The leading role of expert safety knowledge in supporting the mission of caring for patients during man-made and natural disasters: state of emergency medicine in Ethiopia, Myanmar, and Ukraine.

Preparedness to endure extreme situations such as natural disasters or military conflicts is not commonplace in healthcare training programs. Moreover, multidisciplinary teams in health services rarely (if ever) include experts in security. However, when emergency situations occur, prevailing healthcare demands do not cease to exist, and unexpected demands often surge due to the shortage of other services and supplies or as a consequence of the emergency condition itself.With services in 45 countries, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) has operated in several conflict zones, facing broad and challenging security demands. Since 2017 AHF has implemented the Global Department of Safety and Security (GDSS), a dedicated intelligence and safety program that had a key role in the security monitoring, preparedness, and defense responses, assisting staff members and clients during recent conflicts.In this manuscript, we describe the experience of AHF's GDSS in three recent military conflicts in Ethiopia, Myanmar, and Ukraine, and provide insights into steps that can be taken to assure staff safety and support the mission of caring for patients throughout catastrophic events.

Physician utilization in prehospital emergency medical services in Europe: an overview and comparison. / Visión general y comparación de la presencia de médicos en los servicios de emergencias médicas prehospitalarios en Europa.

OBJECTIVES: National and regional systems for emergency medical care provision may differ greatly. We sought to determine whether or not physicians are utilized in prehospital care and to what extent they are present in differentEuropean countries. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We collected information on 32 European countries by reviewing publications and sending questionnaires to authors of relevant articles as well as to officials of ministries of health (or equivalent), representatives of national societies in emergency medicine, or well-known experts in the specialty. RESULTS: Thirty of the 32 of European countries we studied (94%) employ physicians in prehospital emergency medical services. In 17 of the 32 (53%), general practitioners also participate in prehospital emergency care. Emergency system models were described as Franco-German in 27 countries (84%), as hybrid in 17 (53%), and as Anglo-American in 14 (44%). Multiple models were present simultaneously in 17 countries (53%). We were able to differentiate between national prehospital emergency systems with a novel classification based on tiers reflecting the degree of physician utilization in the countries. We also grouped the national systems by average population and area served. CONCLUSION: There are notable differences in system designs and intensity of physician utilization between different geographic areas, countries, and regions in Europe. Several archetypal models (Franco-German, hybrid, and Anglo- American) exist simultaneously across Europe.

OBJETIVO: Los sistemas nacionales y regionales de prestación de atención médica a las emergencias pueden diferir mucho entre sí. Se buscó dilucidar la presencia de médicos en la atención prehospitalaria y su implantación en los diferentes países europeos. METODO: Se analizaron los datos de 32 países europeos recogidos mediante la revisión de artículos publicados y a través de cuestionarios enviados a los autores de artículos científicos pertinentes, funcionarios del ministerio de sanidad (o equivalente), representantes de sociedades nacionales de medicina de urgencias o expertos reconocidos en medicina de urgencias. RESULTADOS: Treinta de los 32 países europeos investigados (94%) disponen de médicos en los servicios de emergencias prehospitalarios. En 17 de 32 (53%), los médicos generalistas también participan en la atención a las emergencias prehospitalarias. Los modelos de los sistemas de emergencias médicas (SEM) se describieron como francoalemanes en 27 países (84%), híbridos en 17 (53%) o angloamericanos en 14 (44%). En 17 países (53%), coexistían diferentes modelos. Utilizando una nueva forma de clasificación por niveles, basada en la población media y el área atendida por el SEM prehospitalario, se pudieron diferenciar claramente los diferentes modelos existentes. CONCLUSIONES: Se observan notables diferencias en los diseños de los SEM y en la presencia de los médicos entre las diferentes áreas geográficas, países y regiones de Europa. Coexisten varios modelos (francoalemán, híbrido y angloamericano), algunos simultáneamente, en los diferentes países.

