Palliative care needs of terminally ill people living alone: a service provider perspective.

PubMed

Aoun, Samar M; Wall, David; Kristjanson, Linda J; Shahid, Shaouli

2013-01-01

Community-based palliative care services face challenges in meeting the needs of terminally ill clients who live alone without a primary caregiver. Yet, there is a dearth of literature on the perceptions of health service providers (HSPs) regarding the care needs and possible management options to assist this growing group to remain at home. This paper investigated the support needs of people living alone with a terminal illness from a service provider perspective. In depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine HSPs from community based services in three Australian states. Four main themes emerged: care challenges, differences in care provision, appropriate approaches to care and essentials for an effective service such as 24 h care, cost-free provision of personal alarm systems, supported and coordinated housekeeping services, funded respite care and financial care packages. HSPs expressed a respect for the autonomy and independence of the clients, yet felt pressured to ensure that safe and attentive care was possible. HSPs recognised the central importance of maintaining the independence and autonomy of palliative care clients living alone. This study is the first in-depth account of what HSPs perceive they need to effectively look after home alone dying clients. The study provided directions to inform service planning for this growing and challenging population group regarding adequate and timely services that will lead to more complying with the clients' wishes, more care being delivered at home, a reduction in hospitalisations, a better quality of life and a capacity to die at home.

Family-oriented services in pediatric rehabilitation: a scoping review and framework to promote parent and family wellness.

PubMed

King, G; Williams, L; Hahn Goldberg, S

2017-05-01

Family-oriented services are not as common as one would expect, given the widespread endorsement of family-centred care, the role of parents in supporting optimal child outcomes, and legislation and literature indicating that parent outcomes are important in their own right. There are no published service delivery frameworks describing the scope of services that could be delivered to promote parent and family wellness. A scoping review was conducted to identify types of family-oriented services for parents of children with physical disabilities and/or intellectual impairments. This information was then synthesized into a conceptual framework of services to inform service selection and design. A scoping review of the recent literature was performed to capture descriptions of services targeting parents/families of children with physical disabilities and/or intellectual impairments, published in a six-year period (2009 to 2014). Six databases were searched and 557 retrieved articles were screened using inclusion and exclusion criteria. Thirty six relevant articles were identified. Based on descriptions of services in these articles, along with seminal articles describing the nature of desirable services, we propose a needs-based and capacity-enhancing framework outlining a continuum of family-oriented services for parents of children with disabilities. The framework includes six types of services to meet parent/family needs, organized as a continuum from fundamental information/education services, to those supporting parents to deliver services to meet their child's needs, to a variety of services addressing parents' own needs (support groups, psychosocial services and service coordination). The framework provides pediatric rehabilitation service organizations with a way to consider different possible family-oriented services. Implications include the particular importance of providing information resources, support groups and psychosocial services to meet parents' needs, enhance capacity and promote family wellness. There is also an opportunity to provide composite parent-child services to address the needs of both parents and children. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Investigating the need for scholarly communications positions in Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries member institutions.

PubMed

Mears, Kim; Bandy, Sandra L

2017-04-01

The role of health sciences librarians has expanded in the scholarly communications landscape as a result of the increase in federal public access mandates and the continued expansion of publishing avenues. This has created the need to investigate whether academic health sciences libraries should have scholarly communications positions to provide education and services exclusively related to scholarly communication topics. A nine-question online survey was distributed through the Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries (AAHSL) email discussion list to gather preliminary findings from and opinions of directors of health sciences libraries on the need for scholarly communications positions. The survey received a 38% response rate. The authors found that AAHSL members are currently providing scholarly communications services, and 46% of respondents expressed the need to devote a full-time position to this role. Our survey reveals a juxtaposition occurring in AAHSL member libraries. While administrators acknowledge the need to provide scholarly communications services, they often experience budget challenges in providing a full-time position for these services.

Oregon's mobility needs : social service provider survey

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1999-06-01

In 1998, the Oregon Department of Transportation undertook the Social Services Provider Survey as part of an investigation of the transportation needs of mobility impaired individuals in Oregon. This survey was designed to gain information about the ...

Understanding the experiences and needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans Australians living with dementia, and their partners.

PubMed

Barrett, Catherine; Crameri, Pauline; Lambourne, Sally; Latham, J R; Whyte, Carolyn

2015-10-01

To outline the experiences and needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) Australians living with dementia - and their partners. In-depth interviews were conducted with LGBT people, their partners and service providers. LGBT people living with dementia experience unique challenges including the failure of some families of origin and service providers to understand and value their sexual orientation or gender identity. The fear of discrimination by service providers results in greater reliance on intimate partners for care and compounds social isolation. The unique experiences of LGBT people with dementia are not well understood. There is a need to recognise historical experiences, including familial relationships, and provide advocacy to ensure sexual and gender rights are not violated. There is also a need to ensure that the experiences and perspectives of LGBT people living with dementia inform the development of services. © 2015 AJA Inc.

Perspectives on mealtime management in residential aged care: insights from a cross-disciplinary investigation.

PubMed

Bennett, Michelle K; Ward, Elizabeth; Scarinci, Nerina; Waite, Monique

2014-01-01

Meeting the medical, nutritional, and psychosocial mealtime needs of aged care residents requires a holistic, multidisciplinary approach. To date the perspectives of this multidisciplinary team have not been adequately explored. The aim of this study was to explore the perspectives of a range of service providers involved in mealtime management in residential aged care. In-depth semistructured interviews were conducted with 61 participants from five service disciplines. Four themes emerged: ( 1 ) mealtimes are highly valued; ( 2 ) service providers face common barriers to mealtime management; ( 3 ) communication among service providers is challenging; and ( 4 ) education in mealtime management is limited. Data indicated service providers acknowledge the importance of mealtimes but recognize numerous shortfalls in current care. The need for interdisciplinary training and increased communication and collaboration among providers was emphasized, including the need for clarification of provider roles. Limited consideration of mealtimes in policy and funding documents was identified as a primary barrier in further prioritizing mealtime management and advancing mealtime care.

Bibliotherapy for mental health service users Part 2: a survey of psychiatric libraries in the UK.

PubMed

Fanner, Deborah; Urqhuart, Christine

2009-06-01

UK health policy advocates a patient-centred approach to patient care. Library services could serve the rehabilitation needs of mental health service users through bibliotherapy (the use of written, audio or e-learning materials to provide therapeutic support). Part 2 of this two-part paper assesses the views of psychiatric libraries in the UK on providing access to service users and possible services provided. An e-mail questionnaire survey of psychiatric library members of the psychiatric lending co-operative scheme (n = 100) obtained a response rate of 55%, mostly from libraries based in hospitals. At present, libraries funded by the health service provide minimal facilities for service users. Librarians are uncertain about the benefits and practicalities of providing access to service users. In order to implement change, information providers across the National Health Service (NHS) will need to work collaboratively to overcome attitudinal and institutional barriers, including the key issue of funding.

Service Provision for Autism in Mainland China: A Service Providers' Perspective

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sun, Xiang; Allison, Carrie; Auyeung, Bonnie; Matthews, Fiona E.; Murray, Stuart; Baron-Cohen, Simon; Brayne, Carol

2013-01-01

Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with service providers regarding the current healthcare provision and education services for children with Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASC) and their families in mainland China. 10 service providers described the current policy and identified unmet needs within current practice. Providers…

Challenges Addressing Unmet Need for Contraception: Voices of Family Planning Service Providers in Rural Tanzania.

PubMed

Baraka, Jitihada; Rusibamayila, Asinath; Kalolella, Admirabilis; Baynes, Colin

2015-12-01

Provider perspectives have been overlooked in efforts to address the challenges of unmet need for family planning (FP). This qualitative study was undertaken in Tanzania, using 22 key informant interviews and 4 focus group discussions. The research documents perceptions of healthcare managers and providers in a rural district on the barriers to meeting latent demand for contraception. Social-ecological theory is used to interpret the findings, illustrating how service capability is determined by the social, structural and organizational environment. Providers' efforts to address unmet need for FP services are constrained by unstable reproductive preferences, low educational attainment, and misconceptions about contraceptive side effects. Societal and organizational factors--such as gender dynamics, economic conditions, religious and cultural norms, and supply chain bottlenecks, respectively--also contribute to an adverse environment for meeting needs for care. Challenges that healthcare providers face interact and produce an effect which hinders efforts to address unmet need. Interventions to address this are not sufficient unless the supply of services is combined with systems strengthening and social engagement strategies in a way that reflects the multi-layered, social institutional problems.

Meeting psychosocial needs for persons with dementia in home care services - a qualitative study of different perceptions and practices among health care providers.

PubMed

Hansen, Anette; Hauge, Solveig; Bergland, Ådel

2017-09-11

The majority of persons with dementia are home-dwelling. To enable these persons to stay in their own homes as long as possible, a holistic, individual and flexible care is recommended. Despite a requirement for meeting psychological, social and physical needs, home care services seem to focus on patients' physical needs. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to explore how the psychosocial needs of home-dwelling, older persons with dementia were perceived, emphasized and met by home care services. A descriptive, qualitative approach was used. Data were collected through semi-structured focus group interviews with 24 health care providers in home care services from four municipalities. Data were analysed using systematic text condensation. This study showed major differences in how health care providers perceived the psychosocial needs of older home-dwelling persons with dementia and how they perceived their responsibilities for meeting those psychosocial needs. The differences in the health care providers' perceptions seemed to significantly influence the provided care. Three co-existing logics of care were identified: the physical need-oriented logic, the renouncement logic and the integrated logic. The differences in how health care providers perceived the psychosocial needs of persons with dementia and their responsibilities for meeting those needs, influenced how the psychosocial needs were met. These differences indicates a need for a clarification of how psychosocial needs should be conceptualized and who should be responsible for meeting these needs. Further, increased competence and increased consciousness of psychosocial needs and how those needs can be met, are essential for delivering high-quality holistic care that enables persons with dementia to live in their own home for as long as possible.

A Case Study of Gifted Education in Two Oklahoma School Districts

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rains, Marcia

2015-01-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate and study the importance of educational services mandated for Oklahoma's gifted and talented students with the conclusion being likely able to assist educators in providing gifted service options to meet the needs of gifted learners. Research has shown the need to provide educational services to gifted…

Predictors of needs for families of children with cerebral palsy.

PubMed

Almasri, Nihad A; O'Neil, Margaret; Palisano, Robert J

2014-01-01

This study examined child, family and service characteristics that are predictors of family needs for community, financial, family support and services needs for families of children with cerebral palsy (CP). CP is a non-progressive neurological condition caused by lesions in the central nervous system resulting in limitations in motor function and associated co-morbid conditions. Children with CP often require multiple health, rehabilitation, and community services. To identify risk and protective factors among predictors of needed resources and services (i.e. community, financial, family support) and to discuss implications for coordination of medical, rehabilitation, and community services for children with CP and their families. Secondary data analysis was conducted with a national dataset (n = 441) of mothers of children with CP. The average age of children was 10.7 years (SD = 4.5) and was distributed across the various Gross Motor Function Classification System levels. Four logistic regression models were conducted to examine predictive power of child, family and current service characteristics on needed resources and services. Limited child gross motor function was a risk factor (odds ratio (OR): 1.30-1.70) while perception of family-centered services (FCS) was a protective factor (OR: 0.57-0.63) in having the needs met. Mothers of children with CP who are able to walk, reported strong family relationships, and perceived need-oriented and FCS expressed less needs for community, financial, family support and services' resources needs. Implications for service providers are provided.

A survey of assistive technology service providers in the USA.

PubMed

Arthanat, Sajay; Elsaesser, Linda-Jeanne; Bauer, Stephen

2017-11-01

This study investigates perspectives of assistive technology service (ATS) providers regarding their education and training, interdisciplinary standards of practice, use of a common language framework, funding policies, utilization of evidence and outcomes measurement. A survey underpinned by AT legislations and established guidelines for practice was completed by 318 certified AT providers. More than 30% of the providers reported their education and training as inadequate to fulfil four of the seven primary roles of ATS. Nearly 90% of providers expressed awareness of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) domains for interdisciplinary communication. However, only 45% felt that they could effectively utilize the ICF in their documentation. About 75% of the providers acknowledged the lack of a recognized standard for the provision of services. Prevailing inadequacies in funding were negatively impacting the quality of ATS, as expressed by 88% of respondents. Translation of evidence to practice was identified as a major challenge by 41% of service providers. Providers were predominantly documenting outcomes through informal interviews (54%) or non-standard instruments (26%). Findings support the need for strengthening professional curriculum, pre-service and in-service training and an established standard to support effective, interdisciplinary AT services and data collection to support public policy decisions. Implications for Rehabilitation This study validates the need to strengthen education and training of AT service providers by enhancing professional curriculum as well as their engagement in pre-service and in-service training activities. This study draws attention to health care funding policies and practices that critically impact the quality of AT services. This study signifies the need for an established interdisciplinary standard among AT professionals to support effective communication, service coordination and outcomes measurement.

Profiles of family needs of children and youth with cerebral palsy.

PubMed

Almasri, N; Palisano, R J; Dunst, C; Chiarello, L A; O'Neil, M E; Polansky, M

2012-11-01

To identify profiles of family needs of families of children and youth with cerebral palsy (CP), and determine whether profile membership is related to child, family and service characteristics. Participants were mostly mothers (80%) of 579 children and youth with CP. A family member completed modified version of the Family Needs Survey and questionnaires about their child, family and services. Research assistants determined the Gross Motor Function Classification System levels. K-means cluster analysis identified profiles of needs. Cluster membership was analysed to examine differences in clusters based on selected characteristics. Four profiles of needs were identified: Low needs, Needs related to community and financial resources, Needs related to child health condition and High needs. Profile membership was differentiated based on child/youth gross motor function, adaptive behaviour, family relationships, family income, access and effort to co-ordinate services. Despite heterogeneity among individuals with CP and their families, four profiles of family needs were identified. In total, 51% of families had low needs suggesting that they are effectively managing their children's health conditions while 11% of families had high needs that may require high levels of services and supports. Service providers are encouraged to partner with families, provide anticipatory guidance and co-ordinate services. © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Mental health and social service needs for mental health service users in Japan: a cross-sectional survey of client- and staff-perceived needs.

PubMed

Miyamoto, Yuki; Hashimoto-Koichi, Rieko; Akiyama, Miki; Takamura, Soichi

2015-01-01

The appropriate utilization of community services by people with mental health difficulties is becoming increasingly important in Japan. The aim of the present study was to describe service needs, as perceived by people with mental health difficulties living in the community and their service providers. We analyzed the difference between two necessity ratings using paired data in order to determine implications related to needs assessment for mental health services. This cross-sectional study used two self-reported questionnaires, with one questionnaire administered to mental health service users living in the community and another questionnaire to staff members providing services to those users at community service facilities. The study was conducted in psychiatric social rehabilitation facilities for people with mental health difficulties in Japan. The paired client and staff responses rated needs for each kind of mental health and social service independently. The 19 services listed in the questionnaire included counseling and healthcare, housing, renting, daily living, and employment. Overall, 246 individuals with mental health difficulties were asked to participate in this study, and after excluding invalid responses, 188 client-staff response dyads (76.4% of recruited people, 83.6% of people who gave consent) were analyzed in this study. A Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed rank test was used to compare the perceived needs, and weighted and unweighted Kappa statistics were calculated to assess rating agreement within client-staff dyads. Over 75% of participants in our study, who were people with mental health difficulties living in the community, regarded each type of mental health service as "somewhat necessary," or "absolutely necessary" to live in their community. Most clients and staff rated healthcare facilities with 24/7 crisis consultation services as necessary. Agreement between client and staff ratings of perceived needs for services was low (Kappa = .02 to .26). Services regarding housing, renting a place to live, and advocacy had the same tendency in that clients perceived a higher need when compared to staff perceptions (p < .01). It is essential for the service providers to identify the services that each user needs, engage in dialogue, and involve clients in service planning and development.

Exploring Service Providers' Perspectives in Improving Childhood Obesity Prevention among CALD Communities in Victoria, Australia.

PubMed

Cyril, Sheila; Green, Julie; Nicholson, Jan M; Agho, Kingsley; Renzaho, Andre M N

2016-01-01

Childhood obesity rates have been increasing disproportionately among disadvantaged communities including culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) migrant groups in Australia due to their poor participation in the available obesity prevention initiatives. We sought to explore service providers' perceptions of the key factors influencing the participation of CALD communities in the existing obesity prevention services and the service requirements needed to improve CALD communities' participation in these services. We conducted a qualitative study using focus group discussions involving fifty-nine service providers from a range of services, who are involved in the health and wellbeing of children from CALD groups living in four socioeconomically disadvantaged areas in Victoria, Australia. Thematic analysis of the data showed three major themes including community-level barriers to CALD engagement in childhood obesity prevention services; service-level barriers to the delivery of these services; and proposed changes to current childhood obesity prevention approaches. Integrating obesity prevention messages within existing programs, better coordination between prevention and treatment services and the establishment of a childhood obesity surveillance system, were some of the important changes suggested by service providers. This study has found that low CALD health literacy, lack of knowledge of cultural barriers among service providers and co-existing deficiencies in the structure and delivery of obesity prevention services negatively impacted the participation of CALD communities in obesity prevention services. Cultural competency training of service providers would improve their understanding of the cultural influences of childhood obesity and incorporate them into the design and development of obesity prevention initiatives. Service providers need to be educated on the pre-migratory health service experiences and health conditions of CALD communities to ensure equitable delivery of care. Collaborative approaches between health systems, immigrant services, early years' services and community health services are urgently needed to address obesity-related disparities in Australia.

20 CFR 641.535 - What services must grantees and sub-recipients provide to participants?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... capabilities, aptitudes, needs for supportive services, occupational preferences, training needs, potential for... safe and healthy working conditions at their community service employment worksites (OAA § 502(b)(1)(J...

Rural and remote dementia care challenges and needs: perspectives of formal and informal care providers residing in Saskatchewan, Canada.

PubMed

Dal Bello-Haas, Vanina P M; Cammer, Allison; Morgan, Debra; Stewart, Norma; Kosteniuk, Julie

2014-01-01

Rural and remote settings pose particular healthcare and service delivery challenges. Providing appropriate care and support for individuals with dementia and their families living in these communities is especially difficult, and can only be accomplished when the needs of care providers and the context and complexity of care provision are understood. This paper describes formal and informal caregivers' perceptions of the challenges and needs in providing care and support for individuals with dementia living in rural and remote areas of Saskatchewan, Canada. A mixed-methods exploratory approach was used to examine caregivers' needs. This research was a component of a broader process evaluation designed to inform the initial and ongoing development of a community-based participatory research program in rural dementia care, which included the development of the Rural and Remote Memory Clinic (RRMC). Four approaches were used for data collection and analyses: (1) thematic analysis of consultation meetings with rural healthcare providers: documented discussions from consultation meetings that occurred in 2003-2004 with rural physicians and healthcare providers regarding plans for a new RRMC were analysed thematically; (2) telephone and mail questionnaires: consultation meeting participants completed a subsequent telephone or mail questionnaire (2003-2004) that was analysed descriptively; (3) thematic analysis of referral letters to the Rural and Remote Memory Clinic: physician referral letters over a five-year period (2003-2008) were analysed descriptively and thematically; and (4) examination of family caregiver satisfaction: four specific baseline questionnaire questions completed by family caregivers (2007-2010) were analysed descriptively and thematically. Both physician and non-physician healthcare providers identified increased facilities and care programs as needs. Physicians were much more likely than other providers to report available support services for patients and families as adequate. Non-physician providers identified improved services, better coordination of services, travel and travel burden related needs, and staff training and education needs as priorities. Physician needs, as determined via referral letters, included confirmation of diagnosis or treatment, request for further management suggestions, patient or family request, and consultation regarding difficult cases. One-third of informal caregivers expressed not being satisfied with the care received prior to the Rural and Remote Memory Clinic assessment visit, and identified lack of diagnosis and long wait times for services as key issues. Delivering services and providing care and support for individuals with dementia living in rural and remote communities are especially challenging. The need for increased extent of services was a commonality among formal and informal caregivers. Primary care physicians may seek confirmation of their diagnosis or may need assistance when dealing with difficult aspects of care, as identified by referral letters. Differences between the needs identified via referral letters and questionnaire responses of physicians may be a reflection of the rural or remote context of care provision. Informal caregiver needs were more aligned with non-physician healthcare providers with respect to the need for improved access to additional healthcare professionals and services. The findings have implications for regional policy development that addresses human and other resource shortages.

Layered Learning, Eustress, and Support: Impact of a Pre-Service-Learning Training on Students' Self-Efficacy in Teaching in the Community

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cooke, Natalie K.; Pursifull, Anne K.; Jones, Kerry M.; Goodell, L. Suzanne

2017-01-01

Service-learning programs provide students with opportunities to gain discipline-specific skills, while providing community organizations with a steady pool of volunteers. However, because students may lack the skills needed to effectively serve the community, skills-based training may need to be incorporated into service-learning courses.…

Video medical interpretation over 3G cellular networks: a feasibility study.

PubMed

Locatis, Craig; Williamson, Deborah; Sterrett, James; Detzler, Isabel; Ackerman, Michael

2011-12-01

To test the feasibility of using cell phone technology to provide video medical interpretation services at a distance. Alternative cell phone services were researched and videoconferencing technologies were tried out to identify video products and telecommunication services needed to meet video medical interpretation requirements. The video and telecommunication technologies were tried out in a pharmacy setting and compared with use of the telephone. Outcomes were similar to findings in previous research involving video medical interpretation with higher bandwidth and video quality. Patients appreciated the interpretation service no matter how it is provided, while health providers and interpreters preferred video. It is possible to provide video medical interpretation services via cellular communication using lower bandwidth videoconferencing technology that provides sufficient quality, at least in pharmacy settings. However, a number of issues need to be addressed to ensure quality of service.

Are HIV and reproductive health services adapted to the needs of female sex workers? Results of a policy and situational analysis in Tete, Mozambique.

PubMed

Lafort, Yves; Jocitala, Osvaldo; Candrinho, Balthazar; Greener, Letitia; Beksinska, Mags; Smit, Jenni A; Chersich, Matthew; Delva, Wim

2016-07-26

In the context of an implementation research project aiming at improving use of HIV and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services for female sex workers (FSWs), a broad situational analysis was conducted in Tete, Mozambique, assessing if services are adapted to the needs of FSWs. Methods comprised (1) a policy analysis including a review of national guidelines and interviews with policy makers, and (2) health facility assessments at 6 public and 1 private health facilities, and 1 clinic specifically targeting FSWs, consisting of an audit checklist, interviews with 18 HIV/SRH care providers and interviews of 99 HIV/SRH care users. There exist national guidelines for most HIV/SRH care services, but none provides guidance for care adapted to the needs of high-risk women such as FSWs. The Ministry of Health recently initiated the process of establishing guidelines for attendance of key populations, including FSWs, at public health facilities. Policy makers have different views on the best approach for providing services to FSWs-integrated in the general health services or through parallel services for key populations-and there exists no national strategy. The most important provider of HIV/SRH services in the study area is the government. Most basic services are widely available, with the exception of certain family planning methods, cervical cancer screening, services for victims of sexual and gender-based violence, and termination of pregnancy (TOP). The public facilities face serious limitations in term of space, staff, equipment, regular supplies and adequate provider practices. A stand-alone clinic targeting key populations offers a limited range of services to the FSW population in part of the area. Private clinics offer only a few services, at commercial prices. There is a need to improve the availability of quality HIV/SRH services in general and to FSWs specifically, and to develop guidelines for care adapted to the needs of FSWs. Access for FSWs can be improved by either expanding the range of services and the coverage of the targeted clinic and/or by improving access to adapted care at the public health services and ensure a minimum standard of quality.

20 CFR 664.405 - How must local youth programs be designed?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

..., as well as the service needs, of each youth; (2) Develop an individual service strategy for each... learning, provide preparation for employment, and provide effective connections to intermediary... assessment and the development of individual service strategy, when these services are provided by the grant...

20 CFR 664.405 - How must local youth programs be designed?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

..., as well as the service needs, of each youth; (2) Develop an individual service strategy for each... learning, provide preparation for employment, and provide effective connections to intermediary... assessment and the development of individual service strategy, when these services are provided by the grant...

20 CFR 664.405 - How must local youth programs be designed?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

..., as well as the service needs, of each youth; (2) Develop an individual service strategy for each... learning, provide preparation for employment, and provide effective connections to intermediary... assessment and the development of individual service strategy, when these services are provided by the grant...

Not virtual, but a real, live, online, interactive reference service.

PubMed

Jerant, Lisa Lott; Firestein, Kenneth

2003-01-01

In today's fast-paced environment, traditional medical reference services alone are not adequate to meet users' information needs. Efforts to find new ways to provide comprehensive service to users, where and when needed, have often included the use of new and developing technologies. This paper describes the experience of an academic health science library in developing and providing an online, real-time reference service. Issues discussed include selecting software, training librarians, staffing the service, and considering the future of the service. Use statistics, question type analysis, and feedback from users of the service and librarians who staff the service, are also presented.

Applying Fourth Generation Management to Access Services: Reinventing Customer Service and Process Management

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hasty, Douglas F.

2004-01-01

Are librarians doing all they can to ensure that customer services are delivered with the customer in mind? Librarians are great at helping, but we sometimes need help with identifying customers, defining their needs, developing services, and reviewing the processes behind the services. Fourth Generation Management provides new insight for…

Neoliberalism and Human Services: Threat and Innovation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Swenson, S.

2008-01-01

Background: The turn to neoliberalism in welfare policy suggests that human services need to be based on a market approach. The problem with this suggestion is that it presupposes marketing information such that service providers can market their services for identified client needs. In the field of intellectual disability (ID) services this type…

Mediation analysis of severity of needs, service performance and outcomes for patients with mental disorders.

PubMed

Roux, Paul; Passerieux, Christine; Fleury, Marie-Josée

2016-12-01

Needs and service performance assessment are key components in improving recovery among individuals with mental disorders. To test the role of service performance as a mediating factor between severity of patients' needs and outcomes. A total of 339 adults with mental disorders were interviewed. A mediation analysis between severity of needs, service performance (adequacy of help, continuity of care and recovery orientation of services) and outcomes (personal recovery and quality of life) was carried out using structural equation modelling. The structural equation model provided a good fit with the data. An increase in needs was associated with lower service performance and worse outcomes, whereas higher service performance was associated with better outcomes. Service performance partially mediated the effect of patient needs on outcomes. Poorer service performance has a negative impact on outcomes for patients with the highest needs. Ensuring more efficient services for patients with high needs may help improve their recovery and quality of life. © The Royal College of Psychiatrists 2016.

School Health Services for Children with Special Health Care Needs in California

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Baker, Dian L.; Hebbeler, Kathleen; Davis-Alldritt, Linda; Anderson, Lori S.; Knauer, Heather

2015-01-01

Children with special health care needs (CSHCN) are at risk for school failure when their health needs are not met. Current studies have identified a strong connection between school success and health. This study attempted to determine (a) how schools meet the direct service health needs of children and (b) who provides those services. The study…

Introduction strategies raise key questions.

PubMed

Finger, W R; Keller, S

1995-09-01

Key issues that must be considered before a new contraceptive is introduced center on the need for a trained provider to begin or terminate the method, its side effects, duration of use, method's ability to meet users' needs and preferences, and extra training or staff requirements. Logistics and economic issues to consider are identifying a dependable way of effectively supplying commodities, planning extra services needed for the method, and cost of providing the method. Each contraceptive method presents a different side effect pattern and burdens the service delivery setting differently. The strategy developed to introduce or expand the 3-month injectable Depo-Provera (DMPA) can be used for any method. It includes a needs assessment and addresses regulatory issues, service delivery policies and procedures, information and training, evaluation, and other concerns. Viet Nam's needs assessment showed that Norplant should not be introduced until the service delivery system becomes stronger. Any needs assessment for expansion of contraceptive services should cover sexually transmitted disease/HIV issues. A World Health Organization strategy helps officials identify the best method mix for local situations. Introductory strategies must aim to improve the quality of family planning programs and expand choices. Many begin by examining existing data and conducting interviews with policymakers, users, providers, and women's health advocates. Introductory programs for Norplant focus on provider training, adequate counseling and informed consent for users, and ready access to removal. They need a well-prepared service delivery infrastructure. The first phase of the DMPA introductory strategy for the Philippines comprised a social marketing campaign and DMPA introduction at public clinics in 10 pilot areas with strong service delivery. Successful AIDS prevention programs show that people tend to use barrier methods when they are available. USAID is currently studying whether or not women in developing countries will use the female condom.

12 CFR 7.5004 - Sale of excess electronic capacity and by-products.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... bank's needs for banking purposes include: (1) Data processing services; (2) Production and distribution of non-financial software; (3) Providing periodic back-up call answering services; (4) Providing full Internet access; (5) Providing electronic security system support services; (6) Providing long...

Granting authority to a new policy. A community benefit services policy becomes part of the general business strategy.

PubMed

Karibo, J

1994-05-01

Bon Secours Health System's new strategic plan and community benefit services policy integrates the planning, budgeting, evaluating, and reporting of community benefit services into management processes at the same level of authority as other operational activities. The strategic plan of Bon Secours Health System, headquartered in Marriottsville, MD, documents the system's mission, operating principles, vision, and five goals, one of which is to improve the communities' health status. The community benefit services operating policy requires that the Bon Secours Health System chief executive officer (CEO) and each local system CEO and nursing home administrator form a multidisciplinary local work group to be responsible for community benefit services. Each local work group assesses the needs of its community within the framework of the annual planning process. Determining what services are needed and how to deliver them is relatively easy. The difficult task is determining which of the many needs to address. What a community lacks may be the result of poor or inadequate public policy. For example, its priority may not be healthcare. In these situations healthcare providers may be best able to serve the community by providing indirect support to social service providers or by advocating for change. The community benefit services operating policy provides a standard approach to match the community's priority needs with the institution's resources and produce a measurable improvement in health status.

Investigating the need for scholarly communications positions in Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries member institutions

PubMed Central

Mears, Kim; Bandy, Sandra L.

2017-01-01

Background The role of health sciences librarians has expanded in the scholarly communications landscape as a result of the increase in federal public access mandates and the continued expansion of publishing avenues. This has created the need to investigate whether academic health sciences libraries should have scholarly communications positions to provide education and services exclusively related to scholarly communication topics. Methods A nine-question online survey was distributed through the Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries (AAHSL) email discussion list to gather preliminary findings from and opinions of directors of health sciences libraries on the need for scholarly communications positions. Results The survey received a 38% response rate. The authors found that AAHSL members are currently providing scholarly communications services, and 46% of respondents expressed the need to devote a full-time position to this role. Discussion Our survey reveals a juxtaposition occurring in AAHSL member libraries. While administrators acknowledge the need to provide scholarly communications services, they often experience budget challenges in providing a full-time position for these services. PMID:28377677

A starting point for delivery reform. Catholic healthcare providers can receive guidance from "A Time to Be Old, a Time to Flourish".

PubMed

1992-03-01

The ideal healthcare delivery system is client focused and ensures that the individual and the family receive the appropriate mix of services to meet their needs. Healthcare delivery should be presented as a coordinated continuum of care. Key integrating elements are essential to provide healthcare services on a day-by-day basis as a continuum of care. Integrating elements that form the bridge between clients and services include planning, care management, a management information system, financing, and an appropriate administrative structure. Many Catholic healthcare providers are expanding by acquiring a variety of services. However, many of these acquisitions are in response to today's competitive environment, whereas a true continuum of care must focus on the client's range of functional needs. Catholic providers must keep in mind that not all services they provide will be profitable. Although Catholic healthcare providers will be pressured to focus on fiscal strength and market position, they must put the client's holistic needs first. By doing so, they can help create a client-centered healthcare system in their communities.

Can you hear me now? Teaching listening skills.

PubMed

Nemec, Patricia B; Spagnolo, Amy Cottone; Soydan, Anne Sullivan

2017-12-01

This column provides an overview of methods for training to improve service provider active listening and reflective responding skills. Basic skills in active listening and reflective responding allow service providers to gather information about and explore the needs, desires, concerns, and preference of people using their services-activities that are of critical importance if services are to be truly person-centered and person-driven. Sources include the personal experience of the authors as well as published literature on the value of basic counseling skills and best practices in training on listening and other related soft skills. Training in listening is often needed but rarely sought by behavioral health service providers. Effective curricula exist, providing content and practice opportunities that can be incorporated into training, supervision, and team meetings. When providers do not listen well to the people who use their services, the entire premise of recovery-oriented person-driven services is undermined. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved).

[Contribution of public health to paediatric physical disability rehabilitation units].

PubMed

Foley, Véronique; Camden, Chantal

2015-01-01

Approximately 4% of children in North America and Europe live with a chronic disability. Most countries have developed a range of specialized health services to meet the specific needs of these children. However, an increasing number of authors argue that more public health activities should be offered to children with disabilities in order to promote social participation and to ensure more efficient organization of these services. The objectives of this article are: 1) to describe the needs of children with physical disabilities that can be met bypublic health activities, 2) to present the Quebec health care system and discuss the inclusion of public health principles in paediatric rehabilitation services, and 3) to propose ways to improve integration of these principles. The needs of children with disabilities are described according to categories of needs from the Life Needs Model: basic skills; applied skills; needs support, education and information for children, family and community. The patterns of paediatric rehabilitation services and service organization in Quebec were analysed. Services for children with physical disabilities are primarily intended to develop basic and applied skills. The mandate of institutions delivering specialized services and waiting lists could limit the possibilities to provide services able to meet all of the needs of disabled children. Integration of public health activities would ensure greater complementarity and further promote social participation. Some approaches providing interesting avenues to further integrate public health in paediatric rehabilitation services are discussed.

Using a service sector segmented approach to identify community stakeholders who can improve access to suicide prevention services for veterans.

PubMed

Matthieu, Monica M; Gardiner, Giovanina; Ziegemeier, Ellen; Buxton, Miranda

2014-04-01

Veterans in need of social services may access many different community agencies within the public and private sectors. Each of these settings has the potential to be a pipeline for attaining needed health, mental health, and benefits services; however, many service providers lack information on how to conceptualize where Veterans go for services within their local community. This article describes a conceptual framework for outreach that uses a service sector segmented approach. This framework was developed to aid recruitment of a provider-based sample of stakeholders (N = 70) for a study on improving access to the Department of Veterans Affairs and community-based suicide prevention services. Results indicate that although there are statistically significant differences in the percent of Veterans served by the different service sectors (F(9, 55) = 2.71, p = 0.04), exposure to suicidal Veterans and providers' referral behavior is consistent across the sectors. Challenges to using this framework include isolating the appropriate sectors for targeted outreach efforts. The service sector segmented approach holds promise for identifying and referring at-risk Veterans in need of services. Reprint & Copyright © 2014 Association of Military Surgeons of the U.S.

Exploring Service Providers' Perspectives in Improving Childhood Obesity Prevention among CALD Communities in Victoria, Australia

PubMed Central

Cyril, Sheila; Green, Julie; Nicholson, Jan M.; Agho, Kingsley; Renzaho, Andre M. N.

2016-01-01

Background Childhood obesity rates have been increasing disproportionately among disadvantaged communities including culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) migrant groups in Australia due to their poor participation in the available obesity prevention initiatives. We sought to explore service providers’ perceptions of the key factors influencing the participation of CALD communities in the existing obesity prevention services and the service requirements needed to improve CALD communities’ participation in these services. Methods We conducted a qualitative study using focus group discussions involving fifty-nine service providers from a range of services, who are involved in the health and wellbeing of children from CALD groups living in four socioeconomically disadvantaged areas in Victoria, Australia. Results Thematic analysis of the data showed three major themes including community-level barriers to CALD engagement in childhood obesity prevention services; service-level barriers to the delivery of these services; and proposed changes to current childhood obesity prevention approaches. Integrating obesity prevention messages within existing programs, better coordination between prevention and treatment services and the establishment of a childhood obesity surveillance system, were some of the important changes suggested by service providers. Conclusion This study has found that low CALD health literacy, lack of knowledge of cultural barriers among service providers and co-existing deficiencies in the structure and delivery of obesity prevention services negatively impacted the participation of CALD communities in obesity prevention services. Cultural competency training of service providers would improve their understanding of the cultural influences of childhood obesity and incorporate them into the design and development of obesity prevention initiatives. Service providers need to be educated on the pre-migratory health service experiences and health conditions of CALD communities to ensure equitable delivery of care. Collaborative approaches between health systems, immigrant services, early years’ services and community health services are urgently needed to address obesity-related disparities in Australia. PMID:27736864

Unmet needs of children with special health care needs in a specialized day school setting.

PubMed

Aruda, Mary M; Kelly, Mary; Newinsky, Karina

2011-06-01

Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN) represent a significant component of the pediatric population. They often present to schools with multiple and increasingly complex health issues, including medical technology dependency. Their daily variation in health status requires close monitoring and communication among caregivers. Limited research exists regarding parental concerns and communication between health providers, schools, and families. This study identifies the concerns of parents with CSHCN families, including satisfaction with communication between medical providers and schools. Parents completed a survey adapted from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Analysis of data indicated a high utilization of primary care services but highlighted persistent difficulty accessing services. This study demonstrates families have basic unmet needs in attaining services, including respite and palliative care; indicated an interest in improved communication and coordination of health information between schools and their primary health care providers; and expressed interest in augmenting school health services.

Personal Assistance: Attendant Services, Readers, and Interpreters: Topic Paper I.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

National Council on the Handicapped, Washington, DC.

Federal legislation and programs affecting personal assistance services for persons with disabilities are examined. Personal assistance services may be provided for activities of daily living, communication, cognitive tasks, or mobility, depending on the needs of the individual. The population in need of attendant services has increased with…

42 CFR 422.113 - Special rules for ambulance services, emergency and urgently needed services, and maintenance and...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... means of transportation would endanger the beneficiary's health. (b) Emergency and urgently needed... temporarily absent from the MA plan's service (or, if applicable, continuation) area (or, under unusual and... organization's provider network is temporarily unavailable or inaccessible) when the services are medically...

Food security in older adults: community service provider perceptions of their roles.

PubMed

Keller, Heather H; Dwyer, John J M; Edwards, Vicki; Senson, Christine; Gayle Edward, H

2007-01-01

Food insecurity in older adults is influenced by financial constraints, functional disability, and isolation. Twenty-eight social- and community-service providers participated in four focus groups to report (a) perceptions and experiences with food insecurity in their older clients, (b) beliefs about their potential role(s) in promoting food security, and (c) opinions about constraints that influenced these roles. A constant comparison analysis identified key themes. The formal caregivers reported six roles for improving food security: (a) monitoring, (b) coordination, and (c) promoting services, (d) education, (e) advocacy, and (f) providing a social environment. The final theme summarizes these roles as "the need for personalization of service". Social and community service providers are involved in roles that can promote the health of older adults by addressing their food insecurity. Social service providers need to be acknowledged and supported in this health promotion role.

