Cost Analysis of Hospitalization for COVID-19 in a Brazilian Public Teaching Hospital.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to measure the hospitalization costs for suspect or confirmation cases of COVID-19 and aggregate knowledge in the costing process for future research on related topics. METHODS: A cost calculation model was applied using absorption costing technique. Cost was allocated into 2 main groups: hospitalization and personnel. The cost analysis considers the hospital perspective. This is a retrospective study whose data were collected between April and September 2020, equivalent to the first wave of the disease in Brazil. This research uses data from Hospital Information System, Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS) Cost Calculation and Management System, and SUS Hospital Information System. RESULTS: The average total cost per hospitalization was US$11 260 (R$63 504) for patients suspect or confirmed by COVID-19, and considering only detectable cases, the value was US$17 178 (R$96 886). The profile of hospitalized patients was male (51%), with a mean age of 59 years, white ethnicity (64%), and average length of stay of 9 days. CONCLUSIONS: The amount approved by SUS for remuneration of hospitalizations by COVID-19 proved to be insufficient to cover the calculated costs. The results of this study collaborate to measure the expenditure of hospital institutions with COVID-19 hospitalizations, contribute as a parameter for health managers to identify whether the values attributed to hospitalization by COVID-19 by the SUS are adequate to cover all costs involved, and provide lessons learned on costs to the public health system in the event of new pandemics.

Management Strategies for Sexuality Complaints after Gynecologic Cancer: A Systematic Review / Estratégias para enfrentamento de queixas da sexualidade após câncer ginecológico: uma revisão sistemática

Abstract Objective To explore the main sexuality complaints of gynecologic cancer survivors after treatment and to identify the care strategies provided. Data Source Searches were conducted in six electronic databases: Scopus, Web of Science, LILACS, MEDLINE, PsychINFO, and EMBASE. Study Selection Articles published between 2010 and 2020 were selected and the following descriptors were used in the English language: female genital neoplasms and gynaecological cancer. The methodological quality of the studies used the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). Data Collection The primary data extracted were: names of the authors, year of publication, country of origin, objective and type of study, data collection instrument, sample size and age range, types of cancer, and symptoms affected with the strategies adopted. Data Summary A total of 34 out of 2,536 screened articles were included. The main strategies found for patient care were patient-clinician communication, practices for sexuality care, individualized care plan, multiprofessional team support, and development of rehabilitation programs. For sexuality care, the most common practices are pelvic physiotherapy sessions and the use of vaginal gels and moisturizers. Conclusion The main complaints identified in the scientific literature were low libido and lack of interest in sexual activity, vaginal dryness, pain during sexual intercourse, and stenosis. Different care strategies may be adopted, such as follow-up with a multidisciplinary health team and sexual health rehabilitation programs, which could minimize these symptoms and ensure the quality of life of patients.

Resumo Objetivo Explorar as principais queixas da sexualidade com sobreviventes de câncer ginecológico após o tratamento e identificar as estratégias de cuidados prestados. Fonte dos Dados As buscas foram realizadas em seis bases eletrônicas: Scopus, Web of Science, LILACS, MEDLINE, PsychINFO e EMBASE. Seleção dos Estudos Foram selecionados artigos publicados entre 2010 e 2020 e os descritores utilizados (em inglês) foram female genital neoplasms e gynaecological cancer. A qualidade metodológica dos estudos utilizou a ferramenta Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). Coleta de Dados Os principais dados extraídos foram: nomes dos autores, ano de publicação, país de origem, objetivo e tipo de estudo, instrumento para coleta de dados, tamanho da amostra e faixa etária, tipos de câncer, os sintomas acometidos e as estratégias adotadas. Síntese dos Dados Dos 2,536 artigos identificados, 34 foram incluídos. As principais estratégias encontradas para os cuidados aos pacientes foram a comunicação paciente-médico, práticas para os cuidados sexuais, plano de cuidados individualizado, apoio a equipes multiprofissionais e desenvolvimento de programas de reabilitação. Para os cuidados de sexualidade, as práticas mais comuns são sessões de fisioterapia pélvica e o uso de géis vaginais e hidratantes. Conclusão As principais queixas identificadas na literatura científica foram baixa libido e falta de interesse na atividade sexual, secura vaginal, dor durante a relação sexual e estenose. Diferentes estratégias de cuidados podem ser adotadas, como o acompanhamento com uma equipe de saúde multidisciplinar e programas de reabilitação da saúde sexual, as quais poderiam minimizar estes sintomas e garantir a qualidade de vida dos pacientes.

