To market! To market! A new dawn for community care?

The public sector in Britain has been subjected to over a decade of major reform aimed at breaking up public service monopolies, at containing costs while at the same time opening services up to greater consumer choice. Health and social services have not been exempt from this revolution in the organization and management of public sector services. The long-standing policy of care in the community is being subjected to market principles and the introduction of a ‘contract culture’ very similar to the NHS reforms introduced in 1991. This paper reviews the origins of these developments in the doctrines of ‘new public management’, a movement which has proved attractive to policy-makers in many countries. Local authority social services departments have been identified as the lead agency for the development of a mixed economy of care following a review of community care policy by the government's health adviser, Sir Roy Griffiths, and a subsequent white paper. This paper examines the limited empirical evidence available on how managers and providers are meeting the challenge bestowed upon them, and concludes that most authorities are moving ahead cautiously if at all. Only a handful of authorities studied have embraced the reforms with any degree of enthusiasm. The paper concludes with an assessment of the reforms from two perspectives: a pessimistic one and an optimistic one. There are many worrying features of the reforms, not least among these being a lack of clarity over their intended purpose. Tensions and contradictions are plentiful, which places in jeopardy the certainty of the reforms in becoming user led rather than provider driven. A more optimistic scenario is that the changes are leading to a loosening up of services and practices which have often suffered from sclerotic tendencies, paternalism and sometimes complacency. If the reform process is skilfully handled and not rushed and if the ends are clearly established and communicated then users and carers could prove to be the principal beneficiaries.     

口腔颌面部严重创伤的麻醉处理

随着交通业与建筑业的迅速发展,发生口腔颌面创伤的概率日趋增多。本文就我们10年来收治的重度口腔颌面创伤患者的麻醉处理报道如下。1临床资料1.1一般资料本组口腔、颌面部严重创伤35例,男性21例,女性14例。创伤原因:车祸伤16例,爆炸伤7例,刀砍伤6例,坠落伤3例,其他3例。合并症:颅脑损伤12例,胸部损伤5例,腹部损伤4例,四肢驱干多发骨折及其他6例,伤后入院时间45min~180min。由于颌面部血运丰富,损伤严重,患者在入院时,口腔颌面、鼻腔有大量血液及分泌物喷出,软组织撕脱、裂伤、颌面部多处骨折,并存在创面严重污染,呼吸道不同程度梗阻。由于出血量多,大部分患者均有失血性休克表现血压(6.0~10.6)/(3.0~7.6)kPa,脉搏126bpm~168bpm,呼吸急促22次/min~38次/min。其中有11例伴有昏迷,3例伴有血气胸,SaO2在60%~82%。1.2急救措施迅速清理创面及口腔、鼻腔、呼吸道的血液、分泌物或异物,保证气道畅通。对有气道梗阻的患者放置鼻咽通气管,其中6例因情况紧急而行气管切开或插管,保证充分供O2;迅速开放2条~3条静脉通道,快速扩容积极抗休克;严密观察生命体征变化,保证...     

上海市卢湾区部分医院X-CT诊断医疗照射频率分析

目的了解我区部分医院X—CT检查占所有放射检查的比例，并分析2002至2004年X-CT各部位阳性检出率。方法分析X-CT诊断医疗照射频率的调查资料。结果CT检查占所有放射检查的比例为23．04％；除个别部位外，大部分阳性检出率均有所提高。结论X—CT检查的频率应予以控制，通过质控提高阳性检出率。     

颈椎病手术的麻醉管理

本文报道２３例颈椎病手术患者采用１％普鲁卡因与２％利多卡因混合液局麻加静脉哌替啶强化取得满意的效果。文中围绕呼吸管理问题对前、后手术入路的麻醉用药、输血、补液及头部固定等注意事项均作了具体介绍。     

Practices of reading and writing: the constitutive role of the patient record in medical work

This paper contributes to a reappraisal of the sociological significance of the medical record. Building upon re-evaluations of the notion of ‘representation’ in ethnomethodological and science and technology studies, it attempts to portray the medical record as an artefact which mediates the social relations that act and work through it. Through practices of reading and writing, it is argued, the medical record figures as a fundamental, constitutive element of medical practice. To address some of the dimensions that are involved, three case fragments are discussed. The way the medical record enters into the process of ‘medical decision making’ in the doctor-patient interaction, and into that interaction itself, is discussed first. Subsequently, some aspects of how the record mediates medical work as it is performed in the wards of a hospital are outlined. A third instance of its prominent role demonstrates how practices of reading and writing tend to produce particular renderings of patients’ histories - including notions of how medical work is structured.     