A systematic analysis of the needs of people with HIV in Australia: stakeholder views of the key elements for a healthy life.

PubMed

Dodson, Sarity; Batterham, Roy; McDonald, Karalyn; Elliott, Julian H; Osborne, Richard H

2016-07-04

Background: The HealthMap project is developing an intervention to reduce cardiovascular risk in people living with HIV. As part of the formative stages of the intervention design, we sought to understand the needs of people with HIV (PWHIV). Methods: Two concept-mapping workshops with PWHIV (n=10), and one with HIV care providers (n=6) were conducted. The workshop findings were consolidated into a questionnaire administered to PWHIV (n=300) and HIV care providers (n=107). Participants were asked to rate the importance of each of 81 presented needs and the degree to which it was currently being met. Results: Workshops provided insights into what PWHIV perceive they need, to live with and manage their condition, and its impact on their life; these included: (1) clinical science research and development; (2) information and support; (3) personal situation; (4) healthcare quality; (5) access to services; (6) access to services specific to ageing; and (7) social justice. Questionnaire results revealed that PWHIV considered information and support, and research and development most important. For providers, healthcare quality, clients' personal situation, and social justice were most important. In terms of unmet needs, PWHIV and providers both highlighted issues in the areas of social justice, and access to aged care services. Conclusions: PWHIV and HIV providers continue to report unmet needs in the areas of social justice and emerging concerns about access to aged care services. Services must continue to address these issues of access and equity.

Emerging models for facilitating contact between people genetically related through donor conception: a preliminary analysis and discussion.

PubMed

Crawshaw, Marilyn; Daniels, Ken; Adams, Damian; Bourne, Kate; van Hooff, J A P; Kramer, Wendy; Pasch, Lauri; Thorn, Petra

2015-12-01

Previous research indicates interest among some donor-conceived people, donors and recipient parents in having contact. Outcomes of such contact appear largely, but not universally, positive. This paper seeks to understand better the characteristics of associated support services. Information gathered using the authors' direct experiences and professional and personal networks in different parts of the world indicates the emergence of four main groupings: (i) publically funded services outside of treatment centers; (ii) services provided by fertility treatment or gamete bank services; (iii) services provided privately by independent psychosocial or legal practitioners; and (4) services organized by offspring and/or recipient parents. Key operational features examined were: (i) who can access such services and when; (ii) what professional standards and funding are in place to provide them; and (iii) how 'matching' and contact processes are managed. Differences appear influenced variously by the needs of those directly affected, local policies, national legislation and the interests of the fertility services which recruit gamete donors and/or deliver donor conception treatments. The paper is intended to inform fuller debate about how best to meet the needs of those seeking information and contact, the implications for the way that fertility treatment and gametes donation services are currently provided and future research needs.

Sexual and gender minority peoples' recommendations for assisted human reproduction services.

PubMed

Ross, Lori E; Tarasoff, Lesley A; Anderson, Scott; Epstein, Rachel; Marvel, Stu; Steele, Leah S; Green, Datejie

2014-02-01

To determine what recommendations lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer (LGBTQ) people have for provision of assisted human reproduction (AHR) services to their communities. Using a semi-structured guide, we interviewed a purposeful sample of 66 LGBTQ-identified individuals from across the province of Ontario who had used or had considered using AHR services since 2007. Participants were predominantly cisgender (non-trans), white, same-sex partnered, urban women with relatively high levels of education and income. Participants made recommendations for changes to the following aspects of AHR service provision: (1) access to LGBTQ-relevant information, (2) adoption of patient-centred practices by AHR service providers, (3) training and education of service providers regarding LGBTQ issues and needs, (4) increased visibility of LGBTQ people in clinic environments, and (5) attention to service gaps of particular concern to LGBTQ people. Many of the recommendations made by study participants show how patient-centred models may address inequities in service delivery for LGBTQ people and for other patients who may have particular AHR service needs. Our results suggest that service providers need education to enact these patient-centred practices and to deliver equitable care to LGBTQ patients.

Service Provision for Young People with Intellectual Disabilities and Additional Mental Health Needs: Service-Providers' Perspectives

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Scior, Katrina; Grierson, Kate

2004-01-01

Background: Very little is known about young people with intellectual disabilities who experience additional mental health problems. The perspective of service providers has been highlighted as one unresearched area. Method: Semi-structured interviews were completed with senior service providers. Aims: (1) to explore experiences of working with…

Assessing public-private reproductive health efforts to reach young married couples in rural Bangladesh.

PubMed

Khatun, Mahmuda; Mahboob-E-Alam; Nazneen, Quamrun Nahar

Young married couples (YMC) in Bangladesh receive insufficient attention from service providers for reproductive health and family planning needs. The ACQUIRE Project, undertaken by EngenderHealth, Bangladesh, provides intervention for service providers, social and local leaders, and mothers-in-law as effective agents of channeling information to YMCs. EngenderHealth, in collaboration with the public sector, examined the extent to which an intervention program enhances overall quality of services, respondents' knowledge and attitude, and service-seeking behavior related to reproductive health issues. A quasi-experimental design with two matching groups, one watching the intervention, was used. The endline survey was carried out 10 months after the Baseline survey. Key informants interviews and FGDs were conducted. The findings were mixed. Importantly, young married men and women need friendly services and service providers with positive attitudes.

Aftercare Services for Child Victims of Sex Trafficking: A Systematic Review of Policy and Practice.

PubMed

Muraya, Dorothy Neriah; Fry, Deborah

2016-04-01

To explore aftercare services provided to child victims of sex trafficking globally based on the results of a systematic review of published and unpublished research, organizational policy, and current practice. This systematic review serves as a first step toward developing best practices for aftercare service providers. A systematic search was conducted of four English language databases, two human trafficking resource libraries, and one Internet search engine for journal articles and "grey" literature published between January 2000 and May 2013 on the services offered to child sex trafficking victims globally. The search yielded 15 documents for inclusion in the review. The 15 documents emphasized the need for aftercare service provision to be founded on children's rights and trauma-informed service provision. They recommended delivery practices such as case management and multidisciplinary, multiagency and multinational coordination to ensure the child victims benefit fully from the services. The systematic review revealed that there are three phases to aftercare service provision: rescue, recover, and reintegration. Each of these phases is characterized by different needs and types of services provided. The recovery phase received the most attention compared to recovery and reintegration phases. The literature highlighted that aftercare service provision for child sex trafficking victims is a new area that needs an evidence base from which policy and practice can be formed. There is great need for further research and better documentation of service provision. While this research provides insight into this area, the gap in literature remains wide. The area of aftercare service provision for children who have been trafficked has experienced phenomenal growth within the last 10 years, and with more research and resources being directed to the area, the achievement of international minimum standards of care provision is possible. © The Author(s) 2015.

Complex Deployed Responsive Service

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Parry, Glenn; McLening, Marc; Caldwell, Nigel; Thompson, Rob

A pizza restaurant must provide product, in the form of the food and drink, and service in the way this is delivered to the customer. Providing this has distinct operational challenges, but what if the restaurant also provides a home delivery service? The service becomes deployed as the customer is no-longer co-located with the production area. The business challenge is complicated as service needs to be delivered within a geographic region, to time or the pizza will be cold, and within a cost that is not ­prohibitive. It must also be responsive to short term demand; needing to balance the number of staff it has available to undertake deliveries against a forecast of demand.

Child obesity service provision: a cross-sectional survey of physiotherapy practice trends and professional needs.

PubMed

Milne, Nikki; Choy, Nancy Low; Leong, Gary M; Hughes, Roger; Hing, Wayne

2016-01-01

This study explored current physiotherapy practice trends for management of children who are overweight or obese. The professional needs of physiotherapists working with this population were also assessed, including the perceived need for physiotherapy clinical guidelines for prevention and management of children with obesity. A cross-sectional survey design was used, with questionnaires purposefully distributed through 13 key physiotherapy services throughout Australia. Snowball sampling resulted in completed questionnaires from 64 physiotherapists who provided services to children. Half (n=33, 52%) of respondents provided services specifically to overweight or obese children. Of those providing services, one-quarter had prior training specific to working with this population. Most used multi-disciplinary models (n=16, 76%) and provided under 5h of obesity-related services each week (n=29, 88%). Half (n=16, 49%) used body mass index as an outcome measure but more (n=25, 76%) used bodyweight. Only 14 (42%) assessed motor skills. The majority of respondents (n=57, 89%) indicated a need for physiotherapy guidelines to best manage overweight and obese children. Professional development priorities included: 'Educating children and families', 'Assessment methods' and 'Exercise prescription' for overweight and obese children. This data provides workforce intelligence to guide future professional training and inform development of clinical guidelines for physiotherapists in prevention and management of children with obesity and related chronic disease.

Mobile contract services: what you need to know.

PubMed

Inman, M

2000-01-01

With sufficient planning and ongoing attention to detail, the performance of a mobile imaging service provider can exceed expectations and requirements. The relationship can prove to be mutually agreeable and profitable for many years. But, when contracting mobile services, you cannot spend too much time on initial research and detail. Several scenarios present outsourcing or mobile services as an acceptable alternative to purchase or lease: outdated equipment, novel or under-utilized technologies, the need for incrementally added or temporary service. To find suitable providers, check with peer sources in your area for recommendations; look specifically for facilities that are comparable in size and volume to your facility. Expect that larger volume facilities will rate more favorable schedules or pricing. Obtain and check references. Require mobile service providers to adhere to the same state and federal laws, rules and regulations that govern your facility; receive the assurance of compliance in writing if it is not specifically addressed in the contract. JCAHO requires that any contract service provider be governed by the same requirements as the accredited facility. Several other rules or licensing requirements may also pertain to mobile services. A prevailing reason for outsourcing imaging services is high equipment costs that cannot be justified with current volume projections. However, equipment quality should not be compromised; it must meet your needs and be in good repair. The mobile service provider you choose should be an extension of your department; quality standards must exist unilaterally. The set rule for assessing mobile service fees is that there is no set rule. There are many ways to negotiate the fee schedule so that it meets the needs of both parties. An effective marketing campaign lets physicians and patients know what you have available. Work with the mobile service provider to plan an initial announcement or open house. The mobile provider should also have patient education materials for referring physicians and your hospital. Having the mobile technologist meet with the radiologists to discuss written protocols will eliminate misunderstandings concerning expectations of both parties; ongoing communication is vital.

38 CFR 52.140 - Dietary services.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... management must provide each participant with a nourishing, palatable, well-balanced meal that proportionally meets the daily nutritional and special dietary needs of each participant. (a) Food and nutritional services. The program management provides and/or contracts with a food service entity and provides and/or...

Personalized Location-Based Recommendation Services for Tour Planning in Mobile Tourism Applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, Chien-Chih; Chang, Hsiao-Ping

Travel and tour planning is a process of searching, selecting, grouping and sequencing destination related products and services including attractions, accommodations, restaurants, and activities. Personalized recommendation services aim at suggesting products and services to meet users’ preferences and needs, while location-based services focus on providing information based on users’ current positions. Due to the fast growing of user needs in the mobile tourism domain, how to provide personalized location-based tour recommendation services becomes a critical research and practical issue. The objective of this paper is to propose a system architecture and design methods for facilitating the delivery of location-based recommendation services to support personalized tour planning. Based on tourists’ current location and time, as well as personal preferences and needs, various recommendations regarding sightseeing spots, hotels, restaurants, and packaged tour plans can be generated efficiently. An application prototype is also implemented to illustrate and test the system feasibility and effectiveness.

Health education needs of intimate partner violence survivors: Perspectives from female survivors and social service providers.

PubMed

Ferranti, Dina; Lorenzo, Dalia; Munoz-Rojas, Derby; Gonzalez-Guarda, Rosa M

2018-03-01

To explore the health education needs and learning preferences of female intimate partner violence (IPV) survivors in a social service agency located in South Florida, United States. An exploratory two-phase sequential mixed-methods study was completed through semistructured interviews with social service providers (n = 10), followed by a survey with predominately female IPV survivors (n = 122, 98.4%). Data obtained from interviews with social service providers were analyzed through conventional thematic content analysis. Data from interviews were used in developing a health survey completed by IPV survivors and analyzed utilizing descriptive statistics, chi-square tests and t tests. Three themes emerged from interviews including multidimensional health needs, navigating barriers to health care, and self-improvement specific to survivors of intimate partner violence. Survey results indicated that depression and self-esteem were the health education needs of highest priority. Demographic characteristics, including age and language use, were significantly associated to preferred methods of learning, p < .05. IPV survivors present with various health education needs. Current study findings can inform public health nurses in developing interventions or health-based programs for female IPV survivors in social service agency settings. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Strategies for gender-equitable HIV services in rural India.

PubMed

Sinha, Gita; Peters, David H; Bollinger, Robert C

2009-05-01

The emergence of HIV in rural India has the potential to heighten gender inequity in a context where women already suffer significant health disparities. Recent Indian health policies provide new opportunities to identify and implement gender-equitable rural HIV services. In this review, we adapt Mosley and Chen's conceptual framework of health to outline determinants for HIV health services utilization and outcomes. Examining the framework through a gender lens, we conduct a comprehensive literature review for gender-related gaps in HIV clinical services in rural India, focusing on patient access and outcomes, provider practices, and institutional partnerships. Contextualizing findings from rural India in the broader international literature, we describe potential strategies for gender-equitable HIV services in rural India, as responses to the following three questions: (1) What gender-specific patient needs should be addressed for gender-equitable HIV testing and care? (2) What do health care providers need to deliver HIV services with gender equity? (3) How should institutions enforce and sustain gender-equitable HIV services? Data at this early stage indicate substantial gender-related differences in HIV services in rural India, reflecting prevailing gender norms. Strategies including gender-specific HIV testing and care services would directly address current gender-specific patient needs. Rural care providers urgently need training in gender sensitivity and HIV-related communication and clinical skills. To enforce and sustain gender equity, multi-sectoral institutions must establish gender-equitable medical workplaces, interdisciplinary HIV services partnerships, and oversight methods, including analysis of gender-disaggregated data. A gender-equitable approach to rural India's rapidly evolving HIV services programmes could serve as a foundation for gender equity in the overall health care system.

Strategies for gender-equitable HIV services in rural India

PubMed Central

Sinha, Gita; Peters, David H; Bollinger, Robert C

2009-01-01

The emergence of HIV in rural India has the potential to heighten gender inequity in a context where women already suffer significant health disparities. Recent Indian health policies provide new opportunities to identify and implement gender-equitable rural HIV services. In this review, we adapt Mosley and Chen's conceptual framework of health to outline determinants for HIV health services utilization and outcomes. Examining the framework through a gender lens, we conduct a comprehensive literature review for gender-related gaps in HIV clinical services in rural India, focusing on patient access and outcomes, provider practices, and institutional partnerships. Contextualizing findings from rural India in the broader international literature, we describe potential strategies for gender-equitable HIV services in rural India, as responses to the following three questions: (1) What gender-specific patient needs should be addressed for gender-equitable HIV testing and care? (2) What do health care providers need to deliver HIV services with gender equity? (3) How should institutions enforce and sustain gender-equitable HIV services? Data at this early stage indicate substantial gender-related differences in HIV services in rural India, reflecting prevailing gender norms. Strategies including gender-specific HIV testing and care services would directly address current gender-specific patient needs. Rural care providers urgently need training in gender sensitivity and HIV-related communication and clinical skills. To enforce and sustain gender equity, multi-sectoral institutions must establish gender-equitable medical workplaces, interdisciplinary HIV services partnerships, and oversight methods, including analysis of gender-disaggregated data. A gender-equitable approach to rural India's rapidly evolving HIV services programmes could serve as a foundation for gender equity in the overall health care system. PMID:19244284

AAC services for multilingual populations: South African service provider perspectives.

PubMed

Tönsing, Kerstin M; van Niekerk, Karin; Schlünz, Georg I; Wilken, Ilana

In South Africa, many persons in need of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) come from multilingual backgrounds. There is as yet a limited evidence base (locally and internationally) for the provision of AAC services to multilingual populations. The perspectives of service providers can assist in gaining an understanding of current practices and the factors that influence these. The study aimed to obtain the perspectives of AAC service providers about practices in providing AAC systems and AAC intervention to clients from multilingual backgrounds. Fifteen AAC service providers were purposefully chosen to participate in one of three focus groups - two face-to-face and one online focus group. Data from the face-to-face focus groups was transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was used to identify themes and subthemes in the data. Four overarching themes were identified, namely (a) current practices, (b) factors influencing current practices, (c) service provides' orientation towards different language options in AAC intervention, and (d) needs and desired developments regarding AAC technology. This paper reports on the first three themes. Service providers reported their practices to range from a focus on L1 exclusively, L2 exclusively, to a multilingual (sequential or simultaneous) approach. The South African language context, family language preferences and choices, service provider skill and knowledge, as well as AAC technology were identified as factors influencing their practices. Although many viewed access to multiple languages through AAC as positive, they also expressed concerns and reservations about providing multilingual AAC services. Although service providers in general saw the need to give clients from multilingual backgrounds access to multiple languages using AAC, this did not always translate into multilingual AAC practices. Both extrinsic factors (e.g. the lack of appropriate AAC devices, software and apps giving access to non-English languages) and intrinsic factors (service providers' language competency and their beliefs about the cognitive demands of multilingual AAC systems) influenced their practices and choices. Appropriate AAC service delivery to multilingual populations in South Africa would require not only appropriate AAC technology developments, but also research evidence to establish the efficacy of multilingual AAC interventions for clients with a variety of characteristics. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Making the Net More Intelligent.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Somers, Doug

1998-01-01

Discusses how service providers can address the challenge of costs and the need for attractive services valuable to business customers. Focuses on Internet service control; applying intelligent networking features to the internet working services dilemma; and providing access control over network-based applications for Internet virtual private…

Regional input to joint European space weather service

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stanislawska, I.; Belehaki, A.; Jansen, F.; Heynderickx, D.; Lilensten, J.; Candidi, M.

The basis for elaborating within COST 724 Action Developing the scientific basis for monitoring modeling and predicting Space Weather European space weather service is rich by many national and international activities which provide instruments and tools for global as well as regional monitoring and modeling COST 724 stimulates coordinates and supports Europe s goals of development and global cooperation by providing standards for timely and high quality information and knowledge in space weather Existing local capabilities are taken into account to develop synergies and avoid duplication The enhancement of environment monitoring networks and associated instruments technology yields mutual advantages for European service and regional services specialized for local users needs It structurally increases the integration of limited-area services generates a platform employing the same approach to each task differing mostly in input and output data In doing so it also provides complementary description of the environmental state within issued information A general scheme of regional services concept within COST 724 activity can be the processing chain from measurements trough algorithms to operational knowledge It provides the platform for interaction among the local end users who define what kind of information they need system providers who elaborate tools necessary to obtain required information and local service providers who do the actual processing of data and tailor it to specific user s needs Such initiative creates a unique possibility for small

Improving the Service with the Servqual Method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Midor, Katarzyna; Kučera, Marian

2018-03-01

At the time when economy is growing, there is strong competition in the market, and customers have increasingly higher expectations as regards quality of service and products. Under such conditions, organizations need to improve. One of the areas of improvement for an organization is to research the level of customer satisfaction. The article presents results of customer satisfaction surveys conducted by the Servqual method in a pharmaceutical service company. Use of this method allowed to improve the services provided by that pharmaceutical wholesaler, identify areas that need to be improved as soon as possible in order to improve the level of service provided.

Refocusing reference services outside the library building: one library's experience.

PubMed

Lubker, Irene M; Henderson, Margaret E; Canevari, Catharine S; Wright, Barbara A

2010-07-01

In response to changing user needs, the library sought ways to meet new challenges and engage users outside of the building. Librarians were removed from the service desk in order to offer support at locations around campus. The service desk in the library was staffed primarily by paraprofessionals with librarians providing support as needed. Targeted staff training was offered, and different scheduling models were used over a period of time. Restructuring the service desk was a complicated endeavor but provided a number of benefits including expansion of services. Along the way, challenges were met and recognized as learning opportunities.

Youth perceptions of comprehensive adolescent health services through the Boston HAPPENS program.

PubMed

Rosenfeld, S L; Keenan, P M; Fox, D J; Chase, L H; Melchiono, M W; Woods, E R

2000-01-01

The Boston HAPPENS (HIV Adolescent Provider and Peer Education Network for Services) program is a collaborative network of care made up of 8 organizations that serve youth and provide coordinated care for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive, homeless, and at-risk youth aged 12 to 24 years. Learning youth perceptions about the program is essential to determine if the program is meeting their needs. In this qualitative evaluation, 18 youth served by the network met in 4 focus groups to provide their view of the program. Services within 5 categories were assessed: (a) medical care, (b) mental health and substance abuse care, (c) HIV prevention and care, (d) case management, and (e) allocation of finances. Boston HAPPENS has achieved name recognition and provides many needed services for youth from a wide variety of backgrounds. The youth were comfortable receiving care and were appreciative of the comprehensive services available. They provided suggestions for how mental health services could be offered as one-on-one counseling as part of "wellness care." Young participants also requested more recreational and support opportunities for young people living with HIV. Qualitative evaluations such as this give a voice to youth to advocate for services they need. By including youth ideas and perspectives during program development and implementation, services can be more attractive to groups of at-risk youth who historically have been less likely to seek care.

Manpower Mix for Health Services

PubMed Central

Shuman, Larry J.; Young, John P.; Naddor, Eliezer

1971-01-01

A model is formulated to determine the mix of manpower and technology needed to provide health services of acceptable quality at a minimum total cost to the community. Total costs include both the direct costs associated with providing the services and with developing additional manpower and the indirect costs (shortage costs) resulting from not providing needed services. The model is applied to a hypothetical neighborhood health center, and its sensitivity to alternative policies is investigated by cost-benefit analyses. Possible extensions of the model to include dynamic elements in health delivery systems are discussed, as is its adaptation for use in hospital planning, with a changed objective function. PMID:5095652

Dimensions of the transition service coordinator role.

PubMed

Betz, Cecily L; Redcay, Gay

2005-01-01

This article describes the development and implementation of an innovative advanced practice role, as a transition service coordinator for nurses who work with adolescents with special healthcare needs. Transition services for adolescents with special healthcare needs is an area of growing clinical need requiring that all healthcare professionals, including advanced practice nurses develop new clinical knowledge and skills to practice effectively. This emerging specialty area will require advanced practice nurses to provide direct services blending both pediatric and adult healthcare needs and to function in advanced practice roles such as case managers who can ensure the coordination of services between these two very different systems of care while promoting the youth's acquisition of goals for adulthood. This nursing role was first created to provide and coordinate transition services to youth seen in a piloted clinic titled Creating Healthy Futures. This article describes the various components of this nursing role that incorporated the advanced practice dimensions of clinical expert, consultant, change agent, leader, researcher, and educator that can be replicated in other clinical settings.

Alcohol service provision for older people in an area experiencing high alcohol use and health inequalities.

PubMed

McCabe, Karen E; Ling, Jonathan; Wilson, Graeme B; Crosland, Ann; Kaner, Eileen F S; Haighton, Catherine A

2016-03-01

UK society is ageing. Older people who drink alcohol, drink more than those from previous generations, drink more frequently than other age groups and are more likely to drink at home and alone. Alcohol problems in later life however are often under-detected and under-reported meaning older people experiencing alcohol problems have high levels of unmet need. This study sought to identify existing services within South of Tyne, North East England to capture the extent of service provision for older drinkers and identify any gaps. The Age UK definition of 'older people' (aged 50 and over) was used. Services were contacted by telephone, managers or their deputy took part in semi-structured interviews. Forty six service providers were identified. Only one provided a specific intervention for older drinkers. Others typically provided services for age 18+. Among providers, there was no definitive definition of an older person. Data collection procedures within many organisations did not enable them to confirm whether older people were accessing services. Where alcohol was used alongside other drugs, alcohol use could remain unrecorded. To enable alcohol services to meet the needs of older people, greater understanding is needed of the patterns of drinking in later life, the experiences of older people, the scale and scope of the issue and guidance as to the most appropriate action to take. An awareness of the issues related to alcohol use in later life also needs to be integrated into commissioning of other services that impact upon older people. © Royal Society for Public Health 2015.

Management of swallowing and communication difficulties in Down syndrome: A survey of speech-language pathologists.

PubMed

Meyer, Carly; Theodoros, Deborah; Hickson, Louise

2017-02-01

To explore speech pathology services for people with Down syndrome across the lifespan. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) working in Australia were invited to complete an online survey, which enquired about the speech pathology services they had provided to client/s with Down syndrome in the past 12 months. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics. A total of 390 SLPs completed the survey; 62% reported seeing a client with Down syndrome in the past 12 months. Most commonly, SLPs provided assessment and individual intervention for communication with varying levels of family involvement. The areas of dysphagia and/or communication addressed by SLPs, or in need of more services differed according to the age of the person with Down syndrome. SLPs reported a number of reasons why services were restricted. There is a need to re-assess the way that SLPs currently provide services to people with Down syndrome. More research is needed to develop and evaluate treatment approaches that can be used to better address the needs of this population.

1974 Rural Manpower Report. [North Dakota].

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

North Dakota State Employment Security Bureau, Bismarck. Employment Service Div.

The North Dakota Employment Security Bureau provides equality of services in all programs administered by the Bureau to rural area residents throughout the State. It also provides services to agriculture, business, government, and workers in meeting their employment and manpower needs. The Supervisor of Rural Manpower Services provides supervision…

Using benchmarking to assist the improvement of service quality in home support services for older people-IN TOUCH (Integrated Networks Towards Optimising Understanding of Community Health).

PubMed

Jacobs, Stephen P; Parsons, Matthew; Rouse, Paul; Parsons, John; Gunderson-Reid, Michelle

2018-04-01

Service providers and funders need ways to work together to improve services. Identifying critical performance variables provides a mechanism by which funders can understand what they are purchasing without getting caught up in restrictive service specifications that restrict the ability of service providers to meet the needs of the clients. An implementation pathway and benchmarking programme called IN TOUCH provided contracted providers of home support and funders with a consistent methodology to follow when developing and implementing new restorative approaches for service delivery. Data from performance measurement was used to triangulate the personal and social worlds of the stakeholders enabling them to develop a shared understanding of what is working and what is not. The initial implementation of IN TOUCH involved five District Health Boards. The recursive dialogue encouraged by the IN TOUCH programme supports better and more sustainable service development because performance management is anchored to agreed data that has meaning to all stakeholders. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Identifying opportunities for collaboration and growth of genetic counseling services in the Asia Region.

PubMed

Laurino, Mercy Y; Sternen, Darci L; Thompson, Jennifer K; Leppig, Kathleen A

2017-07-01

The Genetic Counseling Pre-Conference Workshop (GCPCW) was held on September 16, 2015, in Hanoi, Vietnam. We report the GCPCW outcomes obtained from pre- and post-conference questionnaires, case-review breakout session, and an open discussion of needs for genetic counseling services in the Asia region. The GCPCW participants completed questionnaires with closed- and open-ended questions regarding the status and needs of providing genetic counseling services in Asia. Utilizing thematic content analysis, common themes shared during the case-review breakout session are summarized and survey results are tabulated. Of the 71 participants, pre- and post-conference questionnaires were returned by 57 (80%) and 44 (62%) individuals, respectively. Of the 42 participants who did not identify themselves as students in training, 36 (86%) stated they are currently providing genetic counseling services. Participants cited that the most useful information obtained during the GCPCW related to the status of genetic counseling services in the region, discovery of shared challenges, professional networking, and the need to establish genetic counseling training programs and its accreditation. The GCPCW provided a collaborative forum to address current challenges and needs of genetic counseling services in the region. Strategies were identified to foster genetic counseling training and clinical service opportunities.

Using structured and unstructured data to identify patients' need for services that address the social determinants of health.

PubMed

Vest, Joshua R; Grannis, Shaun J; Haut, Dawn P; Halverson, Paul K; Menachemi, Nir

2017-11-01

Increasingly, health care providers are adopting population health management approaches that address the social determinants of health (SDH). However, effectively identifying patients needing services that address a SDH in primary care settings is challenging. The purpose of the current study is to explore how various data sources can identify adult primary care patients that are in need of services that address SDH. A cross-sectional study described patients in need of SDH services offered by a safety-net hospital's federally qualified health center clinics. SDH services of social work, behavioral health, nutrition counseling, respiratory therapy, financial planning, medical-legal partnership assistance, patient navigation, and pharmacist consultation were offered on a co-located basis and were identified using structured billing and scheduling data, and unstructured electronic health record data. We report the prevalence of the eight different SDH service needs and the patient characteristics associated with service need. Moreover, characteristics of patients with SDH services need documented in structured data sources were compared with those documented by unstructured data sources. More than half (53%) of patients needed SDH services. Those in need of such services tended to be female, older, more medically complex, and higher utilizers of services. Structured and unstructured data sources exhibited poor agreement on patient SDH services need. Patients with SDH services need documented by unstructured data tended to be more complex. The need for SDH services among a safety-net population is high. Identifying patients in need of such services requires multiple data sources with structured and unstructured data. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Determinants of Service Expansion in Local Communities: Organizational Needs or Needs of the Elderly?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sheldon, Ann Workman

Providing comprehensive services for the elderly in local communities presents planners and potential users with a complex set of problems. The development of new or expanded service to the elderly was examined within an ecologically informed resource dependency model to assess the effect on service expansion of organizational maintenance factors…

Children admitted to hospital following unintentional injury: perspectives of health service providers in Aotearoa/New Zealand

PubMed Central

2010-01-01

Background Unintentional injuries are the leading cause of death and hospitalisation among New Zealand children, with indigenous Māori and ethnic minority Pacific children significantly over represented in these statistics. International research has shown that many children hospitalised for injury, as well as their families experience high levels of stress, and ethnic disparities in the quality of trauma care are not uncommon. The research on which this paper is based sought to identify key issues and concerns for New Zealand's multi-ethnic community following hospitalisation for childhood injury in order to inform efforts to improve the quality of trauma services. This paper reports on service providers' perspectives complementing previously published research on the experiences of families of injured children. Methods A qualitative research design involving eleven in-depth individual interviews and three focus groups was used to elicit the views of 21 purposefully selected service provider key informants from a range of professional backgrounds involved in the care and support of injured children and their families in Auckland, New Zealand. Interviews were transcribed and data were analysed using thematic analysis. Results Key issues identified by service providers included limited ability to meet the needs of children with mild injuries, particularly their emotional needs; lack of psychological support for families; some issues related to Māori and Pacific family support services; lack of accessible and comprehensive information for children and families; poor staff continuity and coordination; and poor coordination of hospital and community services, including inadequacies in follow-up plans. There was considerable agreement between these issues and those identified by the participant families. Conclusions The identified issues and barriers indicate the need for interventions for service improvement at systemic, provider and patient levels. Of particular relevance are strategies that enable families to have better access to information, including culturally appropriate oral and written sources; improve communication amongst staff and between staff and families; and carefully developed discharge plans that provide care continuity across boundaries between hospital and community settings. Māori and Pacific family support services are important and need better resourcing and support from an organisational culture responsive to the needs of these populations. PMID:21138584

Children admitted to hospital following unintentional injury: perspectives of health service providers in Aotearoa/New Zealand.

PubMed

Ameratunga, Shanthi; Abel, Sally; Tin Tin, Sandar; Asiasiga, Lanuola; Milne, Sharon; Crengle, Sue

2010-12-07

Unintentional injuries are the leading cause of death and hospitalisation among New Zealand children, with indigenous Māori and ethnic minority Pacific children significantly over represented in these statistics. International research has shown that many children hospitalised for injury, as well as their families experience high levels of stress, and ethnic disparities in the quality of trauma care are not uncommon. The research on which this paper is based sought to identify key issues and concerns for New Zealand's multi-ethnic community following hospitalisation for childhood injury in order to inform efforts to improve the quality of trauma services. This paper reports on service providers' perspectives complementing previously published research on the experiences of families of injured children. A qualitative research design involving eleven in-depth individual interviews and three focus groups was used to elicit the views of 21 purposefully selected service provider key informants from a range of professional backgrounds involved in the care and support of injured children and their families in Auckland, New Zealand. Interviews were transcribed and data were analysed using thematic analysis. Key issues identified by service providers included limited ability to meet the needs of children with mild injuries, particularly their emotional needs; lack of psychological support for families; some issues related to Māori and Pacific family support services; lack of accessible and comprehensive information for children and families; poor staff continuity and coordination; and poor coordination of hospital and community services, including inadequacies in follow-up plans. There was considerable agreement between these issues and those identified by the participant families. The identified issues and barriers indicate the need for interventions for service improvement at systemic, provider and patient levels. Of particular relevance are strategies that enable families to have better access to information, including culturally appropriate oral and written sources; improve communication amongst staff and between staff and families; and carefully developed discharge plans that provide care continuity across boundaries between hospital and community settings. Māori and Pacific family support services are important and need better resourcing and support from an organisational culture responsive to the needs of these populations.

38 CFR 21.70 - Vocational rehabilitation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

...) Improving the veteran's potential to participate in a program of services designed to achieve a vocational... vocational goal; (2) Provide services needed to qualify for suitable employment; (3) Enable the veteran to...) The services that are needed for the accomplishment of the purposes of Chapter 31, including such...

Sharing Service Resource Information for Application Integration in a Virtual Enterprise - Modeling the Communication Protocol for Exchanging Service Resource Information

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yamada, Hiroshi; Kawaguchi, Akira

Grid computing and web service technologies enable us to use networked resources in a coordinated manner. An integrated service is made of individual services running on coordinated resources. In order to achieve such coordinated services autonomously, the initiator of a coordinated service needs to know detailed service resource information. This information ranges from static attributes like the IP address of the application server to highly dynamic ones like the CPU load. The most famous wide-area service discovery mechanism based on names is DNS. Its hierarchical tree organization and caching methods take advantage of the static information managed. However, in order to integrate business applications in a virtual enterprise, we need a discovery mechanism to search for the optimal resources based on the given a set of criteria (search keys). In this paper, we propose a communication protocol for exchanging service resource information among wide-area systems. We introduce the concept of the service domain that consists of service providers managed under the same management policy. This concept of the service domain is similar to that for autonomous systems (ASs). In each service domain, the service information provider manages the service resource information of service providers that exist in this service domain. The service resource information provider exchanges this information with other service resource information providers that belong to the different service domains. We also verified the protocol's behavior and effectiveness using a simulation model developed for proposed protocol.

IAServ: an intelligent home care web services platform in a cloud for aging-in-place.

PubMed

Su, Chuan-Jun; Chiang, Chang-Yu

2013-11-12

As the elderly population has been rapidly expanding and the core tax-paying population has been shrinking, the need for adequate elderly health and housing services continues to grow while the resources to provide such services are becoming increasingly scarce. Thus, increasing the efficiency of the delivery of healthcare services through the use of modern technology is a pressing issue. The seamless integration of such enabling technologies as ontology, intelligent agents, web services, and cloud computing is transforming healthcare from hospital-based treatments to home-based self-care and preventive care. A ubiquitous healthcare platform based on this technological integration, which synergizes service providers with patients' needs to be developed to provide personalized healthcare services at the right time, in the right place, and the right manner. This paper presents the development and overall architecture of IAServ (the Intelligent Aging-in-place Home care Web Services Platform) to provide personalized healthcare service ubiquitously in a cloud computing setting to support the most desirable and cost-efficient method of care for the aged-aging in place. The IAServ is expected to offer intelligent, pervasive, accurate and contextually-aware personal care services. Architecturally the implemented IAServ leverages web services and cloud computing to provide economic, scalable, and robust healthcare services over the Internet.

IAServ: An Intelligent Home Care Web Services Platform in a Cloud for Aging-in-Place

PubMed Central

Su, Chuan-Jun; Chiang, Chang-Yu

2013-01-01

As the elderly population has been rapidly expanding and the core tax-paying population has been shrinking, the need for adequate elderly health and housing services continues to grow while the resources to provide such services are becoming increasingly scarce. Thus, increasing the efficiency of the delivery of healthcare services through the use of modern technology is a pressing issue. The seamless integration of such enabling technologies as ontology, intelligent agents, web services, and cloud computing is transforming healthcare from hospital-based treatments to home-based self-care and preventive care. A ubiquitous healthcare platform based on this technological integration, which synergizes service providers with patients’ needs to be developed to provide personalized healthcare services at the right time, in the right place, and the right manner. This paper presents the development and overall architecture of IAServ (the Intelligent Aging-in-place Home care Web Services Platform) to provide personalized healthcare service ubiquitously in a cloud computing setting to support the most desirable and cost-efficient method of care for the aged-aging in place. The IAServ is expected to offer intelligent, pervasive, accurate and contextually-aware personal care services. Architecturally the implemented IAServ leverages web services and cloud computing to provide economic, scalable, and robust healthcare services over the Internet. PMID:24225647

Unmet counselling need amongst women accessing an induced abortion service in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

PubMed

Birdsey, Graeme; Crankshaw, Tamaryn L; Mould, Sean; Ramklass, Serela S

2016-11-01

Provision of objective, evidence-based counselling in the context of induced abortion services is considered global good practise. However, there is limited understanding over the counselling needs of women accessing abortion services, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. This study aimed to explore the content and quality of pre-abortion counselling amongst women accessing an abortion service in South Africa as well as client experience of the counselling process. Perceptions of nurse counsellors were also sought. This was a mixed methods study conducted at a Choice of Termination of Pregnancy clinic based at a district level hospital in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Sixty women requesting an abortion were interviewed via a semi-structured questionnaire. In-depth interviews were conducted with four nurses who provided pre-abortion counselling at the clinic. Interviews were coded for emergent themes and categories. Clinic nurses had widely variable counselling training and experience, ranging from less than 2 months to 8 years, but all clients reported that they had been treated with respect at their counselling session. The group-based counselling format and biomedical and health promotion content did not accommodate clients' differential counselling needs, which included requests for support from women experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV). There was limited provider awareness of client's additional counselling needs. Abortion counselling services should be tailored to clients' differential counselling needs. Group-based counselling followed by optional one-on-one counselling sessions is one possible strategy to address unmet client need in South Africa. Provision of abortion provider training in IPV is recommended as well as establishment of referral pathways for women experiencing IPV. Paying attention to the differential counselling needs of women seeking an abortion should be a key component to the provision of abortion services. In this way, abortion services can provide a gateway to additional support for women living in violent relationships and/or other adverse social circumstances. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Improving the United States airline industry's capacity to provide safe and dignified services to travelers with disabilities: focus group findings.