Management Strategies for Sexuality Complaints after Gynecologic Cancer: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the main sexuality complaints of gynecologic cancer survivors after treatment and to identify the care strategies provided. DATA SOURCE: Searches were conducted in six electronic databases: Scopus, Web of Science, LILACS, MEDLINE, PsychINFO, and EMBASE. STUDY SELECTION: Articles published between 2010 and 2020 were selected and the following descriptors were used in the English language: female genital neoplasms and gynaecological cancer. The methodological quality of the studies used the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). DATA COLLECTION: The primary data extracted were: names of the authors, year of publication, country of origin, objective and type of study, data collection instrument, sample size and age range, types of cancer, and symptoms affected with the strategies adopted. DATA SUMMARY: A total of 34 out of 2,536 screened articles were included. The main strategies found for patient care were patient-clinician communication, practices for sexuality care, individualized care plan, multiprofessional team support, and development of rehabilitation programs. For sexuality care, the most common practices are pelvic physiotherapy sessions and the use of vaginal gels and moisturizers. CONCLUSION: The main complaints identified in the scientific literature were low libido and lack of interest in sexual activity, vaginal dryness, pain during sexual intercourse, and stenosis. Different care strategies may be adopted, such as follow-up with a multidisciplinary health team and sexual health rehabilitation programs, which could minimize these symptoms and ensure the quality of life of patients.

OBJETIVO: Explorar as principais queixas da sexualidade com sobreviventes de câncer ginecológico após o tratamento e identificar as estratégias de cuidados prestados. FONTE DOS DADOS: As buscas foram realizadas em seis bases eletrônicas: Scopus, Web of Science, LILACS, MEDLINE, PsychINFO e EMBASE. SELEçãO DOS ESTUDOS: Foram selecionados artigos publicados entre 2010 e 2020 e os descritores utilizados (em inglês) foram female genital neoplasms e gynaecological cancer. A qualidade metodológica dos estudos utilizou a ferramenta Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). COLETA DE DADOS: Os principais dados extraídos foram: nomes dos autores, ano de publicação, país de origem, objetivo e tipo de estudo, instrumento para coleta de dados, tamanho da amostra e faixa etária, tipos de câncer, os sintomas acometidos e as estratégias adotadas. SíNTESE DOS DADOS: Dos 2,536 artigos identificados, 34 foram incluídos. As principais estratégias encontradas para os cuidados aos pacientes foram a comunicação paciente-médico, práticas para os cuidados sexuais, plano de cuidados individualizado, apoio a equipes multiprofissionais e desenvolvimento de programas de reabilitação. Para os cuidados de sexualidade, as práticas mais comuns são sessões de fisioterapia pélvica e o uso de géis vaginais e hidratantes. CONCLUSãO: As principais queixas identificadas na literatura científica foram baixa libido e falta de interesse na atividade sexual, secura vaginal, dor durante a relação sexual e estenose. Diferentes estratégias de cuidados podem ser adotadas, como o acompanhamento com uma equipe de saúde multidisciplinar e programas de reabilitação da saúde sexual, as quais poderiam minimizar estes sintomas e garantir a qualidade de vida dos pacientes.

Healthcare supply chain risk management in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: What is the current situation?

