Specialized Care For Patients Research Articles

QLTI-12. COST ANALYSIS OF EMERGENCY PROCEDURES FOR BRAIN TUMORS – WHEN YOU CAN WAIT

Abstract BACKGROUND Neurosurgery is expensive and requires advanced technology to achieve the best outcomes, especially for brain tumors. Generally patients are prepared during consultations for a brain tumor surgery, with anesthesiology, cardiology, neuropsychology and other specialties evaluations. Ideally, the hospitalization is planned before and patient is admitted only when is in good conditions. However some patients with brain tumors are evaluated in emergency department and sometimes require urgent procedures. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to estimate the direct cost of specialized care for adult neuro-oncological patients considering previous scheduled procedures versus urgent surgeries and another factors that may impact decision about nonelective procedures. METHODS This observational economic analysis describes the direct cost of care of neuro-oncological patients in Santa Casa de São Paulo, Brazil. Only adult patients with a common primary brain tumor were included. RESULTS The global mortality rate considering all patients were 12.7% and 92.3% of them occurred in nonelective procedures. Also these patients had a greater infection rate and period of hospitalization. Because of this we reviewed when a patient with brain tumor really need an urgent procedure. Despite several patients are initially diagnosed through ER investigation, probably the majority could be compensated through ambulatory consultations and after admitted with better conditions. Situations in which emergency surgery are required include acute hydrocephalus and non-compensated intracranial hypertension. CONCLUSIONS These patients usually have difficulty access to neurosurgical evaluation and so, only look for health assistance when the disease cause severe disability. Emergency surgeries were associated with an increased rate of infections and mortality. The findings of this study could be used by policymakers for resource allocation and to perform economic analyses to establish the value of neurosurgery in achieving global health goals. severe disability. KEY WORDS: costs; brain tumor; emergency; infections

Patient perspectives towards skin of color clinics: results from a survey study.

Skin of color clinics (SOCCs) are dermatology clinics that provide specialized care for patients with melanated skin. Little is known about patient perceptions and attitudes toward these clinics. We sought to perform a survey study to assess the opinions of patients of color previously seen in our dermatology department toward SOCC. A 14-question survey was sent by email to patients of color seen at our institution between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2021. Out of 264 participants who completed the survey, 176 (66.7%) indicated they would prefer to be seen in a SOCC and 88 (33.3%) preferred to be seen in a general dermatology clinic (GDC). Clinic choice varied significantly by ethnicity, with Black/African American participants being the most likely to prefer SOCC over GDC than other races/ethnicities. Those interested in SOCC were primarily motivated by a search for expertise in the skin of color (SOC) and did not have a preference for the skin color of the SOCC dermatologist. Those interested in GDC were happy with their current care. This study was limited by the single-center design and sample bias. Our results overall provide positive patient feedback for the creation of SOCCs as centers for expertise in SOC. The preference for SOCC varied by race/ethnicity, highlighting that clinic choice is best left to the patient.

Building Clinical Care Capacity for Patients With Special Pathogens in Advance of the Next Outbreak.

In response to the growing number of outbreaks of emerging infectious diseases, the US Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) has embarked on a plan to improve and expand special pathogen patient care capabilities. To achieve this, ASPR is developing a coordinated network of Regional Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Centers (RESPTCs) to serve as state-of-the-art facilities staffed by a highly trained workforce to care for and manage special pathogen patients across the lifespan. The RESPTC network represents the operational arm of a broader US National Special Pathogen System of care to prevent and prepare for the next infectious disease outbreak. RESPTCs are strategically located in every region across the country and form a network linking local and regional healthcare partners to enhance national preparedness through training in best practices for detection, isolation, and treatment of individuals suspected of or known to be infected with a special pathogen. This local, regional, and national network is also designed to lead a coordinated response that includes the dissemination of accurate and trustworthy information to responders and the public. The overarching goal of the RESPTCs is to serve as a valuable resource for clinical care, training, and material support to meet current and future major infectious diseases challenges. In this case study, 2 new RESPTCs, MedStar Washington Hospital Center and the University of North Carolina, describe their experiences related to designing a biocontainment unit, creating clinical teams, building staff resiliency, receiving mentoring from regional RESPTC partners, and developing opportunities for innovation.

