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At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed2005

Semantics-based information modeling for the health-care administration sector: the citation platform.

An information brokerage environment for effective information structuring, indexing, and retrieval in the health-care administration sector is presented. The system is based on ontology modeling, natural language processing, extensible markup language, semantics analysis, and behavioral description. Semantics-based information acquisition is achieved through the uniform modeling, representation, and handling of domain-specific knowledge, both content-based and procedural. The system has been validated using information located on several repositories in the web and its performance is reported in terms of precision and recall.

Artificial Intelligence↗
PubMed2001

Rehabilitation an international perspective: a Zimbabwean experience.

PURPOSE/METHOD: The article discusses rehabilitation practices in Zimbabwe from both a local and international perspective. It considers the nature of formal and informal rehabilitation services in the country, and rehabilitation personnel training. RESULTS: Indigenous disability-related practices dominate the informal rehabilitation sector whereas modern rehabilitation practices characterize the formal rehabilitation sector. Rehabilitation clients make use of both the formal and informal rehabilitation systems. Persons with disabilities in Zimbabwean urban centres have more access to the formal rehabilitation service system than those in the rural areas. CONCLUSIONS: Rural communities may have more habilitation than rehabilitation, and are more accommodating of disability-related differences.

Persons with Disabilities↗
PubMed2003

Analysing health care systems performance: the story behind the statistics.

This commentary paper argues that the Asia-Pacific region would benefit from a home-grown version of the European Observatory on Health Care Systems to inform health sector policy: an Asia-Pacific Observatory. The countries in this diverse region, ranging from highly developed to very poor countries, are undergoing dramatic and diverse health sector changes, often on the basis of little evidence and with little information on successes and failures in neighbouring countries. The international community also is interested in knowing more about the many distinctive models of Asia-Pacific health care. While statistical comparisons are important, health policymakers and researchers need to understand the story behind the statistics in order to interpret the numbers and to formulate policies and strategies. Health system profiles therefore are useful instruments that describe how a complex health sector works, offer a comparative framework for cross-national comparisons, identify trends in health system design, and with standardised measures and regular updates measure progress against benchmarks. These reports and expanded analyses have influenced both national and Europe-wide debates on health policy. In the Asia-Pacific region, health systems research has built up a critical mass of studies and people with strong links across countries. The next ambitious steps are to identify sponsors able to support an enterprise that transcends national boundaries and to begin a project of comparative studies of national health systems.

Asia, Southeastern↗
PubMed1999

Viewpoint: management of malaria--working with the private sector.

Recent reviews have demonstrated that a substantial proportion of cases of malaria are managed in the private sector, and international policy initiatives routinely emphasize the need for malaria control programmes to collaborate with the private sector. However, information on how to develop successful partnerships between the public and private sectors remains limited. This paper reviews the current knowledge about the management of malaria by private providers, considers the potential of different strategies for influencing the quality of care provided, and identifies processes for facilitating public-private sector collaborations. We contend that public sector-led interventions, such as training of private providers or the distribution of prepackaged antimalarials through the private sector, are unlikely to scale up to sustainable national level programmes if they do not take into account a wide range of needs and concerns, represented by private provider organizations and other interest groups, including service users. These groups should be involved at key stages including the design and piloting of interventions, through to the dissemination and implementation of findings. Research priorities are outlined for the development of tools to facilitate public-private partnerships for improving the management of malaria.

Antimalarials↗
PubMed1998

Information overload: opportunities and challenges for the GP's desktop.