PubMed

McCarthy, Michael J

2011-01-01

As a component of a training development project for intercity air travel providers, we investigated the capacity of the airline industry to meet the needs of travelers with disabilities by exploring: (1) the level of sensitivity among personnel to travelers' needs, (2) training currently provided, (3) areas in which additional training might be beneficial, and (4) organisational/systems-level commitment to dignified assistance to all travelers. Forty-four airline/vendor employees participated in nine focus groups in four US cities. Groups were audio recorded and transcribed. A grounded-theory approach was used to develop a coding system which was then applied to transcripts to identify themes. Factors influencing capacity grouped broadly into four areas: characteristics of the job/system, characteristics of current training, characteristics of providers themselves, and characteristics of travelers. At an interpersonal level, providers were empathetic and desired to provide dignified services. They lacked training and adequate equipment in some cases, however, and organisational commitment varied between companies. Traveler characteristics were also shown to impact service delivery. Results are promising but additional regulatory and organisational policies are needed to ensure quality services. Providers and consumers of intercity air travel services may benefit from the findings and recommendations of this study.

Co-production in practice: how people with assisted living needs can help design and evolve technologies and services.

PubMed

Wherton, Joseph; Sugarhood, Paul; Procter, Rob; Hinder, Sue; Greenhalgh, Trisha

2015-05-26

The low uptake of telecare and telehealth services by older people may be explained by the limited involvement of users in the design. If the ambition of 'care closer to home' is to be realised, then industry, health and social care providers must evolve ways to work with older people to co-produce useful and useable solutions. We conducted 10 co-design workshops with users of telehealth and telecare, their carers, service providers and technology suppliers. Using vignettes developed from in-depth ethnographic case studies, we explored participants' perspectives on the design features of technologies and services to enable and facilitate the co-production of new care solutions. Workshop discussions were audio recorded, transcribed and analysed thematically. Analysis revealed four main themes. First, there is a need to raise awareness and provide information to potential users of assisted living technologies (ALTs). Second, technologies must be highly customisable and adaptable to accommodate the multiple and changing needs of different users. Third, the service must align closely with the individual's wider social support network. Finally, the service must support a high degree of information sharing and coordination. The case vignettes within inclusive and democratic co-design workshops provided a powerful means for ALT users and their carers to contribute, along with other stakeholders, to technology and service design. The workshops identified a need to focus attention on supporting the social processes that facilitate the collective efforts of formal and informal care networks in ALT delivery and use.

77 FR 50083 - Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-08-20

...: Bureau of Economic Analysis. Title: Quarterly Survey of Financial Services Transactions between U.S. Financial Services Providers and Foreign Persons. OMB Control Number: 0608-0065. Form Number(s): BE-185.... Needs and Uses: The data are needed to monitor U.S. international trade in financial services, analyze...

"In Your Face" Reference Service.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lipow, Anne Grodzins

1999-01-01

Discusses changes in library reference service that have occurred with growing Internet use. Topics include the human factor that is still needed; the nature of reference questions; the goal of user self-sufficiency; the invisible nature of much of librarians' work; and providing real-time, interactive point-of-need service to remote users. (LRW)

Academic Support Services Programs in Higher Education.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sharma, Shiva C.

Programs providing academic support services in colleges and universities and the evaluation of these services are reviewed. Attention is also directed to the need for opportunities in higher education for students with marginal high school academic records, and responses to the need by institutions of higher education. It is suggested that there…

Parental satisfaction with health services provided to children with Down syndrome in north-west England: an ENT perspective.

PubMed

Hans, P S; Belloso, A; Sheehan, P Z

2007-04-01

To evaluate parents' satisfaction with medical and allied health services provided to children with Down syndrome in north-west England, comparing ENT and its allied services with other areas of health service provision. A questionnaire survey of parents attending a north-west England Down syndrome association conference. Demographic data, departments visited, satisfaction with each service (scored one to five), waiting times for each service (scored one to five), service need (scored one to three) and accessibility (scored one to three) were recorded. Otolaryngology had been used by 50 per cent of children, with a satisfaction of 2.63 (the second worst score). Speech and language therapy was used by 90 per cent of the children, with a satisfaction of 3.26 (the worst score). The service felt to be most needed and also most difficult to access was speech and language therapy. Otorhinolaryngology departments should assess how they can improve their service to this population with specific ENT needs. Speech and language services for children with Down syndrome should be expanded.

Providing effective trauma care: the potential for service provider views to enhance the quality of care (qualitative study nested within a multicentre longitudinal quantitative study)

PubMed Central

Beckett, Kate; Earthy, Sarah; Sleney, Jude; Barnes, Jo; Kellezi, Blerina; Barker, Marcus; Clarkson, Julie; Coffey, Frank; Elder, Georgina; Kendrick, Denise

2014-01-01

Objective To explore views of service providers caring for injured people on: the extent to which services meet patients’ needs and their perspectives on factors contributing to any identified gaps in service provision. Design Qualitative study nested within a quantitative multicentre longitudinal study assessing longer term impact of unintentional injuries in working age adults. Sampling frame for service providers was based on patient-reported service use in the quantitative study, patient interviews and advice of previously injured lay research advisers. Service providers’ views were elicited through semistructured interviews. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Setting Participants were recruited from a range of settings and services in acute hospital trusts in four study centres (Bristol, Leicester, Nottingham and Surrey) and surrounding areas. Participants 40 service providers from a range of disciplines. Results Service providers described two distinct models of trauma care: an ‘ideal’ model, informed by professional knowledge of the impact of injury and awareness of best models of care, and a ‘real’ model based on the realities of National Health Service (NHS) practice. Participants’ ‘ideal’ model was consistent with standards of high-quality effective trauma care and while there were examples of services meeting the ideal model, ‘real’ care could also be fragmented and inequitable with major gaps in provision. Service provider accounts provide evidence of comprehensive understanding of patients’ needs, awareness of best practice, compassion and research but reveal significant organisational and resource barriers limiting implementation of knowledge in practice. Conclusions Service providers envisage an ‘ideal’ model of trauma care which is timely, equitable, effective and holistic, but this can differ from the care currently provided. Their experiences provide many suggestions for service improvements to bridge the gap between ‘real’ and ‘ideal’ care. Using service provider views to inform service design and delivery could enhance the quality, patient experience and outcomes of care. PMID:25005598

Do enhanced sexual health services meet the needs of men who have sex with men?

PubMed

Dabrera, G; Johnson, S A; Bailey, A C; Cassell, J A

2013-03-01

Enhanced Sexual Health Services (ESHS) have the potential to widen access to sexual health services for populations in England. This study aimed to identify what provision was commissioned in ESHS for men who have sex with men (MSM). We undertook a web-based survey of Primary Care Trust (PCT) commissioners in the south-east of England, exploring what sexual health services were commissioned for MSM and comparing them with published standards. Fourteen of 17 PCTs (82%) responded. All PCTs identified at least one genitourinary (GU) medicine clinic and 13 identified at least one ESHS commissioned for their population. However no single ESHS provided the full range of essential services for MSM. Testing for Chlamydia (84.6% PCTs) and for HIV (69.2% PCTs) were most commonly provided in ESHS, while only 46% and 62% of PCTs had an ESHS commissioned to provide gonorrhoea testing and hepatitis B/syphilis serology testing respectively. Under two-thirds reported training of staff in the sexual health needs of MSM. ESHS are not commissioned to provide the full range of essential sexual health services for MSM. This needs to be addressed by improving staff training in these services and strengthening care pathways between ESHS and GU medicine clinics.

A university-state-corporation partnership for providing correctional mental health services.

PubMed

Appelbaum, Kenneth L; Manning, Thomas D; Noonan, John D

2002-02-01

In September 1998 the University of Massachusetts Medical School, in partnership with a private vendor of correctional health care, began providing mental health services and other services to the Massachusetts Department of Correction. The experience with this partnership demonstrates that the involvement of a medical school with a correctional system has advantages for both. The correctional program benefits from enhanced quality of services, assistance with the recruitment and retention of skilled professionals, and expansion of training and continuing education programs. The medical school benefits by building its revenue base while providing a needed public service and through opportunities to extend its research and training activities. Successful collaboration requires that the medical school have an appreciation of security needs, a sensitivity to fiscal issues, and a readiness to work with inmates who have severe mental disorders and disruptive behavior. Correctional administrators, for their part, must support adequate treatment resources and must collaborate in the resolution of tensions between security and health care needs.

Development of an outcome measurement system for service planning for children and youth with special needs

PubMed Central

Kertoy, M K; Russell, D J; Rosenbaum, P; Jaffer, S; Law, M; McCauley, D; Gorter, J W

2013-01-01

Aim This study described the process used in developing an outcome measurement framework for system planning to improve services for children and youth with special needs and their families in a Canadian province. The study reports the results of several parent-completed measures, which would be useful in service planning as well as the acceptability and utility of these measures for use by families and service centres. Methods/results Development of a theoretical framework, consultation with key stakeholders, testing the utility of selected outcome measures and initial dissemination of results were critical elements in the successful development of an outcome system. Consultation with stakeholders confirmed use of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health and the child-within-family-within community model as theoretical frameworks while building valuable partnerships and identifying potential barriers to implementation. Pilot testing showed three outcome measures were feasible for families to complete and the measures provided information about services for children that was valuable to families as well as service providers. Gaps in service delivery were identified and the need for better communication between service providers and communities to facilitate integrated services was highlighted. Conclusion The findings from this study can be used to implement an outcome measurement system for children with special needs and may serve as a resource for international researchers who are working to develop valid tools as well as outcome systems that are useful for system planning. PMID:22845889

Comparison of Iranian National Medical Library with digital libraries of selected countries.

PubMed

Zare-Farashbandi, Firoozeh; Najafi, Nayere Sadat Soleimanzade; Atashpour, Bahare

2014-01-01

The important role of information and communication technologies and their influence on methods of storing, retrieving information in digital libraries, has not only changed the meanings behind classic library activates but has also created great changes in their services. However, it seems that not all digital libraries provide their users with similar services and only some of them are successful in fulfilling their role in digital environment. The Iranian National Medical library is among those that appear to come short compared to other digital libraries around the world. By knowing the different services provided by digital libraries worldwide, one can evaluate the services provided by Iranian National Medical library. The goal of this study is a comparison between Iranian National Medical library and digital libraries of selected countries. This is an applied study and uses descriptive - survey method. The statistical population is the digital libraries around the world which were actively providing library services between October and December 2011 and were selected by using the key word "Digital Library" in Google search engine. The data-gathering tool was direct access to the websites of these digital libraries. The statistical study is descriptive and Excel software was used for data analysis and plotting of the charts. The findings showed that among the 33 digital libraries investigated worldwide, most of them provided Browse (87.87%), Search (84.84%), and Electronic information retrieval (57.57%) services. The "Help" in public services (48/48%) and "Interlibrary Loan" in traditional services (27/27%) had the highest frequency. The Iranian National Medical library provides more digital services compared to other libraries but has less classic and public services and has less than half of possible public services. Other than Iranian National Medical library, among the 33 libraries investigated, the leaders in providing different services are Library of University of California in classic services, Count Way Library of Medicine in digital services, and Library of Finland in public services. The results of this study show that among the digital libraries investigated, most provided similar public, digital, and classic services and The Iranian National Medical library has been somewhat successful in providing these services compared to other digital libraries. One can also conclude that the difference in services is at least in part due to difference in environments, information needs, and users. Iranian National Medical Library has been somewhat successful in providing library services in digital environment and needs to identify the services which are valuable to its users by identifying the users' needs and special characteristics of its environment.

What Educational Opportunities Should Professionals in Aging Provide?: A Pilot Community Assessment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Van Dussen, Daniel J.; Leson, Suzanne M.

2010-01-01

With the aging workforce and the increase of older adults, educational needs of the workforce in aging services are broadening. The pilot study used a survey to examine the types of educational opportunities and needs of professionals providing services to older adults in eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania. Respondents (25.9%) reported learning…

Users' views of prison health services: a qualitative study.

PubMed

Condon, Louise; Hek, Gill; Harris, Francesca; Powell, Jane; Kemple, Terry; Price, Sally

2007-05-01

This paper is a report of a study of the views of prisoners about health services provided in prisons. Prison provides an opportunity for a 'hard to reach' group to access health services, primarily those provided by nurses. Prisoners typically have high health and social needs, but the views and experiences of prisoners about health services in prison have not been widely researched. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with 111 prisoners in purposively selected 12 prisons in England in 2005. Interviews covered both prisoners' views of health services and their own ways of caring for their health in prison. Interviews were analysed to develop a conceptual framework and identify dominant themes. Prisoners considered health services part of a personal prison journey, which began at imprisonment and ended on release. For those who did not access health services outside prison, imprisonment improved access to both mental and physical health services. Prisoners identified accessing services, including those provided by nurses, confidentiality, being seen as a 'legitimate' patient and living with a chronic condition as problems within the prison healthcare system. At all points along the prison healthcare journey, the prison regime could conflict with optimal health care. Lack of autonomy is a major obstacle to ensuring that prisoners' health needs are fully met. Their views should be considered when planning, organizing and delivering prison health services. Further research is needed to examine how nurses can ensure a smooth journey through health care for prisoners.

Geospatial Information System Analysis of Healthcare Need and Telemedicine Delivery in California.

PubMed

Kaufman, Taylor; Geraghty, Estella M; Dullet, Navjit; King, Jesse; Kissee, Jamie; Marcin, James P

2017-05-01

Geospatial Information Systems (GIS) superimpose data on geographical maps to provide visual representations of data by region. Few studies have used GIS data to investigate if telemedicine services are preferentially provided to communities of greatest need. This study compared the healthcare needs of communities with and without telemedicine services from a university-based telemedicine program. Originating sites for all telemedicine consultations between July 1996 and December 2013 were geocoded using ArcGIS software. ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) were extracted from the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau's Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing file and assigned a community needs index (CNI) score to reflect the ZCTA community's healthcare needs based on evidence-based barriers to healthcare access. CNI scores were compared across communities with and without active telemedicine services. One hundred ninety-four originating telemedicine clinic sites in California were evaluated. The mean CNI score for ZCTAs with at least one telemedicine clinic was significantly higher (3.32 ± 0.84) than those without a telemedicine site (2.95 ± 0.99) and higher than the mean ZCTAs for all of California (2.99 ± 1.01). Of the 194 telemedicine clinics, 71.4% were located in communities with above average need and 33.2% were located in communities with very high needs. Originating sites receiving telemedicine services from a university-based telemedicine program were located in regions with significantly higher community healthcare needs. Leveraging a geospatial information system to understand community healthcare needs provides an opportunity for payers, hospitals, and patients to be strategic in the allocation of telemedicine services.

Analysis of Human Resources and Services Administration-funded services for HIV-positive substance users: a study of Ryan White CARE Act Title III, Title IV, and Special Projects of National Significance providers.

PubMed

Tobias, Carol; Drainoni, Mari-Lynn; Wood, Starr

2004-10-01

In this study, 175 organizations providing health care and/or social services to HIV-positive substance users responded to a questionnaire to: (1) investigate how programs were configured to serve consumer needs and (2) identify potential innovative strategies to be explored in greater depth in a subsequent study. The results demonstrated wide variability in types of services provided, racial and ethnic diversity, methods of addressing cultural and linguistic needs, accessibility provisions, strategies for engagement and retention, strategies for coordination and integrations of care, most difficult barriers to care, and funding sources.

Marketing Youth Services.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dimick, Barbara

1995-01-01

Marketing techniques in youth services are useful for designing programs, collections, and services and for determining customer needs. The marketing mix--product, place, price, and practice--provides a framework for service analysis. (AEF)

'Workers', 'clients' and the struggle over needs: understanding encounters between service providers and injecting drug users in an Australian city.

PubMed

Moore, David

2009-03-01

A feature of contemporary Western, neo-liberal democracies is the frequent interaction between representatives of health and social services and the members of stigmatised and 'unruly' populations, such as injecting drug users. Previous research on drugs has tended to ignore the power relations and cultural dynamics at work in these encounters, and the ways in which they are framed by the wider neo-liberal context. Drawing on an ethnography of street-based heroin use in Melbourne, Australia's second largest city, I show how the discourses of both service providers and injecting drug users draw on wider neo-liberal values of independence, autonomy, rationality and responsibility. Service providers negotiate a framework of needs interpretation that creates and reproduces professional identities, and maintains boundaries between 'workers' and 'clients'. It also includes tensions around the definition of injecting drug users as 'chaotic' (i.e., failed neo-liberal) subjects, and slippage between service philosophies that emphasise a social model of health and forms of service delivery that emphasise the production of responsibilised subjects. For their part, street-based injectors construct an alternative framework of needs interpretation that emphasises their self-reliance, autonomy and independence, attributes and capacities largely denied them in service-provider discourse. In encounters with service providers, street-based injectors respond in various ways that include elements of resistance, strategic accommodation and the incorporation of therapeutic discourse. I conclude by considering the implications of my analysis for the future development of drug policy and practice.

'That would have been beneficial': LGBTQ education for home-care service providers.

PubMed

Daley, Andrea; MacDonnell, Judith A

2015-05-01

This paper reports qualitative findings from a pilot study that explored the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) education needs of home-care service providers working in one large, urban Canadian city. The pilot study builds upon research that has documented barriers to health services for diversely situated LGBTQ people, which function to limit access to good-quality healthcare. LGBTQ activists, organisations and allies have underscored the need for health provider education related to the unique health and service experiences of sexual and gender minority communities. However, the home-care sector is generally overlooked in this important body of research literature. We used purposeful convenience sampling to conduct four focus groups and two individual interviews with a total of 15 professionally diverse home-care service providers. Data collection was carried out from January 2011 to July 2012 and data were analysed using grounded theory methods towards the identification of the overarching theme, 'provider education' and it had two sub-themes: (i) experiences of LGBTQ education; and (ii) recommendations for LGBTQ education. The study findings raise important questions about limited and uneven access to adequate LGBTQ education for home-care service providers, suggest important policy implications for the education and health sectors, and point to the need for anti-oppression principles in the development of education initiatives. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Improving palliative care outcomes for Aboriginal Australians: service providers' perspectives.

PubMed

Shahid, Shaouli; Bessarab, Dawn; van Schaik, Katherine D; Aoun, Samar M; Thompson, Sandra C

2013-07-23

Aboriginal Australians have a lower rate of utilisation of palliative care services than the general population. This study aimed to explore care providers' experiences and concerns in providing palliative care for Aboriginal people, and to identify opportunities for overcoming gaps in understanding between them and their Aboriginal patients and families. In-depth, qualitative interviews with urban, rural and remote palliative care providers were undertaken in inpatient and community settings in Western Australia. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and coded independently by two researchers with QSR NVivo 10 software used to help manage data. Data analysis was informed by multiple theoretical standpoints, including the social ecological model, critical cultural theories and the 'cultural security' framework. Thematic analysis was carried out that identified patterns within data. Fifteen palliative care providers were interviewed. Overall they reported lack of understanding of Aboriginal culture and being uncertain of the needs and priorities of Aboriginal people during end-of-life care. According to several participants, very few Aboriginal people had an understanding of palliative care. Managing issues such as anger, denial, the need for non-medical support due to socioeconomic disadvantage, and dealing with crises and conflicts over funeral arrangements were reported as some of the tensions between Aboriginal patients and families and the service providers. Early referral to palliative care is important in demonstrating and maintaining a caring therapeutic relationship. Paramount to meeting the needs for Aboriginal patients was access to appropriate information and logistical, psychological and emotional support. These were often seen as essential but additional to standard palliative care services. The broader context of Aboriginal history and historical distrust of mainstream services was seen to impinge on Aboriginal people's willingness and ability to accept care and support from these services. This context needs to be understood and acknowledged at the system level. More cultural safety training was requested by care providers but it was not seen as replacing the need for an Aboriginal worker in the palliative care team.

Planned Parenthood Federation of America: Its Role as Provider of Information Services.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Roberts, Gloria A.

1985-01-01

Planned Parenthood Federation of America was established in 1916 to fulfill the need to provide family planning information and services to women. The Katharine Dexter McCormick Library serves organizational goals by publishing family planning bibliographies, performing literature searches on in-house database, and providing reference services to…

How size matters: exploring the association between quality of mental health services and catchment area size.

PubMed

Ala-Nikkola, Taina; Sadeniemi, Minna; Kaila, Minna; Saarni, Samuli; Kontio, Raija; Pirkola, Sami; Joffe, Grigori; Oranta, Olli; Wahlbeck, Kristian

2016-08-12

The diversity of mental health and substance abuse services (MHS) available to service users is seen as an indicator of the quality of the service system. In most countries MHS are provided by a mix of public, private and third sector providers. In Finland, officially, the municipalities are responsible for organizing the services needed, but the real extent and roles of private and third sector service providers are not known. Our previous study showed that the catchment area population size was strongly associated with diversity of mental health services. It is not known whether this was due to some types of services or some provider types being more sensitive to the size effect than others. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between area population size and diversity of mental health services, i.e. which types of services and which service providers' contributions are sensitive to population size. To map and classify services, we used the ESMS-R. The diversity of services was defined as the count of main types of care. Providers were classified as public, private or third sectors. The diversity of outpatient, residential and voluntary services correlated positively with catchment area population size. The strongest positive correlation between the size of population and services available was found in third sector activities followed by public providers, but no correlation was found for diversity of private services. The third sector and public corporations each provided 44 % of the service units. Third sector providers produced all self-help services and most of the day care services. Third sector and private companies provided a significant part (59 %) of the residential care service units. Significant positive correlations were found between size of catchment area population and diversity of residential, outpatient and voluntary services, indicating that these services concentrate on areas with larger population bases. The third sector seems to significantly complement the public sector in providing different services. Thus the third sector be needs to be functionally integrated with other MHS services to achieve a diversified and integrated service system.

Position of the American Dietetic Association: Providing nutrition services for people with developmental disabilities and special health care needs.

PubMed

Van Riper, Cynthia L; Wallace, Lee Shelly

2010-02-01

It is the position of the American Dietetic Association that nutrition services provided by registered dietitians (RDs) and dietetic technicians, registered (DTRs), are essential components of comprehensive care for all people with developmental disabilities and special health care needs. Nutrition services should be provided throughout life in a manner that is interdisciplinary, family-centered, community-based, and culturally competent. People with developmental disabilities and special health care needs frequently have nutrition concerns, including growth alterations (failure to thrive, obesity, or growth retardation), metabolic disorders, poor feeding skills, medication-nutrient interactions, and sometimes partial or total dependence on enteral or parenteral nutrition. Individuals with special needs are also more likely to develop comorbid conditions such as obesity or endocrine disorders that require nutrition interventions. Poor health habits, limited access to services, and long-term use of multiple medications are considered health risk factors. Health maintenance and avoidance of complications can be promoted by timely and cost-effective nutrition interventions. Public policy for individuals with special needs has evolved over time, resulting in a transition from institutional facilities and programs to community living. The expansion of public access to technology and health information on the Internet challenges RDs and DTRs to provide accurate scientific information for those with developmental disabilities and special health care needs. Nationally credentialed RDs and DTRs are best prepared to provide appropriate nutrition information for wellness and quality of life.

Student Services Review: Grossmont College Disabled Student Programs and Services.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lee, Mimi; Mueler, Toni

An overview is provided of the support services and special activities provided by Grossmont College's Disabled Student Programs and Services (DSPS). Following introductory material on the philosophy and objectives of the DSPS, the report describes the methods used to identify the instructional development and support needs of DSPS students during…

The ideal of consumer choice in social services: challenges with implementation in an Ontario injured worker vocational retraining programme.

PubMed

Maceachen, Ellen; Kosny, Agnieszka; Ferrier, Sue; Lippel, Katherine; Neilson, Cynthia; Franche, Renee-Louise; Pugliese, Diana

2013-01-01

Social service programmes that offer consumer choices are intended to guide service efficiency and customer satisfaction. However, little is known about how social service consumers actually make choices and how providers deliver such services. This article details the practical implementation of consumer choice in a Canadian workers' compensation vocational retraining programme. Discourse analysis was conducted of in-depth interviews and focus groups with 71 injured workers and service providers, who discussed their direct experience of a vocational retraining system. Data also included procedural, policy and administrative documents. Consumer choice included workers being offered choices about some service aspects, but not being able to exercise meaningful discretion. Programme cost objectives and restrictive rules and bureaucracy skewed the guidance provided to workers by service providers. If workers did not make the "right" choices, then the service providers were required to make choices for them. This upset workers and created tension for service providers. The ideal of consumer choice in a social service programme was difficult to enact, both for workers and service providers. Processes to increase quality of guidance to social service consumers and to create a systematic feedback look between system designers and consumers are recommended. Implications for Rehabilitation Consumer choice is an increasingly popular concept in social service systems. Vocational case managers can have their own administrative needs and tensions, which do not always align with the client's choices. Rehabilitation programmes need to have processes for considering what choices are important to clients and the resources to support them.

Severe mental illness - patients' children needs.

PubMed

Svab, Vesna

2009-09-01

Care for families and children of people with severe mental illness is a professionally and politically neglected issue. The majority of countries provide only services for several needs of the patients' families, i.e. treatment, custody and counselling. Management of stress and resolving of common problems are rarely addressed. Children of people with mental illness reflect and call professional attention to this issues. The deficiency of services is to be addressed by multidisciplinary team efforts. In the Slovenian organization of health services coordination could be provided by family physicians.

Improving regional and rural cancer services in Western Australia.

PubMed

Platt, Violet; O'Connor, Kathleen; Coleman, Rhonda

2015-02-01

This paper examines health reform which has been designed to improve cancer services across Western Australia. Western Australia is a large state divided into nine regions each with differing demographics. The diversity of the state and the distribution of the population over a large area of land create significant challenge in ensuring equality in service delivery. A comparison was conducted looking at cancer services in Western Australia pre-2005 and service delivery in 2014. A review of the partnership initiatives and programs provides a clear discussion on the need for coordination of care between service providers. The approach undertaken in Western Australia has seen an increase in the delivery of cancer services closer to the patient's home as well as greater involvement of primary care professionals in cancer care. This work has resulted in demonstrated improvements in patient care and support. Services for cancer patients need to be accessible closer to home with distance being an appreciable barrier to treatment access.A statewide approach needs to be developed to ensure all people have equitable access to service delivery. © 2015 National Rural Health Alliance Inc.

Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS): status of implementation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lucio, Filipe

2014-05-01

The GFCS is a global partnership of governments and UN and international agencies that produce and use climate information and services. WMO, which is leading the initiative in collaboration with UN ISDR, WHO, WFP, FAO, UNESCO, UNDP and other UN and international partners are pooling their expertise and resources in order to co-design and co-produce knowledge, information and services to support effective decision making in response to climate variability and change in four priority areas (agriculture and fod security, water, health and disaster risk reduction). To address the entire value chain for the effective production and application of climate services the GFCS main components or pillars are being implemented, namely: • User Interface Platform — to provide ways for climate service users and providers to interact to identify needs and capacities and improve the effectiveness of the Framework and its climate services; • Climate Services Information System — to produce and distribute climate data, products and information according to the needs of users and to agreed standards; • Observations and Monitoring - to generate the necessary data for climate services according to agreed standards; • Research, Modelling and Prediction — to harness science capabilities and results and develop appropriate tools to meet the needs of climate services; • Capacity Building — to support the systematic development of the institutions, infrastructure and human resources needed for effective climate services. Activities are being implemented in various countries in Africa, the Caribbean and South pacific Islands. This paper will provide details on the status of implementation of the GFCS worldwider.

A survey of North Carolina safety-net dental clinics' methods for communicating with patients of limited english proficiency (LEP).

PubMed

Hammersmith, Kimberly J; Lee, Jessica Y

2009-01-01

Dental providers are increasingly challenged in communicating with patients with limited English proficiency (LEP). Accordingly, the purpose of the study was to examine methods of communicating with patients with LEP in North Carolina (NC) safety-net dental clinics as perceived by dental staff. An anonymous, 36-item, cross-sectional survey was distributed to representatives of 68 NC safety-net dental clinics. Question domains included: a) a perceived need for language services; b) methods of language services provided; c) perceptions of dental staff about dental care experiences for patients with LEP; and d) perceived legal and financial roles in providing language services. Of the 68 clinics, 55 responded (81 percent). All clinics reported treating patients with LEP, and 93 percent of clinics reported a need for providing language services. Many clinics used multiple methods to provide language services. Some clinics reported differences in treatment recommendations (13 percent), treatment provided (19 percent), and visit length (61 percent) for patients with LEP. All responded that additional costs are incurred to treat patients with LEP, and only 69 percent of responding clinics recognized legal obligations of treating patients with LEP. There is a reported need for language services in NC safety-net dental clinics. These services often resulted in additional costs to the dental clinic. To maintain the quality of care and to comply with legal requirements related to dental patients with LEP, additional funding sources might be required to recruit multilingual staff, support language services in dental clinics, and provide language skills training for practicing dentists. Additionally, studies are suggested to measure the perception of the effectiveness of communication methods of patients with LEP.

Universal Health Coverage and Primary Healthcare: Lessons From Japan

PubMed Central

Bloom, Gerald

2017-01-01

A recent editorial by Naoki Ikegami has proposed three key lessons from Japan’s experience of achieving virtually universal coverage with primary healthcare services: the need to integrate the existing providers of primary healthcare services into the organised health system; the need to limit government commitments to finance hospital services and the need to empower providers of primary healthcare to influence decisions that influence their livelihoods. Although the context of low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) differs in many ways from Japan in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the lesson that short-term initiatives to achieve universal coverage need to be complemented by an understanding of the factors influencing long-term change management remains highly relevant. PMID:28812806

The diversity of case management needs for the care of homeless persons.

PubMed Central

Stephens, D; Dennis, E; Toomer, M; Holloway, J

1991-01-01

Health care providers have been attempting to meet the special needs of homeless people on a national level since 1984. The need to implement strategies specific to serving the diversity of services required by homeless people has been apparent. To devise appropriate strategies, clinical information was drawn from the Health Resources and Services Administration-Health Care for the Homeless (HRSA-HCH) projects, which were created in 1987 primarily to fill such a need. In addition, data gathered by the HCH projects (1984-87) funded by the Robert Wood Johnson and Pew Memorial Trust were used. It is suggested that the past mode of providing health care for the homeless has been found to be inadequate when confronting the complex problems of the homeless person of today. In general, health care providers need to focus more on case management activities, which may include activities not necessarily associated with the provision of health care services (for example, finding and providing food, clothing, shelter, and assessing entitlement eligibility) to achieve the ultimate goal--stabilization--and when possible, reintegration of the homeless person back into society. PMID:1899934

Redefining School Health Services: Comprehensive Child Health Care as the Framework.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Silver, George A.

Recognizing the needs, deficiencies, and diversity of school health services is prerequisite to any analysis of need. More uniform programs and more equitable access for all school children to whatever minimal standard of health services should be provided: periodic examination, some limited medical care on the school grounds, intensive health…

Civil Legal Services and Medical-Legal Partnerships Needed by the Homeless Population: A National Survey.

PubMed

Tsai, Jack; Jenkins, Darlene; Lawton, Ellen

2017-03-01

To examine civil legal needs among people experiencing homelessness and the extent to which medical-legal partnerships exist in homeless service sites, which promote the integration of civil legal aid professionals into health care settings. We surveyed a national sample of 48 homeless service sites across 26 states in November 2015. The survey asked about needs, attitudes, and practices related to civil legal issues, including medical-legal partnerships. More than 90% of the homeless service sites reported that their patients experienced at least 1 civil legal issue, particularly around housing, employment, health insurance, and disability benefits. However, only half of all sites reported screening patients for civil legal issues, and only 10% had a medical-legal partnership. The large majority of sites reported interest in receiving training on screening for civil legal issues and developing medical-legal partnerships. There is great need and potential to deploy civil legal services in health settings to serve unstably housed populations. Training homeless service providers how to screen for civil legal issues and how to develop medical-legal partnerships would better equip them to provide comprehensive care.

Reproductive health and family planning needs among HIV-infected women in Sub-Saharan Africa.

PubMed

Sarnquist, Clea C; Rahangdale, Lisa; Maldonado, Yvonne

2013-03-01

Review key topics and recent literature regarding reproductive health and family planning needs for HIV-infected women in Sub-Saharan Africa. Electronic searches performed in PubMed, JSTOR, and Web of Science; identified articles reviewed for inclusion. Most HIV-infected women in Sub-Saharan Africa bear children, and access to antiretroviral therapy may increase childbearing desires and/or fertility, resulting in greater need for contraception. Most contraceptive options can be safely and effectively used by HIV-infected women. Unmet need for contraception is high in this population, with 66- 92% of women reporting not wanting another child (now or ever), but only 20-43% using contraception. During pregnancy and delivery, HIV-infected women need access to prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) services, a skilled birth attendant, and quality post-partum care to prevent HIV infection in the infant and maximize maternal health. Providers may lack resources as well as appropriate training and support to provide such services to women with HIV. Innovations in biomedical and behavioral interventions may improve reproductive healthcare for HIV-infected women, but in Sub-Saharan Africa, models of integrating HIV and PMTCT services with family planning and reproductive health services will be important to improve reproductive outcomes. HIV-infected women in Sub-Saharan Africa have myriad needs related to reproductive health, including access to high-quality family planning information and options, high-quality pregnancy care, and trained providers. Integrated services that help prevent unintended pregnancy and optimize maternal and infant health before, during and after pregnancy will both maximize limited resources as well as provide improved reproductive outcomes.

Neoliberalism and human services: threat and innovation.

PubMed

Swenson, S

2008-07-01

The turn to neoliberalism in welfare policy suggests that human services need to be based on a market approach. The problem with this suggestion is that it presupposes marketing information such that service providers can market their services for identified client needs. In the field of intellectual disability (ID) services this type of information is not available. The method is a reflective analysis of the key presupposition of a market-orientated approach to disability services, namely that service providers know who needs what. Using insights from marketing theory the paper engages in a reflective thought experiment to lay out the intricacies of this presupposition. The analysis results in an argument regarding the validation of a market-based approach to disability services. First, this approach has its limits in view of the question of whether the specific and atypical needs of people with ID, as well as their financial position as potential consumers constitute a market. Second, the approach has limited validity both in view of the ability of people with ID to act as consumers, and of the restrictions imposed upon them by the eligibility criteria for welfare and support programmes. A market-based approach to disability services and supports can be helpful to spur innovation and further political and philosophical inquiry in human services, but the neoliberal optimism about the market as the only successful mechanism for service distribution is misplaced.

E-Service Quality Management

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Batagan, Lorena; Pocovnicu, Adrian; Capisizu, Sergiu

2009-01-01

A characteristic of today's society is the increasing use of modern information and communication technologies in all areas. Computer applications, called e-services, are being developed to provide efficient access to services, electronically. Quality management systems are needed to provide a consistent way to select, evaluate, prioritize and…

A blueprint for community benefit. A CHA-AAHA (Catholic Health Association-American Association of Homes for the Aging) document helps long-term care providers plan for and implement needed services.

PubMed

Forschner, B; Trocchio, J

1993-05-01

A collaborative effort of the Catholic Health Association (CHA) and the American Association of Homes for the Aging, The Social Accountability Program: Continuing the Community Benefit Tradition of Not-for-Profit Homes and Services for the Aging helps long-term care organizations plan and report community benefit activities. The program takes long-term care providers through five sequential tasks: reaffirming commitment to the elderly and others in the community; developing a community service plan; developing and providing community services; reporting community services; and evaluating the community service role. To help organizations reaffirm commitment, the Social Accountability Program presents a process facilities can use to review their historical roots and purposes and evaluate whether current policies and procedures are consistent with the organizational philosophy. Once this step is completed, providers can develop a community service plan by identifying target populations and the services they need. For facilities developing and implementing such services, the program suggests ways of measuring and monitoring them for budgetary purposes. Once they have implemented services, not-for-profit healthcare organizations must account for their impact on the community. The Social Accountability Program lists elements to be included in community service reports. It also provides guidelines for evaluating these services' effectiveness and the organization's overall community benefit role.

Is multidisciplinary teamwork the key? A qualitative study of the development of respiratory services in the UK

PubMed Central

Pinnock, Hilary; Huby, Guro; Tierney, Alison; Hamilton, Sonya; Powell, Alison; Kielmann, Tara; Sheikh, Aziz

2009-01-01

Summary Objectives Using frameworks, such as the long-term conditions pyramid of healthcare, primary care organizations (PCOs) in England and Wales are exploring ways of developing services for people with long-term respiratory disease. We aimed to explore the current and planned respiratory services and the roles of people responsible for change. Setting A purposive sample of 30 PCOs in England and Wales. Design Semi-structured telephone interviews with the person responsible for driving the reconfiguration of respiratory services. Recorded interviews were transcribed and coded, and themes identified. The association of the composition of the team driving change with the breadth of services provided was explored using a matrix. Results All but two of the PCOs described clinical services developed to address the needs of people with respiratory conditions, usually with a focus on preventing admissions for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Although the majority identified the need to develop a strategic approach to service development and to meet educational needs of primary care professionals, relatively few described clearly developed plans for addressing these issues. Involvement of clinicians from both primary and secondary care was associated with a broad multifaceted approach to service development. Teamwork was often challenging, but could prove rewarding for participants and could result in a fruitful alignment of objectives. The imminent merger of PCOs and overriding financial constraints resulted in a ‘fluid’ context which challenged successful implementation of plans. Conclusions While the majority of PCOs are developing clinical services for people with complex needs (principally in order to reduce admissions), relatively few are addressing the broader strategic issues and providing for local educational needs. The presence of multidisciplinary teams, which integrated primary and secondary care clinicians with PCO management, was associated with more comprehensive service provision addressing the needs of all respiratory patients. Future research needs to provide insight into the structures, processes and inter-professional relationships that facilitate development of clinical, educational and policy initiatives which aim to enhance local delivery of respiratory care. PMID:19734535

Early Intervention Special Instructors and Service Coordinators in One State: Characteristics, Professional Development, and Needed Lines of Inquiry

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Edwards, Nicole Megan; Gallagher, Peggy A.

2016-01-01

The success of Early Intervention (EI) programs (Part C, IDEA [Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004]) for infants and toddlers with special needs (birth to 36 months) is largely influenced by the quality of direct service providers. Little is known, however, about characteristics of providers or involvement in training…

The National Library of Medicine's Services: Initial Observations on Indexing, Interlibrary Loan, and Reference *

PubMed Central

Langner, Mildred Crowe

1967-01-01

How have the three services—indexing, reference (including history of medicine), and interlibrary loan—been provided throughout the years by NLM, and how have they been used? At the present time of great growth and development, the use of the computer has influenced these services and will continue to figure prominently in plans for the future. NLM's services often have not been well or correctly used by its public, even by librarians. Some of its services, however, need to be provided in more depth and on a higher scale, and they should be publicized more widely. History shows that NLM has been faithful to its basic charge and has gone far beyond it in its service to the medical, educational, and library communities. Medical librarians are most fortunate that such a great national resource exists to provide materials and services to fulfill the needs of their libraries. PMID:6016365

IDENTITY THEFT SERVICES: Services Offer Some Benefits but Are Limited in Preventing Fraud

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-03-01

representative said that they felt they needed to provide their customers with some benefit and offered the services to give their customers peace of...satisfaction or reassurance. Some companies told us that they offered free identity theft services to give their customers peace of mind or provide...IDENTITY THEFT SERVICES Services Offer Some Benefits but Are Limited in Preventing Fraud Report to Congressional

Overview of the Next Generation Air/Ground Communications System Program

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1995-05-15

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) needs air/ground (A/G) communications : to provide safety-critical Air Traffic Control (ATC) services. Specific needs : documented in this Mission Needs Statement (MNS) include the following: : (1) Provide Ai...