Building a biocontainment unit: Infrastructure and organizational experiences of the 13 regional biocontainment units in the United States

In the United States, the system for special pathogen patient care incorporates a network of federally funded US biocontainment units that maintain operational readiness to care for patients afflicted by high-consequence infectious diseases (HCIDs). This network has expanded in number of facilities and in scope, serving as a regional resource for special pathogen preparedness. Lessons learned for maintaining these units are shared with the intent of informing new and existing biocontainment units.

Multidisciplinary surgical management of severe posterior compartment endometriosis

BackgroundEndometriosis is a chronic, inflammatory, and hormone-dependent disease that affects approximately 10% of women in reproductive age. Endometriosis is categorized into different types, as superficial, deep, and ovarian endometriosis. When deep endometriosis occurs, the sigmoid and rectum are often affected (Becker et al. in Hum Reprod Open, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1093/hropen/hoac009). In the following article, we aim to demonstrate stepwise surgery for stage IV endometriosis involving the anterior rectosigmoid.MethodsWe present the case of a 26-year-old obese (BMI 35.87) woman with severe posterior pelvic compartment endometriosis, persistent abdominal pain, and constipation. On preoperative MRI of the pelvis, a 13 cm conglomerate incorporating both ovaries (kissing ovaries), uterine serosa, and the anterior rectosigmoid was observed (Fig. 1). Accordingly, interdisciplinary laparoscopic surgery with a gynecologist and colorectal surgeon was planned.ResultsThe total laparoscopic approach is demonstrated step by step in the video.ConclusionsDeep endometriosis is a rare condition. When involvement of other organs (e.g., the bowel) is suspected, preoperative endometriosis-specific imaging should be performed for optimal surgical planning. Experienced endometriosis multidisciplinary surgical teams can provide specialized and high-quality care for patients suffering from this debilitating disease (Luna Russo et al. in Minerva Ginecol, 2020, https://doi.org/10.23736/S0026-4784.20.04544-X).

Effect of a comprehensive cancer care pathway and a navigation cancer program on breast cancer care in a middle-income country.

e13536 Background: Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer in women globally and in Colombia, with around 16.000 new cases estimated in 2022. Mortality associated with BC has decreased for 2 main reasons: screening that leads to early diagnosis and improved treatment of BC. However, BC related mortality remains stable in Colombia, with a 5-year overall survival of 74%, lower than other countries on the continent. This difference could be explained, among other things, by delays, barriers, and fragmentation of cancer care. Luis Carlos Sarmiento Angulo Cancer Treatment and Research Center (CTIC) is an institution designed for comprehensive cancer care, with specialized patient care through cancer clinics dedicated to a single disease (breast cancer, lung cancer, etc.). Every cancer clinic is associated with a cancer navigation program and has clinical care pathways with metrics that seek to monitor and reduce the time to diagnosis and treatment, among others. This study aims to describe the results of the comprehensive breast cancer care program and cancer navigation support in time to breast cancer diagnosis and treatment access. Methods: This descriptive study was carried out by retrospective reviewing of the navigation database from the breast cancer unit of the CTIC, sociodemographic information, clinical characteristics, and time to diagnosis (from first appointment to pathology report) and treatment were collected and described. A comparison between patients with comprehensive and fragmented care was done. Results: Since August 2022, 600 patients with confirmed breast cancer have been evaluated by the BC clinic, 401 (66.8%) patients were admitted through the cancer navigation program, 436 (72.6%) cases presented with a previously established diagnosis of breast cancer, and 164 (27.3%) were the novo cases. Of the novo cases, 37 (23.3%) cases received comprehensive care from diagnosis, with a time to diagnosis of 14 days, and time to treatment of 30.5 days, patients who did not receive comprehensive care presented a time to treatment of 68.1 days. Conclusions: A comprehensive cancer care and support from a navigation program significantly reduce the time to treatment in breast cancer patients. A comprehensive care model in Colombia has the opportunity to generate a better opportunity for access to diagnosis (14 days) and treatment (30.5 days) compared to the time to treatment data reported in the high-cost account (CAC) (27 and 52 days respectively). [Table: see text]

Biochemical Control in Cushing's syndrome: Outcomes of the treatment in a large single center cohort.

