The impact of TennCare on hospital efficiency

This study measures the effect of TennCare, a Medicaid managed care reform initiated in 1994, on the efficiency of hospitals in Tennessee. We apply a multiple-output stochastic frontier approach to a panel dataset that represents all short-term acute care hospitals operating in Tennessee for 1990–2001 and find a modest gain in operating efficiency overall. Our results also reveal that the effect of reform on hospital efficiency varies significantly with the admitting hospital’s TennCare patient load and whether the hospital is located in an urban or rural area. During the study period, high-TennCare hospitals in urban areas saw efficiency gains in the 4 years immediately after the implementation of the program while high-TennCare hospitals in rural areas had significant efficiency losses. The effects immediately following the program’s implementation on low-TennCare urban and rural hospitals are similar to those experienced by hospitals with high-TennCare admissions but the magnitude of the effects are much smaller. Policymakers considering large scale reforms of this type should be careful to take into consideration the likely differential responses from urban and rural hospitals that are prone to differ in payer mix and capacity to improve efficiency.

浅谈我国药品重点监测的组织主体

通过分别分析基于药品不良反应监测中心和药品生产企业为主体开展重点监测的优、缺点,提出我国现阶段应以药品不良反应监测中心为主体开展重点监测,并指出以企业为主体,政府和企业互动参与是我国今后重点监测的发展方向。     

Consumer Resources for Cancer on the World-Wide Web

Abstract

There is now a staggering amount of consumer health information relating to cancer available and accessible on the World-Wide Web (WWW or Web). The sheer quantity of information can sometimes make it difficult to locate the best sites for one's needs. The purpose of this article is to point out some of the more useful sites for obtaining cancer information and to highlight their special features. The WWW cancer resources are grouped into five sections: I. Major Sites; II. Sites for Specific Types of Cancer; III. Other Useful Sites; IV. Guides; and V. Collections.     

The World Report on Disability as a blueprint for international,national, and local aphasia services

Abstract

This commentary aims to extend the debate of the lead article authors () by translating the nine recommendations of the World Report on Disability into a plan of action for the aphasia community. Solutions for the advancement of aphasia science and services are presented at international (macro), national (meso), and local (micro) levels. Implications for speech-language pathologists and aphasia service delivery are discussed. An overarching call to action is the need for speech-language pathologists to support a strong and vibrant aphasia community at all levels, so that the voices of people with aphasia can be heard.     

Workshop Report: European Workshop on Ataxia-Telangiectasia,Frankfurt, 2011

Abstract: Ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T) is a devastating human recessive disorder characterized by progressive cerebellar ataxia, immunodeficiency, chromosomal instability, and cancer susceptibility. The European Workshop on Ataxia-Telangiectasia 2011 in Frankfurt focused on status quo of patient care and future clinical research directions. In Europe, approximately 600 patients are registered and many national websites have been established. During the meeting, guidelines of patient care were discussed and all participants agreed to build up an European A-T research network in near future to bring basic research and new therapies into clinical applications.     

Relación entre la satisfacción laboral y la cultura de seguridad del paciente

Objective

To evaluate the relationship between safety culture and job satisfaction in a medium-stay hospital, showing the relationships between the dimensions that define both constructs and identifying the dimensions with the greatest impact on both variables.

A case study of the elder care functions of a Chilean non-governmental organization

This paper examines the history and role of a faith-based Chilean nonprofit organization, Hogar de Cristo (Christ's Home), in providing elderly care in the context of recent economic and sociopolitical changes in the country. Chile has been at the forefront of market-based reforms in the delivery of social services and its experience provides insights into the intersecting roles of the state, the market, and the non-governmental sector in addressing basic human needs. Based on in-depth interviews, archival data, and field observations, we investigate the institutional, political, and social factors that account for the organization's success. These result from a number of factors including a capacity to adapt to changing client needs, the successful adoption of an entrepreneurial style of management and outreach, and the building of trust through effective public relations. Although conditions unique to the situation of this faith-based organization in a highly Catholic country may account for its success, the experience of Hogar de Cristo provides useful lessons for the future of elder care policy in the Americas.     

Social media and suicide prevention: findings from a stakeholder survey

Background

Suicide is a leading cause of death, particularly among young adults. The rapid growth of social media and its heavy use by young adults presents new challenges and opportunities for suicide prevention. Social media sites are commonly used for communicating about suicide-related behavior with others, which raises the possibility of using social media to help prevent suicide. However, the use of social media varies widely between different suicide prevention advocates. The role this type of intervention should play in a community’s overall suicide prevention strategy remains a matter of debate.

Aim

Explore the ways in which stakeholders use social media for suicide prevention and assess their views about the potential utility of social media as a suicide prevention tool.

Methods

A 12-week stakeholder consultation that involved the online administration and completion of surveys by 10 individuals who conduct research about suicide and social media, 13 organizations that use social media for suicide prevention purposes, and 64 users of social media.

Results

Social media was seen as a useful means of delivering a range of suicide prevention activities. Respondents reported that the key benefits of social media were the opportunity to obtain emotional support from others, to express one’s feelings, to talk to others with similar problems, and to provide help to others. The social media site believed to hold most potential for delivering suicide prevention activities was Facebook. There were concerns about potential risks of social media, but respondents felt the potential benefits outweighed the risks.

Conclusions

Social media was recognized by different types of stakeholders as holding potential for delivering suicide prevention activities. More research is required to establish the efficacy and safety of potential social media-based interventions and ethical standards and protocols to ensure that such interventions are delivered safely need to be developed and implemented.     

Chinese Anti-Cancer Association as a non-governmental organization undertakes systematic cancer prevention work in China

Cancer has become the first leading cause of death in the world, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Facing the increasing trend of cancer incidence and mortality, China issued and implemented “three-early (early prevention, early diagnosis and early treatment)” national cancer prevention plan. As the main body and dependence of social governance, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) take over the role of government in the field of cancer prevention and treatment. American Cancer Society (ACS) made a research on cancer NGOs and civil society in cancer control and found that cancer NGOs in developing countries mobilize civil society to work together and advocate governments in their countries to develop policies to address the growing cancer burden. Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), Cancer Council Australia (CCA), and Malaysian cancer NGOs are the representatives of cancer NGOs in promoting cancer control. Selecting Chinese Anti-Cancer Association (CACA) as an example in China, this article is to investigate how NGOs undertake systematic cancer prevention work in China. By conducting real case study, we found that, as a NGO, CACA plays a significant role in intensifying the leading role of government in cancer control, optimizing cancer outcomes, decreasing cancer incidence and mortality rates and improving public health.