Visión general y comparación de la presencia de médicos en los servicios de emergencias médicas prehospitalarios en Europa / Physician utilization in prehospital emergency medical services in Europe: an overview and comparison

Antecedentes: Los sistemas nacionales y regionales de prestación de atención médica a las emergencias pueden diferir mucho entre sí. Se buscó dilucidar la presencia de médicos en la atención prehospitalaria y su implantación en los diferentes países europeos. Métodos: Se analizaron los datos de 32 países europeos recogidos mediante la revisión de artículos publicados y a través de cuestionarios enviados a los autores de artículos científicos pertinentes, funcionarios del ministerio de sanidad (o equivalente), representantes de sociedades nacionales de medicina de urgencias o expertos reconocidos en medicina de urgencias. Resultados: Treinta de los 32 países europeos investigados (94%) disponen de médicos en los servicios de emergencias prehospitalarios. En 17 de 32 (53%), los médicos generalistas también participan en la atención a las emergencias prehospitalarias. Los modelos de los sistemas de emergencias médicas (SEM) se describieron como francoalemanes en 27 países (84%), híbridos en 17 (53%) o angloamericanos en 14 (44%). En 17 países (53%), coexistían diferentes modelos. Utilizando una nueva forma de clasificación por niveles, basada en la población media y el área atendida por el SEM prehospitalario, se pudieron diferenciar claramente los diferentes modelos existentes. Conclusiones: Se observan notables diferencias en los diseños de los SEM y en la presencia de los médicos entre las diferentes áreas geográficas, países y regiones de Europa. Coexisten varios modelos (francoalemán, híbrido y angloamericano), algunos simultáneamente, en los diferentes países. (AU)

Background: National and regional systems for emergency medical care provision may differ greatly. We sought to determine whether or not physicians are utilized in prehospital care and to what extent they are present in different European countries. Methods: We collected information on 32 European countries by reviewing publications and sending questionnairesto authors of relevant articles as well as to officials of ministries of health (or equivalent), representatives of national societies in emergency medicine, or well-known experts in the specialty. Results: Thirty of the 32 of European countries we studied (94%) employ physicians in prehospital emergency medical services. In 17 of the 32 (53%), general practitioners also participate in prehospital emergency care. Emergency system models were described as Franco-German in 27 countries (84%), as hybrid in 17 (53%), and as Anglo-American in 14(44%). Multiple models were present simultaneously in 17 countries (53%). We were able to differentiate between national prehospital emergency systems with a novel classification based on tiers reflecting the degree of physician utilization in the countries. We also grouped the national systems by average population and area served. Conclusions: There are notable differences in system designs and intensity of physician utilization between different geographic areas, countries, and regions in Europe. Several archetypal models (Franco-German, hybrid, and AngloAmerican) exist simultaneously across Europe. (AU)

A digital pathway for genetic testing in UK NHS patients with cancer: BRCA-DIRECT randomised study internal pilot.

BACKGROUND: Germline genetic testing affords multiple opportunities for women with breast cancer, however, current UK NHS models for delivery of germline genetic testing are clinician-intensive and only a minority of breast cancer cases access testing. METHODS: We designed a rapid, digital pathway, supported by a genetics specialist hotline, for delivery of germline testing of BRCA1/BRCA2/PALB2 (BRCA-testing), integrated into routine UK NHS breast cancer care. We piloted the pathway, as part of the larger BRCA-DIRECT study, in 130 unselected patients with breast cancer and gathered preliminary data from a randomised comparison of delivery of pretest information digitally (fully digital pathway) or via telephone consultation with a genetics professional (partially digital pathway). RESULTS: Uptake of genetic testing was 98.4%, with good satisfaction reported for both the fully and partially digital pathways. Similar outcomes were observed in both arms regarding patient knowledge score and anxiety, with <5% of patients contacting the genetics specialist hotline. All progression criteria established for continuation of the study were met. CONCLUSION: Pilot data indicate preliminary demonstration of feasibility and acceptability of a fully digital pathway for BRCA-testing and support proceeding to a full powered study for evaluation of non-inferiority of the fully digital pathway, detailed quantitative assessment of outcomes and operational economic analyses. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN87845055.

Strategical Preparedness and Response Actions in the Healthcare System Against Coronavirus Disease 2019 according to Transmission Scenario in Korea.