Normalization of hypercortisolism is essential to reduce morbidity and mortality in patients with Cushing's syndrome (CS). The aim of this analysis was to assess biochemical control rates in patients with Cushing's disease (CD), ectopic Cushing's syndrome (ECS) and adrenal Cushing's syndrome (ACS). Patients with confirmed CS (n= 296) treated in a single tertiary care center were retrospectively analysed (185 CD, 27 ECS, 84 uni- and bilateral ACS). Firstline treatment led to biochemical control in 82% of the patients. Time to biochemical control (median, IQR) was longer in CD (11.0 weeks, 5.6-29.8; p< 0.05) than in ACS (7.7 weeks, 4.1-17.1) and ECS (5.6 weeks, 4.1-23.3). Disease persistence or recurrence after first-line therapy was observed more often in CD (24% and 18%; p< 0.05) than in ECS (15% and 15%) and ACS (6% and 4%). Total time in hypercortisolism since diagnosis was significantly shorter in patients with CD diagnosed since 2013, after specialized patient care was implemented, compared to patients diagnosed before 2013 (13.5 weeks, vs. 26.1 weeks; p< 0.0070). Control of hypercortisolism at last follow up (76 months, 38-163) was achieved in 94% of patients with ACS, 100% of patients with ECS and 92% of patients with CD. Biochemical control can be achieved in most patients with different subtypes of CS within a reasonable time frame. Control of hypercortisolism has improved over time.

The Divergence between Self- and Preceptor-Assessments of Student Performance during Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences.

(1) Objectives: A divergence in self- and preceptor-evaluations of clinical skills has been noted during Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPEs). The goal of this study was to determine the domains of overestimation of clinical skills by students during their APPE rotations. (2) Methods: Preceptor-assigned grades for APPE rotations from 2017-2022 were analyzed to identify instances of letter grade B or lower. The self- and preceptor-evaluations of APPE rotation were compared to determine the domains of divergence in evaluation between students and preceptors. (3) Results: Between 2017 and 2022, 305 student APPE rotations were graded as B or lower (~14%) by the preceptors. A statistically significant difference was noted between self- and preceptor-assigned letter grades across all practice settings including ambulatory patient care, community pharmacy, general medicine patient care, hospital/health system pharmacy, and special population patient care APPE rotations. In addition, examining the self- and preceptor evaluation rubric for these rotations revealed a statistically significant overestimation of clinical skills by students in all 9 domains of APPE evaluation. Finally, the divergence in the rating of clinical skills between student- and preceptor evaluation was found to be highest in the domains of planning and follow-up of patient care, disease knowledge, and communication with patients. (4) Conclusions: Students who fail to exhibit exemplary practice readiness during APPEs tend to overestimate their clinical skills in all domains of APPE evaluation. The results from our study support the need for additional avenues to assist in the identification of deficits in student learning before APPEs to increase their self-awareness (metacognition).

Relationship between ICD implantation volume and treatment parameters of patients receiving an ICD with remote monitoring.

