Unidades psoriasis-artritis: 3 años después / Psoriasis-Arthritis Units: Three Years on

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Development of indicators for a nationwide cross-sectoral quality assurance procedure for mental health care of patients with schizophrenia, schizotypal and delusional disorders in Germany.

PURPOSE: This paper describes the development of quality indicators for an external statutory and cross-sectoral quality assurance (QA) procedure in the context of the German health care system for adult patients suffering from schizophrenia, schizotypal and delusional disorders (F20-F29). METHODS: Indicators were developed by a modified RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method with 1) the compilation of an indicator register based on a systematic literature search and analyses of health care claims data, 2) the selection of indicators by an expert panel that rated them for relevance and for feasibility regarding implementation. Indicators rated positive for both relevance and feasibility formed the final indicator set. RESULTS: 847 indicators were identified by different searches. Out of these, 56 were selected for the indicator register. During the formal consensus process the expert panel recommended another 45 indicators so that a total of 101 indicators needed to be considered by the panel. Of these, 27 indicators rated both relevant and feasible were included in the final set of indicators: this set included 4 indicators addressing structures, 19 indicators addressing processes and 4 indicators addressing outcomes. 17 indicators of the set will be reported by hospitals and 8 by psychiatric outpatient facilities. Two indicators considered to be cross-sectoral will be reported by both sectors. DISCUSSION: F20-F29 and its treatment show some specific features which so far have not been addressed by any procedure within the statutory QA program of the German health care system. These features include: Schizophrenia and related disorders a) are potentially chronic conditions, b) are mainly treated in outpatient settings, c) require a multi-professional treatment approach and d) are treated regionally in catchment areas. These specific features in combination with the peculiarities of some legal, political and organizational characteristics of the German health care system and its statutory QA program have strongly influenced the development of indicators. The result was a seemingly "imbalanced" set of indicators with a greater number of indicators for inpatient than for outpatient care despite the fact that clinical reality is otherwise. CONCLUSIONS: The circumstances of the German health care system that restricted the development of this cross-sectoral QA procedure addressing care for F20-F29 are also most likely to emerge with the development of cross-sectoral QA procedures for other (potentially) chronic conditions that are mainly treated in the outpatient setting by multi-professional teams or by networks of different providers. In order to be able to develop a QA procedure that mirrors the reality of service provision for (potentially) chronic diseases such as F20-F29 we need to explore further current and new data sources, diminish sectoral borders, and implement health care responsibility on the level of catchment areas.

Evaluación económica de un programa de coordinación entre niveles para el manejo de pacientes crónicos complejos / Economic evaluation of a program of coordination between levels for complex chronic patients’ management

OBJETIVO: El programa del paciente crónico complejo (PCC) del Alt Penedès tiene por objetivo mejorar la coordinación asistencial. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue evaluar la relación entre los costes asociados al programa y sus resultados en forma de ingresos evitados. DISEÑO: Análisis coste-efectividad desde la perspectiva del sistema sanitario a partir de un estudio antes-después. Emplazamiento: Comarca del Alt Penedès. MEDICIONES PRINCIPALES: Los resultados en utilización de servicios hospitalarios (ingresos, urgencias, hospital de día) y visitas de primaria del programa PCC se compararon con los anteriores a su implementación. El coste asignado a cada recurso correspondió al concierto del hospital con CatSalut y las tarifas del ICS para atención primaria. Se llevó a cabo un análisis de sensibilidad a partir del método de bootstrapping. La intervención se consideró coste-efectiva si la ratio coste-efectividad incremental (RCEI) no superaba el coste de un ingreso (1.742,01 Euros). RESULTADOS: Se incluyó a 149 pacientes. Los ingresos se redujeron de 212 a 145. El RCEI fue 1.416,3 Euros (94.892.9 Euros/67). El análisis de sensibilidad mostró que en el 95% de los casos los costes podrían variar entre 70.847,3 Euros y 121.882,5 Euros, y los ingresos evitados entre 30 y 102. En el 72,4% de las simulaciones el programa fue coste-efectivo. CONCLUSIONES: El análisis de sensibilidad muestra que en la mayoría de situaciones el programa del PCC sería coste-efectivo, aunque en un porcentaje de casos el programa podría suponer un aumento global del coste de la atención, a pesar de suponer siempre una reducción en el número de ingresos

