Measuring hospital performance
Measuring hospital performance is a complex and essential activity.
Workflow
Managing complex healthcare organisation
Managing a modern healthcare organisation is complex. Complexity stems from the variables that need to be entertained, which are highly unpredictable.
Clinical activity based process-cost coupling
Reimbursement for hospitals in Germany has undergone a complete change since the introduction of the German Diagnosis Related Group system (G-DRG).
Catastrophic care - When hospitals are overwhelmed
Paul E Pepe MD MPH FACEP FCCM, Professor of Medicine, Surgery, Public Health and Chair, Emergency Medicine, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Centre and the Parkland Health and Hospital System (TSMC&PHHS), Dallas.
Streamlining rehabilitation
Germany - Rehabilitation clinics are taking on an increasingly important role, because the country's Social Security Code indicates that, where possible, rehabilitation is preferable to providing pensions and long-term care.
Wireless at the bedside
Italy - The WardInHand project, which set out to provide a tool for medical teams to access a hospital information system (HIS) from wards, does not replace or compete with existing hospital systems but adds mobility and 'ubiquitous computing' to the HIS, by exchanging information with existing tools and updating clinical data in real time.
Efficient screening programmes
Modern methods and technology make it possible to combine out- and inpatient treatment through comprehensive, overlapping systems and to standardise and optimise early diagnosis, therapy and aftercare for malignant diseases of the female breast regionally.
World's lowest radiation doses
The Swedish firm Sectra reports that its digital MicroDose Mammography system reduces radiation by 80%, compared with traditional film-based systems, and that its completely new detection technology allows this without compromising image quality.
Worldwide about 600,000 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed annually
Mammography plays a critical part in diagnosing breast cancer. Although this does not prevent the disease, diagnosing breast cancer as early as possible can save lives.
Patients in five countries reveal healthcare deficiencies
Disturbingly high rates of medical errors, lack of care co-ordination, poor communication between doctors/patients, and barriers when accessing care, are experienced by patients in the United States (US), Australia, Canada, NZ (NZ) and the United Kingdom (UK).
A&E nurse practitioners
In a three part study in clinical and cost effectiveness of nurse practitioners (published by the BMA in the Emergency Medicine Journal 2003; 20:158-163) a team* from Sheffield University and the Northern General Hospital have concluded that “... a nurse practitioner minor injury service can provide a safe and effective service for the treatment of minor injury. However, the costs of such a…
A national electronic healthcare system
The National Health Service launches one of the world's biggest IT projects this month (April) aiming to connect British healthcare providers in 28 strategic health trusts via NHSnet. In the future, the plan “Delivering 21st Century IT Support for the NHS”:
Mobile PC
Since November last year, the Pen Tablet PC 3500, with MagicWeb/ Acom.web image distribution software, was field tested there by Dr Martin Herbst,
Operating theatres: the future
Innovative Technologies are the driving force behind the development of medical procedures aimed at minimum invasiveness with the highest precision and best clinical results.