ROMEO: rethink organization to improve education and outcomes.

AIMS: Scarcity of resources, expertise and evidence-based models have so far limited delivery of patient-centred diabetes education. We have developed and validated a group care approach that is applicable to everyday clinical practice and cost-effective in improving metabolic control, knowledge of diabetes, health behaviours, and quality of life in Type 2 diabetes. A clinical trial (ROMEO) was planned to evaluate applicability and reproducibility of group care in other outpatients facilities and assess its impact on a larger patient population. METHODS: Multicentre, randomized, controlled clinical trial of group vs. individual care in the routine management of Type 2 diabetes. Nine hundred patient aged < 80, with diabetes of > or =1 year known duration, treated by either diet alone or diet and oral agents, will be recruited in 15 centres and followed for 4 years. Training of physicians, nurses and dietitians included preparation of operating manual and videos, interactive sessions, and evaluation of local facilities and resources. RESULTS: Primary measurements: 3-monthly HbA1c, fasting blood glucose, body weight, waist-hip ratio, yearly blood lipids, and bi-yearly assessment of knowledge of diabetes, health behaviours and quality of life. Secondary outcomes: systolic and diastolic blood pressure, evaluation of ECG for ischaemia and QT interval, hypoglycaemic and anti-hypertensive medication and cardiovascular events. Analysis will be by intention-to-treat. DISCUSSION: If ROMEO confirms that group care can be successfully implemented in different clinics, a novel clinico-pedagogic tool will have been acquired to support patient-centred education, improve lifestyle and outcomes, support team work, enhance providers' attitudes and competencies and ameliorate diabetes care organization.     

Short-term subjective efficacy of doxazosin in predicting probability of prostatectomy in the management of benign prostatic hyperplasia in patients with severe symptoms

BACKGROUND: The severity of symptoms still constitutes the major indication for transurethral prostatectomy, despite the extensive utilization of medical treatments. The aim of the study presented here was to investigate the impact of doxazosin on symptoms in relation to the probability of consequent surgery in severely symptomatic patients. METHODS: Patients with an International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) between 18 and 35 were included in the study. The patients received 4 mg/day doxazosin, and subjective efficacy was assessed by IPSS at the first and third months. In addition, the patients were classified at the third month according to a single question regarding satisfaction with medical treatment in terms of symptom relief as 'ineffective, no change, and effective'. RESULTS: A total of 178 patients constituted the study group. Mean total symptom scores were 24, 19 and 17 at baseline, first and third months, respectively (P < 0.05). According to results of the questionnaire, 23% of the patients claimed the treatment was ineffective, and subsequently, the majority of this group (93%) underwent prostatectomy in a year. In addition, 33% of the patients reported no change in their symptoms, while 44% reported that the medication was effective. However, after 1 year, 59% and 15% of these cases underwent surgical treatment, respectively. The probability of surgery in the 'ineffective' group was significantly higher compared to the remaining groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The majority of patients with severe symptoms who were not satisfied with the medication at the 3rd month underwent surgery. This observation may provide a predictor for subsequent probability of prostatectomy. Therefore, reassessment of patients would be a cost-effective approach for the treatment of BPH in severely symptomatic patients.     

医院制剂室的软件管理

为了探讨医院制剂室的软件管理 ,我们根据《医疗机构制剂配制质量管理规范》的要求 ,分析了我们的软件动态与静态资料 ,提出了自己的一些解决方案。     

我国医院信息系统必走整合之路

论述了我国医院信息系统(HIS)整合的重要意义和原则,介绍了HIS整合的方法措施以及经验.     

The hospital as an enterprise: management strategies

After introducing the context in which health systems exist in developing as well as in industrialized countries, the author describes the role that hospitals are expected to play as 'enterprises'. The rationale behind such a role is explored and the experience so far available discussed. Evidence from several developing countries suggests caution and tends to discourage radical and indiscriminate introduction of market‐oriented reforms, which international donors seem to be spearheading in Africa's health systems. It is likely, however, that a limited, gradual introduction of selected elements of these reforms (such as some aspects of contracting out, managerial decentralization, the split between purchasing and providing functions) may find its place and eventually have a positive impact on the performance of the health systems. But the 'mystique of markets' must not be allowed to deprive public hospitals of the sense of social utility and of the caring ethos which are essential requisites of a meaningful and effective public health system.