OBJECTIVE: The complex chronic patient program (CCP) of the Alt Penedès aims to improve the coordination of care. The objective was to evaluate the relationship between the costs associated with the program, and its results in the form of avoided admissions. DESIGN: Dost-effectiveness analysis from the perspective of the health System based on a before-after study. LOCATION: Alt Penedès. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: Health services utilisation (hospital [admissions, emergency visits, day-care hospital] and primary care visits). CCP Program results were compared with those prior to its implementation. The cost assigned to each resource corresponded to the hospital CatSalut's concert and ICS fees for primary care. A sensitivity analysis using boot strapping was performed. The intervention was considered cost-effective if the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) did not exceed the cost of admission (Euros 1,742.01). RESULTS: 149 patients were included. Admissions dropped from 212 to 145. The ICER was Euros 1,416.3 (94,892.9 Euros/67). Sensitivity analysis showed that in 95% of cases the cost might vary between Euros 70,847.3 and Euros 121,882.5 and avoided admissions between 30 and 102. In 72.4% of the simulations the program was cost-effective. CONCLUSIONS: Sensitivity analysis showed that in most situations the PCC Program would be cost-effective, although in a percentage of cases the program could raise overall cost of care, despite always reducing the number of admissions

How the government intervention affects the distribution of physicians in Turkey between 1965 and 2000.

INTRODUCTION: One of the main weaknesses of the health system in Turkey is the uneven distribution of physicians. The diversity among geographical districts was huge in the beginning of the 1960s. After the 1980s, the implementation of a two-year compulsory service for newly graduated physicians is an interesting and specific experience for all countries. The aim of this study is to analyse the distribution of physicians, GPs and specialists between the years 1965-2000 and the efficiency of the strict 15 year government intervention (1981-1995). METHODS: The data used in this study includes the published data by the Ministry of Health and The State Institute of Statistics between the years 1965-2000. Covering 35 years for total physicians, GPs and specialists, Gini coefficients are calculated so as to observe the change in the distribution. In order to measure the efficiency of government intervention, Gini index belonging to the previous 15 years (first period-1965 to 1980) and the last 15 years (second period) of 1981 when the compulsory service was enacted is also analysed including the statistical tests. RESULTS: In 1965, the Gini for total physician is quite high (0.47), and in 2000 it decreases considerably (0.20). In 1965, the Gini for GPs and the Gini for specialists is 0.44 and 0.52, respectively and in 2000 these values decrease to 0.13 and 0.28, respectively. It is observed that, with this government intervention, the level of diversity has decreased dramatically up to 2000. Regarding to regression, the rate of decrease in Gini index in the second period is higher for the GPs than that of the specialists. CONCLUSION: The inequalities in the distribution between GPs and specialists are significantly different; inequality of specialist distribution is higher than the GP. The improvement of the inequality in the physician distribution produced by the market mechanism shows a long period when it is left to its own devices. It is seen that the compulsory service policy is efficient since the physician distribution has improved significantly. The government intervention provides a faster improvement in the GP distribution.

[The development of legal guardianship and involuntary treatment in a Bavarian catchment area in comparison to trends at the federal state and the federal level between 1999 and 2009]. / Die Entwicklung von Betreuungs- und Unterbringungsmaßnahmen in einer bayerischen Versorgungsregion im Vergleich zum Bundes- und Landestrend für den Zeitraum von 1999-2009.

