ICN Elects New President
Rosemary Bryant, outstanding nursing leader nationally and internationally, has been elected as the 26th President of the International Council of Nurses (ICN).
Laws & regulations
'Non!' to super-CEO
Opposition emerges to French plan to re-engineer hospital system, but Legislature is expected to bow to the Presidential will, writes John Brosky
Article • Aging society
Care of elderly and geriatric patients in EU countries
The system lacks a coherent structure to deal with its rapidly aging population.
Article • Be prepared
The WHO Surgical Safety Checklist
Following the launch of the Action Alliance on Patient Safety (High 5s) initiative, launched in 2006 by the World Health Organisation (WHO) Collaborating Centre on Patient Safety (Solutions), the World Alliance for Patient Safety and the Commonwealth Fund, in June 2008 the WHO introduced a Surgical Safety Checklist, as part of the Safe Surgery Saves Lives Campaign. Over 300 organisations,…
Towards more efficient cross-border healthcare in Europe
Unlimited digital communication between European healthcare systems - that's the aim of the European Commission's e-health activities. In particular, an electronic version of the European Health Insurance Card is coming closer. However, the road towards a standardised electronic patient summary is somewhat rockier.
Reimbursement for new medical technologies
Olaf Winkler, Head of Department for Healthcare at BVMed, the German Medical Technology Association, outlines the obstacles that must be overcome to integrate medical technology into the standard hospital reimbursement system after successful studies and CE certification
MANAGEMENT
Accreditation and standards of Excellence in Europe
New campaign for fair drugs testing aims to combat exploitation worldwide
The Netherlands - People in developing countries run health risks from pharmaceutical companies testing drugs on them for the Western market.
Article • Event
The 1st European Symposium on Quality Management and Accreditation in Laboratory Medicine
Organised jointly by the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC), the European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (EFCC) and the French Society of Clinical Biology (SFBC), the two-day symposium served as a platform to address future strategies to promote accreditation for clinical chemists and all professions in laboratory medicine.
Medizintechnik-Unternehmen drohen Kostensteigerungen
Der Medizintechnik-Branchenverband SPECTARIS befürchtet, dass durch die Anpassung des Medizinproduktegesetzes ein erhebliche Steigerung der Kosten auf die Hersteller zukommt. Die in dem Vorschriftenentwurf geforderten Genehmigungsverfahren für Hightech-Produkte seien mit einem unnötigen Mehr an bürokra-tischem Aufwand verbunden.
Healthcare and the 2009 EU Presidencies
The next two countries to preside over the EU Presidency - the Czech Republic (first half year of 2009) and Sweden (second half) recently presented the priorities of their presidencies for healthcare at the European Health Forum Gastein (EHFG).
11% drop in AMI admissions
Less acute heart attacks in Italy five months after the introduction of a smoking ban in indoor public places.
UBIFRANCE
UBIFRANCE and the network of Trade Commissions together constitute the French government's corporate international expansion support framework. Every year they help over 13,000 companies of all sizes, and from all sectors, to develop their activities worldwide, thanks to the expertise of 2,500 staff based in France and in 120 countries, who operate through the Trade Commissions of the French…
Controlling hazardous substances and other waste
COCIR*, the EU non-profit-making healthcare trade association, has signed a `Memorandum of Understanding´ (MoU) on environmental policy with ENVIRON*, an international consultancy that works with clients to assess and manage potential environmental, sustainability and health issues associated with their activities and products.
More choices for the needy
Individual budgets can give people more choice, flexibility and control over their personal care, as well as a better quality of life, according to a pilot scheme evaluation report launched by Care Services Minister Phil Hope.
The quality of paediatric nurse training
"Children are no small adults. That remains true no matter how often it is repeated. And it is particularly true in paediatric nursing," says Andreas Wachtel, vice chairman of the GkinD (Germany's association of children's hospitals and paediatric departments, and Elfriede Zoller, chairwoman of the BeKD (the country's professional association of paediatric nurses).
MEDICA - a benchmark for nursing organisations
MEDICA - the most important event in the world of healthcare - displays the entire range of products, solutions and innovations relevant in this sector. The event is therefore also important to nurses, for they can discover and examine new equipment and other products and directly contact the manufactures and distributors.
When must buyers put out tenders?*
Initially, it must be emphasised that companies are only committed by current public procurement law where this is required by law.
2.2 billion euros saved should be spent on nurses
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) wants the Department of Health to spend a forecasted surplus of around 2.2 billion euros on the 2008/09 National Health Service (NHS) budget on nurse recruitment and training and to support the transition from acute to community-based care under health minister Lord Darzi's reform of the NHS.
Europe's unequal healthcare
Christian Pruszinsky reports from the 11th European Health Forum Gastein in Austria: `Achieving the level of healthcare of the older EU member states will remain a long-term project for new members´ .
Equipment safety and nursing care
The safety of medical products, which includes bedding, depends on three pillars: identification of mistakes, updating standards and training.
Germany: Tackling contaminated water
Compared with private households, hospitals may only produce 10-20% of wastewater containing the residue of drugs; however, tackling the problem is very necessary.
A new tool for European patients
Last week, the Commissioner for Health, Androulla Vassiliou launched the 'Europe for Patients' campaign in Brussels. The campaign highlights the different health policy initiatives the Commission intends to adopt in the coming months. All these initiatives are bound by a common goal: better healthcare for all in Europe.
The wait is over
The UK's National Health Service is notorious for its waiting time for surgery. The Scottish Government recently decided to tackle this issue and proposed a Patient Rights Bill which includes a legal right to surgery within twelve weeks .
eHealth for safe, high quality and efficient cross-border healthcare
Health systems and health policies across the EU are becoming ever more interconnected which raises many health policy issues. On 2 July 2008, in the context of the Renewed Social Agenda, the European Commission tabled a proposal for a directive on patients' rights in cross-border healthcare. Essential precondition for cross-border healthcare is the existence of electronic health record systems…