Both highly specialized heart centres and less specialized hospitals care for patients with implantable ICDs/CRT-Ds with remote monitoring. To investigate potential differences in patient treatment according to centre's ICD implantation volume. Based on their 2012 ICD/CRT-D implantation volume, centres enrolled in the NORDIC ICD trial in Germany were assigned to one of three groups: high- (HV, n= 345), medium- (MV, n= 340) or low-volume (LV, n= 189). The HV-centres had a significant higher CRT-D proportion (41.7%; LV: 36.5%; MV: 23.2%; P𝑔𝑙𝑜𝑏𝑎𝑙< 0.001), significant shorter median procedure duration (49 min; MV: 58 min; LV: 60 min; P𝑔𝑙𝑜𝑏𝑎𝑙< 0.001) but significant longer median hospital stay (4 days; MV and LV: 3 days; P𝑔𝑙𝑜𝑏𝑎𝑙< 0.001) compared to MV- and LV-centres. The X-ray exposure was shorter in MV/HV-centres (MV: 3.4 min; HV: 3.6 min; LV: 5.5 min; P𝑔𝑙𝑜𝑏𝑎𝑙< 0.001). Only 3.5% (LV: 2.6%; HV: 3.5%; MV: 4.1%) patients received at least one delivered inappropriate shock and 2.5% (HV: 2.0%; LV: 2.6%; MV: 2.9%) patients had withheld inappropriate ICD shocks without subsequent inappropriate shock delivery within 24.5 months of median follow-up. Implantation volume-dependent differences were observed in the device selection, procedure duration and x-ray exposure duration. Remote monitoring in combination with adequate response pattern prevented imminent inappropriate shocks in all three groups.

The Case for Decentralizing Cancer Care: The Rural Oncology Home

Despite significant advances in cancer therapies over recent decades, the United States grapples with growing disparities in cancer-related outcomes between its rural populations and urban and suburban counterparts. These disparities can be attributed, in part, to the centralization of oncology services within urban centers, which concomitantly imposes heightened travel demands on rural patients, constricting their access to comprehensive cancer treatment and specialized care. Historically, strategies such as the visiting consultant outreach model have been deployed to improve service accessibility, yet they offer only fragmented solutions to the multifaceted challenge of equitable care distribution. In response to this challenge, the authors introduce the rural oncology home, an alternative model for rural oncology care delivery. This innovative approach is centered on a community-based, team-oriented framework that incorporates medical specialists and emphasizes supportive services. By leveraging advanced practice professionals and care coordination, the model aims to enhance the accessibility of specialized cancer care for rural patients. Such models for rural oncology care delivery are emerging, with a pronounced emphasis on leveraging telehealth technologies. The Lakewood Health System Rural Oncology Home model can potentially create a more equitable system of cancer care delivery that can bridge the rural cancer gap and improve outcomes for rural patients with cancer.

Long-term outcomes of very low birth weight infants with intraventricular hemorrhage: a nationwide population study from 2011 to 2019.

Advancements in neonatal care have increased preterm infant survival but paradoxically raised intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) rates. This study explores IVH prevalence and long-term outcomes of very low birth weight (VLBW) infants in Korea over a decade. Using Korean National Health Insurance data (NHIS,2010-2019), we identified3372 VLBW infants with IVH among 4,129,808 live births.Health-related claims data, encompassing diagnostic codes, diagnostic test costs, and administered procedures were sourced from the NHIS database.The results of the developmental assessments are categorized into four groups based on standard deviation (SD) scores.Neonatal characteristics and complications were compared amongthe groups. Logistic regression models were employed to identify significant changes in the incidence of complications and to calculate odds ratios with corresponding 95% confidence intervals for each risk factor associated with mortality and morbidity in IVH.Long-term growth and developmentwere compared between the two groups(years2010-2013 and 2014-2017). IVH prevalence was 12% in VLBW and 16% in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants. Over the past decade, IVH rates increased significantly in ELBW infants (P = 0.0113), while mortality decreased (P = 0.0225). Major improvements in certain neurodevelopmental outcomes and reductions in early morbidities have been observed among VLBW infants with IVH. Ten percent of the population received surgical treatments such as external ventricular drainage (EVD) or a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt, with the choice of treatment methods remaining consistent over time. The IVH with surgical intervention group exhibited higher incidences of delayed development, cerebral palsy, seizure disorder, and growth failure (height, weight, and head circumference) up to 72months of age (P < 0.0001). Surgical treatments were also significantly associated with abnormal developmental screening test results. The neurodevelopmental outcomes of infants with IVH, especially those subjected tosurgical treatments, continue to be a matter of concern. It is imperative to prioritize specialized care for patients receiving surgical treatments and closely monitor their growth and development after discharge to improve developmental prognosis. Supplementary file2 (MP4 77987 kb).