BACKGROUND: Public hospital managers in Rio de Janeiro must deal with severe budget costs, which is the only source of income of public hospitals. In this sense, systematic supply chain risk management can contribute to identifying such risks, assessing their severity, and developing mitigating plans, or even revealing the lack of such plans. Private hospital networks must also map their risks since they are facing a diminishing of demand given that unemployment in Brazil, which is growing in the past years, generates an impossibility of affording private healthcare. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this paper is to investigate how supply chain risk management is being applied in healthcare supply chains from Rio de Janeiro - Brazil. This study considers supply chains located in the state of Rio de Janeiro. To accomplish this objective, we provide answers to two Research Questions: RQ1 - Is SCRM known as a concept among Rio de Janeiro healthcare supply chains? RQ2 - How are risk identification, risk assessment, and risk mitigation being implemented by companies from the healthcare supply chains in Rio de Janeiro - Brazil? METHOD: Our research design is based on four steps: i) Research design; ii) Case selection: iii) Data collection (11 cases selected); iv) Data analysis. RESULTS: The interviews revealed that SCRM is an entirely unknown concept among healthcare supply chains from Rio de Janeiro - Brazil. Managers have empirical knowledge of the risks, and they can identify the most hazardous risks and can come up with solutions to mitigate them, nevertheless, in many situations they do not have the authority or the manpower to implement the solutions, at most, managers implement local risk mitigation initiatives that do not consider the supply chains broader context. CONCLUSION: The healthcare organizations studied by this paper do not apply SCRM. They only apply local isolated solutions not considering a supply chain scope. This can become hazardous since isolated risk mitigation initiatives are often innocuous and have the potential to generate other risks.

Lessons from a Surgical Center Satellite Warehouse in a Large Brazilian Public Hospital.

Brazilian public hospitals face several operational problems not only related to poor public management practices and their complex nature, but also the economic, and social contexts. Considering this scenario and the fact that efforts in supply management might affect a hospital organization's excellence, this research aims to identify improvements in the logistic operations at the surgical center satellite warehouse of a Public Hospital located in Brazil. A case study based on an exploratory and qualitative approach was conducted by employing document analysis, semi-structured interviews, and on-site observations. Seven major problems concerning lack of surgical material, the non-definition of crucial logistic parameters, low information flow, surgical supply control, and management problems were pointed and addressed by seven independent but complementary actions that considered the Brazilian healthcare system's particularities. Given the nature of exploratory research, the results are not exhaustive and cannot be generalized to different contexts. However, they help understand that reducing the waste of the logistics processes makes it possible to improve the attention to the local population that uses public health services.

The first evidence about conceptual vs analytical lean healthcare research studies.

PURPOSE: Several authors have examined the lean healthcare literature, but besides all efforts made, articles comparing conceptual and analytical studies were not found. Thus, a systematic review is conducted aiming to understand the state of the art of lean healthcare by investigating and comparing how conceptual and analytical articles address tools/methods, application fields, implementation barriers and facilitators and positive and negative impacts. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: Articles in English about lean healthcare, published in journals in the last ten years (2009-2018) and indexed in Web of Science (WoS) or Scopus were examined and assessed by following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyzes (PRISMA) protocol. A qualitative content analysis on the eligible articles was conducted, and results from the conceptual and analytical studies were compared. FINDINGS: There is a literature gap regarding tools/methods in both conceptual and analytical approaches once they prioritize for different items. Barriers, facilitators and negative impacts are perceived differently within both categories and might require more extensive analysis. The same items prevail in both conceptual and analytical categories when analyzing healthcare fields and positive impacts. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: There is a lack of articles comparing conceptual and analytical studies concerning lean healthcare. So, this study's relevance is in identifying theoretical and applied research gaps to strengthen the lean healthcare state of the art and to integrate theoretical-applied knowledge. For healthcare professionals, it might provide an overview of the key factors that can promote lean implementation.