OBJECTIVE: In this study trends in legal guardianship and involuntary treatment in a Bavarian catchment area in comparison to trends at federal state and federal level between 1999 and 2009 will be examined. METHODS: Data from the federal department of justice, from the federal health monitoring system and data from a district court were used to compute rates, quotas and quotients. Regression analyses were conducted to analyse associations between time series. RESULTS: In comparison to the federal state and the federal level the target region shows a significantly higher rate of new guardianships but a lower rate of judicial ordered mobility restrictions and at least in comparison to the federal state level a significantly lower rate of involuntary admissions according to guardianship law. CONCLUSIONS: The obtained differences indicate significant differences in the legal guardianship and involuntary admission practise which cannot be explained by epidemiological developments. Therefore it is necessary to investigate potential socio-cultural and socioeconomic sources for these varieties.

Medicare program; durable medical equipment regional carrier service areas and related matters. Final rule.

This final rule provides a mechanism for us to expeditiously make changes to the durable medical equipment regional carrier (DMERC) service area boundaries without notice and comment rulemaking. Through this mechanism, we can change the geographical boundaries served by the regional contractors that process durable medical equipment claims through issuance of a Federal Register notice and make other minor changes in the contract administration of the DMERCs. The mechanism provides a method for increasing or decreasing the number of DMERCs, changing the boundaries of DMERCs based on criteria other than the boundaries of the Common Working File sectors, and awarding new contractors to perform statistical analysis or maintain the national supplier clearinghouse. We will publish these changes and their justifications in a Federal Register notice, rather than through notice and comment rulemaking. Although we may change the number and configuration of regional carriers, we are not altering the criteria and factors that we use in awarding contracts. Through this final rule, we are improving the contracting process so that we can swiftly meet the challenges of the changing healthcare industry and address the changing needs of beneficiaries, suppliers, and the Medicare program.

[Involuntary Hospitalisations in 2000 According to German "PsychKG" in the City of Hannover]. / Unterbringungen nach (section sign) 18 NPsychKG in der Landeshauptstadt Hannover -- oder: die Wirkung der Versorgungsgeografie auf Patienten und Professionelle.

OBJECTIVE: To examine for one year which psychiatric services are involved in involuntary hospitalisations according to PsychKG (German law concerning psychiatric practice) in the City of Hannover. METHOD: All available data within the health administration of the former city and former county of Hannover of compulsory admissions in the year 2000 were evaluated. RESULTS: In 2000, 524 patients were involuntary admitted to psychiatric hospitals according to the data of the health administration of the city of Hannover. The two major diagnoses were schizophrenia or substance addiction of involuntarily admitted patients, most hospitalisation were documented for Fridays, the most frequent time was between 9 and 1 hour p. m. The services in Hannover which dealt most with involuntary admissions were the either physicians of "KV" (Kassenarztliche Vereinigung, the German physicians organisation who is in charge of the treatment of all patients for non-private health insurances) or the physicians of the psychiatric departments of the Hannover Medical School. CONCLUSIONS: The major provider of psychiatric assistence for compulsory admissions within the City of Hannover are the physicians of the KV and the psychiatric departments of the Hannover Medical School.

Medical restrictive covenants in Illinois: at the crossroads of Carter-Shields and Prairie Eye Center.

This article examines the history, development and treatment by Illinois courts of medical restrictive covenants. The authors highlight two recent cases from Illinois, one from the Supreme Court and the other authored by an appellate court panel. The article concludes by providing not only a forecast of how such covenants should be treated by Illinois state courts in the future, but also a pathway for the expectations of health care practitioners who wish to use restrictive covenants in their employment relationships with their colleagues.

HCFA tightens eligibility requirements for provider-based status.

On October 10, 2000, HCFA will implement new eligibility standards for all off-campus entities with a provider-based designation. Providers that wish to retain the provider-based status of their ambulatory care facilities need to take action to more fully integrate the ambulatory care facilities with their main facilities. In addition, the provider will need to show that 75 percent of the patient population served by the ambulatory care facility also is served by the provider's main facility.

Medicare and Medicaid programs; announcement of additional application from hospital requesting waiver for organ procurement service area--HCFA. Notice with comment period.

This notice announces an additional application that HCFA has received from a hospital requesting waiver from dealing with its designated organ procurement organization (OPO) in accordance with section 1138(a)(2) of the Act. This notice requests comments from OPOs and the general public for our consideration in determining whether such a waiver should be granted.