Thursday 28 November 2013

Use of evidence in implementing self-directed support in health care

"While ongoing research will always be important, this report draws attention to the importance of recognising the expertise of patients, focusing on outcomes and expanding traditional notions of innovation."

Doctor knows best? The use of evidence in implementing self-directed support in health care
J Glasby, V Alakeson, S Duffy
University of Birmingham Health Services Management Centre
September 2013

Read more here.

Caring for an ageing population

"We looked beyond our own system to examine how Japan has tried to address the conundrum of providing sufficient and appropriate services for an increasing number of frail older people in an affordable and equitable way."

Caring for an ageing population
N Curry, H Holder, L Patterson
November 2013

Read more here.

Commissioning effective and efficient services to reduce avoidable sight loss

"This paper was developed by Achieving Commissioning Excellence to help commissioners understand how they can commission more efficient eye care services that support care closer to home where appropriate, and release capacity within secondary care in order to reduce avoidable sight loss."

Commissioning effective and efficient services to reduce avoidable sight loss
Achieving Commissioning Excellence (a partnership between NHS Alliance and Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK Limited)
November 2013

Read more here.

What are the safety risks for patients undergoing treatment by multiple specialties

"More research is needed to gain insight into the underlying causes of inadequate care when multiple specialties are required to treat a patient."

What are the safety risks for patients undergoing treatment by multiple specialties: a retrospective patient record review study
RJ Baines, MC de Bruijne, M Langelaan, C Wagner
BMC Health Services Research, 2013, 13:497

Read more here.

Wednesday 27 November 2013

Structured education pulmonary rehabilitation programme for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in primary care

"On the basis of the evidence collected alongside a cluster RCT, a structured education pulmonary rehabilitation programme for COPD delivered in primary care was, on average, more costly and more effective than the usual general practice care."

The cost-effectiveness of a structured education pulmonary rehabilitation programme for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in primary care: the PRINCE cluster randomised trial
P Gillespie, et al.
BMJ Open, 2013, 3:e003479

Read more here.

Right Care Essential Reading: Unwarranted variation - update

Essential Reading is a series of reading lists on specific themes relevant to our Right Care programme themes. This reading list is an update (search dates Jan 2011 to Nov 2013) on the theme of Unwarranted Variation.

Read the update here.

The role of charging in healthcare

"There is growing evidence that the NHS is facing a funding challenge as demand grows and the level of funding available declines."

The cost of our health: the role of charging in healthcare
T Cawston, C Corrie
Reform
November 2013

Read more here.

Commissioning regional and local sexual health services

"These resources can help commissioners develop their services and undertake good commissioning, with clear service specifications and contracts."

Commissioning regional and local sexual health services
Public Health England
November 2013

Improving patient flow across organisations and pathways

"This scan compiled research about the methods used to improve patient flow across organisations or pathways."

Improving patient flow across organisations and pathways
D de Silva
The Health Foundation
November 2013

Read more here.

Healthcare reform: implications for knowledge translation in primary care

"The aim of this paper is to determine what works to facilitate evidence-based sexual healthcare within the primary care sector."

Healthcare reform: implications for knowledge translation in primary care
A Dadich, H Hosseinzadeh
BMC Health Services Research, 2013, 13:490

Read more here.

Monday 25 November 2013

Volunteering in acute trusts in England

"Our findings suggest that trusts believe that volunteers play a critical role in improving patient experience, but there is less systematic measurement of how they do so."

Volunteering in acute trusts in England: Understanding the scale and impact
A Galea, C Naylor, D Buck, L Weaks
The King's Fund
November 2013

Read more here.

The state of health care and adult social care in England 2012/13

"In around 90% of cases, people were treated with dignity and respect and were receiving care, treatment and support that met their needs and was safe. But, despite improvements in each type of care setting, we are disappointed that in around 10% of cases people received poor quality care."

The state of health care and adult social care in England 2012/13
Care Quality Commission
November 2013

Read more here.

You can see a pictorial version of the report here.

The UK strategy for rare diseases

"The Strategy aims to ensure that people living with a rare disease have the best quality of evidence based care and treatment that our health and social care systems, working with charities and other organisations, our researchers and industry can provide."

The UK strategy for rare diseases
Department of Health
November 2013

Read more here.

Role construction and boundaries in interprofessional primary health care teams

"We found that empowering team members to develop autonomy can enhance collaborative interactions."

Role construction and boundaries in interprofessional primary health care teams: a qualitative study
K MacNaughton, S Chreim, IL Bourgeault
BMC Health Services Research, 2013, 13:486

Read more here.

Friday 22 November 2013

Seven day consultant present care: implementation considerations

"This report, which has involved over fifty specialty organisations, is designed to be a catalyst, providing organisational and clinical leaders with further support in delivering seven day consultant-present care for patients in hospital."

Seven day consultant present care: implementation considerations
Academy of Medical Royal Colleges
November 2013

Read more here.

Challenging bureaucracy

"Our review has uncovered a number of ways to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy from national bodies on NHS providers. We believe our recommendations will help manage the volume of requests, reduce the effort involved in responding and, crucially, maximise the value of information for staff, patients and the public."

