A classification of health computer systems and how it could help in deciding investment requirements

Investment in information technology by the NHS is reaching unprecedented levels. This is true throughout the service, from the highly publicized district information systems and hospital information support systems to the investment of GPs in microcomputers. To place all these system developments in context, Peter Cross considers the changes in the structure of health computing in the 1980s and sets out a methodology for assessing both the need for computer systems and their success.     

专科医院住院部各科医疗质量综合评价的初步探讨

目的：探讨专科医院住院各科工作情况综合评价方法,向临床科室提供医疗质量信息,促进医疗质量的提高。方法：以医院工作报表为数据来源,用秩和比法从诊疗质量,工作强度和经济效益三方面量化科室医疗质量考核指标。结果：综合数能更全面、有效、合理地评价住部各科医疗质量优劣等级,提出科室改进的指标。结论：此评价方法简便,实用,有利于深化院内改革,强化行政部门管理。     

Risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma at baseline and 1 year after initiation of nucleos(t)ide analog therapy for chronic hepatitis B

Nucleos(t)ide analogs (NAs) cannot completely suppress the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). This study aimed to identify the risk factors for HCC development in naïve CHB patients treated with current NA. Patients receiving NA (n = 905) were recruited retrospectively from the 17 hospitals of the Japanese Red Cross Liver Study Group. All treatment-naïve patients had been receiving current NA continuously for more than 1 year until the end of the follow-up. We analyzed the accuracy of predictive risk score using the area under receiver operating characteristic curve. The albumin–bilirubin (ALBI) score was significantly improved by NA therapy (−0.171 ± 0.396; p < 0.001 at Week 48). A total of 72 (8.0%) patients developed HCC over a median follow-up of 6.2 (1.03–15.7) years. An independent predictive factor of HCC development was older age, cirrhosis, lower platelet counts at baseline and ALBI score, and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) at 1 year after NA therapy according to multivariate analysis. The accuracy was assessed using the PAGE-B, mPAGE-B, aMAP, APA-B, and REAL-B scores that included these factors. Discrimination was generally acceptable for these models. aMAP and REAL-B demonstrated high discrimination with 0.866/0.862 and 0.833/0.859 for 3- and 5-year prediction from the status of 1 year after NA therapy, respectively. Baseline age and platelet count, as well as ALBI and AFP one year after NA, were useful for stratifying carcinogenesis risk. The aMAP and REAL-B scores were validated with high accuracy in Japanese CHB patients.     

Automation comes to the aid of credentialing efforts

Virtually every hospital and managed care plan performs credentialing for every physician, and it can be a labor-intensive--and redundant--effort. But administrative software tools are being developed and expanded to better gather and keep track of vital information about physicians. Some providers and health plans are also working together to centralize the process by electronically sharing the information.     

Software helps cure patient scheduling headaches

The popularity of scheduling software is growing as providers try to find new ways of improving efficiency. That's particularly true at integrated delivery systems, which are seeking to better coordinate care delivery across multiple sites.