Development and Evaluation of Vaginal Suppository Containing Althaea officinalis L. Polysaccharide Extract

Abstract Intrauterine adhesions cause several gynecological problems. Althaea officinalis L. roots known as marshmallows contain polysaccharides (M.P.) which possess anti-inflammatory and anti-ulcerogenic activities also can form a bio-adhesive layer on damaged epithelial membranes prompting healing processes. Vaginal formulations of herbal origin are commonly applied to relieve cervico-uterine inflammation. Herein, we aim to develop and evaluate vaginal suppositories containing polysaccharides isolated from the A. officinalis root. Six formulations (four P.E.G.-based and two lipid-based suppositories containing 25% and 50% M.P.) met standard requirements, which were then subjected to qualitative and quantitative evaluation. All suppositories exhibited acceptable weights, hardness, content uniformity, melting point, and disintegration time, which fall within the acceptable recommended limits. Higher concentrations of M.P. in PEG-bases moderately increased the hardness (p<0.05). PEG-formulations showed content uniformity>90% of the average content while it was 75-83% for suppocire formulations. All formulations disintegrated in<30minutes. In-vitro release test revealed that M.P. release from 25%-MP formulations was higher than that of 50%-M.P. suppositories. Overall, results revealed the feasibility of preparing P.E.G.-or lipid-based suppositories containing M.P., which met the B.P. quality requirement

Systematic Review of the Application of Lean and Six Sigma Quality Improvement Methodologies in Radiology.

PURPOSE: Preventable yet clinically significant rates of medical error remain systemic, while health care spending is at a historic high. Industry-based quality improvement (QI) methodologies show potential for utility in health care and radiology because they use an empirical approach to reduce variability and improve workflow. The aim of this review was to systematically assess the literature with regard to the use and efficacy of Lean and Six Sigma (the most popular of the industrial QI methodologies) within radiology. METHODS: MEDLINE, the Allied & Complementary Medicine Database, Embase Classic + Embase, Health and Psychosocial Instruments, and the Ovid HealthStar database, alongside the Cochrane Library databases, were searched on June 2015. Empirical studies in peer-reviewed journals were included if they assessed the use of Lean, Six Sigma, or Lean Six Sigma with regard to their ability to improve a variety of quality metrics in a radiology-centered clinical setting. RESULTS: Of the 278 articles returned, 23 studies were suitable for inclusion. Of these, 10 assessed Six Sigma, 7 assessed Lean, and 6 assessed Lean Six Sigma. The diverse range of measured outcomes can be organized into 7 common aims: cost savings, reducing appointment wait time, reducing in-department wait time, increasing patient volume, reducing cycle time, reducing defects, and increasing staff and patient safety and satisfaction. All of the included studies demonstrated improvements across a variety of outcomes. However, there were high rates of systematic bias and imprecision as per the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation guidelines. CONCLUSIONS: Lean and Six Sigma QI methodologies have the potential to reduce error and costs and improve quality within radiology. However, there is a pressing need to conduct high-quality studies in order to realize the true potential of these QI methodologies in health care and radiology. Recommendations on how to improve the quality of the literature are proposed.

Factors affecting patient satisfaction and healthcare quality.

PURPOSE: The aim of this paper is to build a comprehensive conceptual model to understand and measure variables affecting patient satisfaction-based healthcare quality. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: A total of 24 articles from international journals were systematically reviewed for factors determining patient satisfaction and healthcare quality. FINDINGS: Patient satisfaction is a multi-dimensional healthcare construct affected by many variables. Healthcare quality affects patient satisfaction, which in turn influences positive patient behaviours such as loyalty. Patient satisfaction and healthcare service quality, though difficult to measure, can be operationalized using a multi-disciplinary approach that combines patient inputs as well as expert judgement. RESEARCH LIMITATIONS/IMPLICATIONS: The paper develops a conceptual model that needs to be confirmed empirically. Also, most research pertains to developed countries. Findings are presented that may not be generalized to developing nations, which may be quite different culturally. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The paper has direct implications for health service providers. They are encouraged to regularly monitor healthcare quality and accordingly initiate service delivery improvements to maintain high levels of patient satisfaction. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: The paper collates and examines recent healthcare quality study findings. It presents a comprehensive, conceptual model encompassing research work and a holistic view of various aspects affecting patient satisfaction and healthcare quality. Although a large amount of healthcare quality research has been done, each studying a particular service, this paper comprehensively brings together various research findings.

Hospital innovativeness and organizational performance: evidence from English public acute care.

