Download or read book Medical Practice Variations written by Ana Johnson and published by Springer. This book was released on 2016-03-22 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This title deals with internationally documented variations in medical practice and health service that exist across countries as well as regions across a specific country. Such variations raise critical concerns about the quality, equity and efficiency of health care resources across the world. Health services researchers have long been aware of large variations in the use of medical care across regions and medical providers. In the 1930s, the British pediatrician J.A. Glover observed that the rates of tonsillectomy in British schoolchildren varied widely, depending on the district where the students lived and the doctors who examined them. This volume provides a contextual landscape for the study of health care utilization through the lens of medical practice variations. It is grounded in the pioneering work by medical care epidemiologist, Dr. John Wennberg, who revealed wide variations in elective surgical rates across small areas in the U.S. and his findings that these variations were generally not explained by differences in population illness rates or patient preferences but rather, there were strong associations between supply of health care resources, such as hospital beds and physicians and health care utilization. This volume introduces the concept of medical practice variations and its early history, outlines established concepts and frameworks, with an overview of methods used to understand the variations in medical care . It makes the case for outcomes research in determining what works in health care and policy reforms to rationalize how care is delivered. Each chapter synthesizes the current published literature in the field and covers a description of medical practice variations in the area, determinants of these variations and outcomes. It outlines the most current research on specific types of utilization such as inpatient care, emergency services, elective surgery, primary care, obstetric and gynaec ological care, mental health care and end-of-life care, among others. Studies of variation in condition-specific care focus on common conditions such as acute myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, stroke, diabetes and procedures such as cancer surgery and joint replacement. Special topics include health care spending and quality, shared decision making and disparities.
Download or read book The Challenges of Medical Practice Variations written by Tavs Folmer Andersen and published by . This book was released on 1990 with total page 224 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In recent years it has become very clear that there are considerable differences, both across countries and within countries, in the treatments offered by doctors to apparently similar patients. The Challenges of Medical Practice Variations discusses and examines a number of variations in practice: why they exist, their implications for effectiveness, efficiency and equity; and what should be done about them in terms of both health policy and research. This book sees such practice variations as a challenging and promising stepping-stone towards a necessary reassessment of today's, and tomorrow's, health services. A major cross-disciplinary effort is called for, and the authors, with their diverse backgrounds, provide the necessary components for just such an effort. The book will be of value not only to health economists. It has been written primarily to appeal to other healthcare professionals and students, and introduces key elements of current thinking on medical practice variations.
Download or read book Differences in Medicine written by Marc Berg and published by Duke University Press. This book was released on 1998 with total page 292 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Western medicine is widely thought of as a coherent and unified field in which beliefs, definitions, and judgments are shared. This book debunks this myth with an interdisciplinary and intercultural collection of essays that reveals the significantly varied ways practitioners of "conventional" Western medicine handle bodies, study test results, configure statistics, and converse with patients.
Download or read book OECD Health Policy Studies Geographic Variations in Health Care What Do We Know and What Can Be Done to Improve Health System Performance written by OECD and published by OECD Publishing. This book was released on 2014-09-16 with total page 419 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This report helps policy makers better understand the issues and challenges around geographic variations in health care provision and considers the policy options.
Download or read book Improving Healthcare Quality in Europe Characteristics Effectiveness and Implementation of Different Strategies written by OECD and published by OECD Publishing. This book was released on 2019-10-17 with total page 447 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume, developed by the Observatory together with OECD, provides an overall conceptual framework for understanding and applying strategies aimed at improving quality of care. Crucially, it summarizes available evidence on different quality strategies and provides recommendations for their implementation. This book is intended to help policy-makers to understand concepts of quality and to support them to evaluate single strategies and combinations of strategies.
Download or read book Evidence Based Medicine and the Changing Nature of Health Care written by Institute of Medicine and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2008-09-06 with total page 202 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Drawing on the work of the Roundtable on Evidence-Based Medicine, the 2007 IOM Annual Meeting assessed some of the rapidly occurring changes in health care related to new diagnostic and treatment tools, emerging genetic insights, the developments in information technology, and healthcare costs, and discussed the need for a stronger focus on evidence to ensure that the promise of scientific discovery and technological innovation is efficiently captured to provide the right care for the right patient at the right time. As new discoveries continue to expand the universe of medical interventions, treatments, and methods of care, the need for a more systematic approach to evidence development and application becomes increasingly critical. Without better information about the effectiveness of different treatment options, the resulting uncertainty can lead to the delivery of services that may be unnecessary, unproven, or even harmful. Improving the evidence-base for medicine holds great potential to increase the quality and efficiency of medical care. The Annual Meeting, held on October 8, 2007, brought together many of the nation's leading authorities on various aspects of the issues - both challenges and opportunities - to present their perspectives and engage in discussion with the IOM membership.