The dynamic nature of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic requires us to be efficient and flexible in resource utilization. The strategical preparedness and response actions of the healthcare system are the key component to contain COVID-19 and to decrease its case fatality ratio. Depending on the epidemiological situation, each medical institution should systematically share the responsibility for patient screening, disposition and treatment according to clinical severity. To overcome fast-paced COVID-19 pandemic, the government should be rapidly ready and primed for action according to the specific transmission scenario.

Physician Distribution by Specialty and Practice Setting: Findings in Japan in 2000, 2010 and 2016.

As the medical demand is projected to increase along with the population aging in Japan, the geographical distribution of physicians is a significant concern for society and policymakers. To implement effective measures on geographical physician distribution, this study aimed to describe and compare the distribution of physicians by specialty in 2000, 2010 and 2016 in Japan, and examine whether practice setting was associated with distribution. To quantify the geographical physician distribution by specialty, we calculated the Gini coefficients of physicians working at clinics or hospitals in 2000, 2010, and 2016. We used the basic geographic unit for medical care planning in Japan, a secondary medical area, as the study unit. To show the association between the geographical distribution of physicians in each specialty and their practice setting, we categorized specialties into two groups by the proportion of physicians in that specialty working in hospitals, and showed aggregated Lorenz curves for each category. The overall geographical distribution of physicians appeared to improve during the study period, but varied by specialty. Those in specialties, where at least 90% of physicians work in hospitals such as anesthesiologists and radiologists, were more clustered, as shown by the Lorenz curves and the Gini coefficients. Similar distributional differences were also found even when we excluded physicians working in clinics, meaning that the distributional variation could be explained by other factors than the distribution of hospitals. These results suggest that the nature of practice in each specialty strongly affects the geographical distribution of specialists.

Exploring the influencing factors for non-utilisation of healthcare facilities during childbirth: a special mixed-method study of Bangladesh and 13 other low- and middle-income countries based on Demographic and Health Survey data.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the associated factors affecting the decision regarding institutional delivery for pregnant women in 14 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). DESIGN: A special mixed-method design was used to combine cross-sectional studies for harmonising data from Bangladesh and 13 other countries to obtain extended viewpoints on non-utilisation of institutional healthcare facilities during childbirth. SETTING: Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data for 14 LMICs were used for the study. PARTICIPANTS: There are several kinds of datasets in the DHS. Among them 'Individual Women's Records' was used as this study is based on all ever-married women. RESULTS: In the binary logistic and meta-analysis models for Bangladesh, ORs for birth order were 0.57 and 0.51 and for respondents' age were 1.50 and 1.07, respectively. In all 14 LMICs, the most significant factors for not using institutional facilities during childbirth were respondents' age (OR 0.903, 95% CI 0.790 to 1.032) and birth order (OR 0.371, 95% CI 0.327 to 0.421). CONCLUSION: Birth order and respondents' age were the two most significant factors for non-utilisation of healthcare facilities during childbirth in 14 LMICs.

Interprofessional care collaboration for patients with heart failure.

PURPOSE: An innovative collaborative care model to improve transitions of care (TOC) for patients with heart failure (HF) is described. SUMMARY: As part of a broad effort by New Hanover Regional Medical Center (NHRMC) to reduce avoidable 30-day hospital readmissions and decrease associated healthcare costs through a team-centered, value-based approach to patient care, an interprofessional team was formed to help reduce hospital readmissions among discharged patients with HF. The team consists of 5 TOC pharmacists, 4 community paramedics, and 4 advanced care practitioners (ACPs) who collaborate to coordinate care and prevent 30-day readmissions among patients with HF transitioning from the hospital to the community setting. Each team member plays an integral role in providing high-quality postdischarge care. The TOC pharmacist ensures that patients have access to all needed medications, provides in-home medication reconciliation services, makes medication recommendations, and alerts the team of potential medication-related issues. Community paramedics conduct home visits consisting of physical and mental health assessments, diet and disease state education, reviews of medication bottles and education on proper medication use, and administration of i.v. diuretics to correct volume status under provider orders. The ACPs offer close clinic follow-up (typically initiated within 7 days of discharge) as well as long-term HF management and education. CONCLUSION: At NHRMC, collaboration among healthcare professionals, including a TOC pharmacist, community paramedics, and ACPs, has assisted in the growth and expansion of services provided to patients with HF.