Challenging bureaucracy
NHS Confederation
November 2013

Read more here.

National audit of intermediate care

"As in 2012, the 2013 audit has highlighted wide variation in the extent of multi-agency commissioning, the scale of services provided and how intermediate care sits within the full range of health and social care services within each local area."

National audit of intermediate care
NHS Benchmarking Network
November 2013

Read more here.

Critical learning from four different systems for the successful integration of social care and health services

"This paper seeks to clarify the central contribution of social services to delivering change based on best research and practice knowledge as part of an integrated service."

Four Nations United: Critical learning from four different systems for the successful integration of social care and health services
Association of Directors of Adult Social Services
October 2013

Read more here.

The cost of our health: the role of charging in healthcare

"With the NHS facing a significant funding challenge in the short term, building on existing systems of copayment, in particular prescription charges, could generate valuable additional revenue."

The cost of our health: the role of charging in healthcare: Reform Ideas No 9
T Cawston, C Corrie
Reform
November 2013

Read more here.

NHS in transition: key questions

"The most costly care – typically hospital based care – should ideally be used only when necessary, and non-hospital based alternatives should be encouraged, provided that they can help patients for less cost."

NHS in transition: key questions
Nuffield Trust
November 2013

Read more here.

Sunday 17 November 2013

Impact of 'Virtual Wards' on hospital use

"The costs of providing health care are highly skewed across the population, with a small number of patients accounting for a large proportion of expenditure."

Impact of 'Virtual Wards' on hospital use: a research study using propensity matched controls and a cost analysis
GH Lewis, T Georghiou, A Steventon, R Vaithianathan, X Chitnis, J Billings, I Blunt, L Wright, A Roberts, M Bardsley
National Institute for Health Research Service delivery and Organisation Programme
November 2013

Read more here.

Saturday 16 November 2013

Free access to special issue of Journal of Integrated Care

This special issue of Journal of Integrated Care focuses on commissioning and the third sector, and can be freely read until 14th December 2013 by visiting Emerald Publishers using the following login details:
username: integrated
password: emerald2013

Articles include:

  • Evaluating a third sector community service following stroke
  • Co-producing care services in rural areas
  • Singing from the same hymn sheet? Commissioning of preventative services from the third sector

International profiles of health care systems

"This publication presents overviews of the health care systems of Australia, Canada, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Japan, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States. Each overview covers health insurance, public and private financing, health system organization and governance, health care quality and coordination, disparities, efficiency and integration, use of information technology and evidence-based practice, cost containment, and recent reforms and innovations."

International profiles of health care systems
Edited by S Thomson, R Osborn, D Squires, M Jun
The Commonwealth Fund
November 2013

Read more here.

Draft framework of excellence in clinical commissioning: for CCGs

"Large scale system change in health and social care is complex and challenging and driving such change takes strategic, collaborative leadership, built on a compelling vision for the future."

Draft framework of excellence in clinical commissioning: for CCGs
S Rutherford, J Simon
The NHS Constitution
November 2013

Read more here.

Role of the voluntary sector in providing commissioning support

"There are some areas of commissioning support where the voluntary sector offers particular expertise, including needs-assessments, business intelligence, service re-design, and public and patient engagement."

Role of the voluntary sector in providing commissioning support
H Holders
Nuffield Trust
November 2013

Read more here.

Read a summary from the Commissioning Elf here.

Commissioning support services: advice on whether to 'make, share or buy'

"....where CCGs wish to make changes to their commissioning support arrangements it is critical that the rationale behind these decisions is properly documented, that they can demonstrate that the new arrangements represent value for money and improved quality, and that the impact on the local health community and in particular neighbouring CCGs has been taken into account."

Commissioning support services: advice on whether to 'make, share or buy'
NHS England
November 2013

Read more here.

Commissioning cardiac rehabilitation services

"Clinical Commissioning Groups should work closely with strategic clinical networks for cardiovascular disease, who together with NHS England area teams are responsible for commissioning cardiovascular surgery."

Commissioning cardiac rehabilitation services
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence
November 2013

Read more here.

Public health functions to be exercised by NHS England

"This agreement sets out outcomes to be achieved and funding provided for NHS England to commission public health services."

NHS public health functions agreement 2014 to 2015: public health functions to be exercised by NHS England
Department of Health, Public Health England
November 2013

Read more here.

Smart Guides to Engagement series

"The Smart Guides to Engagement series is for everyone working in or with clinical commissioning groups (CCGs). The guides have been written by experts to provide straightforward advice on all aspects of patient and public engagement in an easily digested format."

Access the 12 guides here.

Commissioning for Value - update

"Essential Reading" is a series of reading lists on specific themes relevant to the Right Care programme themes. They provide you with a rapid introduction to the subject and access to knowledge which will change your thinking. This reading list is an update to the Commissioning for Value list that was produced in August 2012."

Access the reading list here.

Money well spent?

"This briefing for councillors and officers explains the importance of assessing value for money in helping local authorities fulfil their public health responsibilities."