Download or read book Biological Variation written by Callum G. Fraser and published by Amer. Assoc. for Clinical Chemistry. This book was released on 2001 with total page 172 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Tracking Medicine written by John E. Wennberg and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2010-08-26 with total page 341 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Written by a groundbreaking figure of modern medical study, Tracking Medicine is an eye-opening introduction to the science of health care delivery, as well as a powerful argument for its relevance in shaping the future of our country. An indispensable resource for those involved in public health and health policy, this book uses Dr. Wennberg's pioneering research to provide a framework for understanding the health care crisis; and outlines a roadmap for real change in the future. It is also a useful tool for anyone interested in understanding and forming their own opinion on the current debate.
Download or read book Clinical Practice Guidelines written by Institute of Medicine and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 1990-02-01 with total page 169 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Alberta clinical practice guidelines program is supporting appropriate, effective and quality medical care in Alberta through promotion, development and implementation of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines.
Download or read book Morbidity Performance and Quality in Primary Care written by Gert P. Westert and published by Radcliffe Publishing. This book was released on 2006 with total page 316 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book is based on the findings of a nationwide study, the aim of which was to analyse general practitioners' performance as gatekeepers of the Dutch healthcare system. The study was undertaken along six themes: the health of the population; inequalities in health; utilisation of care; quality of care; communication; organisation and workload. Morbidity, Performance and Quality in Primary Care involves 400,000 patients, 1.5 million recorded GP-patient contacts and 2.1 million drug prescriptions. This survey appears at a timely moment. It coincides with the recent interest in primary care arising not only from the growing importance of cost containment in healthcare, but also from the now firmly established association between the life expectancy of a population and the existence of a strong primary care sector. The international interest in the Dutch situation is reflected in several chapters, where experts from all over the world put Dutch general practice into an international perspective.
Download or read book Clinical Practice Guidelines We Can Trust written by Institute of Medicine and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2011-06-16 with total page 217 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Advances in medical, biomedical and health services research have reduced the level of uncertainty in clinical practice. Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) complement this progress by establishing standards of care backed by strong scientific evidence. CPGs are statements that include recommendations intended to optimize patient care. These statements are informed by a systematic review of evidence and an assessment of the benefits and costs of alternative care options. Clinical Practice Guidelines We Can Trust examines the current state of clinical practice guidelines and how they can be improved to enhance healthcare quality and patient outcomes. Clinical practice guidelines now are ubiquitous in our healthcare system. The Guidelines International Network (GIN) database currently lists more than 3,700 guidelines from 39 countries. Developing guidelines presents a number of challenges including lack of transparent methodological practices, difficulty reconciling conflicting guidelines, and conflicts of interest. Clinical Practice Guidelines We Can Trust explores questions surrounding the quality of CPG development processes and the establishment of standards. It proposes eight standards for developing trustworthy clinical practice guidelines emphasizing transparency; management of conflict of interest ; systematic review-guideline development intersection; establishing evidence foundations for and rating strength of guideline recommendations; articulation of recommendations; external review; and updating. Clinical Practice Guidelines We Can Trust shows how clinical practice guidelines can enhance clinician and patient decision-making by translating complex scientific research findings into recommendations for clinical practice that are relevant to the individual patient encounter, instead of implementing a one size fits all approach to patient care. This book contains information directly related to the work of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), as well as various Congressional staff and policymakers. It is a vital resource for medical specialty societies, disease advocacy groups, health professionals, private and international organizations that develop or use clinical practice guidelines, consumers, clinicians, and payers.
