Quality improvement training for burn care in low-and middle-income countries: A pilot course for nurses

BackgroundThere is an urgent need to empower practitioners to undertake quality improvement (QI) projects in burn services in low-middle income countries (LMICs). We piloted a course aimed to equip nurses working in these environments with the knowledge and skills to undertake such projects.MethodsEight nurses from five burns services across Malawi and Ethiopia took part in this pilot course, which was evaluated using a range of methods, including interviews and focus group discussions.ResultsCourse evaluations reported that interactive activities were successful in supporting participants to devise QI projects. Appropriate online platforms were integral to creating a community of practice and maintaining engagement. Facilitators to a successful QI project were active individuals, supportive leadership, collaboration, effective knowledge sharing and demonstrable advantages of any proposed change. Barriers included: staff attitudes, poor leadership, negative culture towards training, resource limitations, staff rotation and poor access to information to guide practice.ConclusionsThe course demonstrated that by bringing nurses together, through interactive teaching and online forums, a supportive community of practice can be created. Future work will include investigating ways to scale up access to the course so staff can be supported to initiate and lead quality improvement in LMIC burn services.     

Fourteen years of litigation claims in cardiothoracic surgery in the United Kingdom National Health Service

Approximately 36 400 cardiac and 23 100 thoracic operations are carried out in the United Kingdom between 2006 and 2015. National Health Service (NHS) resolution, as known as the NHS litigation authority, is one of the essential bodies of the Department of Health. Its purpose is to provide NHS expertise to resolve concerns fair and square share learning for improvement. We aim to evaluate and increase awareness of medicolegal cases in cardiothoracic surgery. Total numbers and details of claims coded by NHS resolution in cardiothoracic surgery from 2004 to 2017 were requested under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. The data provided in successful claims is further breakdown into damages paid to the claimant, defence cost, claimant cost paid and the sum of the three. In contrast, unsuccessful claims only include the defence cost. Moreover, data provided also includes further analysis of primary causes and primary injuries for Claims Closed/Settled with damages paid. There were 753 claims recorded from 2004 to 2017, of which 415 (55.11%) were successful. The number of claims has been steadily increasing since 2004, with two significant raises from 2009/10 to 2010/11 (37‐55, 48.64% raise) and 2012/13 to 2013/14 (49‐69, 40.82% raise). The mean successful claim ratio was 69.58% (range, 47.56%‐ 83.33%) There is also a steady increase in the successful ratio from 2004 to 2017. In summary, this is the first study published in relation to litigation claims on cardiothoracic surgery in the United Kingdom. The results have provided insight on claims made against cardiothoracic surgery.     

医疗卫生服务价格改革方向初探

医疗卫生服务价格改革是要理顺价格构成成份之间量的关系，使每个构成成份的价格值都在供求关系的约束中，在政府的有效管制中，从而成为医疗卫生资源合理配置的有效工具。为此：①对生产要素分别定价；②对劳动定价；③对资本和自然资源定价；④确定医疗卫生机构内部管理时劳动价格；⑤价格中的所有构成成份价格都置于供给和需求关系约束下；⑥确定医疗卫生服务价格的理想传递方式。     

医院后勤服务社会化实践中的几点思考

就医院后勤服务社会化的实际操作中的几个问题进行了论述,指出实行后勤社会化服务,必须有相应的外部环境;后勤部门实行企业化管理,必须有相配套的政策作保障;实施商品化服务,必须有对等的经济意识;加大后勤服务化的力度,必须有果敢超前的决策意识。     

Efficacy of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion in Type 1 diabetes: a 2-year perspective using the established criteria for funding from a National Health Service.

AIM: To determine the 2-year efficacy of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) following the current established criteria for funding of a National Health Service. METHODS: Longitudinal, prospective, observational unicentre study. Included in the study were 153 Type 1 diabetes (T1D) subjects, previously treated with multiple daily injections (MDI) of insulin, in whom CSII was started in accordance with the criteria for reimbursement of the Catalan National Health Service. At baseline, we recorded data on age, gender, duration of the disease, body mass index (BMI), insulin dose and indications for CSII. Glycated haemoglobin (HbA(1c)) and the frequency of hypoglycaemic events were used to assess glycaemic control. Quality of life was assessed using three different self-report questionnaires. After 24 months, these same items were remeasured in all subjects. Serious adverse events and injection-site complications were also recorded. RESULTS: In 96% of subjects, CSII indication included less than optimal glycaemic control using MDI. HbA(1c) fell from 7.9 +/- 1.3 to 7.3 +/- 1.1% (P < or = 0.001) after 24 months of CSII. Insulin requirements were significantly lower at the end of follow-up (0.55 +/- 0.21 U/kg body weight) in comparison with before use of CSII (0.70 +/- 0.20, P < or = 0.001). BMI increased from 24.0 +/- 3.1 to 24.4 +/- 3.2 kg/m(2) after 24 months (P < or = 0.025). The rate of episodes of diabetic ketoacidosis per year remained unchanged. Mild and severe hypoglycaemic episodes were significantly reduced. The scores in all subsets of the Diabetes Quality-of-Life (DQoL) questionnaire significantly improved after 24 months of CSII. CONCLUSIONS: CSII, commenced according to the criteria for a nationally funded clinical programme, improves glycaemic control and quality-of-life outcomes with fewer hypoglycaemic episodes in T1D subjects previously conventionally treated with MDI.     

再论医院后勤服务社会化的可行性

目前，经济高速发展，服务体系和水准相对滞后，加上管理者素质的提高，现代管理技术的应用，以及后勤管理体制的改革，为医院后勤工作向社会分离提供了条件，也为推进医院后勤服务社会化提供了机遇。但规范卫生服务市场体系是后勤服务社会化的保障，故要建立：卫生物质流通、后勤人才流动、经济信息市场及卫生建设筹资机构。在推进后勤服务社会化时尚需解决：①支持条件；②实施集团联盟；③注意经营定位等问题。     

解放军医学图书馆电子阅览室的技术特点

从阅览室网络拓扑结构、硬盘保护、网络控制、网址限制及视频点播等几个方面对电子阅览室采用技术的特点逐一做了简要介绍,并以此阐明通过综合管理,使阅览室各计算机能够正常、安全的运行,从而达到既可为读者提供优质服务又可保证系统安全的目的.     

现代化医院呼唤现代服务模式

当前我们正在向建设基本现代化医院迈进,在注意硬件建设的同时,不要忽略软件建设。硬件建设需要大量投入,较易见成果;而后者无需大量财力投入,只需转变医院人的思想观念,就能使医院明显改观。     

Psychological and neuropsychological aspects of COPD

A review of the literature dealing with the effects of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) on psychological and neuropsychological functioning indicates that significant emotional and adaptive deficits characterize this patient population. Psychiatric consultation can provide valuable assistance to the primary care physician by reducing emotional distress and correcting dysfunctional attitudes and beliefs. Neuropsychological assessment can elucidate an individual's neurobehavioral resources and deficits.