Personal Perspectives on Providing Services to Foster Youth

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Whitman, Kenyon L.

2018-01-01

Utilizing an academic capital framework and student perspectives, this chapter provides insight into the ways that programs and services can help students develop the skills needed to succeed in college.

Social Adaptation of Refugees. A Guide for Service Providers.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Center for Applied Linguistics, Washington, DC. Language and Orientation Resource Center.

This guide is intended for persons who are concerned with the social adjustment of refugees in the United States. Its objectives are threefold: (1) to help the service providers better understand the refugee as an individual; (2) to add to the knowledge of how to provide culturally-appropriate services and support for the needs of newly arrived…

Utilization of legal and financial services of partners in dementia care study.

PubMed

Shrestha, Srijana; Judge, Katherine S; Wilson, Nancy L; Moye, Jennifer A; Snow, A Lynn; Kunik, Mark E

2011-03-01

Financial and legal services are unique needs of persons with dementia and their caregivers. This study examines their need for legal and financial assistance and the kinds of legal and financial services provided within Partners in Dementia Care, a telephone-based, care coordination and support service intervention delivered through a partnership between Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers and local Alzheimer's Association chapters. Based on comprehensive assessment, and needs prioritization, care coordinators collaboratively planned action steps (specific behavioral tasks) with each caregiver/person with dementia to address the dyad's identified unmet needs. Results show that 51 (54.8%) of 93 dyads reported a need for legal and financial services. Action steps related to legal and financial need included education or assistance with legal services (27.27%), nonhealth-related financial benefits (32.32%), health-related financial benefits (21.21%), financial management/planning (9.09%), and financial support (10.1%). Comparable numbers of action steps were directed to VA (41.4%) and non-VA (58.6%) services.

Subsidies to target specialist outreach services into more remote locations: a national cross-sectional study.

PubMed

O'Sullivan, Belinda G; McGrail, Matthew R; Stoelwinder, Johannes U

2017-07-01

Objective Targeting rural outreach services to areas of highest relative need is challenging because of the higher costs it imposes on health workers to travel longer distances. This paper studied whether subsidies have the potential to support the provision of specialist outreach services into more remote locations. Methods National data about subsidies for medical specialist outreach providers as part of the Wave 7 Medicine in Australia: Balancing Employment and Life (MABEL) Survey in 2014. Results Nearly half received subsidies: 19% (n=110) from a formal policy, namely the Australian Government Rural Health Outreach Fund (RHOF), and 27% (n=154) from other sources. Subsidised specialists travelled for longer and visited more remote locations relative to the non-subsidised group. In addition, compared with non-subsidised specialists, RHOF-subsidised specialists worked in priority areas and provided equally regular services they intended to continue, despite visiting more remote locations. Conclusion This suggests the RHOF, although limited to one in five specialist outreach providers, is important to increase targeted and stable outreach services in areas of highest relative need. Other subsidies also play a role in facilitating remote service distribution, but may need to be more structured to promote regular, sustained outreach practice. What is known about this topic? There are no studies describing subsidies for specialist doctors to undertake rural outreach work and whether subsidies, including formal and structured subsidies via the Australian Government RHOF, support targeted outreach services compared with no financial support. What does this paper add? Using national data from Australia, we describe subsidisation among specialist outreach providers and show that specialists subsidised via the RHOF or another source are more likely to provide remote outreach services. What are the implications for practitioners? Subsidised specialist outreach providers are more likely to provide remote outreach services. The RHOF, as a formally structured comprehensive subsidy, further targets the provision of priority services into such locations on a regular, ongoing basis.

Coordination of palliative cancer care in the community: "unfinished business".

PubMed

Brazil, Kevin; Bainbridge, Daryl; Sussman, Jonathan; Whelan, Tim; O'Brien, Mary Ann; Pyette, Nancy

2009-07-01

This study assessed the degree to which services in south-central Ontario, Canada, were coordinated to meet the supportive care needs of palliative cancer patients and their families. Programs within the region that were identified as providing supportive care to palliative cancer patients and their families were eligible to participate in the study. Program administrators participated in a semi-structured interview and direct-care providers completed a survey instrument. Administrators from 37 (97%) of 38 eligible programs and 109 direct-care providers representing 26 (70%) programs participated in the study. Most administrator and direct-care respondents felt that existing services in the community were responsive to palliative care patients' individual needs. However, at a system level, most respondents in both groups felt that required services were not available and that resources were inadequate. The most frequently reported unmet supportive care need identified by both respondent groups was psychological/social support. Most administrator (69%) and direct-care (64%) respondents felt that palliative care services were not available when needed. The majority of administrator and direct-care respondents were satisfied with the exchange of patient information within and between programs, although direct-care staff identified a deficit in information transferred on palliative care patients' social/psychological status. The study demonstrated the value of a theory-based approach to evaluate the coordination of palliative cancer care services. The findings revealed that service programs faced significant challenges in their efforts to provide coordinated care.

NASA Launch Services Program Overview

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Higginbotham, Scott

2016-01-01

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has need to procure a variety of launch vehicles and services for its unmanned spacecraft. The Launch Services Program (LSP) provides the Agency with a single focus for the acquisition and management of Expendable Launch Vehicle (ELV) launch services. This presentation will provide an overview of the LSP and its organization, approach, and activities.

A Study of Teachers' Perceptions of School-Level Factors Affecting Transition Services

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lazaroff, Kurt Charles

2013-01-01

The purpose of this study was to explore teacher perceptions of providing transition services to high school students with special needs and to understand the variables that act as facilitators or barriers to providing those services. A qualitative research method was used to understand the perceptions of school personnel of transition services in…

Expanding oral care opportunities: direct access care provided by dental hygienists in the United States.

PubMed

Naughton, Doreen K

2014-06-01

Dental hygienists expand access to oral care in the United States. Many Americans have access to oral health care in traditional dental offices however millions of Americans have unmet dental needs. For decades dental hygienists have provided opportunities for un-served and under-served Americans to receive preventive services in a variety of alternate delivery sites, and referral to licensed dentists for dental care needs. Publications, state practice acts, state public health departments, the American Dental Hygienists' Association, and personal interviews of dental hygiene practitioners were accessed for information and statistical data. Dental hygienists in 36 states can legally provide direct access care. Dental hygienists are providing preventive services in a variety of settings to previously un-served and under-served Americans, with referral to dentists for dental needs. Dental hygienists have provided direct access to care in the United States for decades. The exact number of direct access providers in the United States is unknown. Limited research and anecdotal information demonstrate that direct access care has facilitated alternate entry points into the oral health systems for thousands of previously un-served and underserved Americans. Older adults, persons with special needs, children in schools, pregnant women, minority populations, rural populations, and others have benefited from the availability of many services provided by direct access dental hygienists. Legislatures and private groups are becoming increasingly aware of the impact that direct access has made on the delivery of oral health care. Many factors continue to drive the growth of direct access care. Additional research is needed to accumulate qualitative and quantitative outcome data related to direct access care provided by dental hygienists and other mid level providers of oral health services. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Evaluating the capacity of California's publicly funded universities to provide medication abortion.

PubMed

Raifman, Sarah; Anderson, Patricia; Kaller, Shelly; Tober, Diane; Grossman, Daniel

2018-05-18

To explore capacity of University of California (UC) and California State University (CSU) student health centers (SHCs) to provide medication abortion (MA) and SHC staff perspectives on providing MA. SHC staff completed an online survey; we conducted site visits and conference calls with a subset of SHCs. The survey focused on barriers to abortion, resources needed for MA, and potential benefits and challenges. 11 UCs (100%) and 20 CSUs (87%) completed surveys. All facilities provided basic primary care, including sexual and reproductive health services and some contraceptive services, but not abortion. All sites had adequate staffing and physical plant, but most would require training, access to ultrasound when needed, 24-hour hotlines (CSUs), and back-up care to provide MA. It would be feasible to provide MA at SHCs, but investment is needed to support staff training, equipment, 24-hour hotlines, back-up care, and minimal security upgrades, in order to implement MA services. If SB320 is passed, provision of MA services at student health centers could improve access to early abortion for students in California. This model may be scaled up at other universities around the country. Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Collaborating with community-based services to promote evidence-based practice: Process description of a national initiative to improve services for youth with mental health and substance use problems.

PubMed

Henderson, Joanna L; Chaim, Gloria; Brownlie, E B

2017-08-01

Many youth with significant mental health (MH) and/or substance use (SU) difficulties do not receive specialized services. Collaboration between service providers, researchers, and other stakeholders is essential to improve youth service system capacity to provide evidence-based services to meet the complex array of needs of youth. Facilitators and barriers of implementing evidence-based practice have been identified, but few studies provide examples of the processes of collaboration and implementation for youth MH services. This study explicates the design features and implementation processes of a project to improve screening activities in youth services. These processes supported the building of 16 collaborative networks of service providers from diverse youth-serving sectors (e.g., MH, youth justice, child welfare) in urban, rural, suburban, and remote Canadian communities. These cross-sectoral networks implemented an evidence-based practice (screening youth aged 12-24 years for MH and SU problems using the Global Assessment of Individual Needs-Short Screener [GAIN-SS]) across their services. Materials and resources were provided by a centralized research team. Core project components were standardized and adherence to these components was monitored. Over 800 service providers participated in cross-sectoral networks, capacity-building events, joint data analysis, or interpretation and recommendation sessions. Across the 89 participating agencies, service providers for 84% of participating youth implemented the evidence-based practice accurately in accordance with project protocols, with 98% of positive screens reviewed and addressed according to organizational protocols. Service provider feedback is reported. Facilitators, barriers, and implications of promoting implementation of evidence-based practices across sites and sectors are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved).

Enabling the use of enhanced medical SOPs by an mLearning training solution.

PubMed

Papakonstantinou, Despina; Poulymenopoulou, Mikaela; Malamateniou, Flora; Vassilacopoulos, George

2013-01-01

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) has been introduced as a way to provide direction, improve communication, reduce training time and improve work consistency. In healthcare, SOPs may be considered as a means that can fundamentally change the way healthcare is provided, affecting all types of healthcare stakeholders and improving healthcare decisions and patient safety. Nowadays, providing ehealth services is a necessity, even though some healthcare organizations are reluctant to fully use them. An online mobile training facility embedded within ehealth services may increase the likelihood of their adoption by healthcare professionals, who feel that, when needed, they are provided the necessary support for performing each task, as handheld devices and other mobile technologies are showing increased adoption rates. This paper presents a mobile service that provides training content on SOPs, that can be embedded in a relevant ehealth service and can be accessed by authorized healthcare professionals where and when needed.

Supporting family carers providing end-of-life home care: a qualitative study on the impact of a hospice at home service.

PubMed

Jack, Barbara A; O'Brien, Mary R; Scrutton, Joyce; Baldry, Catherine R; Groves, Karen E

2015-01-01

To explore bereaved family carers' perceptions and experiences of a hospice at home service. The increasing demand for the development of home-based end-of-life services is not confined to the western world; such services are also emerging in resource-poor countries where palliative care services are developing with limited inpatient facilities. Despite this growing trend, studies show a variety of interrelated factors, with an emphasis on the availability of informal carers and their ability to cope, which can influence whether terminally ill patients actually remain at home. A hospice at home service was developed to meet patients' and families' needs by providing individually tailored resources. A qualitative study. Data were collected by semi-structured, digitally recorded interviews from 20 family carers who had experienced the service. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and a thematic approach adopted for analysis. All participants reported a personal positive impact of the service. Family carers commented the service provided a valued presence, they felt in good hands and importantly it helped in supporting normal life. The impact of an individualised, targeted, hospice at home service using dedicated, palliative care trained, staff, is perceived positively by family carers and importantly, supportive of those with additional caring or employment commitments. The emergence of hospice at home services has resulted in more options for patients and their families, when the increased amount of care a family member has to provide in these circumstances needs to be adequately supported, with the provision of a flexible service tailored to individual needs and delivered by appropriately trained staff. © 2014 The Authors. Journal of Clinical Nursing Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Providing effective trauma care: the potential for service provider views to enhance the quality of care (qualitative study nested within a multicentre longitudinal quantitative study).

PubMed

Beckett, Kate; Earthy, Sarah; Sleney, Jude; Barnes, Jo; Kellezi, Blerina; Barker, Marcus; Clarkson, Julie; Coffey, Frank; Elder, Georgina; Kendrick, Denise

2014-07-08

To explore views of service providers caring for injured people on: the extent to which services meet patients' needs and their perspectives on factors contributing to any identified gaps in service provision. Qualitative study nested within a quantitative multicentre longitudinal study assessing longer term impact of unintentional injuries in working age adults. Sampling frame for service providers was based on patient-reported service use in the quantitative study, patient interviews and advice of previously injured lay research advisers. Service providers' views were elicited through semistructured interviews. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Participants were recruited from a range of settings and services in acute hospital trusts in four study centres (Bristol, Leicester, Nottingham and Surrey) and surrounding areas. 40 service providers from a range of disciplines. Service providers described two distinct models of trauma care: an 'ideal' model, informed by professional knowledge of the impact of injury and awareness of best models of care, and a 'real' model based on the realities of National Health Service (NHS) practice. Participants' 'ideal' model was consistent with standards of high-quality effective trauma care and while there were examples of services meeting the ideal model, 'real' care could also be fragmented and inequitable with major gaps in provision. Service provider accounts provide evidence of comprehensive understanding of patients' needs, awareness of best practice, compassion and research but reveal significant organisational and resource barriers limiting implementation of knowledge in practice. Service providers envisage an 'ideal' model of trauma care which is timely, equitable, effective and holistic, but this can differ from the care currently provided. Their experiences provide many suggestions for service improvements to bridge the gap between 'real' and 'ideal' care. Using service provider views to inform service design and delivery could enhance the quality, patient experience and outcomes of care. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.

Respite care services for children with special healthcare needs: Parental perceptions.

PubMed

Whitmore, Kim E; Snethen, Julia

2018-04-26

Parents of children with special healthcare needs may become overwhelmed with the ongoing caregiving needs of their children. Caring for a child with special healthcare needs is often challenging, requiring specialized training in many cases. As a result, parents can struggle to find qualified caregivers capable of providing them a break from the 24/7 care of their child. Respite care programs are designed to provide caregivers with a much-needed temporary break. The purpose of this study was to examine parental perceptions of utilizing a respite care program. Twenty-two parents who had a child with special healthcare needs who attended a Midwestern respite care program completed a Participant Characteristic Form addressing their experiences caring for their child with special healthcare needs and using respite care services. Parents participated in a focus group (N = 4) to explore their perceptions and experiences of respite care participation. Multistage thematic analysis and descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. Themes emerging from the data included: Constant care demands; It is just so stressful; Respite is a gift, we get a break; Respite program "fit"; and Respite is their special time too. Parents emphasized the benefits of respite care for their marital relationship, as well as the benefits to the children with special healthcare needs and their siblings. Parents also described the importance of tailoring respite care to the unique needs of their family. Nurses and other healthcare professionals play a critical role in addressing the unmet respite care needs of parents of children with special healthcare needs by identifying unmet needs and making appropriate referrals to services that will meet the unique needs of the family. Healthcare professionals can also volunteer with existing programs to help expand access to respite care services and increase the availability of adequately trained respite care providers whom parents can trust to provide for the complex healthcare needs of their children. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Planning and Coordination of Collegiate Off-Campus Services in Michigan.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Agor, Weston H.

Existing data indicate that there is a serious gap between the statewide needs and demands of Michigan citizens for off-campus instructional services and the present pattern of services being provided by Michigan colleges and universities. It is also apparent that there is a need for more complete information on existing programs and about the…

An exploration of clinical interventions provided by pharmacists within a complex asthma service.

PubMed

Lemay, Kate S; Saini, Bandana; Bosnic-Anticevich, Sinthia; Smith, Lorraine; Stewart, Kay; Emmerton, Lynne; Burton, Deborah L; Krass, Ines; Armour, Carol L

2015-01-01

Pharmacists in Australia are accessible health care professionals, and their provision of clinical pharmacy interventions in a range of areas has been proven to improve patient outcomes. Individual clinical pharmacy interventions in the area of asthma management have been very successful. An understanding of the nature of these interventions will inform future pharmacy services. What we do not know is when pharmacists provide a complex asthma service, what elements of that service (interventions) they choose to deliver. To explore the scope and frequency of asthma-related clinical interventions provided by pharmacists to patients in an evidence-based complex asthma service. Pharmacists from 4 states/territories of Australia were trained in asthma management. People with asthma had 3 or 4 visits to the pharmacy. Guided by a structured patient file, the pharmacist assessed the patient's asthma and management and provided interventions where and when considered appropriate, based on their clinical decision making skills. The interventions were recorded in a checklist in the patient file. They were then analysed descriptively and thematically. Pharmacists provided 22,909 clinical pharmacy interventions over the service to 570 patients (398 of whom completed the service). The most frequently delivered interventions were in the themes 'Education on asthma', 'Addressing trigger factors', 'Medications - safe and effective use' and 'Explore patient perspectives'. The patients had a high and ongoing need for interventions. Pharmacists selected interventions based on their assessment of perceived need then revisited and reinforced these interventions. Pharmacists identified a number of areas in which patients required interventions to assist with their asthma management. Many of these were perceived to require continuing reinforcement over the duration of the service. Pharmacists were able to use their clinical judgement to assess patients and provide clinical pharmacy interventions across a range of asthma management needs.

Comparison of Iranian National Medical Library with digital libraries of selected countries

PubMed Central

Zare-Farashbandi, Firoozeh; Najafi, Nayere Sadat Soleimanzade; Atashpour, Bahare

2014-01-01

Introduction: The important role of information and communication technologies and their influence on methods of storing, retrieving information in digital libraries, has not only changed the meanings behind classic library activates but has also created great changes in their services. However, it seems that not all digital libraries provide their users with similar services and only some of them are successful in fulfilling their role in digital environment. The Iranian National Medical library is among those that appear to come short compared to other digital libraries around the world. By knowing the different services provided by digital libraries worldwide, one can evaluate the services provided by Iranian National Medical library. The goal of this study is a comparison between Iranian National Medical library and digital libraries of selected countries. Materials and Methods: This is an applied study and uses descriptive – survey method. The statistical population is the digital libraries around the world which were actively providing library services between October and December 2011 and were selected by using the key word “Digital Library” in Google search engine. The data-gathering tool was direct access to the websites of these digital libraries. The statistical study is descriptive and Excel software was used for data analysis and plotting of the charts. Results: The findings showed that among the 33 digital libraries investigated worldwide, most of them provided Browse (87.87%), Search (84.84%), and Electronic information retrieval (57.57%) services. The “Help” in public services (48/48%) and “Interlibrary Loan” in traditional services (27/27%) had the highest frequency. The Iranian National Medical library provides more digital services compared to other libraries but has less classic and public services and has less than half of possible public services. Other than Iranian National Medical library, among the 33 libraries investigated, the leaders in providing different services are Library of University of California in classic services, Count Way Library of Medicine in digital services, and Library of Finland in public services. Results and Discussion: The results of this study show that among the digital libraries investigated, most provided similar public, digital, and classic services and The Iranian National Medical library has been somewhat successful in providing these services compared to other digital libraries. One can also conclude that the difference in services is at least in part due to difference in environments, information needs, and users. Conclusion: Iranian National Medical Library has been somewhat successful in providing library services in digital environment and needs to identify the services which are valuable to its users by identifying the users’ needs and special characteristics of its environment PMID:25540782

Provider Experiences with Prison Care and Aftercare for Women with Co-occurring Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders: Treatment, Resource, and Systems Integration Challenges.

PubMed

Johnson, Jennifer E; Schonbrun, Yael Chatav; Peabody, Marlanea E; Shefner, Ruth T; Fernandes, Karen M; Rosen, Rochelle K; Zlotnick, Caron

2015-10-01

Incarcerated women with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders (COD) face complex psychosocial challenges at community reentry. This study used qualitative methods to evaluate the perspectives of 14 prison and aftercare providers about service delivery challenges and treatment needs of reentering women with COD. Providers viewed the needs of women prisoners with COD as distinct from those of women with substance use alone and from men with COD. Providers described optimal aftercare for women with COD as including contact with the same provider before and after release, access to services within 24-72 hours after release, assistance with managing multiple social service agencies, assistance with relationship issues, and long-term follow-up. Providers also described larger service system and societal issues, including systems integration and ways in which a lack of prison and community aftercare resources impacted quality of care and reentry outcomes. Practice and policy implications are provided.

Provider Experiences with Prison Care and Aftercare for Women with Co-occurring Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders: Treatment, Resource, and Systems Integration Challenges

PubMed Central

Johnson, Jennifer E.; Schonbrun, Yael Chatav; Peabody, Marlanea E.; Shefner, Ruth T.; Fernandes, Karen M.; Rosen, Rochelle K.; Zlotnick, Caron

2014-01-01

Incarcerated women with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders (COD) face complex psychosocial challenges at community reentry. This study used qualitative methods to evaluate the perspectives of 14 prison and aftercare providers about service delivery challenges and treatment needs of reentering women with COD. Providers viewed the needs of women prisoners with COD as distinct from those of women with substance use alone and from men with COD. Providers described optimal aftercare for women with COD as including contact with the same provider before and after release, access to services within 24–72 hours after release, assistance with managing multiple social service agencies, assistance with relationship issues, and long-term follow-up. Providers also described larger service system and societal issues, including systems integration and ways in which a lack of prison and community aftercare resources impacted quality of care and reentry outcomes. Practice and policy implications are provided. PMID:24595815

Mental Health Services for Preschool Children in Primary Care: A Survey of Maternal Attitudes and Beliefs*

PubMed Central

O’Brien, Kelly A.; Carter, Carolyn G.; Eyberg, Sheila M.

2009-01-01

Objective This study examined maternal attitudes and practices that may prevent preschoolers from receiving needed mental health services. Methods Mothers of 110 children ages 3–6 completed a survey of maternal attitudes and practices and the Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory (ECBI). Results Mothers wanted pediatrician assistance with child behavior concerns. Mothers of children with elevated ECBI scores reported most often discussing disruptive behaviors with their pediatrician, and preferred clinician-provided services, whereas mothers of children with normal range ECBI scores most often discussed developmental issues with the pediatrician and preferred parenting help from handouts and books. Mothers reported receiving clinician-provided services almost never. Conclusions Mothers were open to psychosocial services for child behavior problems, particularly via primary care, and ratings of barriers were relatively low despite reporting infrequent service use. Mothers’ responses highlight the need for mental health providers in primary care to ensure accessibility of desired services. PMID:19064608

Water, sanitation and hygiene in Jordan's healthcare facilities.

PubMed

Khader, Yousef Saleh

2017-08-14

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to determine water availability, sanitation and hygiene (WSH) services, and healthcare waste management in Jordan healthcare facilities. Design/methodology/approach In total, 19 hospitals (15 public and four private) were selected. The WSH services were assessed in hospitals using the WSH in health facilities assessment tool developed for this purpose. Findings All hospitals (100 percent) had a safe water source and most (84.2 percent) had functional water sources to provide enough water for users' needs. All hospitals had appropriate and sufficient gender separated toilets in the wards and 84.2 percent had the same in outpatient settings. Overall, 84.2 percent had sufficient and functioning handwashing basins with soap and water, and 79.0 percent had sufficient showers. Healthcare waste management was appropriately practiced in all hospitals. Practical implications Jordan hospital managers achieved major achievements providing access to drinking water and improved sanitation. However, there are still areas that need improvements, such as providing toilets for patients with special needs, establishing handwashing basins with water and soap near toilets, toilet maintenance and providing sufficient trolleys for collecting hazardous waste. Efforts are needed to integrate WSH service policies with existing national policies on environmental health in health facilities, establish national standards and targets for the various healthcare facilities to increase access and improve services. Originality/value There are limited WSH data on healthcare facilities and targets for basic coverage in healthcare facilities are also lacking. A new assessment tool was developed to generate core WSH indicators and to assess WSH services in Jordan's healthcare facilities. This tool can be used by a non-WSH specialist to quickly assess healthcare facility-related WSH services and sanitary hazards in other countries. This tool identified some areas that need improvements.

Providing appropriate services to individuals in the community: a preliminary case-mix for model allocating personal care services.

PubMed

Phillips, Charles D; Dyer, James; Janousek, Vit; Halperin, Lisa; Hawes, Catherine

2008-01-01

Personal care services are often provided to clients in community settings through highly discretionary processes. Such processes provide little guidance for caseworkers concerning how public resources should be allocated. The results of such processes almost guarantee that individuals with very similar needs will receive very different levels of care resources. Such disparities in treatment open the door to inequity and ineffectiveness. One way to address this problem is through case-mix classification systems that allocate hours of care according to client needs. This paper outlines the preliminary steps taken by one state in its movement toward such a system.

The Collection and Analysis of Data on Children with Speech, Language and Communication Needs: The Challenge to Education and Health Services

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lindsay, Geoff

2011-01-01

The Bercow Report (Bercow, 2008) commissioned by the UK government provided a high status impetus to improve services for children and young people with the full range of speech, language and communication needs (SLCN). A research study commissioned to provide evidence to Bercow (2008) identified both limitations and potential benefits regarding…

Access to Breast Prostheses via a Government-Funded Service in Victoria, Australia: Experience of Women and Service Providers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Livingston, Patricia M.; White, Victoria; Roberts, Susan; Pritchard, Emma; Gibbs, Anne; Hill, David J.

2003-01-01

For many women, the only alternative to breast reconstruction following a mastectomy is to use external prostheses, which need replacing regularly at a cost of up to $395 per prosthesis. Commonwealth and state governments across Australia have responded to this need by providing subsidies to assist in the purchase of breast prostheses. However,…

Consumers' and case managers' perceptions of mental health and community support service needs.

PubMed

Crane-Ross, D; Roth, D; Lauber, B G

2000-04-01

Consumers with serious and persistent mental illness (N = 385) and their case managers rated the amount of help needed and the amount of help received with mental health and community support services. Consumers also identified their primary source of help with each type of need. Results highlighted areas of agreement and disagreement between consumers' and case managers' perceptions. Consumers' reports revealed a strong reliance on sources of support outside the mental health system (e.g., family and friends) for many community support service needs, interpersonal needs, and crisis-related needs. In general, correlations between consumers' and case managers' ratings of help needed and help received were low. Consumers perceived the majority of their needs to be unmet; case managers perceived the majority of consumer needs to be overly met. Discussion focuses on the importance of increasing consensus between consumers and case managers regarding needs by including consumers in treatment planning and providing them with more information about available services. It is recommended that researchers and evaluators examine perceptions of help needed, help received, and sources of help when assessing service needs.

A consistent professional brand for pharmacy-the need and a path forward.

PubMed

Speedie, Marilyn K; Anderson, Lowell J

The authors draw on their broad experiences in the profession to put forth their assessment of the critical need for all elements of the pharmacy profession to agree upon its core services, and to deliver those services in all pharmacies. And also the need to promote the value of those services to patients, payers, and other providers. Since the advent of pharmaceutical care, the profession has changed its curricula and its regulations to reflect the value of direct patient care. For many reasons, the practice has not been unified in delivering these services-lack of definition of what constitutes the service, principally. This has led to the "tower of babel" that exists because of the many names given to these patient-care services by various professional organizations, colleges, payers, and government agencies. Lack of inclusion in benefit design with value-based compensation is also recognized as an important barrier for a pharmacist wishing to provide direct patient-care services. The authors believe this issue to be critical for the profession, and appeal to JCPP and its member organizations to provide leadership to the various pharmacy associations and colleges to put immediate energy and resources into the definitions, labels, and branding of pharmacy practice. This leadership is essential if the profession's organizations and colleges are to promote the whole of practice and payment for the entirety of services pharmacists provide. Copyright © 2017 American Pharmacists Association®. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

42 CFR 137.280 - Construction Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... during which planning services are provided. Planning services may include performing a needs assessment... environmental assessment nor an environmental impact statement is required. Any procedures under this section... environmental review activities and justifying the need for the project. SHPO means State Historic Preservation...

42 CFR 137.280 - Construction Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... during which planning services are provided. Planning services may include performing a needs assessment... environmental assessment nor an environmental impact statement is required. Any procedures under this section... environmental review activities and justifying the need for the project. SHPO means State Historic Preservation...

42 CFR 137.280 - Construction Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... during which planning services are provided. Planning services may include performing a needs assessment... environmental assessment nor an environmental impact statement is required. Any procedures under this section... environmental review activities and justifying the need for the project. SHPO means State Historic Preservation...

42 CFR 137.280 - Construction Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... during which planning services are provided. Planning services may include performing a needs assessment... environmental assessment nor an environmental impact statement is required. Any procedures under this section... environmental review activities and justifying the need for the project. SHPO means State Historic Preservation...

42 CFR 137.280 - Construction Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... during which planning services are provided. Planning services may include performing a needs assessment... environmental assessment nor an environmental impact statement is required. Any procedures under this section... environmental review activities and justifying the need for the project. SHPO means State Historic Preservation...

78 FR 33472 - Notice of Funds Availability Inviting Applications for the Rural Veterans Coordination Pilot

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-06-04

... care and other benefit service providers to facilitate referrals for needed services. It is anticipated that the majority of the services will be provided by the grantee through active and direct referrals... for eligible participants; conducting post-referral and post- appointment communications with eligible...

47 CFR 6.1 - Applicability.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... telecommunications carrier; (d) Any provider of interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service, as that... equipment that is specially designed to provide interconnected VoIP service and that is needed for the effective use of an interconnected VoIP service. [64 FR 63251, Nov. 19, 1999, as amended at 72 FR 43558, Aug...

47 CFR 6.1 - Applicability.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... telecommunications carrier; (d) Any provider of interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service, as that... equipment that is specially designed to provide interconnected VoIP service and that is needed for the effective use of an interconnected VoIP service. [64 FR 63251, Nov. 19, 1999, as amended at 72 FR 43558, Aug...

25 CFR 39.120 - How are gifted and talented services provided?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... Section 39.120 Indians BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR EDUCATION THE INDIAN SCHOOL... a variety of programming services to meet the needs of the students; (b) Provide the type and duration of services identified in the Individual Education Plan established for each student; and (c...

Health Occupations Trends and Issues: Issue Paper.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Covelli, Nicholas J.; And Others

A study was conducted to identify the trends occurring within the health service industry and their impact on the providers of health care; determine shifts or emerging occupational areas within health services; and assess local health service providers' staffing patterns and anticipated needs. The study involved meetings with local hospital…

WORKFORCE INVESTMENT ACT: Better Guidance Needed to Address Concerns Over New Requirements

DTIC Science & Technology

2001-10-01

collocated at the one-stop), or providing equipment or shared services (for example, teaching a class, or greeting individuals who enter the one-stop...difficult to provide shared services , such as providing initial intake or serving as a greeter, because an individual— even a disabled one—may not...not provide even permissible shared services , instead generally providing rent as their support of the one-stop’s operations. Veterans’ staff have also

Building flexibility and managing complexity in community mental health: lessons learned in a large urban centre.

PubMed

Stergiopoulos, Vicky; Saab, Dima; Francombe Pridham, Kate; Aery, Anjana; Nakhost, Arash

2018-01-24

Across many jurisdictions, adults with complex mental health and social needs face challenges accessing appropriate supports due to system fragmentation and strict eligibility criteria of existing services. To support this underserviced population, Toronto's local health authority launched two novel community mental health models in 2014, inspired by Flexible Assertive Community Team principles. This study explores service user and provider perspectives on the acceptability of these services, and lessons learned during early implementation. We purposively sampled 49 stakeholders (staff, physicians, service users, health systems stakeholders) and conducted 17 semi-structured qualitative interviews and 5 focus groups between October 23, 2014 and March 2, 2015, exploring stakeholder perspectives on the newly launched team based models, as well as activities and strategies employed to support early implementation. Interviews and focus groups were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim and analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings revealed wide-ranging endorsement for the two team-based models' success in engaging the target population of adults with complex service needs. Implementation strengths included the broad recognition of existing service gaps, the use of interdisciplinary teams and experienced service providers, broad partnerships and collaboration among various service sectors, training and team building activities. Emerging challenges included lack of complementary support services such as suitable housing, organizational contexts reluctant to embrace change and risk associated with complexity, as well as limited service provider and organizational capacity to deliver evidence-based interventions. Findings identified implementation drivers at the practitioner, program, and system levels, specific to the implementation of community mental health interventions for adults with complex health and social needs. These can inform future efforts to address the health and support needs of this vulnerable population.

Perspectives of displaced Syrian women and service providers on fertility behaviour and available services in West Bekaa, Lebanon.

PubMed

Kabakian-Khasholian, Tamar; Mourtada, Rima; Bashour, Hyam; Kak, Faysal El; Zurayk, Huda

2017-10-01

Prior to the conflict, Syria had relatively high fertility rates. In 2010, it had the sixth highest total fertility rate in the Arab World, but it witnessed a fertility decline before the conflict in 2011. Displacement during conflict influences fertility behaviour, and meeting the contraceptive needs of displaced populations is complex. This study explored the perspectives of women and service providers about fertility behaviour of and service provision to Syrian refugee women in Bekaa, Lebanon. We used qualitative methodology to conduct 12 focus group discussions with Syrian refugee women grouped in different age categories and 13 in-depth interviews with care providers from the same region. Our findings indicate that the displacement of Syrians to Lebanon had implications on the fertility behaviour of the participants. Women brought their beliefs about preferred family size and norms about decision-making into an environment where they were exposed to both aid and hardship. The unaffordability of contraceptives in the Lebanese privatised health system compared to their free provision in Syria limited access to family planning services. Efforts are needed to maintain health resources and monitor health needs of the refugee population in order to improve access and use of services.

Medicaid Personal Care Services for Children with Intellectual Disabilities: What Assistance Is Provided? When Is Assistance Provided?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Elliot, Timothy R.; Patnaik, Ashweeta; Naiser, Emily; Fournier, Constance J.; McMaughan, Darcy K.; Dyer, James A.; Phillips, Charles D.

2014-01-01

We report on the nature and timing of services provided to children with an intellectual disability (ID) identified by a new comprehensive assessment and care planning tool used to evaluate children's needs for Medicaid Personal Care Services (PCS) in Texas. The new assessment procedure resulted from a legal settlement with the advocacy community.…

Service mix in the hospital outpatient department: implications for Medicare payment reform.

PubMed Central

Miller, M E; Sulvetta, M B; Englert, E

1995-01-01

OBJECTIVE. To determine if implementation of a PPS for Medicare hospital outpatient department (HOPD) services will have distributional consequences across hospital types and regions, this analysis assesses variation in service mix and the provision of high-technology services in the HOPD. DATA. HCFA's 1990 claims file for a 5 percent random sample of Medicare beneficiaries using the HOPD was merged, by hospital provider number, with various HCFA hospital characteristic files. STUDY DESIGN. Hospital characteristics examined are urban/rural location, teaching status, disproportionate-share status, and bed size. Two analyses of HOPD services are presented: mix of services provided and the provision of high-technology services. The mix of services is measured by the percentage of services in each of 14 type-of-service categories (e.g., medical visits, advanced imaging services, diagnostic testing services). Technology provision is measured by the percentage of hospitals providing selected high-technology services. FINDINGS/CONCLUSIONS. The findings suggest that the role hospital types play in providing HOPD services warrants consideration in establishing a PPS. HOPDs in major teaching hospitals and hospitals serving a disproportionate share of the poor play an important role in providing routine visits. HOPDs in both major and minor teaching hospitals are important providers of high-technology services. Other findings have implications for the structure of an HOPD PPS as well. First, over half of the services provided in the HOPD are laboratory tests and HOPDs may have limited control over these services since they are often for patients referred from local physician offices. Second, service mix and technology provision vary markedly among regions, suggesting the need for a transition to prospective payment. Third, the organization of service supply in a region may affect service provision in the HOPD suggesting that an HOPD PPS needs to be coordinated with payment policies in competing sites of care (e.g., ambulatory surgical centers). PMID:7721585

A survey of attitudes, behaviors, and needs of team dentists.

PubMed

McGovern, Lesley A; Spolarich, Ann Eshenaur; Keim, Robert

2015-01-01

Elite athletes strive to attain superior levels of health and fitness; however, many have high levels of oral disease. Oral screenings detect disease and need for treatment and identify opportunities for preventive interventions. Many dentists volunteer their time with sports organizations, but their scope of practice and needs are unknown. The purposes of this study were to gather baseline data about attitudes, practice behaviors, and needs of team dentists and to assess dental services provided, including the type and frequency of oral screenings conducted on athletes and any associated barriers to those screenings. This descriptive study utilized an original online survey, comprising 37 supplied-response questions, that was pilot tested for face and content validity. All dentist members of the Academy for Sports Dentistry were invited to participate (n = 491), and 150 responded, yielding a 31% response rate. The survey format allowed respondents to skip questions, and some respondents chose not to answer some questions. Quantitative data collected included level of athletes, league affiliation, scope of services provided, and types of oral screening performed. Dentists' attitudes regarding athletes' treatment and preventive needs, practice behaviors, and self-identified needs were assessed. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. Results revealed that 116 of 146 respondents (80%) had a league affiliation. Among 112 dentists who reported providing services to athletes, the most frequently provided services were emergency treatment (96%), mouthguards (96%), restorative treatment (79%), oral hygiene instruction (63%), prophylaxis (61%), periodontal charting (61%), and dental charting (60%). Most team dentists (80%; n = 90/112) performed oral screenings for the athletes. Among 87 respondents who performed screenings and reported the type of screening they provided, 36 (41%) screened all athletes prior to the season and then provided individualized follow-up examinations as needed. The most commonly cited barrier to screenings was lack of awareness of the importance of oral health. Additional education for athletes, coaches, owners, schools, and leagues is needed to increase the value placed on oral health.

Quality of care in contraceptive services provided to young people in two Ugandan districts: a simulated client study.

PubMed

Nalwadda, Gorrette; Tumwesigye, Nazarius M; Faxelid, Elisabeth; Byamugisha, Josaphat; Mirembe, Florence

2011-01-01

Low and inconsistent use of contraceptives by young people contributes to unintended pregnancies. This study assessed quality of contraceptive services for young people aged 15-24 in two rural districts in Uganda. Five female and two male simulated clients (SCs) interacted with 128 providers at public, private not-for-profit (PNFP), and private for profit (PFP) health facilities. After consultations, SCs were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Six aspects of quality of care (client's needs, choice of contraceptive methods, information given to users, client-provider interpersonal relations, constellation of services, and continuity mechanisms) were assessed. Descriptive statistics and factor analysis were performed. Means and categorized quality scores for all aspects of quality were low in both public and private facilities. The lowest quality scores were observed in PFP, and medium scores in PNFP facilities. The choice of contraceptive methods and interpersonal relations quality scores were slightly higher in public facilities. Needs assessment scores were highest in PNFP facilities. All facilities were classified as having low scores for appropriate constellation of services. Information given to users was suboptimal and providers promoted specific contraceptive methods. Minority of providers offered preferred method of choice and showed respect for privacy. The quality of contraceptive services provided to young people was low. Concurrent quality improvements and strengthening of health systems are needed.

