Primary Care Physicians In Ten Countries Report Challenges Caring For Patients With Complex Health Needs

A compelling article that explores some of the current challenges facing the integration of primary care within the health systems of 10 high income countries. The data comes from the 18^th annual Commonwealth Fund International Health Policy Survey of Primary Care Physicians which was completed in 2015 in Australia, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. While primary care physicians reported being well prepared for multiple chronic medical conditions, several health areas such as mental health and addiction were noted for being weak points for providers. A frequent challenge was a lack of communication with other parts of the health care system as well as with social services although there was significant variation between countries. An important finding of the study was “that having an electronic health record does not ensure electronic flow of information with doctors outside of one ...

Voices on person-centred care

What is person-centred care to a patient, a physician, a nurse, a hospital head of department, an industry representative and a researcher? How do these people, who all have experience of receiving or working with person-centred care, see person-centred care from their perspectives? Short film clips from the University of Gothenburg Centre for Person-centred Care - GPCC. GPCC is an in terdisciplinary research centre, established in January 2010, with the support of the Swedish government's strategic investment in health and care research. Uniquely GPCC has evaluated the effects of person-centred care in controlled studies. This has established that person-centred care is capable of enhancing the efficiency of the care process. Apart from considerable monetary savings resulting from amongst other things shorter hospital stays, significant positive effects from a patient perspective have been seen, as care is adapted to each individual person and his or her resources are made use of.

Voices on person-centred care

What is person-centred care to a patient, a physician, a nurse, a hospital head of department, an industry representative and a researcher? How do these people, who all have experience of receiving or working with person-centred care, see person-centred care from their perspectives? Short film clips from the University of Gothenburg Centre for Person-centred Care - GPCC. GPCC is an in terdisciplinary research centre, established in January 2010, with the support of the Swedish government's strategic investment in health and care research. Uniquely GPCC has evaluated the effects of person-centred care in controlled studies. This has established that person-centred care is capable of enhancing the efficiency of the care process. Apart from considerable monetary savings resulting from amongst other things shorter hospital stays, significant positive effects from a patient perspective have been seen, as care is adapted to each individual person and his or her resources are made use of.

Partnership, Person-Centredness in Health Care

Person-centred care is an emerging concept in health care. Many people ask what is new about it, and as a matter of fact many health care professionals believe that they work in a person-centred way already. But shifting to a person-centred care practice often involves a profound change in culture and structure, and the key is a different approach in seeing the patient as a partner. The main thing is about being able to listen. Being able to listen to the patient and co-create a care plan; to create a partnership in health care.

The University of Gothenburg Centre for Person-centred Care - GPCC, performs research, education and innovation in person-centred care. Many of the centre’s projects are performed in partnership with Sahlgrenska University Hospital, one of the biggest in Europe, which is closely linked to the University via the The Sahlgrenska Academy.

This short film sets the scene by ...

Partnership, Person-Centredness in Health Care

Person-centred care is an emerging concept in health care. Many people ask what is new about it, and as a matter of fact many health care professionals believe that they work in a person-centred way already. But shifting to a person-centred care practice often involves a profound change in culture and structure, and the key is a different approach in seeing the patient as a partner. The main thing is about being able to listen. Being able to listen to the patient and co-create a care plan; to create a partnership in health care.

The University of Gothenburg Centre for Person-centred Care - GPCC, performs research, education and innovation in person-centred care. Many of the centre’s projects are performed in partnership with Sahlgrenska University Hospital, one of the biggest in Europe, which is closely linked to the University via the The Sahlgrenska Academy.

This short film sets the scene by ...

GPCC Person-centred care research centre web site

This research centre web site contains a range of information, films, presentations, resources and links; from basic information on person-centred care to information on a wide range of individual research projects from health and elderly care and rehabilitation. It also contains news, events, scientific publications and implementation.

The Gothenburg University Centre for Person-centred Care (GPCC) is an interdisciplinary research centre, established in January 2010, with the support of the Swedish government's strategic investment in health and care research. Uniquely GPCC has evaluated the effects of person-centred care in controlled studies. This has established that person-centred care is capable of enhancing the efficiency of the care process. Apart from considerable monetary savings resulting from amongst other things shorter hospital stays, significant positive effects from a patient perspective have been seen, as care is adapted to each individual person and his or her resources are made use of.

(A summary commentary ...

GPCC Person-centred care research centre web site

This research centre web site contains a range of information, films, presentations, resources and links; from basic information on person-centred care to information on a wide range of individual research projects from health and elderly care and rehabilitation. It also contains news, events, scientific publications and implementation.