BACKGROUND: Hospitals around the world dedicate increasing attention and resources to innovation. However, surprisingly little is known about the nature of hospital innovativeness and its relationship with organizational performance. Given both the specific characteristics of the hospital sector and the rather mixed evidence from other industries, a positive innovation-performance link should not be taken for granted but requires empirical examination. PURPOSES: The purposes of this study were to introduce a perspective of hospitals as vital generators of innovation, to unpack the concept of innovativeness, to propose a measurement model for hospital innovativeness, and to empirically investigate the innovativeness-performance relationship. METHODOLOGY: We conducted a large-scale empirical study among the entire population of public hospital organizations that are part of the English National Health Service (n = 173) and analyzed the data using exploratory factor and regression analyses. FINDINGS: Our analyses suggest a significant positive relationship between science- and practice-based innovativeness and clinical performance but provide less unambiguous support for the existence of such a relationship between innovativeness and administrative performance. In particular, we find that higher levels of innovativeness are rather associated with superior quality of care than with measurable bottom-line financial benefits. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Hospitals investing in innovation-generating activities might find their efforts well rewarded in terms of tangible clinical performance improvements. However, to achieve measurable financial benefits, numerous hospitals have yet to discover and capture the commercial value of some of their innovations-a challenging task that requires a holistic innovation management and an effective network of complementary partners.

Procesos asistenciales integrados: modelo de evaluación y algunos resultados / Integrated care processes: evaluation model and some results. A tool for continuous

Introducción: El trabajo por procesos asistenciales integrados (PAI) introduce criterios de calidad para su monitorización. En este estudio se presenta un modelo de evaluación de las normas de calidad de los PAI en Andalucía, en atención primaria (AP) y atención especializada (AE) en 2 momentos temporales, y algunos de los resultados obtenidos en el Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves (HUVN) y en el Distrito Metropolitano (DM). Material y métodos: Estudio descriptivo acerca del modelo de monitorización de las normas de calidad de algunos PAI, en AP y en AE, utilizando datos procedentes de la historia clínica digital en AP, y de las auditorías de las historias clínicas en AE (muestreo por lotes y tablas de la distribución binomial). Resultados: Se obtienen los resultados de la monitorización de las normas de calidad en atención primaria (DM) y en atención especia-lizada (HUVN) y se elabora un sistema integrado de monitorización conjunta. Se presentan resultados de los siguientes PAI (cáncer de mama, cáncer de cérvix, embarazo, parto y puerperio, hipertrofia benigna de próstata/cáncer de próstata y cuidados paliativos). Se presentan resultados de la práctica enfermera en algunas actuaciones. Se evalúa la información obtenida y se realizan propuestas de mejora. Conclusiones: El diseño y la utilización de metodología de evaluación es un requisito para conocer los resultados de las actuacio-nes y tomar decisiones para mejorar. Hay que mejorar y adaptar los sistemas de información asistenciales a las necesidades de información de los PAI. La evaluación conjunta es una etapa más en el círculo de mejora de la calidad de los procesos asistenciales integrados

Introduction: Integrated care processes (ICP) introduce quality criteria for quality monitoring. This study presents a model for evaluating the quality standards of ICPs in primary care (PC) and specialized care (SC) in Andalucia (Spain) at two time points and reports some of the results obtained in the Hospital Virgen de las Nieves (HUVN) and in the Metropolitan District (MD). Material and methods: We performed a descriptive study of the model of quality standards monitoring for some ICPs in PC and SC using data from the systematic registries produced by digital medical records in PC and medical record audits in SC. Sampling by lots and tables of binomial distribution were used. Results: The results of quality standards monitoring were obtained in PC (DM) and in SC (HUVN) and an integrated system of joint monitoring was introduced. The results of the following ICP are presented: breast cancer, cervical cancer, pregnancy, delivery and puerperium, benign hypertrophy of the prostate/prostate cancer, and palliative care. The results of nursing practice in some interventions are provided. The information obtained and proposals for improvement are made. Conclusions: The design and use of evaluation methodology is required to determine the results of interventions and to make decisions for improvement. Healthcare information systems should be improved and adapted to the needs of information from ICPs. Joint evaluation is another stage in the circle of quality improvement of ICP

Strategic performance measurement systems: next step after dashboards.

This article has summarized work being done at the leading edge of strategic performance measurement. Initiatives that today seem ivory-towerish tomorrow may represent the mainstream. Compared with the organizations profiled here, other health systems may be smaller, be less automated, or lack expertise in statistics and graphic presentation. Such differences should not prevent any hospital, medical group, HMO, or integrated delivery system from embracing in its own way the essential aspects of strategic performance measurement: Developing--as the cornerstone for measurement--a clear mission, vision, and strategy based on the organization's core values, core competencies, and customer expectations. Developing high-level performance measures of the organization's current performance and progress toward its strategic vision. Cascading measures throughout the entire organization, from the governing board and senior management down to operating clinical and administrative units. Expanding measures beyond internal operations to include measures of community or population health, systemwide measures along the continuum of care, and environmental scanning of key external trends. Using measurement actively throughout the organization to drive strategic planning and continuous improvement. Such efforts are not an "add-on" to busy board and executive agendas; they are an integral part of them. When measures on performance reports are reflective of organizational reality--like the speed and compass gauges on a jetliner's instrument panel--knowledgeable leaders will use them with ease. Even such complex constructs as spider diagrams, says Dr. Berman, are putty in a board's hands when the measures are pertinent and directors are educated about them. "They're useful decision-making tools because they're easy for our board members and managers to understand," he sums up. "They provide a snapshot of our organization."