Quality of Care in Contraceptive Services Provided to Young People in Two Ugandan Districts: A Simulated Client Study

PubMed Central

Nalwadda, Gorrette; Tumwesigye, Nazarius M.; Faxelid, Elisabeth; Byamugisha, Josaphat; Mirembe, Florence

2011-01-01

Background Low and inconsistent use of contraceptives by young people contributes to unintended pregnancies. This study assessed quality of contraceptive services for young people aged 15–24 in two rural districts in Uganda. Methods Five female and two male simulated clients (SCs) interacted with 128 providers at public, private not-for-profit (PNFP), and private for profit (PFP) health facilities. After consultations, SCs were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Six aspects of quality of care (client's needs, choice of contraceptive methods, information given to users, client-provider interpersonal relations, constellation of services, and continuity mechanisms) were assessed. Descriptive statistics and factor analysis were performed. Results Means and categorized quality scores for all aspects of quality were low in both public and private facilities. The lowest quality scores were observed in PFP, and medium scores in PNFP facilities. The choice of contraceptive methods and interpersonal relations quality scores were slightly higher in public facilities. Needs assessment scores were highest in PNFP facilities. All facilities were classified as having low scores for appropriate constellation of services. Information given to users was suboptimal and providers promoted specific contraceptive methods. Minority of providers offered preferred method of choice and showed respect for privacy. Conclusions The quality of contraceptive services provided to young people was low. Concurrent quality improvements and strengthening of health systems are needed. PMID:22132168

The ICF-CY and Goal Attainment Scaling: benefits of their combined use for pediatric practice.

PubMed

McDougall, Janette; Wright, Virginia

2009-01-01

There is much heterogeneity and disconnect in the approaches used by service providers to conduct needs assessments, set goals and evaluate outcomes for clients receiving pediatric rehabilitation services. The purpose of this article is to describe how the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health-Child and Youth (ICF-CY) can be used in combination with Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS), an individualised measure of change, to connect the various phases of the therapeutic process to provide consistent clinical care that is family-centred, collaborative, well directed and accountable. A brief description of both the ICF-CY and GAS as they pertain to pediatric rehabilitation is provided as background. An explanation is given of how the ICF-CY offers a framework through which clients, families and service providers can together identify the areas of clients' needs. In addition, the article discusses how the use of GAS facilitates translation of clients' identified needs into distinct, measurable goals set collaboratively by clients, their families and service providers. Examples of integrated GAS goals set for the various components of the ICF-CY are provided. The utility of GAS as a measure of clinical outcomes for individual clients is also discussed. Used in combination, the ICF-CY and GAS can serve to coordinate, simplify and standardise assessment and outcome evaluation practices for individual clients receiving pediatric rehabilitation services.

IoT-Based User-Driven Service Modeling Environment for a Smart Space Management System

PubMed Central

Choi, Hoan-Suk; Rhee, Woo-Seop

2014-01-01

The existing Internet environment has been extended to the Internet of Things (IoT) as an emerging new paradigm. The IoT connects various physical entities. These entities have communication capability and deploy the observed information to various service areas such as building management, energy-saving systems, surveillance services, and smart homes. These services are designed and developed by professional service providers. Moreover, users' needs have become more complicated and personalized with the spread of user-participation services such as social media and blogging. Therefore, some active users want to create their own services to satisfy their needs, but the existing IoT service-creation environment is difficult for the non-technical user because it requires a programming capability to create a service. To solve this problem, we propose the IoT-based user-driven service modeling environment to provide an easy way to create IoT services. Also, the proposed environment deploys the defined service to another user. Through the personalization and customization of the defined service, the value and dissemination of the service is increased. This environment also provides the ontology-based context-information processing that produces and describes the context information for the IoT-based user-driven service. PMID:25420153

IoT-based user-driven service modeling environment for a smart space management system.

PubMed

Choi, Hoan-Suk; Rhee, Woo-Seop

2014-11-20

The existing Internet environment has been extended to the Internet of Things (IoT) as an emerging new paradigm. The IoT connects various physical entities. These entities have communication capability and deploy the observed information to various service areas such as building management, energy-saving systems, surveillance services, and smart homes. These services are designed and developed by professional service providers. Moreover, users' needs have become more complicated and personalized with the spread of user-participation services such as social media and blogging. Therefore, some active users want to create their own services to satisfy their needs, but the existing IoT service-creation environment is difficult for the non-technical user because it requires a programming capability to create a service. To solve this problem, we propose the IoT-based user-driven service modeling environment to provide an easy way to create IoT services. Also, the proposed environment deploys the defined service to another user. Through the personalization and customization of the defined service, the value and dissemination of the service is increased. This environment also provides the ontology-based context-information processing that produces and describes the context information for the IoT-based user-driven service.

Small Aerostationary Telecommunications Orbiter Concept for Mars in the 2020s

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lock, Robert E.; Edwards, Charles D., Jr.; Nicholas, Austin; Woolley, Ryan; Bell, David J.

2016-01-01

Current Mars science orbiters carry UHF proximity payloads to provide limited access and data services to landers and rovers on Mars surface. In the era of human spaceflight to Mars, very high rate and reliable relay services will be needed to serve a large number of supporting vehicles, habitats, and orbiters, as well as astronaut EVAs. These will likely be provided by a robust network of orbiting assets in very high orbits, such as areostationary orbits. In the decade leading to that era, telecommunications orbits can be operated at areostationary orbit that can support a significant population of robotic precursor missions and build the network capabilities needed for the human spaceflight era. Telecommunications orbiters of modest size and cost, delivered by Solar Electric Propulsion to areostationary orbit, can provide continuous access at very high data rates to users on the surface and in Mars orbit.In the era of human spaceflight to Mars very high rate andreliable relay services will be needed to serve a largenumber of supporting vehicles, habitats, and orbiters, aswell as astronaut EVAs. These could be provided by arobust network of orbiting assets in very high orbits. In thedecade leading to that era, telecommunications orbiterscould be operated at areostationary orbit that could support asignificant population of robotic precursor missions andbuild the network capabilities needed for the humanspaceflight era. These orbiters could demonstrate thecapabilities and services needed for the future but withoutthe high bandwidth and high reliability requirements neededfor human spaceflight.Telecommunications orbiters of modest size and cost,delivered by Solar Electric Propulsion to areostationaryorbit, could provide continuous access at very high datarates to users on the surface and in Mars orbit. Twoexamples highlighting the wide variety of orbiter deliveryand configuration options were shown that could providehigh-performance service to users.

The ACT Mental Health Service for People with Intellectual Disability, 10 years on.

PubMed

Wurth, Peter; Brandon, Shirley-Anne

2014-02-01

Our aim is to describe the establishment and first 10 years' experience of a specialist team for providing psychiatric services to individuals with intellectual disability. This service is unique in Australia in providing a comprehensive mental health assessment and treatment service to this population in a defined catchment area. It can serve as a model for service development in this area of unmet need.

How to Save on Typewriter Service.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wolfe, Claude

1981-01-01

The two best reasons for purchasing a typewriter service contract are to obtain insurance against major breakdowns and service when needed. However, not every machine should be on a service contract. Guidelines are provided for deciding. (Author/MLF)

NAN--a national voice for community-based services to persons with AIDS.

PubMed Central

Kawata, P A; Andriote, J M

1988-01-01

Because of the variety of needs engendered by AIDS, a broadbased response to the epidemic is warranted. The traditional medical model, with its emphasis on inpatient hospital care, is expensive and fails to address other needs of people with AIDS (PWAs). This paper outlines an alternative model: the community-based response, or continuum-of-care model. It builds on earlier community models of an integrated network of service providers who can better meet a range of needs of PWAs outside the hospital. Although the model may include a designated hospital AIDS unit that supplies inpatient services, the continuum-of-care model incorporates other nonacute and psychosocial services offered through community-based providers, and these services rely to a large extent on volunteers. Nationwide, more than 400 community-based AIDS service organizations have been formed in response to the growing AIDS epidemic, or have evolved from existing organizations. The National AIDS Network (NAN) was formed in 1985 by five such organizations to represent at the national level the vision of community-based AIDS care. As the nexus for a national community-based response, NAN acts as a conduit for service providers to share experience as well as a clearinghouse for information and programs. PMID:3131822

Agent-based user-adaptive service provision in ubiquitous systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saddiki, H.; Harroud, H.; Karmouch, A.

2012-11-01

With the increasing availability of smartphones, tablets and other computing devices, technology consumers have grown accustomed to performing all of their computing tasks anytime, anywhere and on any device. There is a greater need to support ubiquitous connectivity and accommodate users by providing software as network-accessible services. In this paper, we propose a MAS-based approach to adaptive service composition and provision that automates the selection and execution of a suitable composition plan for a given service. With agents capable of autonomous and intelligent behavior, the composition plan is selected in a dynamic negotiation driven by a utility-based decision-making mechanism; and the composite service is built by a coalition of agents each providing a component necessary to the target service. The same service can be built in variations for catering to dynamic user contexts and further personalizing the user experience. Also multiple services can be grouped to satisfy new user needs.

Measurement framework for product service system performance of generator set distributors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sofianti, Tanika D.

2017-11-01

Selling Generator Set (Genset) in B2B market, distributors assisted manufacturers to sell products. This is caused by the limited resources owned by the manufacturer for adding service elements. These service elements are needed to enhance the competitiveness of the generator sets. Some genset distributors often sell products together with supports to their customers. Industrial distributor develops services to meet the needs of the customer. Generator set distributors support machines and equipment produced by manufacturer. The services delivered by the distributors could enhance value obtained by the customers from the equipment. Services provided to customers in bidding process, ordering process of the equipment from the manufacturer, equipment delivery, installations, and the after sales stage. This paper promotes framework to measure Product Service System (PSS) of Generator Set distributors in delivering their products and services for the customers. The methodology of conducting this research is by adopting the perspective of the providers and customers and by taking into account the tangible and intangible products. This research leads to the idea of improvement of current Product Service System of a Genset distributor. This research needs further studies in more detailed measures and the implementation of measurement tools.

Unmet needs for healthcare and social support services in patients with Huntington's disease: a cross-sectional population-based study.

PubMed

van Walsem, Marleen R; Howe, Emilie I; Iversen, Kristin; Frich, Jan C; Andelic, Nada

2015-09-28

In order to plan and improve provision of comprehensive care in Huntington's disease (HD), it is critical to understand the gaps in healthcare and social support services provided to HD patients. Research has described utilization of healthcare services in HD in Europe, however, studies systematically examining needs for healthcare services and social support are lacking. This study aims to identify the level and type of met and unmet needs for health and social care services among patients with HD, and explore associated clinical and socio-demographic factors. Eighty-six patients with a clinical diagnosis of HD living in the South-Eastern region of Norway were recruited. Socio-demographic and clinical characteristics were collected. The Needs and Provision Complexity Scale (NPCS) was used to assess the patients' needs for healthcare and social services. Functional ability and disease stage was assessed using the UHDRS Functional assessment scales. In order to investigate factors determining the level of total unmet needs and the level of unmet needs for Health and personal care and Social care and support services, multivariate logistic regression models were used. A high level of unmet needs for health and personal care and social support services were found across all five disease stages, but most marked in disease stage III. The middle phase (disease stage III) and advanced phase (disease stages IV and V) of HD increased odds of having a high level of total unmet needs by 3.5 times and 1.4 times respectively, compared with the early phase (disease stages I and II). Similar results were found for level of unmet needs in the domain Health and personal care. Higher education tended to decrease odds of high level of unmet needs in this domain (OR = 0.48) and increase odds of higher level of unmet needs in the domain of Social care and support (OR = 1.3). Patients reporting needs on their own tended to decrease odds of having unmet needs in Health and personal care (OR = 0.57). Needs for healthcare and social services in patients with HD should be assessed in a systematic manner, in order to provide adequate comprehensive care during the course of disease.

Foster and Adoptive Parent Perspectives on Needs and Services: a Mixed Methods Study.

PubMed

Barnett, Erin R; Jankowski, Mary K; Butcher, Rebecca L; Meister, Catherine; Parton, Rebecca R; Drake, Robert E

2018-01-01

Caring for children with complex needs severely stresses foster and adoptive parents, but few studies have examined their perspectives on needs and services. To examine parental views, the authors analyzed four focus groups (n = 27 participants) and one state-wide survey (n = 512 respondents, 42% of 1206 contacted) of foster and adoptive parents in one state. Results highlighted inadequate communication between providers and families, cultural and legal barriers, needs for parent training and preparation, the importance of several types of parent supports, and needs for specialized mental health treatment for the children. Surveyed parents identified children's behavior problems as their top challenge, and over half rated the availability of mental health providers who treat attachment and family as insufficient. The findings suggest specific areas in which state leaders could enhance training and supports for child welfare staff and foster and adoptive parents and improve mental health services for children in foster and adoptive care.

Providing Educationally Related Mental Health Services in California Schools: The Roles of School Psychologists

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sosa-Estrella, Olga

2017-01-01

Although there is a great need for school-based mental health services (SBMH), these needs are not adequately met in California's public schools. To meet these needs better, evidence-based methods have been used, including multi-tiered systems of support, training and workforce development, cultural competence, and family and youth engagement and…

Developing Multidisciplinary Teams to Assess Family Needs and Envision Services.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Arms, Karen G.

This paper describes a graduate seminar designed to provide a multidisciplinary student group with the experience of using a team approach for assessing group family needs, conceptualizing a services and self-support model for meeting those needs, and articulating the model in a grant proposal. A summary of course goals and student requirements is…

"That's Where the Rubber Meets the Road": The Intersection of Special Education and Dual Language Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kangas, Sara E. N.

2017-01-01

Background: English language learners (ELLs) with special needs remain an underresearched student population. Although providing services to these students proves to be a daunting task, bilingual schools are uniquely poised to meet the educational needs of ELLs with special needs. Yet, research has not explored service provision practices in…

78 FR 17223 - Notice of Submission of Proposed Information Collection to OMB: Annual Progress Report (APR) for...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-03-20

... homeless clients and service needs at the local level. HUD also uses this information to provide... information assists HUD in understanding homeless clients and service needs at the local level. HUD also uses...

Veterans' Mental Health in Higher Education Settings: Services and Clinician Education Needs.

PubMed

Niv, Noosha; Bennett, Lauren

2017-06-01

Utilization of the GI Bill and attendance at higher education institutions among student veterans have significantly increased since passage of the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Campus counseling centers should be prepared to meet the mental health needs of student veterans. This study identified the mental health resources and services that colleges provide student veterans and the education needs of clinical staff on how to serve student veterans. Directors of mental health services from 80 California colleges completed a semistructured phone interview. Few schools track the number, demographic characteristics, or presenting needs of student veterans who utilize campus mental health services or offer priority access or special mental health services for veterans. Directors wanted centers to receive education for an average of 5.8 veteran-related mental health topics and preferred workshops and lectures to handouts and online training. Significant training needs exist among clinical staff of campus mental health services to meet the needs of student veterans.

Caregiver involvement in behavioural health services in the context of child welfare service referrals: a qualitative study.

PubMed

Jolles, Mónica Pérez; Flick, Jodon Anne Jodi; Wells, Rebecca; Chuang, Emmeline

2017-05-01

Human service agencies serve a growing number of adults with behavioral health needs. Despite these agencies' key role in identifying need and facilitating services, many individuals do not receive care or end services prematurely. Few studies have explored the experiences of families referred to behavioral health services by such agencies or the extent to which families' perceptions of service need align with those of treatment providers and frontline workers. This study presents findings from a qualitative study of caregivers involved with child welfare agencies who were referred to behavioral health services. Researchers reviewed agencies' case records and conducted in-depth interviews with 16 caregivers, 9 child welfare caseworkers, and 12 behavioral health treatment counselors. Findings suggest that when deciding to engage in services, caregivers weigh not only their individual and family behavioral health needs but also potential agency intervention, including loss of child custody. Many professionals reported that involvement with a child welfare agency hindered the caregiver's disclosure of behavioral health care needs. Implications for managers and practitioners are discussed.

Caregiver involvement in behavioural health services in the context of child welfare service referrals: a qualitative study

PubMed Central

Jolles, Mónica Pérez; Flick, Jodon Anne (Jodi); Wells, Rebecca; Chuang, Emmeline

2016-01-01

Human service agencies serve a growing number of adults with behavioral health needs. Despite these agencies’ key role in identifying need and facilitating services, many individuals do not receive care or end services prematurely. Few studies have explored the experiences of families referred to behavioral health services by such agencies or the extent to which families’ perceptions of service need align with those of treatment providers and frontline workers. This study presents findings from a qualitative study of caregivers involved with child welfare agencies who were referred to behavioral health services. Researchers reviewed agencies’ case records and conducted in-depth interviews with 16 caregivers, 9 child welfare caseworkers, and 12 behavioral health treatment counselors. Findings suggest that when deciding to engage in services, caregivers weigh not only their individual and family behavioral health needs but also potential agency intervention, including loss of child custody. Many professionals reported that involvement with a child welfare agency hindered the caregiver's disclosure of behavioral health care needs. Implications for managers and practitioners are discussed. PMID:28706461

Outlook for grid service technologies within the @neurIST eHealth environment.

PubMed

Arbona, A; Benkner, S; Fingberg, J; Frangi, A F; Hofmann, M; Hose, D R; Lonsdale, G; Ruefenacht, D; Viceconti, M

2006-01-01

The aim of the @neurIST project is to create an IT infrastructure for the management of all processes linked to research, diagnosis and treatment development for complex and multi-factorial diseases. The IT infrastructure will be developed for one such disease, cerebral aneurysm and subarachnoid haemorrhage, but its core technologies will be transferable to meet the needs of other medical areas. Since the IT infrastructure for @neurIST will need to encompass data repositories, computational analysis services and information systems handling multi-scale, multi-modal information at distributed sites, the natural basis for the IT infrastructure is a Grid Service middleware. The project will adopt a service-oriented architecture because it aims to provide a system addressing the needs of medical researchers, clinicians and health care specialists (and their IT providers/systems) and medical supplier/consulting industries.

Providing dental care for the patient with autism.

PubMed

Waldman, H Barry; Perlman, Steven P; Wong, Allen

2008-09-01

The increasing number of children and adults with autism spectrum disorders highlights the need to provide a full range of services, including dental care. A review of the autism spectrum, the magnitude of the problem, and approaches to providing services by dental practitioners are presented.

An evaluation of a palliative care outreach programme for children with Burkitt lymphoma in rural Cameroon.

PubMed

Tamannai, Mona; Kaah, Joel; Mbah, Glenn; Ndimba, Joseph; D'Souza, Catherine; Wharin, Paul; Hesseling, Peter B

2015-07-01

Palliative care (PC) is the most appropriate treatment for patients with life-limiting, incurable diseases, but it is a relatively new concept in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). A lack of curative treatment options for some conditions creates a great need for PC, but such services are rarely provided in SSA. More research into PC in SSA is urgently needed to create an evidence base to confirm the importance of appropriate PC services. To gain a better understanding of the needs of patients and their families visited by a children's PC nurse in Cameroon and to identify aspects of the service that can be improved. A qualitative study design with semi-structured interviews was used. Tape-recorded interviews were transcribed and thematically analysed. Twelve interviews were conducted with patients, carers and nurses. Financial aid, general disease improvement and prayers were the directly expressed needs of service recipients. Specialist training in children's PC was the main need expressed by the nurses. Open communication about clinical status and treatment failure, more detailed counselling, more distraction for patients and respite for carers were identified as underlying needs. It is possible to provide an effective children's PC service that meets the most urgent needs of recipients in a rural setting in SSA. Recommendations include improved counselling, specialist education for staff, expansion of local support networks and more frequent home visits. More studies are needed to help define the need for PC in children with life-limiting diseases.

Unmet home healthcare needs and quality of life in cancer patients: a hospital-based Turkish sample.

PubMed

Ataman, Gülsen; Erbaydar, Tugrul

2017-07-01

Home healthcare services in Turkey are provided primarily to patients that are bedridden or seriously disabled. There are no such services integrated with hospital services that are specifically designed for cancer patients. The present study aimed to explore the home healthcare needs of cancer patients and their experiences related to unmet home healthcare needs. The study included 394 adult cancer patients who were followed up at the surgical oncology department of a university hospital. A 37-item, study-specific questionnaire and the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire for cancer patients (EORTC-QLQ-C30) were administered, and patient clinical records were evaluated. Home healthcare was provided primarily by the patients' immediate family members; the professional home healthcare usage rate was only 2.8%. Patient quality of life (QoL) was negatively affected by cancer, especially those with stage three and four disease. The frequency of the need for home healthcare services due to disease-related health problems during the 30 days prior to administration of the questionnaires was as follows: pain (62.9%), surgical wound care (44.9%), injection of therapeutics (52.3%), gastrointestinal complaints (51.8%), anxiety (87.1%), psychosocial assistance (77.2%) and information about cancer (94.4%). In the absence of home healthcare services, the patients primarily used institutional healthcare services to meet their needs; otherwise, their needs were not met. The physical and psychosocial problems that cancer patients experience could be solved in most cases by professional home healthcare services. Hospital-integrated home healthcare services might not only improve cancer patient QoL but might also increase the effectiveness of hospital-based healthcare services. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Mental Health Services in Local Jails: Report of a Special National Workshop. Crime and Delinquency Issues: A Monograph Series.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dunn, Christopher S., Ed.; Steadman, Henry J., Ed.

This document presents papers prepared for the 1978 Special National Workshop on Mental Health Services in Local Jails. The articles provide information on several topics: (1) the nature and extent of mental health needs in local jails; (2) assessment and intervention approaches for addressing these needs; (3) mental health service delivery…

Perceived Case Management Needs and Service Preferences of Frequent Emergency Department Users: Lessons Learned in a Large Urban Centre.

PubMed

Kahan, Deborah; Poremski, Daniel; Wise-Harris, Deborah; Pauly, Daniel; Leszcz, Molyn; Wasylenki, Donald; Stergiopoulos, Vicky

2016-01-01

This study aimed to explore the service needs and preferences of frequent emergency department users with mental health and addictions concerns who participated in a brief intensive case management intervention. We conducted semi-structured individual interviews with 20 frequent emergency department users with mental health and addictions challenges, 13 service providers involved in the delivery of a brief case management intervention, and a focus group with intervention case managers. Thematic analysis was used to explore perceived service user profiles, service needs and preferences of care. Service users experienced complex health and social needs and social isolation, while exhibiting resilience and the desire to contribute. They described multiple instances of stigmatization in interactions with healthcare professionals. Components of the brief intensive case management intervention perceived to be helpful included system navigation, advocacy, intermediation, and practical needs assistance. Frequent service users valued relational responsiveness, a non-judgmental stance, and a recovery orientation in case managers. Interventions for frequent service users in mental health may be enhanced by focusing on the engagement of formal and informal social supports, practical needs assistance, system navigation, advocacy and intermediation, and attention to the recovery goals of service users.

Family planning providers' perspectives on family planning service delivery in Ibadan and Kaduna, Nigeria: a qualitative study.

PubMed

Hebert, Luciana Estelle; Schwandt, Hilary Megan; Boulay, Marc; Skinner, Joanna

2013-01-01

In Nigeria, fertility continues to be high and contraceptive prevalence remains low. This study was conducted in order to understand the perceptions of, experiences with and challenges of delivering family planning services in two urban areas of Nigeria from the perspectives of family planning service providers. A qualitative study using 59 in-depth interviews was conducted among family planning providers working in hospitals, primary health centres, clinics, pharmacies and patent medicine vendors in Ibadan and Kaduna, Nigeria. Providers support a mix of individuals and organisations involved in family planning provision, including the government of Nigeria. The Nigerian government's role can take a variety of forms, including providing promotional materials for family planning facilities as well as facilitating training and educational opportunities for providers, since many providers lack basic training in family planning provision. Providers often describe their motivation to provide in terms of the health benefits offered by family planning methods. Few providers engage in any marketing of their services and many providers exclude youth and unmarried individuals from their services. The family planning provider community supports a diverse network of providers, but needs further training and support in order to improve the quality of care and market their services. Adolescents, unmarried individuals and women seeking post-abortion care are vulnerable populations that providers need to be better educated about and trained in how to serve. The perspectives of providers should be considered when designing family planning interventions in urban areas of Nigeria.

Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Literacy Project Phase I. Final Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Comsis Corp., Silver Spring, MD.

An assessment of the information needs of providers of literacy services examined whether these needs could be met through an electronic information and communications system (EICS). The needs assessment was sent to 300 literacy providers; 134 responded. Responses indicated that literacy providers would benefit from a central, easily accessible…

Evaluation of an academic service-learning course on special needs patients for dental hygiene students: a qualitative study.

PubMed

Keselyak, Nancy T; Simmer-Beck, Melanie; Bray, Kimberly Krust; Gadbury-Amyot, Cynthia C

2007-03-01

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of a service-learning course on special needs patients for dental hygiene students by considering student reflections, community site coordinators' feedback, and faculty reflections in a qualitative analysis. Twenty-three female dental hygiene students beginning their fourth semester in the program provided preventive oral health services at eight community sites serving six diverse groups of people having special health care needs. Students reflected on the experience via commentaries written in self-reflection journals. The investigators applied the constant comparative method to analyze and unitize the data, ultimately reaching consensus on three category topics: awareness, higher order thinking, and professionalism. End of course project assessments provided additional data that was used to triangulate with data from the reflective journals. Telephone interviews with the site coordinators and personal interviews with the course faculty provided data from multiple perspectives. The outcomes of this study suggest that service-learning pedagogy can facilitate a deeper understanding of the subject matter and provide an opportunity for students to use critical thinking strategies in addition to becoming aware of complex social and professional issues related to the oral health care of individuals with special needs.

IMMUNISATION TRAINING NEEDS IN MALAWI.

PubMed

Tsega, A Y; Hausi, H T; Steinglass, R; Chirwa, G Z

2014-09-01

The Malawi Ministry of Health (MOH) and its immunisation partners conducted a training needs assessment in May 2013 to assess the current status of immunisation training programmemes in health training institutions, to identify unmet training needs, and to recommend possible solutions for training of health workers on a regular basis. A cross-sectional, descriptive study. Health training institutions in Malawi, a developing country that does not regularly update its curricula to include new vaccines and management tools, nor train healthcare workers on a regular basis. Researchers interviewed Malawi's central immunisation manager, three zonal immunisation officers, six district officers, 12 health facility immunisation coordinators, and eight principals of training institutions. All health training institutions in Malawi include immunisation in their preservice training curricula. However, the curriculum is not regularly updated; thus, the graduates are not well equipped to provide quality services. In addition, the duration of the training curriculum is inadequate, and in-service training sessions for managers and service providers are conducted only on an ad hoc basis. All levels of Malawi's health system have not met sufficient training needs for providing immunisations, and the health training institutions teach their students with outdated materials. It is recommended that the training institutions update their training curricula regularly and the service providers are trained on a regular basis.

Agent-Based Framework for Personalized Service Provisioning in Converged IP Networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Podobnik, Vedran; Matijasevic, Maja; Lovrek, Ignac; Skorin-Kapov, Lea; Desic, Sasa

In a global multi-service and multi-provider market, the Internet Service Providers will increasingly need to differentiate in the service quality they offer and base their operation on new, consumer-centric business models. In this paper, we propose an agent-based framework for the Business-to-Consumer (B2C) electronic market, comprising the Consumer Agents, Broker Agents and Content Agents, which enable Internet consumers to select a content provider in an automated manner. We also discuss how to dynamically allocate network resources to provide end-to-end Quality of Service (QoS) for a given consumer and content provider.

Commissioning specialist diabetes services for adults with diabetes: summary of a Diabetes UK Task and Finish group report.

PubMed

Goenka, N; Turner, B; Vora, J

2011-12-01

The increasing prevalence of diabetes, the drive to develop community services for diabetes and the Quality and Outcomes Framework for diabetes have led to improvements in the management of diabetes in primary care settings, with services traditionally provided only in specialist care now provided for many patients with diabetes by non-specialists. Consequently, there is a need to redefine roles, responsibilities and components of a specialist diabetes service to provide for the needs of patients in the National Health Service (NHS) today. The delivery of diabetes care is complex and touches on almost every aspect of the health service. It is the responsibility of those working within commissioning and specialist provider roles to work together with people with diabetes to develop, organize and deliver a full range of integrated diabetes care services. The local delivery model agreed within the local diabetes network, comprising specialist teams, primary care teams, commissioners and people with diabetes, should determine how the diabetes specialist services are organizsed. It should identify the roles and responsibilities of provider organizations to ensure that the right person provides the right care, at the right time, and in the right place. We summarize a report entitled 'Commissioning Diabetes Specialist Services for Adults with Diabetes', which has been produced, as a 'Task and Finish' group activity within Diabetes UK, to assist managers, commissioners and healthcare professionals to provide advice on the structure, roles and components of specialist diabetes services for adults. © 2011 The Authors. Diabetic Medicine © 2011 Diabetes UK.

Provision of Patient-Centered Transgender Care.

PubMed

Selix, Nancy W; Rowniak, Stefan

2016-11-01

Transgender individuals have unique health care needs and experience health disparities. There is an increased need for transgender health care services and primary care for this underserved population. However, provision of appropriate health care services for transgender persons requires cultural competency and skill on the part of the health care provider, and providers need specific skills to address the needs of this population. A review of the literature was performed by accessing CINAHL, PsycINFO, and PubMed databases. Pertinent research was extracted and reviewed for relevance. References in these publications were reviewed to identify additional publications that address primary prevention, secondary prevention, and tertiary care of transgender individuals. Articles that include prevention, screening, and treatment of health problems of transgender persons were identified. Research on the health needs of the transgender population is limited. Whenever available, research findings that address this unique population should be incorporated into clinical practice. When research evidence is not available to address the unique needs of transgender individuals, research and clinical care guidelines from the general population may be applied for health screening and maintenance. This article provides information about primary care services for transgender individuals and seeks to improve awareness of the health disparities this underserved population experiences. Simple solutions to modify clinical settings to enhance care are provided. © 2016 by the American College of Nurse-Midwives.

SUCCESS Program Planning/Evaluation Report for 1992-93. Focus on Program Evaluation.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sallade, Ronald; Erickson, Cynthia L.

To address the needs of at-risk children, Project SUCCESS of the Des Moines (Iowa) public schools provides employment, health, mental health, and social services in a comprehensive one-stop shopping manner at public schools. Coordinated services are provided through direct provision of services, case management, and referral as appropriate. The…

School Counselors' Attitudes towards Providing Services to Students Receiving Section 504 Classroom Accommodations: Implications for School Counselor Educators

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Romano, Dawn M.; Paradise, Louis V.; Green, Eric J.

2009-01-01

Questions have arisen regarding counselor's capabilities in assisting students with special needs (Milsom & Akos, 2003; Studer & Quigney, 2005). This study examined school counselors' training and attitudes toward providing services to students with learning disabilities who qualified for services only under Section 504 of the…

A Consumer Education Self-Help Manual for Displaced Homemaker Service Providers.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Williams, Herma; Thompson, Patricia

This manual is designed to allow service providers at displaced homemaker centers to update and refresh their knowledge and information of consumer concepts and to initiate and implement some consumer education services designed to meet the needs of displaced homemakers. Material is divided into five parts. Part 1 focuses on financial management…

K-3 Support: Blending Teaching, Counseling, and Social Services.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Derrington, Mary Lynne; Mendonsa, Cathie

1992-01-01

To meet student needs, the Port Angeles School District (Washington) K-3 Support Program has certified staff that serve as a blend of social service providers, counselors, and teachers. They provide in-class lessons, staff consultation, direct student services, and parenting classes. Appended is a list of eight additional resources. (MLF)

Oregon School-Based Health Centers 1996-1997 Services Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Alexander, Tammis; Nystrom, Robert J.; Spitz, Lauren

School based health centers (SBHC) are effective providers of health services and education because they are easy for students to access, they take an integrated and developmentally appropriate approach to meeting health needs, and they are prevention-oriented. This report describes the 1996-1997 services provided in 15 of 19 state-supported…

Canadian Practice Guidelines for Comprehensive Community Treatment for Schizophrenia and Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders.

PubMed

Addington, Donald; Anderson, Elizabeth; Kelly, Martina; Lesage, Alain; Summerville, Chris

2017-09-01

The objective of this review is to identify the features and components of a comprehensive system of services for people living with schizophrenia. A comprehensive system was conceived as one that served the full range of people with schizophrenia and was designed with consideration of the incidence and prevalence of schizophrenia. The system should provide access to the full range of evidence-based services, should be recovery oriented, and should provide patient-centred care. A systematic search was conducted for published guidelines for schizophrenia and schizophrenia spectrum disorders. The guidelines were rated by at least 2 raters, and recommendations adopted were primarily drawn from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (2014) Guideline on Psychosis and Schizophrenia in adults and the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network guidelines on management of schizophrenia. The recommendations adapted for Canada cover the range of services required to provide comprehensive services. Comprehensive services for people with schizophrenia can be organized and delivered to improve the quality of life of people with schizophrenia and their carers. The services need to be organized in a system that provides access to those who need them.

Equity of access to reproductive health services among youths in resource-limited suburban communities of Mandalay City, Myanmar

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background Inequity of accessibility to and utilization of reproductive health (RH) services among youths is a global concern, especially in resource-limited areas. The level of inequity also varies by cultural and socio-economic contexts. To tailor RH services to the needs of youths, relevant solutions are required. This study aimed to assess baseline information on access to and utilization of RH services and unmet needs among youths living in resource-limited, suburban communities of Mandalay City, Myanmar. Methods A community-based, cross-sectional study was conducted in all resource-limited, suburban communities of Mandalay City, Myanmar. A total of 444 randomly selected youths aged between 15 and 24 years were interviewed for three main outcomes, namely accessibility to and utilization of RH services and youth's unmet needs for these services. Factors associated with these outcomes were determined using multivariate logistic regression. Results Although geographical accessibility was high (79.3%), financial accessibility was low (19.1%) resulting in a low overall accessibility (34.5%) to RH services. Two-thirds of youths used some kind of RH services at least once in the past. Levels of unmet needs for sexual RH information, family planning, maternal care and HIV testing were 62.6%, 31.9%, 38.7% and 56.2%, respectively. Youths living in the south or south-western suburbs, having a deceased parent, never being married or never exposed to mass media were less likely to access RH services. Being a young adult, current student, working as a waste recycler, having ever experienced a sexual relationship, ever being married, ever exposed to mass media, having a high knowledge of RH services and providers or a high level of accessibility to RH services significantly increased the likelihood of utilization of those services. In addition to youths’ socio-demographic characteristics, exposure to mass media, norm of peer exposure and knowledge on types of providers and services significantly influenced the unmet needs of youths towards RH services. Conclusion Despite the availability of RH services, youth’s accessibility to and utilization of those services were unsatisfactory. The levels of youths’ unmet RH needs were alarmingly high. PMID:23241510

Multi-Sided Markets for Transforming Healthcare Service Delivery.

PubMed

Kuziemsky, Craig; Vimarlund, Vivian

2018-01-01

Changes in healthcare delivery needs have necessitated the design of new models for connecting providers and consumers of services. While healthcare delivery has traditionally been a push market, multi-sided markets offer the potential for transitioning to a pull market for service delivery. However, there is a need to better understand the business model for multi-sided markets as a first step to using them in healthcare. This paper addressed that need and describes a multi-sided market evaluation framework. Our framework identifies patient, governance and service delivery as three levels of brokerage consideration for evaluating multi-sided markets in healthcare.

42 CFR 438.6 - Contract requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

..., disability, ongoing health care needs, or catastrophic claims, using risk adjustment, risk sharing, or other... or need for health care services, discriminate against individuals eligible to enroll. (4) The MCO... for health care services. (5) Provide that enrollees have the right to disenroll from their PCCM in...

42 CFR 438.6 - Contract requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

..., disability, ongoing health care needs, or catastrophic claims, using risk adjustment, risk sharing, or other... or need for health care services, discriminate against individuals eligible to enroll. (4) The MCO... for health care services. (5) Provide that enrollees have the right to disenroll from their PCCM in...

Meet your senior's online needs to compete in Medicare marketplace.

PubMed

1997-12-01

As more seniors turn to the Internet for health care information and services, is your organization prepared to meet their needs? Kaiser Permanente is reaching the cyber-senior market on the World Wide Web with interactive online services, including discussion groups with providers.

DOD Inventory of Contracted Services: Timely Decisions and Further Actions Needed to Address Long Standing Issues

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-10-01

which contractors were providing services that are closely associated with inherently governmental functions, a key review objective to help ensure...or dinapolit@gao.gov. Why GAO Did This Study DOD is the government’s largest purchaser of contractor -provided services. In 2008, Congress...required DOD to compile and review an annual inventory of its contracted services to identify the number of contractors performing services and the

The Significance of Privacy and Trust in Providing Health-Related Services to Behaviorally Bisexual Men in the United States

PubMed Central

Dodge, Brian; Schnarrs, Phillip W.; Goncalves, Gabriel; Malebranche, David; Martinez, Omar; Reece, Michael; Rhodes, Scott D.; Van Der Pol, Barbara; Nix, Ryan; Fortenberry, J. Dennis

2012-01-01

Previous research suggests that bisexual men face unique health concerns in comparison to their exclusively homosexual and heterosexual counterparts. However, little is known about behaviorally bisexual men’s experiences with health services, including ways of providing services that would be most appropriate to meet the health needs of this population. This study sought to understand preferences for health-related services among behaviorally bisexual men in the Midwestern United States. Using a community-based research approach, a diverse sample of 75 behaviorally bisexual men was recruited for in-depth interviews. Qualitative data were analyzed utilizing inductive coding through established team-based protocols to ensure reliability. Themes emerged involving the importance of privacy and trust when reaching, recruiting, and engaging behaviorally bisexual men in health services. Findings suggest that multifaceted approaches are needed, including those that provide relevant and confidential services while allowing for the development and ongoing maintenance of trust. PMID:22676463

Delivery of health services to migrant and seasonal farmworkers.

PubMed

Arcury, Thomas A; Quandt, Sara A

2007-01-01

Farmworkers are low-paid, uninsured employees in an extremely hazardous industry, and they provide an essential service for U.S. society. This review evaluates the delivery of health services to farmworkers. It describes the farmworker population in the United States, noting characteristics (e.g., migratory and immigration status) that limit their access to and utilization of health services. It describes the health services needs of this population, including occupational health, mental health, oral health, and chronic disease treatment. Cultural, structural, legal, financial, and geographic barriers to health services utilization are described. Existing research on health services utilization among farmworkers is discussed. Programs that have been developed to address the barriers to health services utilization among farmworkers are reviewed. Finally, research needed to improve knowledge of farmworker health services utilization is suggested. These research needs include formal evaluations of existing programs and basic research to characterize the health services utilization patterns of farmworkers.