The Global Spine Care Initiative: a consensus process to develop and validate a stratification scheme for surgical care of spinal disorders as a guide for improved resource utilization in low- and middle-income communities.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to develop a stratification scheme for surgical spinal care to serve as a framework for referrals and distribution of patients with spinal disorders. METHODS: We used a modified Delphi process. A literature search identified experts for the consensus panel and the panel was expanded by inviting spine surgeons known to be global opinion leaders. After creating a seed document of five hierarchical levels of surgical care, a four-step modified Delphi process (question validation, collection of factors, evaluation of factors, re-evaluation of factors) was performed. RESULTS: Of 78 invited experts, 19 participated in round 1, and of the 19, 14 participated in 2, and 12 in 3 and 4. Consensus was fairly heterogeneous for levels of care 2-4 (moderate resources). Only simple assessment methods based on the clinical skills of the medical personnel were considered feasible and safe in low-resource settings. Diagnosis, staging, and treatment were deemed feasible and safe in a specialized spine center. Accurate diagnostic workup was deemed feasible and safe for lower levels of care complexity (from level 3 upwards) compared to non-invasive procedures (level 4) and the full range of invasive procedures (level 5). CONCLUSION: This study introduces a five-level stratification scheme for the surgical care of spinal disorders. This stratification may provide input into the Global Spine Care Initiative care pathway that will be applied in medically underserved areas and low- and middle-income countries. These slides can be retrieved under Electronic Supplementary Material.

Quality of medical service, patient satisfaction and loyalty with a focus on interpersonal-based medical service encounters and treatment effectiveness: a cross-sectional multicenter study of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) hospitals.

BACKGROUND: Treatment effectiveness holds considerable importance in the association between service quality and satisfaction in medical service studies. While complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use grows more prominent, comprehensive evaluations of the quality of medical service at CAM-oriented hospitals are scarce. This study assesses the quality of medical services provided at a CAM-oriented hospital of Korean medicine using the service encounter system approach and analyzes the influence of treatment effectiveness on patient loyalty. METHODS: A survey study using one-on-one interviews was conducted using a cross-sectional design in outpatients visiting one of fifteen Korean medicine facilities located throughout Korea. A total of 880 surveys were completed from June to July, 2014, and 728 surveys were included in the final analysis after excluding incomplete or incorrect questionnaires. The reliability and validity of the surveys was confirmed using Cronbach's alpha coefficient and confirmatory factor analysis, and a structural equation modeling analysis was performed to verify causality and association between factors (quality of medical service, treatment effectiveness, patient satisfaction, and intent to revisit). RESULTS: The measured factors of physician performance and quality of service procedures had a positive effect on treatment effectiveness. The impression of the facilities and environment directly impacted satisfaction rates for interpersonal-based medical service encounters, while treatment effectiveness positively affected satisfaction regarding quality of medical service. However, treatment effectiveness had a more significant effect on satisfaction compared to facilities and environment, and it indirectly affected satisfaction and directly influenced intent to revisit. Treatment effectiveness and satisfaction both positively influenced intent to revisit. CONCLUSIONS: The importance of treatment effectiveness should be recognized when examining quality of medical services, and we hope that these findings may contribute to future studies.