Recent developments in health data networks, the health sector and information systems, have created an overload of information available to the General Practitioner. The implementation of viable Health Data Networks within hospitals and subsequent connection to the GP's desktop PC enables increased access to patient records, decision-support and communication with experts around the world To address the high usage of expensive health services and lengthy waiting lists health services around the world are embracing programs such as Community, Coordinated, Shared and Managed care. This focus on coordination of care and increased emphasis on evidenced-based medicine is greatly enhanced through the advent of viable health data networks. Other resources such as databases, best-practice guidelines, the web, email, telemedicine and a range of commercial programs that provide further services has created an overload of resources available to the GP. Current human-computer interface guidelines are not adequate for prescribing design solutions to deal with the information overload facing GPs. The challenge for the near future is to present the vast array of information sources to the GP in an acceptable and useable information system interface. Part of the solution may revolve around the development of standards for Electronic Health Record systems for GPs, as is being done currently in Australia; but we suspect that less mainstream interface technologies will be required to exploit the wealth of available healthcare information.

Australia↗
PubMed1997

Information for management--the extent of information management in the acute care hospital sector.

The article explores the contributions of information and information technology to health care management by means of a study into current information use in a small acute care hospital and the preparations for new general practitioner purchasing systems. The findings highlight the interdependency between manual and computer systems and key departments in the hospital. With increased emphasis on primary health care, there is a greater need for information sharing between the hospital and general practitioners. Provision of information itself becomes a factor in determining service quality. Information systems are therefore emerging as an element in gaining competitive advantage in hospitals in the United Kingdom.

Diffusion of Innovation↗
PubMed2001

[Exchange of paraclinical information between the primary and secondary health sectors].

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of the study was to investigate the extent to which, biochemical test results obtained in the primary health sector could be regarded as valid information in the clinical assessment of patients admitted to hospital. METHODS: The study was based on a questionnaire, which was designed to assess the value of historical biochemical data in the initial diagnostic process. The data was transferred from the laboratory of Copenhagen general practitioners (KPLL) database to a computer terminal in the emergency medical ward at H:S Bispebjerg Hospital. RESULTS: It was possible to assess historical KPLL data on close to 80% of all hospitalised patients. In 50% of these patients, doctors indicated that the data always (96%) contributed to the diagnosis. In 70%, the data further contributed to the subsequent planning of diagnostic strategy. With regard to the initial diagnosis, comparison of KPLL data with data obtained on admission always resulted in a further classification of at least one condition. The comparison of KPLL data with admission data always led to a more precise plan for further diagnostic strategy. CONCLUSION: The comparison of KPLL data with admission data, significantly contributes to differentiate the initial diagnostic strategy. In turn, this seems to have a significant bearing on the planning of further diagnostic strategy. It is postulated that a computer-based information system, through which the primary and secondary health sectors can exchange patient-related clinical data, would lead to a more focused use of resources, and hold significant advantages for the patient.

Data Collection↗
PubMed2005

Design and implementation of a health management information system in Malawi: issues, innovations and results.

As in many developing countries, lack of reliable data and grossly inadequate appreciation and use of available information in planning and management of health services were two main weaknesses of the health information systems in Malawi. Malawi began strengthening its health management information system with an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of existing information systems, sharing findings with all stakeholders. All were agreed on the need for reformation of various, vertical programme-specific information systems into a comprehensive, integrated, decentralized and action-oriented simple system. As a first step towards conceptualization and design of the system, a minimum set of indicators was identified and a strategy was formulated for establishing a system in the country. The design focused only on the use of information in planning, management and the improvement of quality and coverage of services. All health and support personnel were trained, employing a training of trainers cascade approach. Information management and use was incorporated into the pre-service training curriculum and the job description of all health workers and support personnel. Quarterly feedback, supportive supervision visits and annual reviews were institutionalized. Civil society organizations were involved in monitoring coverage of health services at local levels. A mid-term review of the achievements of the health information system judged it to be one of the best in Africa. For the first time in Malawi, the health sector has information by facility by month. Yet very little improvement has been noted in use of information in rationalizing decisions. The conclusion is that, no matter how good the design of an information system, it will not be effective unless there is internal desire, dedication and commitment of leadership to have an effective and efficient health service management system.

Diffusion of Innovation↗