Download or read book The Healthcare Imperative written by Institute of Medicine and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2011-01-17 with total page 852 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The United States has the highest per capita spending on health care of any industrialized nation but continually lags behind other nations in health care outcomes including life expectancy and infant mortality. National health expenditures are projected to exceed $2.5 trillion in 2009. Given healthcare's direct impact on the economy, there is a critical need to control health care spending. According to The Health Imperative: Lowering Costs and Improving Outcomes, the costs of health care have strained the federal budget, and negatively affected state governments, the private sector and individuals. Healthcare expenditures have restricted the ability of state and local governments to fund other priorities and have contributed to slowing growth in wages and jobs in the private sector. Moreover, the number of uninsured has risen from 45.7 million in 2007 to 46.3 million in 2008. The Health Imperative: Lowering Costs and Improving Outcomes identifies a number of factors driving expenditure growth including scientific uncertainty, perverse economic and practice incentives, system fragmentation, lack of patient involvement, and under-investment in population health. Experts discussed key levers for catalyzing transformation of the delivery system. A few included streamlined health insurance regulation, administrative simplification and clarification and quality and consistency in treatment. The book is an excellent guide for policymakers at all levels of government, as well as private sector healthcare workers.
Download or read book Rethinking Causality Complexity and Evidence for the Unique Patient written by Rani Lill Anjum and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2020-06-02 with total page 252 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This open access book is a unique resource for health professionals who are interested in understanding the philosophical foundations of their daily practice. It provides tools for untangling the motivations and rationality behind the way medicine and healthcare is studied, evaluated and practiced. In particular, it illustrates the impact that thinking about causation, complexity and evidence has on the clinical encounter. The book shows how medicine is grounded in philosophical assumptions that could at least be challenged. By engaging with ideas that have shaped the medical profession, clinicians are empowered to actively take part in setting the premises for their own practice and knowledge development. Written in an engaging and accessible style, with contributions from experienced clinicians, this book presents a new philosophical framework that takes causal complexity, individual variation and medical uniqueness as default expectations for health and illness.
Download or read book Concepts of Epidemiology written by Raj S. Bhopal and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2016 with total page 481 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: First edition published in 2002. Second edition published in 2008.
Download or read book Unhealthy Politics written by Eric M. Patashnik and published by Princeton University Press. This book was released on 2020-07-21 with total page 283 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: How partisanship, polarization, and medical authority stand in the way of evidence-based medicine The U.S. medical system is touted as the most advanced in the world, yet many common treatments are not based on sound science. Unhealthy Politics sheds new light on why the government's response to this troubling situation has been so inadequate, and why efforts to improve the evidence base of U.S. medicine continue to cause so much political controversy. This critically important book paints a portrait of a medical industry with vast influence over which procedures and treatments get adopted, and a public burdened by the rising costs of health care yet fearful of going against "doctor's orders." Now with a new preface by the authors, Unhealthy Politics offers vital insights into the limits of science, expertise, and professionalism in American politics.
Download or read book The Future of the Public s Health in the 21st Century written by Institute of Medicine and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2003-02-01 with total page 536 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The anthrax incidents following the 9/11 terrorist attacks put the spotlight on the nation's public health agencies, placing it under an unprecedented scrutiny that added new dimensions to the complex issues considered in this report. The Future of the Public's Health in the 21st Century reaffirms the vision of Healthy People 2010, and outlines a systems approach to assuring the nation's health in practice, research, and policy. This approach focuses on joining the unique resources and perspectives of diverse sectors and entities and challenges these groups to work in a concerted, strategic way to promote and protect the public's health. Focusing on diverse partnerships as the framework for public health, the book discusses: The need for a shift from an individual to a population-based approach in practice, research, policy, and community engagement. The status of the governmental public health infrastructure and what needs to be improved, including its interface with the health care delivery system. The roles nongovernment actors, such as academia, business, local communities and the media can play in creating a healthy nation. Providing an accessible analysis, this book will be important to public health policy-makers and practitioners, business and community leaders, health advocates, educators and journalists.
Download or read book Unequal Treatment written by Institute of Medicine and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2009-02-06 with total page 781 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Racial and ethnic disparities in health care are known to reflect access to care and other issues that arise from differing socioeconomic conditions. There is, however, increasing evidence that even after such differences are accounted for, race and ethnicity remain significant predictors of the quality of health care received. In Unequal Treatment, a panel of experts documents this evidence and explores how persons of color experience the health care environment. The book examines how disparities in treatment may arise in health care systems and looks at aspects of the clinical encounter that may contribute to such disparities. Patients' and providers' attitudes, expectations, and behavior are analyzed. How to intervene? Unequal Treatment offers recommendations for improvements in medical care financing, allocation of care, availability of language translation, community-based care, and other arenas. The committee highlights the potential of cross-cultural education to improve provider-patient communication and offers a detailed look at how to integrate cross-cultural learning within the health professions. The book concludes with recommendations for data collection and research initiatives. Unequal Treatment will be vitally important to health care policymakers, administrators, providers, educators, and students as well as advocates for people of color.