The role of nurses in HIV screening in health care facilities: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To examine nurse-driven HIV screening in various health care settings in terms of its impact on test offering, acceptance and delivery rates, nursing responsibilities, staff perceptions and long-term implementation. DESIGN: Systematic review. REVIEW METHODS: The systematic review conducted in September 2014 adheres to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. Two independent reviewers extracted and summarised the eligible studies using a standardised form. STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: All studies published from 2004 to 2014 that explored nurse-driven HIV screening practice in health care facilities in countries with comparable concentrated HIV epidemics were included. DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE, EBSCO CINAHL. RESULTS: Overall, 30 quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods studies fulfilled the eligibility criteria. The studies showed a trend in higher test offering, better acceptance and higher delivery rates with the implementation of nurse-driven HIV screening. However, among the 23 studies (77%) that evaluated these aims, only 13 studies (56%) had a control group, and 4 studies (17%) were randomised controlled trials (RCT) in few centres (i.e., 1 or 2). In 2 studies that compared nurse-driven HIV test offering to physician intervention, the participation of nurses was higher than that of physicians (85% vs. 54%, p<0.001; 47% vs. 28%, p<0.05). In a third study, the intervention of a dedicated nurse increased the test offering from 96.5% to 99.5% (OR=7.27, 95% CI=1.02-316.9). Acceptance rates increased with the nurse intervention in 2 RCTs (75% vs. 71%, p=0.025; 45% vs. 19%, p<0.05) and in a cohort study (74.8% vs. 84.3%, OR=1.82, 95% CI=1.14-2.88), whereas it decreased in 2 other studies. The testing rates increased in 7 out of 10 studies, with a maximum absolute increase of 65.9%. Nurse-driven HIV screening was evaluated at the time of routine HIV screening implementation in 27 studies (90%) and provided nurses with new responsibilities in 9 studies (30%). The few studies (23%) that explored how health care professionals, including nurses, perceived the strategy showed that this approach was well received. However, several operational barriers, such as lack of time, prevented its long-term implementation. CONCLUSION: The review supports the implementation of nurse-driven HIV screening. However, the evaluation of the impact of the nurse approach by RCTs was scarce, calling for additional research to better evaluate the impact of the nursing profession's contribution to HIV screening. Moreover, the perceptions of nurses and health care staff were seldom evaluated and require further exploration to improve nurse-driven HIV screening implementation.

Allergy in Hong Kong: an unmet need in service provision and training.

Many children in Hong Kong have allergic diseases and epidemiological data support a rising trend. Only a minority of children will grow out of their allergic diseases, so the heavy clinical burden will persist into adulthood. In an otherwise high-quality health care landscape in Hong Kong, allergy services and training are a seriously unmet need. There is one allergy specialist for 1.5 million people, which is low not only compared with international figures, but also compared with most other specialties in Hong Kong. The ratio of paediatric and adult allergists per person is around 1:460 000 and 1:2.8 million, respectively, so there is a severe lack of adult allergists, while the paediatric allergists only spend a fraction of their time working with allergy. There are no allergists and no dedicated allergy services in adult medicine in public hospitals. Laboratory support for allergy and immunology is not comprehensive and there is only one laboratory in the public sector supervised by accredited immunologists. These findings clearly have profound implications for the profession and the community of Hong Kong and should be remedied without delay. Key recommendations are proposed that could help bridge the gaps, including the creation of two new pilot allergy centres in a hub-and-spoke model in the public sector. This could require recruitment of specialists from overseas to develop the process if there are no accredited allergy specialists in Hong Kong who could fulfil this role.

The state of affairs at primary health care facilities in Pakistan: where is the State's stewardship?

Primary health care [PHC] services in Pakistan, particularly in rural areas, are in a dismal state. Inadequacies, unfairness and ignorance about the importance of the basic health care provided by these facilitates have led to a disorganized and poorly performing system. This paper reviews the situation in certain PHC facilities in Sindh province. Inadequate medicines and supplies, underutilized family planning services, lack of human resources, faulty equipment, and absence of a proper referral mechanism were some of the key findings. There is therefore an urgent need for radical improvement in the PHC system in order to maximize the appropriate use of PHC facilities. In order to do this, the paper argues that the stewardship role of the State must be strengthened

A reorientação do ensino e da prática em enfermagem: implantação do Pró-Saúde em Mossoró, Brasil / La reorientación de la enseñanza y práctica de la enfermería: implantación del Pró-Saúde en Mossoró, Brasil / Teaching and nursing practices reorientation: Pro-Health implantation in Mossoró Brasil