Implementation of a SOA-Based Service Deployment Platform with Portal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Chao-Tung; Yu, Shih-Chi; Lai, Chung-Che; Liu, Jung-Chun; Chu, William C.

In this paper we propose a Service Oriented Architecture to provide a flexible and serviceable environment. SOA comes up with commercial requirements; it integrates many techniques over ten years to find the solution in different platforms, programming languages and users. SOA provides the connection with a protocol between service providers and service users. After this, the performance and the reliability problems are reviewed. Finally we apply SOA into our Grid and Hadoop platform. Service acts as an interface in front of the Resource Broker in the Grid, and the Resource Broker is middleware that provides functions for developers. The Hadoop has a file replication feature to ensure file reliability. Services provided on the Grid and Hadoop are centralized. We design a portal, in which users can use services on it directly or register service through the service provider. The portal also offers a service workflow function so that users can customize services according to the need of their jobs.

Population Health and Tailored Medical Care in the Home: the Roles of Home-Based Primary Care and Home-Based Palliative Care.

PubMed

Ritchie, Christine S; Leff, Bruce

2018-03-01

With the growth of value-based care, payers and health systems have begun to appreciate the need to provide enhanced services to homebound adults. Recent studies have shown that home-based medical services for this high-cost, high-need population reduce costs and improve outcomes. Home-based medical care services have two flavors that are related to historical context and specialty background-home-based primary care (HBPC) and home-based palliative care (HBPalC). Although the type of services provided by HBPC and HBPalC (together termed "home-based medical care") overlap, HBPC tends to encompass longitudinal and preventive care, while HBPalC often provides services for shorter durations focused more on distress management and goals of care clarification. Given workforce constraints and growing demand, both HBPC and HBPalC will benefit from working together within a population health framework-where HBPC provides care to all patients who have trouble accessing traditional office practices and where HBPalC offers adjunctive care to patients with high symptom burden and those who need assistance with goals clarification. Policy changes that support provision of medical care in the home, population health strategies that tailor home-based medical care to the specific needs of the patients and their caregivers, and educational initiatives to assure basic palliative care competence for all home-based medical providers will improve access and reduce illness burden to this important and underrecognized population. Copyright © 2017 American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Mastering the broadband challenge: next-generation SONET in a packet world

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Farhi, Eyal

2001-10-01

The continuing liberalization of the world's telecommunications markets and the progressive convergence of voice, data, video and Internet communication are prompting telecommunication service providers to both expand and enhance their service capabilities. As bandwidth-hungry applications proliferate, and the demand for data and data services grows, the requirement for broadband communications appears to be insatiable. To provide the expected level of service in this environment of rapidly increasing demand, telcos and service providers must invest in an expanded network. However, to remain competitive and profitable, they must also continue to leverage their existing infrastructure investment. This paper will examine the current challenges network operators are facing today with the deployment of broadband technologies as they strive to maintain existing infrastructure investments while providing new services to their customers and developing added value network operations. This paper will explore various broadband technologies (optical/wireless) that operate on the primary SDH/SONET standards, their topologies and inherent benefits, which provide operators with solutions to the broadband challenge. New customer demands, such as high-speed Data transmissions (increased Internet use), coupled with operators' continuous need for network optimization, have thrown a wrench into daily operations. Therefore, the need to modernize existing networks has become paramount.

Seagrass ecosystem services - What's next?

PubMed

Nordlund, Lina Mtwana; Jackson, Emma L; Nakaoka, Masahiro; Samper-Villarreal, Jimena; Beca-Carretero, Pedro; Creed, Joel C

2017-09-20

Seagrasses, marine flowering plants, provide a wide range of ecosystem services, defined here as natural processes and components that directly or indirectly benefit human needs. Recent research has shown that there are still many gaps in our comprehension of seagrass ecosystem service provision. Furthermore, there seems to be little public knowledge of seagrasses in general and the benefits they provide. This begs the questions: how do we move forward with the information we have? What other information do we need and what actions do we need to take in order to improve the situation and appreciation for seagrass? Based on the outcomes from an international expert knowledge eliciting workshop, three key areas to advance seagrass ecosystem service research were identified: 1) Variability of ecosystem services within seagrass meadows and among different meadows; 2) Seagrass ecosystem services in relation to, and their connection with, other coastal habitats; and 3) Improvement in the communication of seagrass ecosystem services to the public. Here we present ways forward to advance seagrass ecosystem service research in order to raise the profile of seagrass globally, as a means to establish more effective conservation and restoration of these important coastal habitats around the world. Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Transforming School Mental Health Services: Population-Based Approaches to Promoting the Competency and Wellness of Children

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Doll, Elizabeth J., Ed.; Cummings, Jack A., Ed.

2007-01-01

This book provides a "roadmap" for designing and implementing school psychological services for all students in a school. School psychologists will find guidelines for conducting a mental health needs assessment of the entire student body; analyzing patterns and trends to identify risk factors and common needs; and using the needs assessment to…

42 CFR 415.120 - Conditions for payment: Radiology services.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... individual beneficiary, such as interpretation of x-ray plates, angiograms, myelograms, pyelograms, or..., administrative or supervisory services) or for provider services needed to produce the x-ray films or other items...

Enhancing success in transition service coordinators: use of transformational leadership.

PubMed

Rearick, Ellen

2007-01-01

The lifespan of children with special healthcare needs has been extended because of improved technology and medical advances. Successful transition to the adult arena of healthcare, social services, and education by adolescents with special healthcare needs (ASHCN) is lacking. The transition service coordinator (TSC) is a multifaceted role of advanced practice nursing that provides highly specialized transition services to adolescents with special healthcare needs. The use of key concepts from the transformational leadership theory may improve healthcare outcomes. This article applies to pediatric and adult primary care and case management services that serve adolescents with special healthcare needs. Employing key concepts of transformational leadership theory will enhance the success of the TSC to improve both collaboration among stakeholders in the transitional team and young adults' transition to the world of adult services. Enhanced communication resulting in improved sharing of information, understanding of the stakeholder roles, and provision of formal linkages between pediatric and adult medical providers is a significant outcome affecting the ASHCN. Improved collaboration will produce a smooth transition for the ASHCN to the world of adult social services education, and employment. Incorporating the transformational leadership dimensions of idealized influence, inspirational motivation intellectual stimulation, and individualized consideration will enhance the ability of the TSC to improve collaboration among stakeholders in the transitional team and the quality of services for the ASHCN.

Assessing family planning service-delivery skills in Kenya.

PubMed

Valadez, J J; Transgrud, R; Mbugua, M; Smith, T

1997-06-01

This report demonstrates the use of Lot Quality Assurance Sampling (LQAS) to evaluate the technical competence of two cohorts of family planning service providers in Kenya trained with a new curriculum. One cohort had just finished training within two months of the study. The other cohort was the first group trained with the new curriculum about one year before the study. LQAS was adapted from industrial and other public health applications to assess both the individual competence of 30 service providers and the competence of each cohort. Results show that Cohorts One and Two did not differ markedly in the number of tasks needing improvement. However, both cohorts exhibited more tasks needing improvement in counseling skills as compared with physical examination skills or with all other skills. Care-givers who were not currently providing services accounted for most service-delivery problems. This result suggests that providers' use of their skills explains their ability to retain service-delivery skills learned in training to a greater degree than does the amount of time elapsed since they were trained. LQAS proved to be a rapid, easy-to-use empirical method for management decisionmaking for improvement of a family planning training curriculum and services.

Building community resilience through mental health infrastructure and training in post-Katrina New Orleans.

PubMed

Springgate, Benjamin F; Wennerstrom, Ashley; Meyers, Diana; Allen, Charles E; Vannoy, Steven D; Bentham, Wayne; Wells, Kenneth B

2011-01-01

To describe a disaster recovery model focused on developing mental health services and capacity-building within a disparities-focused, community-academic participatory partnership framework. Community-based participatory, partnered training and services delivery intervention in a post-disaster setting. Post-Katrina Greater New Orleans community. More than 400 community providers from more than 70 health and social services agencies participated in the trainings. Partnered development of a training and services delivery program involving physicians, therapists, community health workers, and other clinical and non-clinical personnel to improve access and quality of care for mental health services in a post-disaster setting. Services delivery (outreach, education, screening, referral, direct treatment); training delivery; satisfaction and feedback related to training; partnered development of training products. Clinical services in the form of outreach, education, screening, referral and treatment were provided in excess of 110,000 service units. More than 400 trainees participated in training, and provided feedback that led to evolution of training curricula and training products, to meet evolving community needs over time. Participant satisfaction with training generally scored very highly. This paper describes a participatory, health-focused model of community recovery that began with addressing emerging, unmet mental health needs using a disparities-conscious partnership framework as one of the principle mechanisms for intervention. Population mental health needs were addressed by investment in infrastructure and services capacity among small and medium sized non-profit organizations working in disaster-impacted, low resource settings.

Portage in the UK: recent developments.

PubMed

Russell, F

2007-11-01

Portage provides home-based, early intervention and support to families who have a young child with additional needs. Working in the context of the Every Child Matters agenda, the National Portage Association (NPA) aims to develop inclusive, high-quality provision. This paper reviews their recent work, presents a summary of the findings of a national survey of Portage and discusses their implications. All Portage services known to the NPA and local authorities in England were asked to complete a questionnaire and forward another to families using early years' services to evaluate the support they receive. The survey identified the extent and gaps in Portage provision and the level of unmet need. Families who contributed said they valued Portage because it helped their child and provided support for the whole family. DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS: The survey identified 31 local authorities in England, where Portage is not available. Geographical gaps were most notable in the North East and West Midlands regions. Despite a small increase in the extent of Portage provision, it is estimated that services only meet the needs of a small proportion of families that are eligible. Current work may help overcome geographical gaps through supporting the development of high-quality Portage services but, in endeavouring to meet the needs of families waiting for Portage, it is important not to diminish the quality of support already provided. Portage aims to provide flexible support for families to respond to their individual needs. Evaluating its effectiveness is problematic because of its complex nature but this survey provided an opportunity for families to share their views at a national level. Continued development work can help Portage provision become more accessible and one of the options routinely available to families who have a young child with additional needs.

Ecosystem Services: Benefits Supplied to Human Societies by Natural Ecosystems

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

The module provides a link to an article that is part of a series of articles in Issues in Ecology. This article discusses the many services an ecosystem provides in order to sustain and fulfill human needs.

Teleradiology: a case study of the economic and legal considerations in international trade in telemedicine.

PubMed

McLean, Thomas R; Richards, Edward P

2006-01-01

Growth in the global market for telemedical services is being driven by economics. Two operational models are already recognizable. "Nighthawk" providers are virtually indistinguishable from their domestic counterparts with respect to medical malpractice liability and price for service. Indian providers, in contrast, offer deep price discounts on services, but jurisdictional loopholes are likely to allow these providers a method to avoid medical malpractice liability. Hospitals that outsource their radiology services need to be aware of these differences, because hiring Indian telemedical providers will likely result in a shift of medical malpractice liability from providers to hospitals.

AGING & HEALTH Expectations About Future Use Of Long-Term Services And Supports Vary By CurrentLiving Arrangement

PubMed Central

Henning-Smith, Carrie; Shippee, Tetyana

2014-01-01

Most Americans know little about options for long-term services and supports and underestimate their likely future needs for such assistance. Using data from the 2012 National Health Interview Survey, we examined expectations about future use of long-term services and supports among adults ages 40–65 and how these expectations varied by current living arrangement. We found differences by living arrangement in expectations about both future need for long-term services and supports and who would provide such care if needed. Respondents living with minor children were the least likely to expect to need long-term services and supports and to require paid care if the need arose. In contrast, respondents living alone were the most likely to expect that it was “very likely” that they would need long-term services and supports and to rely on paid care. Overall, we found a disconnect between expectations of use and likely future reality: 60 percent of respondents believed that they were unlikely to need long-term services and supports in the future, whereas the evidence suggests that nearly 70 percent of older adults will need them at some point. These findings both underscore the need for programs that encourage people to plan for long-term services and supports and indicate that information about living arrangements can be useful in developing and targeting such programs. PMID:25561642

Meeting Their Needs: Provision of Services to the Severely Emotionally Disturbed and Autistic. Conference Proceedings (Memphis, Tennessee, April 27-28, 1983).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Memphis State Univ., TN. Coll. of Education.

The document contains the proceedings of a 1983 Tennessee conference on "Provision of Services to the Severely and Emotionally Disturbed and Austistic." Areas covered were identified as priority needs by Tennessee educators and emphasize the practical rather than the theoretical aspects of providing services. After the text of the keynote speech,…

Clinical Needs and Outcomes of Adults with Intellectual Disabilities Accessing an Inpatient Assessment and Treatment Service and the Implication for Development of Community Services

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sandhu, Daljit; Tomlins, Rose

2017-01-01

The role and future of assessment and treatment units for people with intellectual disabilities is once again the focus of debate and government policy. Reviewing the admissions to inpatient services can provide useful information about the characteristics, needs and clinical outcomes of clients. Data were collected retrospectively for all 36…

The need for a dedicated public service helicopter design

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Morrison, R.

1984-01-01

The need to provide the necessary funding to research, design and contract the building of an advanced technology rotorcraft that will meet the mission demands of public service (fire, police, paramedics and rescue) operators is discussed. Noise and cost factors, the greatest objections on the part of many police and public adminstrators are addressed. The growth of helicopter utilization in public service is documented.

REGIONAL COORDINATION OF NOAA/NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CLIMATE SERVICES IN THE WEST (Invited)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bair, A.

2009-12-01

The climate services program is an important component in the National Weather Service’s (NWS) mission, and is one of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) top five priorities. The Western Region NWS started building a regional and local climate services program in late 2001, with input from local NWS offices and key partners. The original goals of the Western Region climate services program were to strive to provide climate services that were useful, easily accessible, well understood, coordinated and supported by partners, and reflect customer needs. While the program has evolved, and lessons have been learned, these goals are still guiding the program. Regional and local level Climate Services are a fundamental part of NOAA/NWS’s current and future role in providing climate services. There is an ever growing demand for climate information and services to aid the public in decision-making and no single entity alone can provide the range of information and services needed. Coordination and building strong partnerships at the local and regional levels is the key to providing optimal climate services. Over the past 8 years, Western Region NWS has embarked on numerous coordination efforts to build the regional and local climate services programs, such as: collaboration (both internally and externally to NOAA) meetings and projects, internal staff training, surveys, and outreach efforts. In order to gain regional and local buy-in from the NWS staff, multiple committees were utilized to plan and develop goals and structure for the program. While the regional and local climate services program in the NWS Western Region has had many successes, there have been several important lessons learned from efforts that have not been as successful. These lessons, along with past experience, close coordination with partners, and the need to constantly improve/change the program as the climate changes, form the basis for future program development and goals.

Tracking health care service use and the experiences of adults with autism spectrum disorder without intellectual disability: A longitudinal study of service rates, barriers and satisfaction.

PubMed

Vogan, Vanessa; Lake, Johanna K; Tint, Ami; Weiss, Jonathan A; Lunsky, Yona

2017-04-01

Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) encounter many difficulties finding and accessing health care services. Despite this, few studies have considered the health service use patterns of adults with ASD without intellectual disability (ID). The current study examines a diverse range of medical and mental health services and supports, as well as adults' personal experiences accessing and using these services, barriers to service use, and reported unmet service needs. Forty adults (ages 18-61 years) with ASD without ID completed surveys every two months about their health service use for a total of 12-18 months. Bivariate analyses were conducted to understand the individual demographic and clinical factors associated with rate of service use, satisfaction with services, and barriers to health care. Results indicated that, beyond a family doctor, the most commonly used services were dentistry, individual counseling, and psychiatry. Individuals who had medical problems experienced significantly more barriers to service use than those who did not, and those who had medical and mental health problems were less satisfied with services. Findings highlight the challenges adults with ASD without ID face accessing appropriate, quality services to meet their needs, particularly those with complex medical and mental health issues. Service providers must strive to provide adequate health care to this population who may become distressed if their needs are left unmet. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Post-Adoption Services: Needs of the Family

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Anderson, Denise

2005-01-01

This study, conducted in an agency providing post-adoption services, describes the demographic characteristics of parents and children in post-adoptive families and assesses the differences in perceptions between mothers and fathers, as well as other characteristics of families who adopt children with special needs. (Contains 3 tables.)

Information services and information processing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1975-01-01

Attempts made to design and extend space system capabilities are reported. Special attention was given to establishing user needs for information or services which might be provided by space systems. Data given do not attempt to detail scientific, technical, or economic bases for the needs expressed by the users.

Bridging the gap between the science and service of HIV prevention: transferring effective research-based HIV prevention interventions to community AIDS service providers.

PubMed Central

Kelly, J A; Somlai, A M; DiFranceisco, W J; Otto-Salaj, L L; McAuliffe, T L; Hackl, K L; Heckman, T G; Holtgrave, D R; Rompa, D

2000-01-01

OBJECTIVES: AIDS service organizations (ASOs) rarely have access to the information needed to implement research-based HIV prevention interventions for their clients. We compared the effectiveness of 3 dissemination strategies for transferring HIV prevention models from the research arena to community providers of HIV prevention services. METHODS: Interviews were conducted with the directors of 74 ASOs to assess current HIV prevention services. ASOs were randomized to programs that provided (1) technical assistance manuals describing how to implement research-based HIV prevention interventions, (2) manuals plus a staff training workshop on how to conduct the implementation, or (3) manuals, the training workshop, and follow-up telephone consultation calls. Follow-up interviews determined whether the intervention model had been adopted. RESULTS: The dissemination package that provided ASOs with implementation manuals, staff training workshops, and follow-up consultation resulted in more frequent adoption and use of the research-based HIV prevention intervention for gay men, women, and other client populations. CONCLUSIONS: Strategies are needed to quickly transfer research-based HIV prevention methods to community providers of HIV prevention services. Active collaboration between researchers and service agencies results in more successful program adoption than distribution of implementation packages alone. PMID:10897186

Community-partnered evaluation of depression services for clients of community-based agencies in under-resourced communities in Los Angeles.

PubMed

Miranda, Jeanne; Ong, Michael K; Jones, Loretta; Chung, Bowen; Dixon, Elizabeth L; Tang, Lingqi; Gilmore, Jim; Sherbourne, Cathy; Ngo, Victoria K; Stockdale, Susan; Ramos, Esmeralda; Belin, Thomas R; Wells, Kenneth B

2013-10-01

As medical homes are developing under health reform, little is known regarding depression services need and use by diverse safety-net populations in under-resourced communities. For chronic conditions like depression, primary care services may face new opportunities to partner with diverse community service providers, such as those in social service and substance abuse centers, to support a collaborative care model of treating depression. To understand the distribution of need and current burden of services for depression in under-resourced, diverse communities in Los Angeles. Baseline phase of a participatory trial to improve depression services with data from client screening and follow-up surveys. Of 4,440 clients screened from 93 programs (primary care, mental health, substance abuse, homeless, social and other community services) in 50 agencies, 1,322 were depressed according to an eight-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-8) and gave contact information; 1,246 enrolled and 981 completed surveys. Ninety-three programs, including 17 primary care/public health, 18 mental health, 20 substance abuse, ten homeless services, and 28 social/other community services, participated. Comparisons by setting in 6-month retrospective recall of depression services use. Depression prevalence ranged from 51.9 % in mental health to 17.2 % in social-community programs. Depressed clients used two settings on average to receive depression services; 82 % used any setting. More clients preferred counseling over medication for depression treatment. Need for depression care was high, and a broad range of agencies provide depression care. Although most participants had contact with primary care, most depression services occurred outside of primary care settings, emphasizing the need to coordinate and support the quality of community-based services across diverse community settings.

Modeling the Association Between Home Care Service Use and Entry Into Residential Aged Care: A Cohort Study Using Routinely Collected Data.

PubMed

Jorgensen, Mikaela; Siette, Joyce; Georgiou, Andrew; Warland, Andrew; Westbrook, Johanna

2018-02-01

To examine home care service-related and person-based factors associated with time to entry into permanent residential aged care. Longitudinal cohort study using routinely collected client management data. A large aged care service provider in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, Australia. A total of 1116 people aged 60 years and older who commenced home care services for higher-level needs between July 1, 2015 and June 30, 2016. Survival analysis methods were used to examine service-related and person-based factors that were associated with time between first home care service and entry into permanent residential aged care. Predictors included service hours per week, combination of service types, demographics, needs, hospital leave, and change in care level. Cluster analysis was used to determine patterns of types of services used. By December 31, 2016, 21.1% of people using home care services had entered into permanent residential care (n = 235). After adjusting for significant factors such as age and care needs, each hour of service received per week was associated with a 6% lower risk of entry into residential care (hazard ratio = 0.94, 95% confidence interval 0.90-0.98). People who were predominant users of social support services, those with an identified carer, and those born in a non-main English-speaking country also remained in their own homes for longer. Greater volume of home care services was associated with significantly delayed entry into permanent residential care. This study provides much-needed evidence about service outcomes that could be used to inform older adults' care choices. Crown Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Manual for Special Education Nurses.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schnetter, Vicki A., Ed.

This manual aims (1) to provide a standard, well-referenced resource for Iowa special education nurses and (2) to provide direction and continuity for health services to pupils with special needs. The first chapter provides an overview of the special education nurse's role, including philosophy, definitions of assignments, levels of service, and…

Computing and information services at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory - A management approach to a diversity of needs

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Felberg, F. H.

1984-01-01

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a research and development organization with about 5,000 employees, presents a complicated set of requirements for an institutional system of computing and informational services. The approach taken by JPL in meeting this challenge is one of controlled flexibility. A central communications network is provided, together with selected computing facilities for common use. At the same time, staff members are given considerable discretion in choosing the mini- and microcomputers that they believe will best serve their needs. Consultation services, computer education, and other support functions are also provided.

The primary health care service experiences and needs of homeless youth: a narrative synthesis of current evidence.

PubMed

Dawson, Angela; Jackson, Debra

2013-04-01

Homeless youth are a growing, vulnerable population with specific primary health care (PHC) requirements. There are no systematic reviews of evidence to guide the delivery of PHC interventions to best address the needs of homeless youth in Australia. We present a narrative synthesis of peer reviewed research designed to determine: (1) the PHC services homeless youth access; (2) experiences of services, reported outcomes and barriers to use; and, (3) the PHC service needs of homeless youth. Findings show that homeless youth access a variety of services and delivery approaches. Increased PHC use is associated with youth who recognise they need help. Street-based clinic linked services and therapy and case management alongside improved housing can positively impact upon mental health and substance use outcomes. Barriers to service use include knowledge; provider attitudes, financial constraints and inappropriate environments. Findings support targetted, co-ordinated networks of PHC and housing services with nurses working alongside community workers.

Market policy as an innovative element of marketing in the Romanian healthcare services - an approach focused on the patient.

PubMed

Coculescu, B I; Coculescu, E C; Radu, A; Petrescu, L; Purcărea, V L

2015-01-01

The orientation towards one of the marketing policies with a major impact in organizations providing healthcare services, requires a careful analysis of the needs and aspirations of customers, targeting those patients whose needs the service organization can achieve through the existing resources at the respective health facility, finding the most effective way of achieving benefits associated with reduced costs to maximizing profits, placing the offers for medical services required by the patients on the market, as well as promptly reacting and acting to the changes of health services market which is constantly evolving through a flexible organizing and functioning structure, connected to the financial needs of the patients.

Access to hospital interpreter services for limited English proficient patients in New Jersey: a statewide evaluation.

PubMed

Flores, Glenn; Torres, Sylvia; Holmes, Linda Janet; Salas-Lopez, Debbie; Youdelman, Mara K; Tomany-Korman, Sandra C

2008-05-01

We surveyed New Jersey (NJ) hospitals to assess current language services and identify policy recommendations on meeting limited English proficiency (LEP) patients' needs. Survey with 37 questions regarding hospital/patient features, interpreter services, and resources/policies needed to provide quality interpreter services. Sixty-seven hospitals responded (55% response rate). Most NJ hospitals have no interpreter services department, 80% provide no staff training on working with interpreters, 31% lack multilingual signs, and 19% offer no written translation services. Only 3% of hospitals have full-time interpreters, a ratio of 1 interpreter:240,748 LEP NJ residents. Most hospitals stated third-party reimbursement for interpreters would be beneficial, by reducing costs, adding interpreters, meeting population growth, and improving communication. Most NJ hospitals have no full-time interpreters, interpreter services department, or staff training on working with interpreters, and deficiencies exist in hospital signage and translation services. Most NJ hospitals stated third-party reimbursement for interpreter services would be beneficial.

The development of a framework for high-quality, sustainable and accessible rural private therapy under the Australian National Disability Insurance Scheme.

PubMed

Dew, Angela; Barton, Rebecca; Ragen, Jo; Bulkeley, Kim; Iljadica, Alexandra; Chedid, Rebecca; Brentnall, Jennie; Bundy, Anita; Lincoln, Michelle; Gallego, Gisselle; Veitch, Craig

2016-12-01

The Australian National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) will provide people with individual funding with which to purchase services such as therapy from private providers. This study developed a framework to support rural private therapists to meet the anticipated increase in demand. The study consisted of three stages utilizing focus groups, interviews and an online expert panel. Participants included private therapists delivering services in rural New South Wales (n = 28), disability service users (n = 9) and key representatives from a range of relevant consumer and service organizations (n = 16). We conducted a thematic analysis of focus groups and interview data and developed a draft framework which was subsequently refined based on feedback from stakeholders. The framework highlights the need for a 'rural-proofed' policy context in which service users, therapists and communities engage collaboratively in a therapy pathway. This collaborative engagement is supported by enablers, including networks, resources and processes which are influenced by the drivers of time, cost, opportunity and motivation. The framework identifies factors that will facilitate delivery of high-quality, sustainable, individualized private therapy services for people with a disability in rural Australia under the NDIS and emphasizes the need to reconceptualize the nature of private therapy service delivery. Implications for Rehabilitation Rural private therapists need upskilling to work with individuals with disability who have individual funding such as that provided by the Australian National Disability Insurance Scheme. Therapists working in rural communities need to consider alternative ways of delivering therapy to individuals with disability beyond the traditional one-on-one therapy models. Rural private therapists need support to work collaboratively with individuals with disability and the local community. Rural private therapists should harness locally available and broader networks, resources and processes to meet the needs and goals of individuals with disability.

Applying operations management in client-oriented and cost-efficient provision of care, welfare and housing services

PubMed Central

de Blok, Carolien; Meijboom, Bert; Luijkx, Katrien; Schols, Jos

2008-01-01

Purpose In all Western countries, ageing populations cause the demand for elderly care services to increase dramatically. In addition, elderly clients are getting more demanding about the services they require to fulfil their widely varying and multiple needs. Besides, cost reductions have been the focus of governmental policies and organisational practices for many years. Health care providers increasingly see operations management as a promising approach to align both client-orientation and cost-efficiency in their day-to-day practices. Theory The paper starts from operations management literature on front office—back office design and modular production. Organisations have several options for deciding which activities need to be performed by FO, BO, or the client himself, and in deciding which employees need to perform these activities. By applying modular production, organisations can differentiate care and related services to a high degree without major cost increases. Method A literature review will be presented leading to a theoretical framework. This formed the basis for explorative case studies in the elderly care sector. Results and conclusions It will be argued how insights provided with the framework may enhance a client-orientation in integrated care delivery without major cost increases. Although case studies need to be interpreted with caution, interesting implications for organisational structures and inter-organisational cooperation can be seen. We will discuss how combined supply of care services can be made transparent to enhance choice options in service products, and what is required at the level of professionals for providing care and service packages based on client demand.

Function, health and psychosocial needs in job-seekers with anxiety, mood, and psychotic disorders who access disability employment services.

PubMed

Matthews, Lynda R; Harris, Lynne M; Jaworski, Alison; Alam, Ashraful; Bozdag, Gokcen

2014-01-01

Labour force participation of people with mental disorders varies according to the nature of their disorder. Research that compares function and psychosocial need in job-seekers with different mental disorders, however, is scant especially in the Australian setting. Identifying rehabilitation needs of job-seekers with mental disorders receiving employment services is of interest to providers of disability employment services in Australia. This study sought to identify differences in health, social needs and function in people with anxiety, mood, or psychotic disorders accessing disability employment services to inform disability service providers of vocational rehabilitation interventions. 106 adult job-seekers with anxiety (29%), mood (51%), and psychotic (20%) disorders receiving job placement services from a disability employment service provider consented to participate in this study. Self-report measures and the Executive Interview (EXIT) were used to document function. Differences between disorders were determined using one-way analysis of variance. Significantly better estimates of social functioning as measured by the Behaviour and Symptom Identification Scale (BASIS-32) were reported by job-seekers with psychotic disorders compared to those with anxiety or mood disorders. However, job-seekers with psychotic disorders reported longer periods of unemployment compared to those with mood disorders and longer estimates of the time it would take to obtain work compared to both the other groups. Perceived psychosocial problems, such as poor social function in job-seekers with anxiety and mood disorders and perceptions of poor employability in those with psychotic disorders, should be considered when developing vocational rehabilitation interventions, or where additional support may be required once employment is obtained.

Person-centred services? Rhetoric versus reality.

PubMed

Joyce, Catherine

2017-04-01

National and jurisdictional governments are increasingly using commissioning in health and community services. This includes the devolution of functions such as service planning, resource allocation, and regionalised approaches to intake and service delivery, to non-government organisations. The aims of this paper are to reflect on the experiences of commissioning as a not-for-profit health provider, and to identify some important early lessons. This analysis highlights the importance of a rights-based approach in which consumers, carers and communities actively participate in the design, implementation and evaluation of service systems, not just individual service needs; and that pays special attention to the most disadvantaged and the most vulnerable. The mechanisms and approaches used by cohealth to implement these principles are described. Service users need to be supported to develop advocacy capacity individually and collectively, in order to make informed choices about their own service needs and about the system more broadly, to ensure accessible and appropriate services.

20 CFR 669.330 - How are services delivered to the customer?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 20 Employees' Benefits 3 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false How are services delivered to the customer... Farmworker Jobs Program Customers and Available Program Services § 669.330 How are services delivered to the customer? To ensure that all services are focused on the customer's needs, services are provided through a...

20 CFR 669.330 - How are services delivered to the customer?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... 20 Employees' Benefits 3 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false How are services delivered to the customer... Farmworker Jobs Program Customers and Available Program Services § 669.330 How are services delivered to the customer? To ensure that all services are focused on the customer's needs, services are provided through a...

78 FR 41088 - Solicitation for a Cooperative Agreement-Support Services for Community Services Division Networks

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-07-09

...--Support Services for Community Services Division Networks AGENCY: National Institute of Corrections, U.S... cooperative agreement will provide support services to NIC Community Services Division sponsored networks. The networks are designed for NIC to assist in meeting the needs of the field of community corrections by...

Emergence of a rehabilitation medicine model for low vision service delivery, policy, and funding.

PubMed

Stelmack, Joan

2005-05-01

A rehabilitation medicine model for low vision rehabilitation is emerging. There have been many challenges to reaching consensus on the roles of each discipline (optometry, ophthalmology, occupational therapy, and vision rehabilitation professionals) in the service delivery model and finding a place in the reimbursement system for all the providers. The history of low vision, legislation associated with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services coverage for vision rehabilitation, and research on the effectiveness of low vision service delivery are reviewed. Vision rehabilitation is now covered by Medicare under Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation codes by some Medicare carriers, yet reimbursement is not available for low vision devices or refraction. Also, the role of vision rehabilitation professionals (rehabilitation teachers, orientation and mobility specialists, and low vision therapists) in the model needs to be determined. In a recent systematic review of the scientific literature on the effectiveness of low vision services contracted by the Agency for Health Care Quality Research, no clinical trials were found. The literature consists primarily of longitudinal case studies, which provide weak support for third-party funding for vision rehabilitative services. Providers need to reach consensus on medical necessity, treatment plans, and protocols. Research on low vision outcomes is needed to develop an evidence base to guide clinical practice, policy, and funding decisions.

Marketing family planning services in New Orleans.

PubMed

Bertrand, J T; Proffitt, B J; Bartlett, T L

1987-01-01

The health care profession is witnessing a shift in focus from the interests and needs of the service provider to those of the potential consumer in an effort to attract and maintain clients. This study illustrates the role that marketing research can play in the development of program strategies, even for relatively small organizations. The study was conducted for Planned Parenthood of Louisiana, a recently organized affiliate that began offering clinical services in May 1984, to provide information on the four Ps of marketing: product, price, place, and promotion. Data from telephone interviews among a random sample of 1,000 women 15-35 years old in New Orleans before the clinic opened confirmed that the need for family planning services was not entirely satisfied by existing service providers. Moreover, it indicated that clinic hours and the cost of services were in line with client interests. The most useful findings for developing the promotional strategy were the relatively low name recognition of Planned Parenthood and a higher-than-expected level of interest that young, low income blacks expressed in using the service.

Marketing family planning services in New Orleans.

PubMed Central

Bertrand, J T; Proffitt, B J; Bartlett, T L

1987-01-01

The health care profession is witnessing a shift in focus from the interests and needs of the service provider to those of the potential consumer in an effort to attract and maintain clients. This study illustrates the role that marketing research can play in the development of program strategies, even for relatively small organizations. The study was conducted for Planned Parenthood of Louisiana, a recently organized affiliate that began offering clinical services in May 1984, to provide information on the four Ps of marketing: product, price, place, and promotion. Data from telephone interviews among a random sample of 1,000 women 15-35 years old in New Orleans before the clinic opened confirmed that the need for family planning services was not entirely satisfied by existing service providers. Moreover, it indicated that clinic hours and the cost of services were in line with client interests. The most useful findings for developing the promotional strategy were the relatively low name recognition of Planned Parenthood and a higher-than-expected level of interest that young, low income blacks expressed in using the service. PMID:3112854

‘Why does it happen like this?’ Consulting with users and providers prior to an evaluation of services for children with life limiting conditions and their families

PubMed Central

Brown, Erica; Coad, Jane; Staniszewska, Sophie; Hacking, Suzanne; Chesworth, Brigit; Chambers, Lizzie

2015-01-01

Children with life limiting conditions and their families have complex needs. Evaluations must consider their views and perspectives to ensure care is relevant, appropriate and acceptable. We consulted with children, young people, their parents and local professionals to gain a more informed picture of issues affecting them prior to preparing a bid to evaluate services in the area. Multiple methods included focus groups, face-to-face and telephone interviews and participatory activities. Recordings and products from activities were analysed for content to identify areas of relevance and concern. An overarching theme from parents was ‘Why does it happen like this?’ Services did not seem designed to meet their needs. Whilst children and young people expressed ideas related to quality of environment, services and social life, professionals focused on ways of meeting the families’ needs. The theme that linked families’ concerns with those of professionals was ‘assessing individual needs’. Two questions to be addressed by the evaluation are (1) to what extent are services designed to meet the needs of children and families and (2) to what extent are children, young people and their families consulted about what they need? Consultations with families and service providers encouraged us to continue their involvement as partners in the evaluation. PMID:24270996

The Database Business: Managing Today--Planning for Tomorrow. Profiting with New Products and Services.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Berger, Mary C.; Bourne, Charles P.

1988-01-01

The first paper discusses the factors involved in a decision to provide document delivery services, including user needs, competitive climate, business potential, fit with current business, and logistics of providing the service. The second reviews the kinds of additional products that can be developed as a byproduct of conventional database…

Situational analysis of the health insurance market and related educational needs in the era of health care reform in Thailand.

PubMed

Sriratanaban, J; Supapong, S; Kamolratanakul, P; Tatiyakawee, K; Srithamrongsawat, S

2000-12-01

The purposes of this study were to explore the situation of health insurance in Thailand, to compare public and private perspectives and to identify related educational needs. Between March and April of 1998, the study employed in-depth interviews of 12 public and private major stakeholders of the health insurance systems, including policy makers, providers and insurers. Additional inputs were gathered in a brainstorming session with 41 participants from organizations with important roles in regulating, monitoring, paying, or providing health care services, as well as research and education. The findings indicated the health insurance market was expanding. But there was no national policy on health insurance. Insurance-related law was outdated. Public and private schemes overlapped, and were generally characterized by inadequate risk diversification, overutilization of services, lack of effective cost containment, inconsistent service quality, and poor understanding of health insurance principles. There were needs for more education and training in various aspects of health services management and health-insurance related functions. Consequently, continuing education and training related to health insurance services for policy makers, system administrators, managers, providers and insurers are strongly recommended during the health-care reform process.

Non-Governmental Organization and Prison Support Services in Nigeria: A Case Study of the Justice, Development and Peace Commission.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Imhabekhai, Clement I.

2002-01-01

Examines government activities in Nigeria in relation to prison support services, including health, counseling, training, legal aid, and library services. Recommends public agency networking with nongovernmental organizations to provide needed services. (JOW)

Are consumer surveys valuable as a service improvement tool in health services? A critical appraisal.

PubMed

Patwardhan, Anjali; Patwardhan, Prakash

2009-01-01

In the recent climate of consumerism and consumer focused care, health and social care needs to be more responsive than ever before. Consumer needs and preferences can be elicited with accepted validity and reliability only by strict methodological control, customerisation of the questionnaire and skilled interpretation. To construct, conduct, interpret and implement improved service provision, requires a trained work force and infrastructure. This article aims to appraise various aspects of consumer surveys and to assess their value as effective service improvement tools. The customer is the sole reason organisations exist. Consumer surveys are used worldwide as service and quality of care improvement tools by all types of service providers including health service providers. The article critically appraises the value of consumer surveys as service improvement tools in health services tool and its future applications. No one type of survey is the best or ideal. The key is the selection of the correct survey methodology, unique and customised for the particular type/aspect of care being evaluated. The method used should reflect the importance of the information required. Methodological rigor is essential for the effectiveness of consumer surveys as service improvement tools. Unfortunately so far there is no universal consensus on superiority of one particular methodology over another or any benefit of one specific methodology in a given situation. More training and some dedicated resource allocation is required to develop consumer surveys. More research is needed to develop specific survey methodology and evaluation techniques for improved validity and reliability of the surveys as service improvement tools. Measurement of consumer preferences/priorities, evaluation of services and key performance scores, is not easy. Consumer surveys seem impressive tools as they provide the customer a voice for change or modification. However, from a scientific point-of-view their credibility in service improvement in terms of reproducibility, reliability and validity, has remained debatable. This artcile is a critical appraisal of the value of consumer surveys as a service improvement tool in health services--a lesson which needs to be learnt.

