaching for their residents. © 2017FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 197Issue 4SApril 2017Page: e696 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2017MetricsAuthor Information Jorge Whitley More articles by this author Geolani Dy More articles by this author Marcy Rosenbaum More articles by this author Byron Joyner More articles by this author Kathleen Kieran More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement Advertisement PDF downloadLoading ...

Heterogeneity and assessment uncertainties in forest characteristics and biomass carbon stocks: Important considerations for climate mitigation policies

The management of forests to store carbon and mitigate climate change has received significant international attention during the last decade. Using in situ data from a 2008–2009 forest inventory field campaign in Sri Lanka, this study describes the structural characteristics and carbon stocks of six natural forest types. This paper has a dual scope: i) to highlight the variation in carbon stored in aboveground biomass within and between forest types and ii) to determine the implications of the allometric equations chosen to calculate biomass carbon stocks. This study concerns work related to climate change interventions, such as Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) and other forest-related, performance-based initiatives that require proper monitoring, reporting, and verification of carbon stocks, sinks and emissions. The results revealed that forests are heterogeneous in terms of tree density and height–diameter relationships, both between and within the six forest types investigated. The mean aboveground carbon stock in the different forest types ranged from 22 to 181MgCha−1, and there were statistically significant differences in the carbon stocks of the six forest types in 7 of 15 cases. The estimated carbon stock depended heavily on the allometric equation used for the calculations, the variables, and its application to the specific life zone. Due to the diversity of forest structures, these results suggest that caution should be taken when applying default values to estimate forest carbon stocks and emission values in reporting and accounting schemes. The results also indicated the need for allometric equations that are context-specific for different forest types. Therefore, new field investigations and measurements are needed to determine these specific allometric equations, as well as the potential variation in forest carbon stocks in tropical natural forests.

Performance-based public management reforms: experience and emerging lessons from service delivery improvement in Indonesia

From both a practical and a theoretical perspective, improved public sector performance has preoccupied policymakers, managers, and analysts around the world. There is broad enthusiasm for performance-based initiatives to remedy service delivery failures, but conceptual boundaries are often vague, and empirical evidence for their effectiveness is mixed. This article reviews current thinking regarding service delivery improvement, and assesses several pathways to improved performance. We examine the pathways pursued in Indonesia’s rich experience with service delivery improvement, which shed particular light on the political economic factors shaping performance-based initiatives, and draw implications for reforms in other settings. Points for practitioners Our review of pathways for performance-enhancing reforms in Indonesia suggests that decentralization strongly influences the prospects of other pathways, but service improvements often depend on the center utilizing its leverage to monitor performance and strengthen incentives for implementing reforms. In the long term, unless accountabilities between districts and both providers and communities are strengthened, it is unlikely that existing performance incentives will operate as intended. Indonesia’s experience suggests that addressing political economic factors implies recognizing the multi-actor nature of governance and service delivery systems, and in pursuing both central and local levers for changed incentives.

Un nodule cutané infiltré du cuir chevelu révélant un lymphome B lymphoblastique

We study an enhanced fee-for-service model for primary care physicians in the Family Health Groups (FHG) in Ontario, Canada. In contrast to the traditional fee-for-service (FFS) model, the FHG model includes targeted fee increases, extended hours, performance-based initiatives, and patient enrolment. Using a long panel of claims data, we find that the FHG model significantly increases physician productivity relative to the FFS model, as measured by the number of services, patient visits, and distinct patients seen. We also find that the FHG physicians have lower referral rates and treat slightly more complex patients than the comparable FFS physicians. These results suggest that the FHG model offers a promising alternative to the FFS model for increasing physician productivity.

Enhanced fee-for-service model and physician productivity: Evidence from Family Health Groups in Ontario

We study an enhanced fee-for-service model for primary care physicians in the Family Health Groups (FHG) in Ontario, Canada. In contrast to the traditional fee-for-service (FFS) model, the FHG model includes targeted fee increases, extended hours, performance-based initiatives, and patient enrolment. Using a long panel of claims data, we find that the FHG model significantly increases physician productivity relative to the FFS model, as measured by the number of services, patient visits, and distinct patients seen. We also find that the FHG physicians have lower referral rates and treat slightly more complex patients than the comparable FFS physicians. These results suggest that the FHG model offers a promising alternative to the FFS model for increasing physician productivity.

Enhanced Fee-for-Service Model and Access to Physician Services: Evidence from Family Health Groups in Ontario

We study an enhanced fee-for-service model for primary care physicians in the Family Health Groups (FHG) in Ontario, Canada. In contrast to the traditional fee-for-service (FFS) model, the FHG model includes targeted fee increases, extended hours, performance-based initiatives, and patient enrolment. Using a long panel of claims data, we find that the FHG model significantly increases physician productivity relative to the FFS model, as measured by the number of services, patient visits, and distinct patients seen. We also find that the FHG physicians have lower referral rates and treat slightly more complex patients than the comparable FFS physicians. These results suggest that the FHG model offers a promising alternative to the FFS model for improving access to physician services.

HEDIS antidepressant medication management measures and performance-based measures: an opportunity for improvement in depression care.

Using the Health Plan Employer Data and Information Set (HEDIS), the National Committee for Quality Assurance partners with more than 90% of the nation's managed care organizations to collect, audit, and report performance on a range of standardized healthcare quality measures. Many HEDIS measures have been useful in promoting population health, such as rate of beta-blocker use after myocardial infarction or rate of cervical cancer screening. Other measures, such as those for Antidepressant Medication Management (AMM), have been less successful. Several trends are occurring within behavioral health management that attempt to improve depression treatment outcomes, including the implementation of performance-based initiatives using the HEDIS AMM measures and the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire. Ultimately, linking quality measures to clinical strategies is critical for achieving successful depression treatment outcomes.

Pollution prevention through performance-based initiatives and regulation in the United States

This paper documents over 20 years of progress in the United States to advance environmental protection through pollution prevention and other performance-based initiatives and regulations. This paper highlights a number of different approaches and strategies used at the state and federal government levels while outlining emerging barriers to the overall effectiveness of the existing US environmental protection system. As a result, the authors provide specific recommendations to accelerate the use and evolution of performance-based initiatives and regulations to achieve the goal of sustainable consumption and production systems.