A Faculdade de Enfermagem da Universidade do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte, através do Programa Nacional de Reorientação da Formação Profissional em Saúde (Pró-Saúde) visa articular ensino/serviço contribuindo na reflexão da formação em enfermagem em Mossoró, Rio Grande do Norte. Esta pesquisa objetivou conhecer a implantação e inserção do Pró-Saúde nas Unidades Básicas de Saúde do município de Mossoró, para entender como os enfermeiros se posicionam diante da articulação ensino/serviço. Foram realizadas entrevistas com seis profissionais que atuam nas Unidades de Saúde parceiras neste projeto. Os resultados demonstraram que estes trabalhadores detinham poucos conhecimentos acerca do Pró-Saúde. Essa falta de conhecimento, associada às dificuldades na integração ensino/serviço, não contribuía para a reflexão e reorientação das práticas de enfermagem. Portanto, é necessário repensar saberes e práticas, pactuando mudanças que contribuam com uma formação em saúde que estabeleça um cuidado de qualidade, baseado nos princípios estabelecidos pelo Sistema Único de Saúde.

La Facultad de Enfermería de la Universidad del Estado del Rio Grande do Norte, a través del Programa Nacional de Reorientación de la Formación Profesional en Salud (Pró-Saúde) articula enseñanza/servicio contribuyendo en la reflexión de la formación en enfermería en Mossoró, Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil. Esta pesquisa buscó conocer la implantación e inserción del Pró-Saúde en las Unidades Básicas de Salud del municipio de Mossoró, para entender el posicionamiento de los enfermeros en la articulación enseñanza/servicio. Fueron realizadas entrevistas con seis profesionales que actúan en las Unidades de Salud colaboradoras en este proyecto. Los resultados demuestran que estos trabajadores poco conocían el Pró-Saúde. Este factor, asociado a dificultades en la integración enseñanza/servicio, dificuldaba la reflexión y reorientación de las prácticas de enfermería. Así, hay que repensar conocimientos y prácticas, pactando cambios que contribuyan con una formación en salud que establezca un cuidado de calidad, basado en los principios del Sistema Único de Salud.

The Nursing School of Universidade do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte through the Programa Nacional de Reorientação da Formação Profissional em Saúde (Pro-Health) seeks to articulate the teaching / service, contributing to develop the concept of nursing education in Mossoró, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. This research aimed to investigate the implementation of Pro Health in the Basic Units of Health in Mossoró understanding the position of nursing workers in the teach/service link. Thus, interviews were conducted with six nurses who work in health clinics partners of this project. The results demonstrated that these workers had a lack of knowledge about the Pro-Health. Therefore, this lack of knowledge associated with difficulties in integrating teaching and service did not contribute to the nursing practice reflection and reorientation. Thus it is necessary to rethink the knowledge and nursing practices for a gradual change, contributing to improve the health care quality, based on the norms established by the Unified Health System in Brazil.

Mental health systems in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: report based on the WHO assessment instrument for mental health systems

Mental health systems in the Eastern Mediterranean Region is the final report of an assessment of six key components of mental health systems in 14 countries, based on the WHO Assessment Instrument for Mental Health Systems (WHO-AIMS). It s aimed at policy-makers, health system managers, mental health professionals and others interested in mental health issues. The report will help countries to identify the main weaknesses in their mental health systems, and develop infomation-based mental health policies and plans with clear base-line information and targets. It provides a starting point for countries to monitor progress in implementation of policies and legislation and to chart progress in provision of community-based services

National Health facility survey on the quality of outpatient primary child health care services: IMCI health facility survey Morocco October-December 2007

The main objective of this evaluation, conducted after 7 years of IMCI expanded implementation, was to collect quantitative and qualitative information to assess the quality of outpatient health care services provided to sick children below 5 years old at health centres with IMCItrained staff, including both the clinical and health system support components

Framework for planning, mobilization and implementation of healthy hospitals

Investing in health, particularly that of the poor, is central to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. In support of this strategy WHO's Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean is actively promoting in countries of the Region community-based initiatives like Basic Development Needs, Healthy Cities, Healthy Villages and Women in Health and Development. These approaches are based on the principle that good health status-an important goal in its own right-is central to creating and sustaining the capabilities of poor people to meet their basic needs and to escape from poverty. The regional strategy outlined in this publication presents the multiple challenges that face progress towards the attainment of good health, in particular for the poor, in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. It articulates broad lines of action for public authorities and suggests the need to redress the existing imbalances between policy and allocation of public resources, proposing a far stronger focus on the wider determinants of health