Money well spent? Assessing the cost effectiveness and return on investment of public health interventions
Local Government Association
November 2013

Read more here.

Corruption, inequality and population perception of healthcare quality in Europe

"We found robust evidence for the impact of socio-demographic variables on the perception of quality of health care."

Corruption, inequality and population perception of healthcare quality in Europe
Z Nikoloski, E Mossialos
BMC Health services Research, 2013, 13:472

Read more here.

Evaluating adverse drug event reporting in administrative data from emergency departments

"Adverse drug events to outpatient medications were underreported in emergency department administrative data compared to the number of adverse drug events diagnosed and recorded at the point-of-care."

Evaluating adverse drug event reporting in administrative data from emergency departments: a validation study
CM Hohl, L Kuramoto, E Yu, B Rogula, J Stausberg, B Sobolev
BMC Health Services Research, 2013, 13:473

Read more here.

Friday 8 November 2013

Effective clinical and financial engagement

"Effective engagement between NHS clinicians and finance professionals has always been important and never more so than now as the NHS seeks to improve the quality of care for patients while becoming more productive and efficient."

Effective clinical and financial engagement: a best practice guide for the NHS
Department of Health
November 2013

Read more here.

Development of a framework to estimate the cost of opioid dependence

"This report sets out the findings of a targeted review of the harms of opioid dependence, and an assessment of the existing estimates of the costs of opioid dependence."

Development of a framework to estimate the cost of opioid dependence
E Disley, A Mulcahy, M Pardal, J Rubin, K Ruggeri
RAND Europe, prepared for Reckitt Benckiser Pharmaceuticals
November 2013

Read more here.

NICE Quality Standard: Surgical site infection (QS49)

"This quality standard covers the prevention and treatment of surgical site infection for adults, children and young people undergoing surgical incisions through the skin, in all healthcare settings."

NICE Quality Standard: Surgical site infection (QS49)
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
October 2013

Read more here.

Now or never: shaping pharmacy for the future

"The final sections of the report focus on what needs to be done if pharmacists are to increasingly assume the role of supporting patients with effective medicines use and by serving as care-givers in the health system, working in close partnership with other health and social care professionals as well as with patients."

Now or never: shaping pharmacy for the future
J Smith, C Picton, M Dayan
Royal Pharmaceutical Society
October 2013

Read more here.

Monday 4 November 2013

Emergency admissions to hospital: managing the demand

"Once patients are admitted, hospitals, working with community and social care services, can ensure that patients stay no longer than necessary and are discharged promptly."

Emergency admissions to hospital: managing the demand
Department of Health
National Audit Office
October 2013

Read more here.

A social network analysis of physicians' professional networks and their attitudes toward EBM

"This paper explores how physicians’ attitudes towards EBM is related to the network position they occupy within healthcare organizations."

"Us and them": a social network analysis of physicians' professional networks and their attitudes toward EBM
D Mascia, A Cicchetti, G Damiani
BMC Health Services Research, 2013, 13:429

Read more here.

Applying the NHS institute for innovation and improvement sustainability model to healthcare improvement

"This study indicates the sustainability model provides a potentially useful approach to measuring teams' views on the likelihood of sustainability and prompting action."

Making change last: applying the NHS institute for innovation and improvement sustainability model to healthcare improvement
C Doyle, C Howe, T Woodcock, R Myron, K Phekoo, C McNicholas, J Saffer, D Bell
Implementation Science, 2013, 8:127

Read more here.

Facilitating knowledge exchange between health-care sectors, organisations and professions

"Relatively little is known about how people and groups who function in boundary-spanning positions between different sectors, organisations and professions contribute to improved quality of health care and clinical outcomes."

Facilitating knowledge exchange between health-care sectors, organisations and professions: a longitudinal mixed-methods study of boundary-spanning processes and their impact on health-care quality
L Nasir, G Robert, M Fischer, I Norman, T Murrells, P Schofield
National Institute for Health Research
Health Services and Delivery Research, October 2013, 1(7)

Read more here.

Non-publication of large randomized clinical trials

"Among this group of large clinical trials, non-publication of results was common and the availability of results in the ClinicalTrials.gov database was limited. A substantial number of study participants were exposed to the risks of trial participation without the societal benefits that accompany the dissemination of trial results."

Non-publication of large randomized clinical trials: cross sectional analysis
CW Jones, L Handler, KE Crowell, MA Weaver, TF Platts-Mills
British Medical Journal, 2013:347:f6104

Read more here.

Friday 1 November 2013

Increased risks of death and extra lengths of hospital and ICU stay from hospital-acquired bloodstream infections

"Bloodstream infections are associated with an increased risk of death and longer hospital stay. Avoiding infections could save lives and free up valuable bed days."

The increased risks of death and extra lengths of hospital and ICU stay from hospital-acquired bloodstream infections: a case–control study
AG Barnett, K Page, M Campbell, E Martin, R Rashleigh-Rolls, K Halton, DL Paterson, L Hall, N Jimmieson, K White, N Graves
BMJ Open, 2013, 3:e003587

Read more here.