Designing Personalization in Technology-Based Services

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lee, Min Kyung

2013-01-01

Personalization technology has the potential to optimize service for each person's unique needs and characteristics. One way to optimize service is to allow people to customize the service themselves; another is to proactively tailor services based on information provided by people or inferred from their past behaviors. These approaches function…

42 CFR 482.53 - Condition of participation: Nuclear medicine services.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... 42 Public Health 5 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false Condition of participation: Nuclear medicine... HOSPITALS Optional Hospital Services § 482.53 Condition of participation: Nuclear medicine services. If the hospital provides nuclear medicine services, those services must meet the needs of the patients in...

42 CFR 482.53 - Condition of participation: Nuclear medicine services.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... 42 Public Health 5 2014-10-01 2014-10-01 false Condition of participation: Nuclear medicine... HOSPITALS Optional Hospital Services § 482.53 Condition of participation: Nuclear medicine services. If the hospital provides nuclear medicine services, those services must meet the needs of the patients in...

42 CFR 482.53 - Condition of participation: Nuclear medicine services.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 42 Public Health 5 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Condition of participation: Nuclear medicine... HOSPITALS Optional Hospital Services § 482.53 Condition of participation: Nuclear medicine services. If the hospital provides nuclear medicine services, those services must meet the needs of the patients in...

42 CFR 482.53 - Condition of participation: Nuclear medicine services.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 42 Public Health 5 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Condition of participation: Nuclear medicine... HOSPITALS Optional Hospital Services § 482.53 Condition of participation: Nuclear medicine services. If the hospital provides nuclear medicine services, those services must meet the needs of the patients in...

42 CFR 482.53 - Condition of participation: Nuclear medicine services.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... 42 Public Health 5 2012-10-01 2012-10-01 false Condition of participation: Nuclear medicine... HOSPITALS Optional Hospital Services § 482.53 Condition of participation: Nuclear medicine services. If the hospital provides nuclear medicine services, those services must meet the needs of the patients in...

Interventions That Target Criminogenic Needs for Justice-Involved Persons With Serious Mental Illnesses: A Targeted Service Delivery Approach.

PubMed

Wilson, Amy Blank; Farkas, Kathleen; Bonfine, Natalie; Duda-Banwar, Janelle

2018-05-01

This research describes the development of a targeted service delivery approach that tailors the delivery of interventions that target criminogenic needs to the specific learning and treatment needs of justice-involved people with serious mental illnesses (SMIs). This targeted service delivery approach includes five service delivery strategies: repetition and summarizing, amplification, active coaching, low-demand practice, and maximizing participation. Examples of how to apply each strategy in session are provided, as well as recommendations on when to use each strategy during the delivery of interventions that target criminogenic needs. This targeted service delivery approach makes an important contribution to the development of interventions for justice-involved people with SMI by increasing the chances that people with SMI can participate fully in and benefit from these interventions that target criminogenic needs. These developments come at a critical time in the field as the next generation of services for justice-involved people with SMI are being developed.

Adapting needs assessment methodologies to build integrated health pathways for people in the criminal justice system.

PubMed

de Viggiani, N

2012-09-01

Criminal justice health services should be underpinned with good public health evidence about the population's health needs. Health needs assessment methodologies can provide valuable intelligence for commissioners to evaluate the quality of services and innovate according to need. However, health needs assessment can be limited if it takes a conventional epidemiological approach, focussing on individuals' healthcare needs in criminal justice settings. Techniques used to measure health and social need could be more widely applied and appropriately employed in the planning of health and social care services, especially if the intention is to be effective in reducing social exclusion and tackling health inequalities. Assessment tools are available that capture individual, social and environmental risk factors and determinants predisposing people to health and criminogenic risks. Good evidence gathering can mean that public health practitioners not only improve health, reduce inequalities and tackle social exclusion, but contribute to reducing re-offending. This paper suggests a new approach to assessment that integrates the full range of assessment methodologies available to practitioners. An integrated approach may be the way to enhance and enrich the public health function in providing evidence to improve the quality of local public services. Copyright © 2012 The Royal Society for Public Health. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Service provider perspectives on post-abortion contraception in Nepal.

PubMed

Wang, Lin-Fan; Puri, Mahesh; Rocca, Corinne H; Blum, Maya; Henderson, Jillian T

2016-01-01

The government of Nepal has articulated a commitment to the provision of post-abortion contraception since the implementation of a legal safe abortion policy in 2004. Despite this, gaps in services remain. This study examined the perspectives of abortion service providers and administrators regarding strengths and shortcomings of post-abortion contraceptive service provision. In-depth interviews were conducted with 24 abortion providers and administrators at four major health facilities that provide legal abortion in Nepal. Facility factors perceived to impact post-abortion contraceptive services included on-site availability of contraceptive supplies, dedicated and well-trained staff and adequate infrastructure. Cultural norms emerged as influencing contraceptive demand by patients, including method use being unacceptable for women whose husbands migrate and limited decision-making power among women. Service providers described their personal views on appropriate childbearing and the use of specific contraceptive methods that influenced counselling. Findings suggest that improvements to a facility's infrastructure and training to address provider biases and misinformation may improve post-abortion family planning uptake. Adapting services to be sensitive to cultural expectations and norms may help address some barriers to contraceptive use. More research is needed to determine how to best meet the contraceptive needs of women who have infrequent sexual activity or who may face stigma for using family planning, including adolescents, unmarried women and women whose husbands migrate.

Oral Health Services within Community-Based Organizations for Young Children with Special Health Care Needs

PubMed Central

Cruz, S; Chi, DL; Huebner, CE

2016-01-01

Purpose To identify the types of oral health services offered by community-based organizations to young children with special health care needs (CSHCN) and the barriers and facilitators to the provision of these in a non-fluoridated community. Methods Thirteen key informant interviews with representatives from early intervention agencies, advocacy groups, and oral health programs who provide services to CSHCN in Spokane county, Washington. We used a content analysis to thematically identify oral health services as proactive or incidental and the barriers and facilitators to their provision. Results We identified four types of oral health services: screenings, parent education, preventive dental care, and dental referrals. Barriers to providing all four services included limited agency resources, restrictive administrative and system-level policies, and low demand from parents. A barrier to providing education and preventive dental care was community disagreement regarding fluoride. A barrier to providing dental referrals was the perceived lack of dentists who could treat CSHCN. Facilitators included community partnerships among the organizations and utilization of the statewide oral health program. Conclusions Oral health services for young CSHCN are limited and often delivered in response to oral health problems. Coordinated efforts between community-based organizations, health providers, and advocates are necessary to ensure the provision of comprehensive care, including preventive and restorative services, to all young CSHCN. PMID:27028954

Oral health services within community-based organizations for young children with special health care needs.

PubMed

Cruz, Stephanie; Chi, Donald L; Huebner, Colleen E

2016-09-01

To identify the types of oral health services offered by community-based organizations to young children with special health care needs (CSHCN) and the barriers and facilitators to the provision of these in a nonfluoridated community. Thirteen key informant interviews with representatives from early intervention agencies, advocacy groups, and oral health programs who provide services to CSHCN in Spokane county, Washington. We used a content analysis to thematically identify oral health services as proactive or incidental and the barriers and facilitators to their provision. We identified four types of oral health services: screenings, parent education, preventive dental care, and dental referrals. Barriers to providing all four services included limited agency resources, restrictive administrative and system-level policies, and low demand from parents. A barrier to providing education and preventive dental care was community disagreement regarding fluoride. A barrier to providing dental referrals was the perceived lack of dentists who could treat CSHCN. Facilitators included community partnerships among the organizations and utilization of the statewide oral health program. Oral health services for young CSHCN are limited and often delivered in response to oral health problems. Coordinated efforts between community-based organizations, health providers, and advocates are necessary to ensure the provision of comprehensive care, including preventive and restorative services, to all young CSHCN. © 2016 Special Care Dentistry Association and Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The state of the psychology health service provider workforce.

PubMed

Michalski, Daniel S; Kohout, Jessica L

2011-12-01

Numerous efforts to describe the health service provider or clinical workforce in psychology have been conducted during the past 30 years. The American Psychological Association (APA) has studied trends in the doctoral education pathway and the resultant effects on the broader psychology workforce. During this period, the creation and growth of the PsyD degree and the formalization of the predoctoral internship placement system (the APPIC Match) have been well noted, but efforts to gain a complete understanding of professional practice are lacking. Specifically, piecemeal research on the provider workforce has led to the study of specific subpopulations using varying approaches and definitions of those providing direct clinical service. Consequently, estimates of the supply and need for health service providers are distinctly divergent and generate protracted debate in organized psychology. The APA membership directory and the APA Doctorate Employment Surveys have traditionally been relied on for workforce analyses. Yet, these data have become characterized by limited generalizability in recent years because of declining survey response rates and the fact that APA member data may not be as representative of the entire psychology health service provider population as they were previously. The 2008 APA Survey of Psychology Health Service Providers targeted these limitations by including nonmember psychologists in the sampling frame. Results revealed emerging themes in the demographics, work settings, and delivery of health services of the psychology health service provider workforce. Future areas of research for APA and organized psychology to undertake in addressing need and demand are suggested. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved).

Do family-planning workers in China support provision of sexual and reproductive health services to unmarried young people?

PubMed

Tu, Xiaowen; Cui, Nian; Lou, Chaohua; Gao, Ersheng

2004-04-01

To ascertain the perspectives of family-planning service providers in eight sites in China on the provision of sexual and reproductive health services to unmarried young people. Data were drawn from a survey of 1927 family-planning workers and 16 focus group discussions conducted in eight sites in China in 1998-99. Family-planning workers recognized the need to protect the sexual health of unmarried young people and were unambiguous about the need for government agencies to provide information and education on sexual and reproductive health to unmarried young people; however, perceptions about the appropriate age for and content of such education remained conservative. While about 70% of family-planning workers were willing to provide contraceptives to unmarried young people, and about 60% approved government provision of contraceptive services to unmarried young people, only one quarter agreed that the services could be extended to senior high schools. Family-planning workers in China are ambivalent about the provision of sexual and reproductive health services to unmarried young people, which potentially poses a significant obstacle to the adoption of safe sex behaviours by young people, as well as to the provision of sexual and reproductive health information and services to young unmarried people in China. Training programmes for family-planning workers are urgently needed to address this issue.

24 CFR 700.120 - Eligible supportive services.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... section 802(k)(16) and in section 700.105. (c) Meal services shall meet the following guidelines: (1) Type... shall provide special menus as necessary for meeting the dietary needs arising from the health requirements of conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. Grantees should attempt to meet the dietary needs...

7 CFR 1944.255 - Eligible supportive services.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... 802(k)(16) and in section 1944.105. (c) Meal services shall meet the following guidelines: (1) Type of... provide special menus as necessary for meeting the dietary needs arising from the health requirements of conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. Grantees should attempt to meet the dietary needs of varying...

24 CFR 700.120 - Eligible supportive services.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... section 802(k)(16) and in section 700.105. (c) Meal services shall meet the following guidelines: (1) Type... shall provide special menus as necessary for meeting the dietary needs arising from the health requirements of conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. Grantees should attempt to meet the dietary needs...

7 CFR 1944.255 - Eligible supportive services.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... 802(k)(16) and in section 1944.105. (c) Meal services shall meet the following guidelines: (1) Type of... provide special menus as necessary for meeting the dietary needs arising from the health requirements of conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. Grantees should attempt to meet the dietary needs of varying...

24 CFR 700.120 - Eligible supportive services.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... section 802(k)(16) and in section 700.105. (c) Meal services shall meet the following guidelines: (1) Type... shall provide special menus as necessary for meeting the dietary needs arising from the health requirements of conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. Grantees should attempt to meet the dietary needs...

Youth Development Needs and Capacities in the District of Columbia.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cave, George

This report examines, ward-by-ward, indicators of need for youth development services in the District of Columbia (DC), including high school dropout rates, unemployment, poverty, involvement with the criminal justice system, teen parenting, and youth mortality. It discusses capacity to provide various youth development services to address those…

Developing a community based service model for disability: Listening to the needs of all beneficiaries and providers.

PubMed

Collins, Katrina

2017-12-11

To inform the strategic and operational development of a community based service model at the Crann Centre, Cork, Ireland for SB children, adults, their families and providers. A needs assessment was conducted by gathering the views of multiple stakeholder perspectives within the SB community in the geographical region the Centre will serve. The intention is to create project deliverables that are responsive to the needs highlighted through this research. The study used a multi method design with a participatory research approach to explore the needs of SB individuals, families and providers. This involved in depth interviews, focus groups and online surveys. One hundred and fifty-nine respondents contributed to this qualitative needs assessment. The research established a range of psychosocial, clinical, vocational and educational issues causing ongoing difficulties for SB individuals and families. Providers highlighted supports that would benefit the social and clinical wellbeing of persons with SB. Collectively participants in the study reported that there was an absence of coordinated, continuous and comprehensive service delivery for the SB community in the region. This was amplified by geographical location of services and access to relevant supports. Consensus across stakeholders in this research pointed to the necessity for an innovative model of community based provision at the Crann Centre. This was described as offering a service with family at the core of an assets based model of practice. A key finding was the lack of importance placed on the social and emotional development of SB individuals. Traditionally participants described a singular focus on physical health through clinically defined treatment models. The desire for a social model of disability that informed health and wellbeing of SB individuals and families emerged as a prominent recommendation from the research.

The Development of a Telemedicine Planning Framework Based on Needs Assessment.

PubMed

AlDossary, Sharifah; Martin-Khan, Melinda G; Bradford, Natalie K; Armfield, Nigel R; Smith, Anthony C

2017-05-01

Providing equitable access to healthcare services in rural and remote communities is an ongoing challenge that faces most governments. By increasing access to specialty expertise, telemedicine may be a potential solution to this problem. Regardless of its potential, many telemedicine initiatives do not progress beyond the research phase, and are not implemented into mainstream practice. One reason may be that some telemedicine services are developed without the appropriate planning to ascertain community needs and clinical requirements. The aim of this paper is to report the development of a planning framework for telemedicine services based on needs assessment. The presented framework is based on the key processes in needs assessment, Penchansky and Thomas's dimensions of access, and Bradshaw's types of need. This proposed planning framework consists of two phases. Phase one comprises data collection and needs assessment, and includes assessment of availability and expressed needs; accessibility; perception and affordability. Phase two involves prioritising the demand for health services, balanced against the known limitations of supply, and the implementation of an appropriate telemedicine service that reflects and meets the needs of the community. Using a structured framework for the planning of telemedicine services, based on need assessment, may help with the identification and prioritisation of community health needs.

Perceived Case Management Needs and Service Preferences of Frequent Emergency Department Users: Lessons Learned in a Large Urban Centre

PubMed Central

Kahan, Deborah; Poremski, Daniel; Wise-Harris, Deborah; Pauly, Daniel; Leszcz, Molyn; Wasylenki, Donald; Stergiopoulos, Vicky

2016-01-01

Objectives This study aimed to explore the service needs and preferences of frequent emergency department users with mental health and addictions concerns who participated in a brief intensive case management intervention. Methods We conducted semi-structured individual interviews with 20 frequent emergency department users with mental health and addictions challenges, 13 service providers involved in the delivery of a brief case management intervention, and a focus group with intervention case managers. Thematic analysis was used to explore perceived service user profiles, service needs and preferences of care. Results Service users experienced complex health and social needs and social isolation, while exhibiting resilience and the desire to contribute. They described multiple instances of stigmatization in interactions with healthcare professionals. Components of the brief intensive case management intervention perceived to be helpful included system navigation, advocacy, intermediation, and practical needs assistance. Frequent service users valued relational responsiveness, a non-judgmental stance, and a recovery orientation in case managers. Conclusion Interventions for frequent service users in mental health may be enhanced by focusing on the engagement of formal and informal social supports, practical needs assistance, system navigation, advocacy and intermediation, and attention to the recovery goals of service users. PMID:28002491

Challenges Women with Disability Face in Accessing and Using Maternal Healthcare Services in Ghana: A Qualitative Study.

PubMed

Ganle, John Kuumuori; Otupiri, Easmon; Obeng, Bernard; Edusie, Anthony Kwaku; Ankomah, Augustine; Adanu, Richard

2016-01-01

While a number of studies have examined the factors affecting accessibility to and utilisation of healthcare services by persons with disability in general, there is little evidence about disabled women's access to maternal health services in low-income countries and few studies consult disabled women themselves to understand their experience of care and the challenges they face in accessing skilled maternal health services. The objective of this paper is to explore the challenges women with disabilities encounter in accessing and using institutional maternal healthcare services in Ghana. A qualitative study was conducted in 27 rural and urban communities in the Bosomtwe and Central Gonja districts of Ghana with a total of 72 purposively sampled women with different physical, visual, and hearing impairments who were either lactating or pregnant at the time of this research. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were used to gather data. Attride-Stirling's thematic network framework was used to analyse the data. Findings suggest that although women with disability do want to receive institutional maternal healthcare, their disability often made it difficult for such women to travel to access skilled care, as well as gain access to unfriendly physical health infrastructure. Other related access challenges include: healthcare providers' insensitivity and lack of knowledge about the maternity care needs of women with disability, negative attitudes of service providers, the perception from able-bodied persons that women with disability should be asexual, and health information that lacks specificity in terms of addressing the special maternity care needs of women with disability. Maternal healthcare services that are designed to address the needs of able-bodied women might lack the flexibility and responsiveness to meet the special maternity care needs of women with disability. More disability-related cultural competence and patient-centred training for healthcare providers as well as the provision of disability-friendly transport and healthcare facilities and services are needed.

Determinants of hospital-based substance abuse treatment programs.

PubMed

Bell, R

1994-01-01

Experts agree that treatment is the best solution to substance abuse problems. As the societywide problem of drug and alcohol dependence increases, so does the need for treatment programs. Research has shown that many hospitals have entered into the substance abuse treatment program business because a need for quality programs exists and because an alcohol and a substance abuse treatment product line has the potential for increasing sagging revenues. This article addresses the question of what types of hospitals are likely to engage in providing inpatient and/or outpatient treatment programs. The results indicate that organizational size (measured by the number of beds) is the best predictor of treatment service provision for both inpatient and outpatient settings, with larger hospitals being more likely to provide substance abuse programs. A need for additional chemical dependency treatment programs does not appear to be the primary motivating factor for hospitals developing this service. Rather, it seems hospitals provide these programs for other reasons--as part of providing a full array of services, as an average toward achieving organizational goals, as a means of sustaining a competitive advantage, or as a strategy for maintaining the same level of service as the competition.

Personal communications: An extension to the mobile satellite

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Epstein, Murray; Draper, Francois

1990-01-01

As time progresses, customer demands become far more universal, involving integrated, simple to operate, cost effective services, with technology virtually transparent to the operator. Industry will be in a position of providing the necessary services to meet the subscribers' needs. Our resource based industries, transportation services, and utilities in the more rural and unserviced areas will require quality and affordable services that can only be supplied via satellite. One answer to these needs will be one- and two-way interoperable data messaging.

Unmet Needs: Habilitation, Rehabilitation, and Independent Living Services for Persons Who Are Blind or Have Low Vision

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Crudden, Adele; Sansing, William

2011-01-01

A statewide assessment of stakeholders' needs was conducted for a state agency providing habilitation, rehabilitation, and independent living services to persons of all ages who are visually impaired (that is, those who are are blind or have low vision). This needs assessment was designed to acquire an accurate and thorough picture of the agency's…

The Latino Mental Health Project: A Local Mental Health Needs Assessment

PubMed Central

Adams, Sara T.; Calista, Joanne L.; Connell, Joy; Encarnación, José; Esparza, Nancy K.; Frohock, Jeanne; Hicks, Ellen; Kim, Saeromi; Kokernak, Gerald; McGrenra, Michael; Mestre, Ray; Pérez, Maria; Pinedo, Tatiana M.; Quagan, Rosemary; Rivera, Christina; Taucer, Patsy; Wang, Ed

2010-01-01

In this article, we present the results of a local needs assessment of the mental health experiences, service needs, and barriers to treatment-seeking of the Latino population in Worcester, Massachusetts. Overall, participants reported relatively high rates of experiences with symptoms of mental health problems, they indicated using a range of both formal and alternative mental health services, and they noted a variety of instrumental, attitudinal, and culturally-specific barriers to seeking mental health services. Findings are discussed with regards to the role that community-driven research can play in advancing efforts to provide relevant services to underserved populations. PMID:17279338

Perceptions of unmet needs for community social care services in England. A comparison of working carers and the people they care for.

PubMed

Brimblecombe, Nicola; Pickard, Linda; King, Derek; Knapp, Martin

2017-03-01

Previous UK research has found expressed unmet need for services by unpaid working carers and among disabled and older people. There are, however, suggestions from research that views on unmet needs for services differ between carers and care-recipients. Working carers in the UK say that the care-recipient is sometimes reluctant to accept services and the few international comparative dyad studies that have been carried out find that carers perceive higher unmet need than care-recipients. Recent policy discussions in England have also recognised that there may be differences of opinion. We collected data in 2013 from working carer/care-recipient dyads in England about perceived need for services for the care-recipient, disability, unpaid care hour provision and individual and socio-demographic characteristics. We find that care-recipients as well as their carers perceive high unmet need for services, although carers perceive higher unmet need. For carers, unmet need is associated with the disability of the carer-recipient and being the daughter or son of the care-recipient; for care-recipients it is associated with unpaid care hours, carers' employment status and carers' health. The majority of dyads agree on need for services, and agreement is higher when the working carer provides care for 10 hours or more hours a week. Services for care-recipients may enable working carers to remain in employment so agreement on needs for services supports the implementation of legislation, policy and practice that has a duty to, or aims to, support carer's employment. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Supporting Families: A Comparative Study of Outcomes and Costs of Services for Children in Need. Issues in Practice.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Statham, June; Holtermann, Sally; Winter, Gill

Noting that little is known about the costs and effectiveness of family support services, this study examined the full range of services provided to 40 families in need by two local authorities in North Wales. The study compared costs in the two authorities and well-being for the families after 3 months. Findings indicated that the families in the…

The Emergence of a Human Services Cooperative to Support Families and Young Adults with Disabilities: Implications for Disability Services and Supports

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shogren, Karrie A.; Forber-Pratt, Anjali J.; Nittrouer, Christine; Aragon, Steven R.

2013-01-01

This paper documents the experiences of a group of parents who came together to form a human service cooperative in their local community to address the needs of their adult children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Each parent felt that their child's needs were not (or could not be) met by existing providers. Parent leaders who…

An exploration of clinical interventions provided by pharmacists within a complex asthma service

PubMed Central

Lemay, Kate S.; Saini, Bandana; Bosnic-Anticevich, Sinthia; Smith, Lorraine; Stewart, Kay; Emmerton, Lynne; Burton, Deborah L.; Krass, Ines; Armour, Carol L.

2014-01-01

Background: Pharmacists in Australia are accessible health care professionals, and their provision of clinical pharmacy interventions in a range of areas has been proven to improve patient outcomes. Individual clinical pharmacy interventions in the area of asthma management have been very successful. An understanding of the nature of these interventions will inform future pharmacy services. What we do not know is when pharmacists provide a complex asthma service, what elements of that service (interventions) they choose to deliver. Objective: To explore the scope and frequency of asthma-related clinical interventions provided by pharmacists to patients in an evidence-based complex asthma service. Methods: Pharmacists from 4 states/territories of Australia were trained in asthma management. People with asthma had 3 or 4 visits to the pharmacy. Guided by a structured patient file, the pharmacist assessed the patient’s asthma and management and provided interventions where and when considered appropriate, based on their clinical decision making skills. The interventions were recorded in a checklist in the patient file. They were then analysed descriptively and thematically. Results: Pharmacists provided 22,909 clinical pharmacy interventions over the service to 570 patients (398 of whom completed the service). The most frequently delivered interventions were in the themes ’Education on asthma’, ’Addressing trigger factors’, ’Medications - safe and effective use’ and ’Explore patient perspectives’. The patients had a high and ongoing need for interventions. Pharmacists selected interventions based on their assessment of perceived need then revisited and reinforced these interventions. Conclusion: Pharmacists identified a number of areas in which patients required interventions to assist with their asthma management. Many of these were perceived to require continuing reinforcement over the duration of the service. Pharmacists were able to use their clinical judgement to assess patients and provide clinical pharmacy interventions across a range of asthma management needs. PMID:25883692

Institutional capacity to provide psychosocial oncology support services: A report from the Association of Oncology Social Work.

PubMed

Zebrack, Brad; Kayser, Karen; Padgett, Lynne; Sundstrom, Laura; Jobin, Chad; Nelson, Krista; Fineberg, Iris C

2016-06-15

This study reports cancer-treating institutions' capacity to deliver comprehensive psychosocial support services. Oncology care providers at 60 cancer-treating institutions completed surveys assessing the capacity of their institutions to provide psychosocial care. Capacity was assessed with the Cancer Psychosocial Care Matrix (CPCM) from the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Scores represented individuals' perceptions of their cancer program's performance with respect to 10 fundamental elements of psychosocial care. Among 2134 respondents, 62% reported a mid-level capacity for ≥5 of 10 CPCM items. In comparison with other types of cancer programs (eg, NCI-designated, academic, or comprehensive centers), providers at community cancer programs reported a significantly greater capacity with respect to patient-provider communication, psychosocial needs assessment, and continuity in the delivery of psychosocial care over time. Nurses and primary medical providers reported a significantly lower capacity for linking patients and families with needed psychosocial services within their respective cancer programs. They also reported a significantly higher capacity for conducting follow-up, re-evaluations, and adjustments of psychosocial treatment plans. Cancer programs are performing moderately well in terms of communicating to patients the importance of psychosocial care, identifying patient psychosocial needs, and referring patients and families to psychosocial services. They are doing less well with respect to the provision of that care over time. Findings suggest that gaps in psychosocial service capacity are a function of patient, provider, and system characteristics. These results may be useful in formulating strategies to enhance psychosocial care delivery. Cancer 2016;122:1937-45. © 2016 American Cancer Society. © 2016 American Cancer Society.

Cross-cultural opening in German outpatient mental healthcare service: an exploratory study of structural and procedural aspects.

PubMed

Mösko, Mike-Oliver; Gil-Martinez, Fernanda; Schulz, Holger

2013-01-01

Mental healthcare services need to be sensitive towards the cultural needs of patients. Cross-cultural opening is an organizational process to fulfil these needs. This study aims to provide representative structural and procedural data regarding the use of German outpatient mental healthcare services by allochthonous patients, the diversity of psychotherapists in outpatient mental healthcare service, the cross-cultural encounters of therapists and the cross-cultural sensitivity of psychotherapists working in this healthcare area. Of all public outpatient psychotherapists in Hamburg, 81% (n = 485) participated in this survey. Regarding the distribution of the population in this metropolis, allochthonous therapists were underrepresented. Unlike the overall distribution of foreign inhabitants, the largest groups of immigrant therapists came from England, German-speaking countries and other countries within the European Union. The proportion of allochthonous patients in outpatient mental healthcare service was almost half of the proportion of the allochthonous in the general population. Psychotherapists with a migration background regarded themselves as having a higher level of cross-cultural sensitivity than their native colleagues, especially those who have had fewer cross-cultural encounters. Overall, psychotherapists named different challenges in providing cross-cultural treatment. For the German outpatient mental healthcare service to be more accessible to immigrants and their descendants, a greater number of bilingual psychotherapists must gain access to the mental healthcare service, and more advanced cross-cultural sensitivity training and supervision should be provided. German outpatient psychotherapists are culturally and linguistically diverse. Nevertheless, psychotherapists with a migration background are underrepresented in outpatient mental healthcare services. Patients with a migration background are also underrepresented in the German outpatient mental healthcare system. Because mental healthcare services must be sensitive and respectful towards patients' cultural and linguistic needs, the mental healthcare outpatient service must be more accessible to therapists who speak languages other than German and English. Psychotherapeutic treatment of patients with a migration background can be tremendously challenging because of other cultures' differing value systems. Prospective, advanced training in cross-cultural sensitivity and cross-cultural supervision should be provided. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Home Health Care for California's Injured Workers: Options for Implementing a Fee Schedule.

PubMed

Wynn, Barbara O; Boustead, Anne

2015-07-15

The California Department of Industrial Relations/Division of Worker's Compensation asked RAND to provide technical assistance in developing a fee schedule for home health services provided to injured workers. The fee schedule needs to address the full spectrum of home health services ranging from skilled nursing and therapy services to unskilled personal care or chore services that may be provided by family members. RAND researchers consulted with stakeholders in the California workers' compensation system to outline issues the fee schedule should address, reviewed home health fee schedules used by other payers, and conducted interviews with WC administrators from other jurisdictions to elicit their experiences. California stakeholders identified unskilled attendant services as most problematic in determining need and payment rates, particularly services furnished by family members. RAND researchers concentrated on fee schedule options that would result in a single fee schedule covering the full range of home health care services furnished to injured workers and made three sets of recommendations. The first set pertains to obtaining additional information that would highlight the policy issues likely to occur with the implementation of the fee schedule and alternatives for assessing an injured worker's home health care needs. Another approach conforms most closely with the Labor Code requirements. It would integrate the fee schedules used by Medicare, In-Home Health Supportive Services, and the federal Office of Workers' Compensation. The third approach would base the home health fee schedule on rules used by the federal Office of Workers' Compensation.

Shifting Practices Toward Recovery-Oriented Care Through an E-Recovery Portal in Community Mental Health Care: A Mixed-Methods Exploratory Study

PubMed Central

Strand, Monica; Eng, Lillian Sofie; Børøsund, Elin; Varsi, Cecilie; Ruland, Cornelia

2017-01-01

Background Mental health care is shifting from a primary focus on symptom reduction toward personal recovery-oriented care, especially for persons with long-term mental health care needs. Web-based portals may facilitate this shift, but little is known about how such tools are used or the role they may play in personal recovery. Objective The aim was to illustrate uses and experiences with the secure e-recovery portal “ReConnect” as an adjunct to ongoing community mental health care and explore its potential role in shifting practices toward recovery. Methods ReConnect was introduced into two Norwegian mental health care communities and used for 6 months. The aim was to support personal recovery and collaboration between service users and health care providers. Among inclusion criteria for participation were long-term care needs and at least one provider willing to interact with service users through ReConnect. The portal was designed to support ongoing collaboration as each service user-provider dyad/team found appropriate and consisted of (1) a toolbox of resources for articulating and working with recovery processes, such as status/goals/activities relative to life domains (eg, employment, social network, health), medications, network map, and exercises (eg, sleep hygiene, mindfulness); (2) messaging with providers who had partial access to toolbox content; and (3) a peer support forum. Quantitative data (ie, system log, questionnaires) were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Qualitative data (eg, focus groups, forum postings) are presented relative to four recovery-oriented practice domains: personally defined recovery, promoting citizenship, working relationships, and organizational commitment. Results Fifty-six participants (29 service users and 27 providers) made up 29 service user-provider dyads. Service users reported having 11 different mental health diagnoses, with a median 2 (range 1-7) diagnoses each. The 27 providers represented nine different professional backgrounds. The forum was the most frequently used module with 1870 visits and 542 postings. Service users’ control over toolbox resources (eg, defining and working toward personal goals), coupled with peer support, activated service users in their personal recovery processes and in community engagement. Some providers (30%, 8/27) did not interact with service users through ReConnect. Dyads that used the portal resources did so in highly diverse ways, and participants reported needing more than 6 months to discover and adapt optimal uses relative to their individual and collaborative needs. Conclusions Regardless of providers’ portal use, service users’ control over toolbox resources, coupled with peer support, offered an empowering common frame of reference that represented a shift toward recovery-oriented practices within communities. Although service users’ autonomous use of the portal can eventually influence providers in the direction of recovery practices, a fundamental shift is unlikely without broader organizational commitments aligned with recovery principles (eg, quantified goals for service user involvement in care plans). PMID:28465277

[Pensions for the aged or housebound: discriminant factors. Study conducted in 4 districts of the canton of Fribourg (Switzerland)].

PubMed

Griffiths, A; Jeanneret, O; Christe, E; Borrini, C; Ingman, S; Demierre, G

1983-01-01

This research forms part of a two centre study (Fribourg et Geneva) on the use of medical and socio-medical services by elderly persons. It was undertaken under the auspices of the national research programme No 8 (Efficiency and effectiveness of the Swiss health system). The study covered 1173 persons aged 65 years or over receiving care in three services (partly medicalized nursing homes, retirement homes and home nursing services) in four french speaking districts of Fribourg Canton. The staff of these services provided cross sectional data on the personal characteristics of their clients or patients, their physical and mental capacities, the specific services provided to them, and some indications on their home circumstances. The results show differences between districts and services in terms of the overall utilisation rate, its structure, and the detailed profiles of specific needs and services. The discussion focusses on the possible interpretations of these differences and on the fundamental problem matching services to needs.

Federal Policies and Programs to Expand Employment Services Among Individuals with Serious Mental Illnesses.

PubMed

Karakus, Mustafa; Riley, Jarnee; Goldman, Howard

2017-05-01

Previous studies suggest that providing employment services to individuals with serious mental illnesses can help them obtain competitive, real-world employment. However, these services are still not easily accessible to this population. This paper provides a brief summary of recent federal initiatives that may influence widespread implementation of employment services. While there is an increasing recognition of the need to remove barriers and provide supported employment services to individuals with mental illnesses, a wide-spread coordination across Federal polices, financing and regulatory changes are necessary to promote measurable and lasting effects on the broad availability of employment services among this population.

Integration of Specialized Pain Control Services in Palliative Care: A Nationwide Web-based Survey.

PubMed

Page, Nivedita Dilip

2017-01-01

Pain control is an important part of palliative care (PC), and conventional analgesics do not provide adequate pain relief to all patients. Many patients present with complex pain syndromes that require interventional pain control measures usually deployed by pain specialists. There is adequate integration of specialized pain control services with PC elsewhere, but information about the same in our country is lacking. An internet survey was conducted among palliative specialists regarding the need and availability of pain specialists for their patients suffering from complex pain syndromes. Their attitude toward integrating specialized pain control services in their practice was also explored. Majority of palliative physicians came across situations where specialists in pain would control the patients' pain better. There was a poor availability of such services, and when available, the cost was significant. It is heartening to note that though there is poor integration of specialized pain control services with palliation, palliative physicians acknowledge the need for pain specialists and their techniques for providing pain relief for their patients. Effective pain control is needed in palliation, barriers however exist, and there is a need to make pain specialists and interventional techniques more freely available.

Assessing the Need for Anesthesia and Sedation Services in Kuwaiti Dental Practice

PubMed Central

Abdulwahab, Mohammad; Al-Sayegh, Fatima; Boynes, Sean G; Abdulwahab, Hawra; Zovko, Jayme; Close, John

2010-01-01

The objective of this study was to examine the public health relevance of the prevalence of dental fear in Kuwait and the resultant barrier that it creates regarding access to dental care. The study analysis demonstrated a high prevalence of dental fear and anxiety in the Kuwaiti population and a perceived need for anesthesia services by dental care providers. The telephone survey of the general population showed nearly 35% of respondents reported being somewhat nervous, very nervous, or terrified about going to the dentist. In addition, about 36% of the population postponed their dental treatment because of fear. Respondents showed a preference to receive sedation and anesthesia services as a means of anxiety relief, and they were willing to go to the dentist more often when such services were available. People with high fear and anxiety preferred to receive some type of medication to relieve their anxiety. In conclusion, the significance and importance of the need for anesthesia services to enhance the public health of dental patients in Kuwait has been demonstrated, and improvements are needed in anesthesia and sedation training of Kuwaiti dental care providers. PMID:20843223

Sustainable psychiatry in the UK

PubMed Central

Yarlagadda, Sucharita; Maughan, Daniel; Lingwood, Susie; Davison, Phil

2014-01-01

Demands on our mental health services are growing as financial pressures increase. In addition, there are regular changes to service design and commissioning. The current political mantra is ‘more and more, of better quality, for less and less, please’. We suggest that mental health services need to actively respond to these constraints and that clinical transformation is needed to move towards a more sustainable system of healthcare. Emphasis on prevention, patient empowerment and leaner, greener services is required alongside more extensive use of technologies. Focusing on these areas will make mental health services more responsive to the challenges we face and serve to future-proof psychiatry in the UK. Services need to be delivered to provide maximum benefit to the health of our patients, but also to our society and the environment. PMID:25505629

Auto Service. Vocational Preparation Curriculum.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Usoro, Hogan

Intended for instructors serving the occupational needs of disadvantaged and handicapped students, this curriculum guide contains 21 units for an auto service program. Its purposes are to provide minimum skills for students entering the mainstream, supplement vocational skills of students already mainstreamed, and provide vocational instructional…

"Between the devil and the deep blue sea": the beliefs of caregivers of people with dementia regarding the use of in-home respite services.

PubMed

Phillipson, Lyn; Jones, Sandra C

2011-04-01

This article details results from qualitative research with caregivers in regard to the beliefs they associate with the use of in-home respite services. Outcomes are perceived by caregivers in relation to care recipient personal safety and the avoidance of negative consequences through the provision of supervision in the caregiver's absence. Use of in-home services challenges normative beliefs for some caregivers, particularly for spousal caregivers who feel it is their role to provide assistance that is needed in the home. Likewise, perceived inflexibility and the inability of in-home services to provide responsive and personalized care make the use of in-home services difficult and may inform control beliefs. Implications are discussed in relation to community care pathways and the promotion and development of in-home respite services to better target caregiver beliefs and respond to caregiver perceived needs.

Provision of Telemedicine Services by Community Health Centers

PubMed Central

Sharac, Jessica; Jacobs, Feygele

2014-01-01

The objective of this study was to assess the use of telemedicine services at community health centers. A national survey was distributed to all federally qualified health centers to gather data on their use of health information technology, including telemedicine services. Over a third of responding health centers (37%) provided some type of telemedicine service while 63% provided no telemedicine services. A further analysis that employed ANOVA and chi-square tests to assess differences by the provision of telemedicine services (provided no telemedicine services, provided one telemedicine service, and provided two or more telemedicine services) found that the groups differed by Meaningful Use compliance, location, percentage of elderly patients, mid-level provider, medical, and mental health staffing ratios, the percentage of patients with diabetes with good blood sugar control, and state and local funds per patient and per uninsured patient. This article presents the first national estimate of the use of telemedicine services at community health centers. Further study is needed to determine how to address factors, such as reimbursement and provider shortages, that may serve as obstacles to further expansion of telemedicine services use by community health centers. PMID:25422721

Provider Services Network Project. Draft Final Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Urban and Rural Systems Associates, San Francisco, CA.

This draft report on the development and testing of a child care Provider Services Network (PSN) model in Santa Clara County, California, includes a handbook (Manual to Optimize a PSN) designed to provide the State Department of Education and regional or local child care coordinating agencies with information needed to develop PSN optimization…

Service-based health human resources planning for older adults.