Bridging the gap: How investing in advanced practice nurses could transform emergency care in Africa.

This paper aims to highlight the vital importance of investing in advanced practice nursing (APN) for enhancing emergency care throughout Africa. APN's role is increasingly recognized as pivotal in optimizing healthcare, particularly in emergency settings in Africa. It offers improved patient care quality and strengthens the healthcare workforce. Evidence is drawn from successful implementations of APN in various healthcare environments. This includes the development of APN-specific curricula and training, mentorship initiatives, clinical supervision, and defining advanced nursing roles within healthcare organizations. Investing in APNs in emergency care in Africa can lead to improved quality and access to care, cost-effectiveness, enhanced patient outcomes and satisfaction, and opportunities for professional development and career advancement in the healthcare workforce. Despite facing barriers in implementation, APN in emergency care presents innovative solutions. Investing in APN can help healthcare entities and policymakers surmount these challenges, providing specialized patient care and improving health outcomes. The discussion emphasizes the benefits such as enhanced access to care, reduced healthcare costs, and improved patient outcomes, alongside bolstering the healthcare workforce. The necessity and benefits of investing in APN for emergency care in Africa are clear. It is crucial for improving healthcare delivery and outcomes. APN investment leads to a more competent and efficient nursing workforce, capable of addressing complex emergencies and improving patient care. The paper advocates for policies that support APN development and integration into the healthcare system, emphasizing the need for research to assess APN's long-term impact and establish best practices for its implementation in emergency care across Africa.

The Use of Teledentistry for Patient Care among Dentists in Nigeria

Objectives: To determine the proportion of Nigerian dentists presently utilising Teledentistry, factors affecting its use, means of communication and devices used and their opinions on it acceptability, effectiveness and suitability in dental practice.&#x0D; Methods: A Survey Monkey online poll was used to collect data on participants’ demographics, their use of Teledentistry, perceived benefits and challenges of Teledentistry, as well as opinions on its acceptability, effectiveness, and suitability. The chi-square test was used to determine statistically significant differences between groups.&#x0D; Results: Out of 119 participants, 62.2% do not currently utilize Teledentistry. Less than half (42.6%) with internet access at work and 12.5% with internet access only at home utilize Teledentistry (P=0.016). Cell phones and personal computers are the only devices used but 60% of participants in public health care used cell phones (P= 0.425). The majority (94.9%) of the study participants agreed that Teledentistry can be used to connect patients with specialist care that may not be readily available but only 47.1% agreed to the use of Teledentistry for specialized care of patients. Eighty-four per cent agreed that the cost of telecommunications equipment for Teledentistry can be a cause for concern and 66.4% agreed that privacy is still a concern in Teledentistry.&#x0D; Conclusion: The use of Teledentistry among Nigerian dentists is currently low and access to the Internet during work hours may increase Teledentistry utilisation. Cell phones and personal computers are commonly used in both public and private dental centers. Although many Nigerian dentists consider Teledentistry effective, there are a few concerns about its acceptability and suitability for use in their dental practice&#x0D; &#x0D;

Implementing a Frailty-Specific Postoperative Order Set to Improve Postoperative Outcomes in Frail Adults After Elective Thoracic Surgery.

Frailty is independently associated with adverse patient outcomes after surgery. The current standards of postoperative care rarely consider frailty status. There was no standardized protocol to optimize specialized postoperative care for frail patients at an academic medical center. A quasi-experimental pre-/postimplementation study design, using the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance implementation framework, was utilized. A frailty-specific postoperative order set (FPOS) was developed, including tailored nursing care, activity levels, and nutritional goals. There were significant improvements in nurse's self-reported familiarity with frailty ( P =.003) and FPOS awareness ( P <.001). The number of orders for delirium prevention, elimination, nutrition, sleep promotion, and sensory support increased ( P <.001). Implementing an FPOS showed improvements in nurse frailty knowledge, awareness, and order set utilization.

Influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the congenital heart surgery service in Lithuania.

CHD is a unique group of medical pathologies. Literature worldwide reports significant decrements in the case volume of patients with these conditions due to the recent global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019. The only centre providing congenital cardiac care for Lithuanian population is in a hospital which was the main medical institution for the sickest coronavirus disease 2019 patients. Hence, this centre had to maintain its service alongside the mobilisation of resources to tackle the crisis. To evaluate the effect of the pandemic on the service of congenital heart surgery in Lithuania. The activity of a single centre providing congenital heart care working in a main coronavirus 2019 pandemic hospital during the pandemic was analysed and compared to a matched period of pre-pandemic activity. The number of admitted patients was similar during both pre-pandemic and pandemic periods. During the pandemic period, younger patients were more often operated as urgent cases. Their postoperative length of stay was longer. However, there were no differences in early postoperative mortality between the two groups. It was possible to maintain an accessible and high-quality specialised congenital cardiac care for various age patients during global pandemic events, while working in the main pandemic hospital.

СПЕЦИАЛИЗИРОВАННАЯ МЕДИЦИНСКАЯ ПОМОЩЬ ПАЦИЕНТАМ С СЕРДЕЧНО-СОСУДИСТЫМИ ЗАБОЛЕВАНИЯМИ: ОТДЕЛЬНЫЕ АСПЕКТЫ

Significance. Diseases of the circulatory system are a class of diseases of high social importance and a reservoir for reducing mortality and increasing life expectancy, primarily through improving specialized medical care for working-age patients. The purpose of this study is to assess the results of improving specialized medical care for cardiovascular patients under the federal project “Fight against cardiovascular diseases”. Material and Methods. The analysis is based on data from statistical collections of the Federal Research Institute for Health Organization and Informatics of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, and was focused on evaluating target and actual indicators of the federal project “Fight against cardiovascular diseases”. The content analysis of normative legal documents regulating provision of medical care to patients with cardiovascular diseases has been undertaken. Results. Results of the federal project implemented from October 1st, 2018 to December 31st, 2023, are as follows: 374 regional vascular centers and primary vascular departments were re-equipped (retrofitted); more than 310,000 therapeutic X-ray endovascular interventions were performed; 95.5% of patients who underwent through major cardiovascular surgery are provided with free medications; more than 70% of patients with a high risk of acute cardiovascular event are under medical follow-up and received medical care; hospital mortality from myocardial infarction is under 10%, and hospital mortality from acute cerebrovascular accidents is under16.2%. The standardized mortality rate from diseases of the circulatory system in Russia as a whole decreased by 6.0% in 2022 compared to 2018 and equaled to 408.8 per 100,000population. Conclusion. Implementation of the federal project “Fight against cardiovascular diseases” has made it possible to increase effectiveness of specialized medical care delivery in the Russian Federation primarily due to improved material and technical resources of health care facilities. Coverage of cardiovascular patients with quality clinical follow-up is a hard-to-implement component of the overall process of care delivery to such patients, requiring on-going improvements in the implementation approaches. Progress towards this target is the lowest. In order to achieve quality results in reducing morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular diseases, it is important to timely improve the regulatory framework rather than only develop the resource component.

Areas with high HIV prevalence: A spatial analysis of nationwide claims data in Germany.