The Gothenburg University Centre for Person-centred Care (GPCC) is an interdisciplinary research centre, established in January 2010, with the support of the Swedish government's strategic investment in health and care research. Uniquely GPCC has evaluated the effects of person-centred care in controlled studies. This has established that person-centred care is capable of enhancing the efficiency of the care process. Apart from considerable monetary savings resulting from amongst other things shorter hospital stays, significant positive effects from a patient perspective have been seen, as care is adapted to each individual person and his or her resources are made use of.

(A summary commentary ...

Era 3 for Medicine and Health Care

In this Viewpoint, Berwick discusses 2 “eras” of the medical profession and offers changes that would be useful to move into a new “moral era.”

Constant conflict roils the health care landscape, including issues related to the Affordable Care Act, electronic health records, payment changes, and consolidation of hospitals and health plans. The morale of physicians and other clinicians is in jeopardy.

Changes in Hospital–Physician Affiliations in U.S. Hospitals and Their Effect on Quality of Care

Many U.S. policymakers believe that increased integration between hospitals and physicians may foster better care and potentially decrease health care spendind. The logic behind this notion is straightforward: When physicians are employed or otherwise more substantially influenced by the hospitals in which the work, they are less likely to focus on generating revenue to maintain an independent practice and more likely to focus on patient care. The objetive of this article was to examine changes in United States acute care hospitals that reported employment relationships with their physicians and to determine whether quality of care improved after the hospitals switched to this integration model. 

Towards Patient-Centered Conflicts of Interest Policy

Financial conflicts of interest exist between industry and physicians, and these relationships have the power to incluence physicians´medical practice. Transparency about conflicts matters for ensuring adequate informed consent, controlling healthcare expenditure, and encouraging physicians´reflection on professionalism. The US Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) launched the Open Payments Program (OPP) to publicly disclose and bring transparency to the relationships between industry and physicians in the United States. These changes considerably improve transparency and the utility of available data, and caan furthermore enhance professionalism and accountability by encouraging physicians to reflect more actively on their own practices. 

The Influence of Family Physicians Within the South African District Health System: A Cross-Sectional Study

Evidence of the influence of family physicians on health care is required to assist managers and policy makers with human resource planning in Africa. The International argument for family physicians derives mainly from research in high-income countries, so this study aimed to evaluate the influence of family physicians on the South African district health system. 

Primary healthcare policy implementation in the Eastern Mediterranean region: Experiences of six countries

Primary healthcare (PHC) is essential for equitable access and cost-effective healthcare. This makes PHC a key factor in the global strategy for universal health coverage (UHC). Implementing PHC requires an understanding of the health system under prevailing circumstances, but for most countries, no data are available. This paper describes and analyse the health systems of Bahrain, Egypt, Lebanon, Qatar, Sudan and the United Arab Emirates, in relation to PHC

Partnership, Person-Centredness in Health Care

Person-centred care is an emerging concept in health care. Many people ask what is new about it, and as a matter of fact many health care professionals believe that they work in a person-centred way already. But shifting to a person-centred care practice often involves a profound change in culture and structure, and the key is a different approach in seeing the patient as a partner. The main thing is about being able to listen. Being able to listen to the patient and co-create a care plan; to create a partnership in health care.

The University of Gothenburg Centre for Person-centred Care - GPCC, performs research, education and innovation in person-centred care. Many of the centre’s projects are performed in partnership with Sahlgrenska University Hospital, one of the biggest in Europe, which is closely linked to the University via the The Sahlgrenska Academy.

This short film sets the scene by ...

Care for caregivers- a mission for primary care

The number of elderly people living in the community who are limited in daily activities is increasing worldwide. This generates prolonged care, which usually falls on one family member, the family caregiver. Caregivers are prone to develop psychosocial and physical symptoms. As a result, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a clear directive to assess and support these caregivers. The main goals of this study were to assess primary care physicians’ (PCP) awareness to caregivers’ health risks and the extent that they recommended preventive measures to maintain the health of the caregivers. Although a high percentage of physicians were aware and concerned about caregivers’ health, their preventive care activities were relatively passive. PCPs should take a more active and preventive role for maintaining caregivers’ health.

The organisation of primary health care service delivery for non-communicable diseases in Nigeria: A case-study analysis

As chronic diseases, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) require sustained person-centred and community-based care. Given its direct link to communities and households, Primary Health Care (PHC) is well positioned to achieve such care. In Nigeria, the national government has prioritized PHC system strengthening as a means of achieving national NCD targets. However, strengthening PHC systems for NCDs require re-organization of PHC service delivery, based on contextual understanding of existing facilitators and barriers to PHC service delivery for NCDs.