We aimed to identify spatial clusters of high HIV prevalence in Germany. Using nationwide outpatient claims data comprising information of about 88% of the total German population (N = 72 041 683), we examined spatial variations and spatial clusters of high HIV prevalence at the district level (N = 401). People with HIV were identified using the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision (ICD-10 codes) B20, B22, and B24 (HIV disease) documented as 'confirmed'. Among 72 041 683 people with statutory health insurance in Germany in 2021, 72 636 had diagnosed HIV, which corresponds to a prevalence of 101 per 100 000 individuals (0.10%). Of these, 56 895 were males (78%). At a district level, the HIV prevalence varied by a factor of 32 between 13 in a rural district in Bavaria and 417 per 100 000 individuals in the German capital, Berlin. The spatial autocorrelation coefficient was 0.24 (p < 0.0001, Global Moran's I). Several high-prevalence spatial clusters of different sizes were identified, mostly located in western Germany. The largest cluster comprised eight districts in the southern part of Hesse, including the city of Frankfurt and the city of Mainz in Rhineland-Palatinate. The second cluster consisted of four districts in North Rhine-Westphalia, including the cities of Cologne and Düsseldorf. Two districts in southern Germany (Mannheim and Ludwigshafen) formed the third cluster. Only urban districts were observed in spatial clusters of high HIV prevalence. The current study identified for the first time spatial clusters with high HIV prevalence in Germany. This understanding is of particular importance when planning the general and specialized medical care of patients with HIV and to support preventive measures.

Routing and Logistics of Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients During Selection for Surgical Treatment in the Republic of Bashkortostan

Introduction. Surgical intervention is recognized as an integral part of pulmonary tuberculosis treatment. Optimal routing of pulmonary tuberculosis patients to surgical treatment essentially improves the effectiveness of tuberculosis treatment. The paper is aimed at analyzing the routing of pulmonary tuberculosis patients to surgical treatment in the Republic of Bashkortostan. Materials and methods. The paper presents the structure of Republican Clinical Tuberculosis Dispensary, describes the routing of patients followed by the TB Service of the Republic of Bashkortostan, indicates a significant role of telehealth technologies in providing specialized medical care for patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. In addition, the paper introduces the quantitative data and structure of surgical interventions performed in the TB Surgery Unit of the Republican Clinical Tuberculosis Dispensary. Results and discussion. According to the conducted analysis, the TB Service of the Republic of Bashkortostan complies with the regulatory documents of the Russian Federation, thus ensuring the most complete coverage of pulmonary tuberculosis patients in need of thoracic surgery. Conclusion. Timely routing of patients to a TB surgery unit enables effective treatment, differential diagnosis, and abacillation of patients to be provided, thereby reducing the spread of tuberculosis in the region.

A cost-analysis of managing secondary and apparent treatment-resistant hypertension in a specialist multidisciplinary hypertension clinic.

A knowledge gap exists around the costs and budget impact of specialist hypertension clinics. This study reports on the cost of providing care in a multidisciplinary hypertension clinic staffed by nephrologist, endocrinologist and cardiologist, which manages patients with suspected secondary hypertension and/or apparent treatment-resistant hypertension. The aim of this study is to provide the evidence required to inform policy and planning care pathways for this patient group. A cost analysis from a healthcare provider perspective using micro-costing techniques was conducted to estimate the direct implementation costs of existing standard practice for the care pathway of patients attending the multidisciplinary hypertension clinic. Sixty-five patients originally recruited for a study of medication adherence in hypertension were included in the sample. The total care-pathway cost per patient, taking into account clinic visits, clinical reviews, investigations and MDT discussion, was estimated to be €3277, on average. For the patient subgroups, the average cost was €5644 for patients diagnosed with primary aldosteronism and €1446 for patients diagnosed with essential hypertension. There is significant cost associated with providing specialized hypertension care for patients with apparent treatment-resistant hypertension. Given the high rates of nonadherence in this population, it is likely that some of this cost could be avoided with better detection and management of medication adherence in this challenging population. Future studies should consider the cost-effectiveness of this or similar models of care by exploring the benefit to patients and the wider healthcare context of providing care of this type.

The health profile and prevalent diseases of female patients with HIV/aids treated at the center for studies and care for special patients at a school clinic

The health profile and prevalent diseases of female patients with HIV/aids treated at the center for studies and care for special patients at a school clinic