PubMed

Tomblin Murphy, Gail; MacKenzie, Adrian; Rigby, Janet; Rockwood, Kenneth; Gough, Amy; Greeley, Gogi; Montpetit, Frederick; Dill, Donna; Alder, Robert; Lackie, Kelly

2013-08-01

To test a service-based health human resources (HHR) planning approach for older adults in the context of home and long term care (LTC); to create a practical template/tools for use in various jurisdictions and/or health care settings. The most serious health needs of seniors in 2 Canadian jurisdictions were identified and linked to the specific services and associated competencies required of health care providers (HCPs) to address those needs. The amounts of each service required were quantified and compared against the capacity of HCPs to perform the services, measured using a self-assessment survey, by using a previously developed analytical framework. Home and LTC sectors in Nova Scotia and Nunavut, Canada. Regulated and nonregulated HCPs were invited to complete either an online or paper-based competency self-assessment survey. Survey response rates in Nova Scotia and Nunavut were 11% (160 responses) and 20% (22 responses), respectively. Comparisons of the estimated number of seniors likely to need each service with the number who can be served by the workforces in each jurisdiction indicated that the workforces in both jurisdictions are sufficiently numerous, active, productive, and competent to provide most of the services likely to be required. However, significant gaps were identified in pharmacy services, ongoing client assessment, client/family education and involvement, and client/family functional and social supports. Service-based HHR planning is feasible for identifying gaps in services required by older adults, and can guide policy makers in planning hiring/recruitment, professional development, and provider education curricula. Implementation will require commitment of policy makers and other stakeholders, as well as ongoing evaluation of its effectiveness. More broadly, the ongoing effectiveness of the approach will depend on workforce planning being conducted in an iterative way, driven by regular reevaluation of population health needs and HHR effectiveness. Copyright © 2013 American Medical Directors Association, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Estimating the Size and Cost of the STD Prevention Services Safety Net.

PubMed

Gift, Thomas L; Haderxhanaj, Laura T; Torrone, Elizabeth A; Behl, Ajay S; Romaguera, Raul A; Leichliter, Jami S

2015-01-01

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is expected to reduce the number of uninsured people in the United States during the next eight years, but more than 10% are expected to remain uninsured. Uninsured people are one of the main populations using publicly funded safety net sexually transmitted disease (STD) prevention services. Estimating the proportion of the uninsured population expected to need STD services could help identify the potential demand for safety net STD services and improve program planning. In 2013, an estimated 8.27 million people met the criteria for being in need of STD services. In 2023, 4.70 million uninsured people are expected to meet the criteria for being in need of STD services. As an example, the cost in 2014 U.S. dollars of providing chlamydia screening to these people was an estimated $271.1 million in 2013 and is estimated to be $153.8 million in 2023. A substantial need will continue to exist for safety net STD prevention services in coming years.

Estimating the Size and Cost of the STD Prevention Services Safety Net

PubMed Central

Haderxhanaj, Laura T.; Torrone, Elizabeth A.; Behl, Ajay S.; Romaguera, Raul A.; Leichliter, Jami S.

2015-01-01

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is expected to reduce the number of uninsured people in the United States during the next eight years, but more than 10% are expected to remain uninsured. Uninsured people are one of the main populations using publicly funded safety net sexually transmitted disease (STD) prevention services. Estimating the proportion of the uninsured population expected to need STD services could help identify the potential demand for safety net STD services and improve program planning. In 2013, an estimated 8.27 million people met the criteria for being in need of STD services. In 2023, 4.70 million uninsured people are expected to meet the criteria for being in need of STD services. As an example, the cost in 2014 U.S. dollars of providing chlamydia screening to these people was an estimated $271.1 million in 2013 and is estimated to be $153.8 million in 2023. A substantial need will continue to exist for safety net STD prevention services in coming years. PMID:26556931

A qualitative analysis of barriers, challenges, and successes in meeting the needs of Hurricane Katrina evacuee families.

PubMed

Legerski, John-Paul; Vernberg, Eric M; Noland, Brian J

2012-12-01

Hurricane Katrina caused many individuals to evacuate to towns and cities throughout the United States. Psychological First Aid (PFA) is a treatment program designed to help clinicians and other disaster relief workers address the needs of adults, youth, and families immediately following disasters. We conducted focus groups with disaster relief and evacuee service providers in the Kansas City Metro Area as an exploratory study to identify their perceptions of the needs of evacuees. Participants identified a number of mental health needs, as well as displacement-related challenges, including loss of social support, material loss, unemployment, and other stressful life events that were secondary to the hurricane. Many of these needs are consistent with principles presented in the PFA manual. We also found that service providers faced unique challenges when attempting to assist evacuees. We discuss implications of these findings for treatment programs and provide suggestions for addressing barriers to care.

Applying Evidence for Medical Technologies: Closing the Gap between R&D and Decision Maker Needs

PubMed Central

2009-01-01

In this interview, Dr Sean Tunis, former Director of the Office of Clinical Standards and Quality and Chief Medical Officer at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and current Director of the Center for Medical Technology Policy, discusses the need to align the demands of the industry on product development with provider and patient needs to ensure that products in the pipeline, especially those for chronic disease care, can actually provide clinical benefit. The question is how to make sure that new products and technologies are not only being approved by regulatory bodies but also serve real-world needs. This will also promote the acceptance of a product or service by all stakeholders—regulators, providers, payers, and purchasers—while meeting actual patient needs. Another question for payers and employers is how to create a benefit design that encourages the application of evidence in coverage decision-making toward value-based healthcare. PMID:25126286

Community pharmacists' perceptions of services that benefit older people in New Zealand.

PubMed

Tordoff, June; Chang, Shih Yen; Norris, Pauline T

2012-04-01

There is limited information in New Zealand about community pharmacists' perceptions of services that benefit older people. To explore the perceptions of community pharmacists' of services that benefit older people; the benefits perceived; and the experiences of pharmacists providing such services. Community pharmacies in New Zealand. A cross-sectional purpose-developed survey was carried out of all community pharmacies in New Zealand. This was followed by twenty qualitative telephone interviews of pharmacists identified as providing at least one specialized service. Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and coded for themes using constant comparison. Community pharmacists' opinions and perceptions in the cross-sectional survey and qualitative interviews. Responses were received from pharmacists in 403/905 evaluable pharmacies. All pharmacies provided some baseline services (advice, dispensing of prescriptions, medicines disposal) and 90% provided home deliveries of medicines. Adherence to medicines was supported by compliance packaging (96%), medication review (Medicines Use Review, MUR) (28%), and repeat prescription reminders (27%). Thirty-five percent provided screening (e.g. cholesterol, blood pressure), and 32% provided medicines education to community groups. Compliance packaging and home delivery were thought the services most beneficial for older people, and should help people adhere to their medicines. The 20 pharmacists interviewed by telephone provided 20 different specialized services (median 2, range 1-4). These included MUR, services to residential homes, visiting educators/special clinics, INR monitoring, services to hospices, and flu vaccination. Benefits perceived included improvements in adherence, patient safety, and patient-knowledge of medicines, and convenient access to services. "Patient need" was a frequent driver of services, and common facilitators for services were having appropriate training/skills, co-operation with health professionals, peer or expert support, sufficient time and funding. A lack of these facilitators were considered barriers as were resistance from general practitioners or the general public, or high set-up costs. Community pharmacists in New Zealand perceived they provide a range of services of potential benefit to older people for managing their medicines. Establishing new services requires cooperation from other health professionals, peer support, training, funding and time. Further research into patients' outcomes from new and established services is needed.

Service guidelines based on Resource Utilization Groups Version III for Home Care provide decision-making support for case managers.

PubMed

Collister, Barbara; Stein, Glenda; Katz, Deborah; DeBruyn, Joan; Andrusiw, Linda; Cloutier, Sheila

2012-01-01

Increasing costs and budget reductions combined with increasing demand from our growing, aging population support the need to ensure that the scarce resources allocated to home care clients match client needs. This article details how Integrated Home Care for the Calgary Zone of Alberta Health Services considered ethical and economic principles and used data from the Resident Assessment Instrument for Home Care (RAI-HC) and case mix indices from the Resource Utilization Groups Version III for Home Care (RUG-III/HC) to formulate service guidelines. These explicit service guidelines formalize and support individual resource allocation decisions made by case managers and provide a consistent and transparent method of allocating limited resources.

AsMA Medical Guidelines for Air Travel: Airline Special Services.

PubMed

Thibeault, Claude; Evans, Anthony D

2015-07-01

Medical Guidelines for Airline Travel provide information that enables healthcare providers to properly advise patients who plan to travel by air. Treating physicians should advise patients in need of special services to contact the airline well before travel to find out if the required services will be available. Ensuring the required services are available throughout a journey can be challenging, especially when different airlines and aircraft types are involved. For example, airlines carry a limited supply of oxygen for use in the event of an unexpected in-flight emergency; however, this supply is not intended for use by passengers needing supplemental oxygen. Arrangements must be made in advance with the airline. Therefore, early contact with the airline is helpful.

Evaluating clinical librarian services: a systematic review.

PubMed

Brettle, Alison; Maden-Jenkins, Michelle; Anderson, Lucy; McNally, Rosalind; Pratchett, Tracey; Tancock, Jenny; Thornton, Debra; Webb, Anne

2011-03-01

  Previous systematic reviews have indicated limited evidence and poor quality evaluations of clinical librarian (CL) services. Rigorous evaluations should demonstrate the value of CL services, but guidance is needed before this can be achieved.   To undertake a systematic review which examines models of CL services, quality, methods and perspectives of clinical librarian service evaluations.   Systematic review methodology and synthesis of evidence, undertaken collaboratively by a group of 8 librarians to develop research and critical appraisal skills.   There are four clear models of clinical library service provision. Clinical librarians are effective in saving health professionals time, providing relevant, useful information and high quality services. Clinical librarians have a positive effect on clinical decision making by contributing to better informed decisions, diagnosis and choice of drug or therapy. The quality of CL studies is improving, but more work is needed on reducing bias and providing evidence of specific impacts on patient care. The Critical Incident Technique as part of a mixed method approach appears to offer a useful approach to demonstrating impact.   This systematic review provides practical guidance regarding the evaluation of CL services. It also provides updated evidence regarding the effectiveness and impact of CL services. The approach used was successful in developing research and critical appraisal skills in a group of librarians. © 2010 The authors. Health Information and Libraries Journal © 2010 Health Libraries Group.

The Role of Health Advocacy in Transitions from Pediatric to Adult Care for Children with Special Health Care Needs: Bridging Families, Provider and Community Services.

PubMed

Okumura, Megumi J; Saunders, Mara; Rehm, Roberta S

2015-01-01

Youth and young adults with special healthcare needs (YASHCN) experience challenges during transition from pediatric to adult care. Prior studies have not examined how community and healthcare resources can work together to assist YASHCN in transitioning from child-focused care and services to adult-oriented providers. The aim of this study was to develop a theoretical understanding of how family, healthcare providers and community supports can assist YASHCN during the transition from pediatric to adult healthcare and services. We conducted 41 semi-structured interviews with YASHCN aged 16-25, their family members and healthcare and community providers. We focused our interviews on support mechanisms, both within the traditional healthcare system, and those available in the community. Using grounded theory methods, we performed a multi-step analysis process. The theoretical code "Transition Advocacy" was developed from the data. This theoretical perspective arose from three major categories, which were developed in the analysis: "Fighting for healthcare", "Obtaining resources", and "Getting ready to transition". Transition Advocacy consists of the presence of, or need for, a healthcare "advocate" who did or can assist the YASHCN with the healthcare transition, particularly to navigate complex health or community services. The "advocate" role was performed by family members, healthcare or agency professionals, or sometimes the YASHCN themselves. If advocates were identified, youth were more likely to obtain needed services. Parents, health providers, and community agencies are potentially well-poised to assist transitioning YASHCN. Efforts to encourage development of strong advocacy skills will facilitate better transitions for YASHCN. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The Role of Health Advocacy in Transitions from Pediatric to Adult Care for Children with Special Health Care Needs: Bridging Families, Provider and Community Services

PubMed Central

Okumura, Megumi; Saunders, Mara; Rehm, Roberta S.

2015-01-01

Background Youth and young adults with special healthcare needs (YASHCN) experience challenges during transition from pediatric to adult care. Prior studies have not examined how community and healthcare resources can work together to assist YASHCN in transitioning from child-focused care and services to adult-oriented providers. Objective To develop a theoretical understanding of how family, healthcare providers and community supports can assist YASHCN during the transition from pediatric to adult healthcare and services. Design/Methods We conducted 41 semi-structured interviews with YASHCN aged 16-25, their family members and healthcare and community providers. We focused our interviews on support mechanisms, both within the traditional healthcare system, and those available in the community. Using grounded theory methods, we performed a multi-step analysis process. Results The theoretical code “Transition Advocacy” was developed from the data. This theoretical perspective arose from three major categories, which were developed in the analysis: “Fighting for healthcare”, “Obtaining resources”, and “Getting ready to transition”. Transition Advocacy consists of the presence of, or need for, a healthcare ”advocate”’ who did or can assist the YASHCN with the healthcare transition, particularly to navigate complex health or community services. The ”advocate” role was performed by family members, healthcare or agency professionals, or sometimes the YASHCN themselves. If advocates were identified, youth were more likely to obtain needed services. Conclusions Parents, health providers, and community agencies are potentially well-poised to assist transitioning YASHCN. Efforts to encourage development of strong advocacy skills will facilitate better transitions for YASHCN. PMID:26228309

Challenges in accessing sexual and reproductive health services by people with physical disabilities in Kampala, Uganda

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Introduction Despite the universal right to access the same range, quality and standard of free or affordable health care and programs as provided to other persons, people with physical disabilities (PWPDs) continue to experience challenges in accessing these services. This article presents the challenges faced by PWPDs in accessing sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services in Kampala, Uganda. Methods This was a qualitative study that was conducted with male and female PWPDs in Kampala in 2007. Data on the challenges experienced by PWPDs in accessing SRH services were collected using in-depth interviews with 40 PWPDs and key informant interviews with 10 PWPDs’ representatives, staff of agencies supporting PWPDs and health workers. All data were captured verbatim using an audio-tape recorder, entered into a Microsoft Word computer program and analyzed manually following a content thematic approach. Results The study findings show that PWPDs face a multitude of challenges in accessing SRH services including negative attitudes of service providers, long queues at health facilities, distant health facilities, high costs of services involved, unfriendly physical structures and the perception from able-bodied people that PWPDs should be asexual. Conclusion People with physical disabilities (PWPDs) face health facility-related (service provider and facility-related challenges), economic and societal challenges in accessing SRH services. These findings call for a need to sensitize service providers on SRH needs of PWPDs for better support and for the government to enforce the provision of PWPD-friendly services in all health facilities. PMID:25086444

Challenges in accessing sexual and reproductive health services by people with physical disabilities in Kampala, Uganda.

PubMed

Ahumuza, Sharon Eva; Matovu, Joseph K B; Ddamulira, John Bosco; Muhanguzi, Florence Kyoheirwe

2014-08-02

Despite the universal right to access the same range, quality and standard of free or affordable health care and programs as provided to other persons, people with physical disabilities (PWPDs) continue to experience challenges in accessing these services. This article presents the challenges faced by PWPDs in accessing sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services in Kampala, Uganda. This was a qualitative study that was conducted with male and female PWPDs in Kampala in 2007. Data on the challenges experienced by PWPDs in accessing SRH services were collected using in-depth interviews with 40 PWPDs and key informant interviews with 10 PWPDs' representatives, staff of agencies supporting PWPDs and health workers. All data were captured verbatim using an audio-tape recorder, entered into a Microsoft Word computer program and analyzed manually following a content thematic approach. The study findings show that PWPDs face a multitude of challenges in accessing SRH services including negative attitudes of service providers, long queues at health facilities, distant health facilities, high costs of services involved, unfriendly physical structures and the perception from able-bodied people that PWPDs should be asexual. People with physical disabilities (PWPDs) face health facility-related (service provider and facility-related challenges), economic and societal challenges in accessing SRH services. These findings call for a need to sensitize service providers on SRH needs of PWPDs for better support and for the government to enforce the provision of PWPD-friendly services in all health facilities.

A model of integrated primary care for HIV-positive patients with underlying substance use and mental illness.

PubMed

Zaller, N; Gillani, F S; Rich, J D

2007-10-01

There is a high burden of underlying substance use and mental illness in HIV-infected populations. HIV-care settings provide an important opportunity to assess substance and mental health needs among HIV-positive patients and to provide or make referrals for appropriate treatment services. In 2003, with funding from the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), we developed a model of integrated substance-use counselling and referral for treatment within a primary care HIV-care setting at The Miriam Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island. The project uses a multidisciplinary approach to provide linkage to treatment services for substance use and mental illness as well as to help participants with social service needs, such as housing and medical coverage, to ensure continuity of care and optimal HIV treatment adherence. Twelve percent of the 965 HIV-infected patients in care at our center have been enrolled in the project. Of these, all have a current substance-use disorder and 79.3% have been diagnosed with a mental illness. In addition, most participants are hepatitis C-positive (HCV) (65.5%). The majority of participants are on antiretroviral therapy (76.7%). Participants have been referred for the following treatment modalities: intensive outpatient services, methadone, buprenorphine, outpatient services and residential as well as individual and group counselling. Our model has been successful in assessing the substance-use and mental health needs of HIV-infected individuals with numerous co-morbidities and referring them for ancillary medical and social services.

Rethinking Universal Service for a Next Generation Network Environment. OECD Digital Economy Papers, No. 113

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Xavier, Patrick

2006-01-01

There is a clear need, in view of significant competitive, technological and service changes taking place in the telecommunications sector, to review universal service obligations, their coverage, how they are financed and who is responsible for providing them. In many OECD countries, a primary longer term issue is how to provide universal service…

Language Services In Hospitals Vary By Ownership And Location.

PubMed

Schiaffino, Melody K; Nara, Atsushi; Mao, Liang

2016-08-01

Twenty-four million people in the United States have limited English proficiency. They experience barriers to health care because of their inability to communicate effectively with providers. Hospitals are required to provide language services that reflect the needs of people in their communities, but these services are not available systematically. Project HOPE—The People-to-People Health Foundation, Inc.

Training needs assessment of service providers: targeted intervention for HIV/AIDS in Jharkhand, India.

PubMed

Kumar, Anant; Kumar, Prakash

2013-01-01

Training needs assessments are pivotal for any capacity building program. Building capacity of service providers and staff involved in HIV/AIDS intervention programs is crucial because of the distinct nature of such programs. It requires specific knowledge, skills, and attitudes that are of utmost importance, influencing the reach of the program and its impact in halting and reversing the epidemic. This study was conducted to identify the training needs assessment of personnel involved in targeted intervention for high risk populations vulnerable to HIV infection in Jharkhand, India. Through the study the authors critically examine the existing training needs and gaps and suggest strategies to address them.

Hmong mental health needs assessment: a community-based partnership in a small mid-Western community.

PubMed

Collier, Ann Futterman; Munger, Martha; Moua, Yong Kay

2012-03-01

The overall goal of this assessment was to verify the mental health needs of Hmong living in a mid-west community in order clarify the format, content, and feasibility of providing mental health services for Hmong in the future. Using a Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) model, we held four focus groups with 36 men, women, adolescents and professionals, all of Hmong descent, as well as interviewed 28 individual medical, mental health, education, and social service providers in the Eau Claire community. Our Hmong sample was frequently unclear about what "mental" health meant, indicating a low level of mental health literacy. Results confirmed that there are significant mental health needs in this refugee and immigrant population. Participants described problems consistent with depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety disorders, somatoform disorders, and severe social stress and acculturation difficulties in every generation. Elder people and male adolescents were described as the most disaffected and in need of immediate services. It will be critical to address mental health literacy before designing future interventions. Treatment suggestions were provided with the intention of removing barriers and incorporating culturally sensitive methodologies, while continuing to work closely with our local mental health providers and Hmong leadership.

Welcoming max: Increasing pediatric provider knowledge of service dogs.

PubMed

Stace, Laura Britton

2016-08-01

Service dogs have been used in the adult population for decades. Recently, there has been a diversification in types of service dogs, specifically for the pediatric population. Although guide dogs and mobility dogs are accepted in society, autism assistance dogs, seizure alert and response dogs and diabetic alert dogs are relatively new. As pediatric service dogs attract more attention, pediatric providers need to be prepared to answer parental inquires regarding service dog use. The pediatric provider is well equipped to identify children who could benefit from a service dog intervention and should be able to make a referral to a reputable service dog provider. This article presents guidance on appropriate patient selection, making a service dog referral, and risks and benefits involved. Pediatric providers are ideally positioned to be leaders in implementing this evolving new assistive technology that can help to alleviate pediatric disabilities for both the patient and family. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

FM 100-11 Force Integration

DTIC Science & Technology

1998-01-01

formed or available at an Army installation. It as- sesses both the quantity and quality of service deliv- ery, such as how much service is provided...34 That is, determining how much should it cost to provide services to cus- tomers to maintain a given level of quality and still satisfy their needs. d...ence, and ability to sustain the force (judgmental). (9) Quality of soldier and family support services (judgmental). (10) Civilian and military

Market policy as an innovative element of marketing in the Romanian healthcare services – an approach focused on the patient

PubMed Central

Coculescu, BI; Coculescu, EC; Radu, A; Petrescu, L; Purcărea, VL

2015-01-01

The orientation towards one of the marketing policies with a major impact in organizations providing healthcare services, requires a careful analysis of the needs and aspirations of customers, targeting those patients whose needs the service organization can achieve through the existing resources at the respective health facility, finding the most effective way of achieving benefits associated with reduced costs to maximizing profits, placing the offers for medical services required by the patients on the market, as well as promptly reacting and acting to the changes of health services market which is constantly evolving through a flexible organizing and functioning structure, connected to the financial needs of the patients. PMID:26664466

Choosing the Right Free IM Providers and Clients for Your Library

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Izenstark, Amanda K.

2009-01-01

With virtual library services increasing, public services librarians may find themselves with questions such as: What instant messaging services (IM) are available? Which IM service would best suit my patrons' needs? Which IM service best suits my library's technology profile? This column describes the features and functionality of major instant…

Service user involvement for mental health system strengthening in India: a qualitative study.

PubMed

Samudre, Sandesh; Shidhaye, Rahul; Ahuja, Shalini; Nanda, Sharmishtha; Khan, Azaz; Evans-Lacko, Sara; Hanlon, Charlotte

2016-07-28

There is a wide recognition that involvement of service users and their caregivers in health system policy and planning processes can strengthen health systems; however, most evidence and experience has come from high-income countries. This study aimed to explore baseline experiences, barriers and facilitators to service user-caregiver involvement in the emerging mental health system in India, and stakeholders' perspectives on how greater involvement could be achieved. A qualitative study was conducted in Sehore district of Madhya Pradesh, India. In-depth interviews (n = 27) and a focus group discussion were conducted among service users, caregivers and their representatives at district, state and national levels and policy makers, service providers and mental health researchers. The topic guide explored the baseline situation in India, barriers and facilitators to service user and caregiver involvement in the following aspects of mental health systems: policy-making and planning, service development, monitoring and quality control, as well as research. Framework analysis was employed. Respondents spoke of the limited involvement of service users and caregivers in the current Indian mental health system. The major reported barriers to this involvement were (1) unmet treatment and economic needs arising from low access to mental health services coupled with the high burden of illness, (2) pervasive stigmatising attitudes operating at the level of service user, caregiver, community, healthcare provider and healthcare administrators, and (3) entrenched power differentials between service providers and service users. Respondents prioritised greater involvement of service users in the planning of their own individual-level mental health care before considering involvement at the mental health system level. A stepwise progression was endorsed, starting from needs assessment, through empowerment and organization of service users and caregivers, leading finally to meaningful involvement. Societal and system level barriers need to be addressed in order to facilitate the involvement of service users and caregivers to strengthen the Indian mental health system. Shifting from a largely 'provider-centric' to a more 'user-centric' model of mental health care may be a fundamental first step to sustainable user involvement at the system level.

42 CFR 460.78 - Dietary services.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... 42 Public Health 4 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false Dietary services. 460.78 Section 460.78 Public Health CENTERS FOR MEDICARE & MEDICAID SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED... adequately. (3) The PACE organization must provide nutrition support to meet the daily nutritional needs of a...

42 CFR 460.78 - Dietary services.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 42 Public Health 4 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Dietary services. 460.78 Section 460.78 Public Health CENTERS FOR MEDICARE & MEDICAID SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED... adequately. (3) The PACE organization must provide nutrition support to meet the daily nutritional needs of a...

42 CFR 460.78 - Dietary services.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... 42 Public Health 4 2014-10-01 2014-10-01 false Dietary services. 460.78 Section 460.78 Public Health CENTERS FOR MEDICARE & MEDICAID SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED... adequately. (3) The PACE organization must provide nutrition support to meet the daily nutritional needs of a...

42 CFR 460.78 - Dietary services.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 42 Public Health 4 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Dietary services. 460.78 Section 460.78 Public Health CENTERS FOR MEDICARE & MEDICAID SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED... adequately. (3) The PACE organization must provide nutrition support to meet the daily nutritional needs of a...

42 CFR 460.78 - Dietary services.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... 42 Public Health 4 2012-10-01 2012-10-01 false Dietary services. 460.78 Section 460.78 Public Health CENTERS FOR MEDICARE & MEDICAID SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED... adequately. (3) The PACE organization must provide nutrition support to meet the daily nutritional needs of a...

One-Stop Shop

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Protheroe, Nancy

2010-01-01

Full-service community schools do more than educate; they partner with the community to provide the supports and services that students and families need through one comprehensive, coordinated effort. By offering services on-site, full-service schools can help eliminate some barriers that families face such as problems with transportation, lack of…

42 CFR 494.130 - Condition: Laboratory services.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 42 Public Health 5 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Condition: Laboratory services. 494.130 Section 494... Patient Care § 494.130 Condition: Laboratory services. The dialysis facility must provide, or make available, laboratory services (other than tissue pathology and histocompatibility) to meet the needs of the...

42 CFR 494.130 - Condition: Laboratory services.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 42 Public Health 5 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Condition: Laboratory services. 494.130 Section 494... Patient Care § 494.130 Condition: Laboratory services. The dialysis facility must provide, or make available, laboratory services (other than tissue pathology and histocompatibility) to meet the needs of the...

[Restructuring the healthcare system: redesigning based on needs].

PubMed

Szentes, Tamás; Vályi-Nagy, István

2015-01-18

The main task of a healthcare system is the provision of the healthcare services demanded by the population. These needs are mostly defined by the epidemiological status, which has been significantly changed during the last century. Due to development of medical science and technology, the main health problems in modern industrial societies are related to chronic diseases rather than infectious diseases occurring at the beginning of the 20th century. However, healthcare services provided by health institutions are still reactive, formed as reactions to current conditions, and they are hardly suited to requirements related to chronic diseases. This paper outlines international and national healthcare models and their shortcomings, and it traces novel paths of a future solution. The structure of the optimal model is suited to systematically produce the services which are needed by the population, decisively in the case of chronic, non communicable diseases. This can significantly relieve the expensive, technology-based reactive care system, nevertheless, it can provide efficient services in case of tertiary prevention. The configuration of this system is cheap, there is no need of significant infrastructure, but needs massive human resource, so that it can be rationally designed in parallel with the constriction of the reactive care system.

Garrison Institute on Aging-Lubbock Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) Provides Services to South Plains, Texas.

PubMed

Blackmon, Joan; Boles, Annette N; Reddy, P Hemachandra

2015-01-01

The Texas Tech University Health Sciences (TTUHSC) Garrison Institute on Aging (GIA) was established to promote healthy aging through cutting edge research on Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other diseases of aging, through innovative educational and community outreach opportunities for students, clinicians, researchers, health care providers, and the public. The GIA sponsors the Lubbock Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP). According to RSVP Operations Handbook, RSVP is one of the largest volunteer efforts in the nation. Through this program, volunteer skills and talents can be matched to assist with community needs. It is a federally funded program under the guidance of the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) and Senior Corps (SC). Volunteers that participate in RSVP provide service in the following areas: food security, environmental awareness building and education, community need-based volunteer programs, and veteran services.

Garrison Institute on Aging—Lubbock Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) Provides Services to South Plains, Texas

PubMed Central

Blackmon, Joan; Boles, Annette N.; Reddy, P. Hemachandra

2015-01-01

The Texas Tech University Health Sciences (TTUHSC) Garrison Institute on Aging (GIA) was established to promote healthy aging through cutting edge research on Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other diseases of aging, through innovative educational and community outreach opportunities for students, clinicians, researchers, health care providers, and the public. The GIA sponsors the Lubbock Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP). According to RSVP Operations Handbook, RSVP is one of the largest volunteer efforts in the nation. Through this program, volunteer skills and talents can be matched to assist with community needs. It is a federally funded program under the guidance of the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) and Senior Corps (SC). Volunteers that participate in RSVP provide service in the following areas: food security, environmental awareness building and education, community need-based volunteer programs, and veteran services. PMID:26696877

Outsourcing mental health care services? The practice and potential of community-based farms in psychiatric rehabilitation.

PubMed

Iancu, Sorana C; Zweekhorst, Marjolein B M; Veltman, Dick J; van Balkom, Anton J L M; Bunders, Joske F G

2015-02-01

Psychiatric rehabilitation supports individuals with mental disorders to acquire the skills needed for independent lives in communities. This article assesses the potential of outsourcing psychiatric rehabilitation by analysing care farm services in the Netherlands. Service characteristics were analysed across 214 care farms retrieved from a national database. Qualitative insights were provided by five case descriptions, selected from 34 interviews. Institutional care farms were significantly larger and older than private care farms (comprising 88.8% of all care farms). Private, independent care farms provide real-life work conditions to users who are relatively less impaired. Private, contracted care farms tailor the work activities to their capacities and employ professional supervisors. Institutional care farms accommodate for the most vulnerable users. We conclude that collaborations with independent, contracted and institutional care farms would provide mental health care organizations with a diversity in services, enhanced community integration and a better match with users' rehabilitation needs.

Development and validation of a child health workforce competence framework.

PubMed

Smith, Lynda; Hawkins, Jean; McCrum, Anita

2011-05-01

Providing high quality, effective services is fundamental to the delivery of key health outcomes for children and young people. This requires a competent workforce. This paper reports on the development of a validated competence framework tool for the children and young people's health workforce. The framework brings together policy, strategic agendas and existing workforce competences. The framework will contribute to the improvement of children's physical and mental wellbeing by identifying competences required to provide proactive services that respond to children and young people with acute, continuing and complex needs. It details five core competences for the workforce, the functions that underpin them and levels of competence required to deliver a particular service. The framework will be of value to commissioners to inform contracting, to providers to ensure services are delivered by a workforce with relevant competences to meet identified needs, and to the workforce to assess existing capabilities and identify gaps in competence.

Homeless youths' interpersonal perspectives of health care providers.

PubMed

Hudson, Angela L; Nyamathi, Adeline; Sweat, Jeff

2008-12-01

In the United States, youth run away from home due to poor interpersonal relationships with parents or guardians; often times, they have been the recipients of parental neglect or abuse. As youth become increasingly entrenched in street-based living and problem substance use, their ability to rehabilitate their lives is incumbent upon trusting and engaging relationships with adult service providers. A total of 54 substance-using homeless youth (18-25 years) participated in focus groups to provide their perspectives on encounters and interpersonal relationships with health care providers. Participants were recruited from shelters in Hollywood, California, and from a drop-in shelter in Santa Monica, California. Four themes related to interpersonal barriers to care from service providers were identified: authoritative communication, one-way communication, disrespect, and empathy. Participants appreciate care providers who convey information in a helpful, meaningful manner and prefer providers who can, themselves, share similar life experiences. Implications point to the need for agencies and services specifically tailored to homeless, drug-using youth. These agencies should employ care providers who are trained to understand the developmental needs and histories of runaway youth. For proper reintegration of this vulnerable population into mainstream society, the narratives of these youth underscore the necessity of targeted services.

Need for information in a representative sample of outpatients with schizophrenia disorders.

PubMed

Andrade, Mário César Rezende; Slade, Mike; Bandeira, Marina; Evans-Lacko, Sara; Martin, Denise; Andreoli, Sérgio Baxter

2018-05-01

Providing adequate information and involving patients in treatment have become an essential component of mental health care. Despite this, research regarding the extent to which this need has been met in clinical services is still scarce. To investigate the need for information about psychiatric condition and treatment among outpatients with schizophrenia disorders and how this need is associated with service use, adjusting for sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. Need for information about condition and treatment, using the corresponding domain in the Camberwell Assessment of Need (CAN), in a representative sample of 401 schizophrenia outpatients in Santos, Brazil was assessed. Hierarchical logistic regression was used to investigate the association of information as a reported need and as an unmet need with service use variables, adjusting for sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. Need for information was reported by 214 (53.4%) patients, being met in 101 (25.2%) and unmet in 113 (28.2%). Hierarchical regression indicated a significant association of a reported need with higher age of onset, family monitoring medication use last year and lower education level, which was only associated with an unmet need. Information was a commonly reported need and which was often unmet, showing no significant association with service use. Greater attention should be given by mental health services to information provision.

Forty Projects by Groups of Kids.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

National Commission on Resources for Youth, Inc., New York, NY.

Ways in which young people have delivered needed services to their communities and have improved on previously established systems for delivering these services are described. The forty projects suggest some of the ways to provide teenagers with learning experiences that meet their own particular needs and, at the same time, offer a genuine and…

Improvements in School Climate Associated with Enhanced Health and Welfare Services for Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Anderson, Angelika; Thomas, David R.; Moore, Dennis W.; Kool, Bridget

2008-01-01

School improvement initiatives are needed to better meet the needs of underprivileged students, to reduce underachievement and to break a continuing cycle of disadvantage. This article describes part of a school improvement initiative in New Zealand that provided additional funding for school nurse and social worker services in nine secondary…

Adults with Special Needs. A Resource and Planning Guide for Wisconsin's Public Libraries.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Huntington, Barbara; Swanson, Coral

This publication is intended to assist Wisconsin's public libraries and public library systems in providing service to adults with special needs (ASN). Twelve chapters cover the following topics: (1) planning for success, including planning services and measuring progress; (2) a Wisconsin vision for the future, including creating the vision and…

Current and Projected Modes of Delivery of Veterinary Medical Services to Animal Agriculture: Industrial/Commercial Services.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Glick, Phillip Ray

1980-01-01

Veterinary education must re-establish its teaching objectives. Students need practical knowledge in areas such as business management, communications, marketing, public relations, facility management, and personnel management. Industry must also meet its obligations to continue to provide safe, dependable products that fill a practice need. (MLW)

Restructuring to Promote Collaboration and Exceed User Needs: The Blackwell Library Access Services Experience

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chakraborty, Mou; English, Michael; Payne, Sharon

2013-01-01

Through vision, leadership, and creativity, Salisbury University's Blackwell Library transformed its access services department structurally and philosophically to better position itself to meet, and strive to exceed, today's user needs and expectations. Restructuring and the introduction of new leadership and new ideas provided the foundation for…

Addressing the Needs of Diverse Distributed Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shimoni, Rena; Barrington, Gail; Wilde, Russ; Henwood, Scott

2013-01-01

Two interrelated studies were undertaken to assist Alberta post-secondary institutions with meeting challenges associated with providing services to diverse distributed students that are of similar quality to services provided to traditional classroom students. The first study identified and assessed best practices in distributed learning; the…

Hospitality Services Reference Book.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Texas Tech Univ., Lubbock. Home Economics Curriculum Center.

This reference book provides information needed by employees in hospitality services occupations. It includes 29 chapters that cover the following topics: the hospitality services industry; professional ethics; organization and management structures; safety practices and emergency procedures; technology; property maintenance and repair; purchasing…

A Case Study: Service Delivery and Parents with Disabilities.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pomerantz, Phyllis; And Others

1990-01-01

Describes a home-based intervention program that provided time-intensive, supervised, paraprofessional services to a family in which parents and infant had serious disabilities. Programmatic needs and delivery of services to disabled parents and families are discussed. (NH)

Characteristics of treatment provided for amphetamine use in New South Wales, Australia.

PubMed

McKetin, Rebecca; Kelly, Erin; Indig, Devon

2005-09-01

The purpose of this study was to examine the types of treatment services provided for amphetamine use, the characteristics of amphetamine treatment clients and the geographic areas most affected by amphetamine treatment provision within New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Data on completed amphetamine treatment episodes were extracted from the NSW Minimum Data Set for Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Services for the year 2002/03 (n = 4,337). The geographic area of treatment presentations was based on the location of the treatment service, and was categorized as metropolitan, regional or rural. Treatment disproportionately affected regional and rural NSW, and treatment clients often presented with concurrent cannabis and/or alcohol problems. Clients were overwhelmingly injecting drug users with poor socio-demographic characteristics. Counselling was the most common treatment service provided, followed by detoxification and residential rehabilitation. Detoxification was usually provided in an in-patient setting, particularly within metropolitan NSW. Compliance with residential rehabilitation was notably poor. In conclusion, the development of appropriate interventions for amphetamine use needs to consider that the majority of treatment recipients will be based in a regional or rural setting, and treating amphetamine users will often involve treatment of concurrent cannabis and alcohol problems. The nature and appropriateness of treatment services provided for amphetamine use needs to be reviewed in detail, and further research is needed into the nature of problematic amphetamine use and factors affecting treatment demand in regional and rural NSW.

An Evaluation of the HVAC Load Potential for Providing Load Balancing Service

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lu, Ning

This paper investigates the potential of providing aggregated intra-hour load balancing services using heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems. A direct-load control algorithm is presented. A temperature-priority-list method is used to dispatch the HVAC loads optimally to maintain consumer-desired indoor temperatures and load diversity. Realistic intra-hour load balancing signals were used to evaluate the operational characteristics of the HVAC load under different outdoor temperature profiles and different indoor temperature settings. The number of HVAC units needed is also investigated. Modeling results suggest that the number of HVACs needed to provide a {+-}1-MW load balancing service 24 hours a day variesmore » significantly with baseline settings, high and low temperature settings, and the outdoor temperatures. The results demonstrate that the intra-hour load balancing service provided by HVAC loads meet the performance requirements and can become a major source of revenue for load-serving entities where the smart grid infrastructure enables direct load control over the HAVC loads.« less

Natural and human impacts on ecosystem services in Guanzhong - Tianshui economic region of China.

PubMed

Li, Jing; Zhou, Z X

2016-04-01

Due to the accelerated growth of society, the gaps between the capacity of ecosystems to provide services and human needs are steadily widening. Natural, semi-natural, or managed ecosystems had been able to provide ecosystem services to meet the needs of social development. Four agricultural ecosystem services (net primary production (NPP), carbon sequestration and oxygen production (CSOP), water interception, soil conservation and agriculture production) were quantified in Guanzhong-Tianshui economic region. Estimates of ecosystem services were obtained from the analysis of satellite imagery and the use of well-known models. Based on the ecological services in Guanzhong-Tianshui economic region, this study mainly analysed the driving mechanism of the changes from the two aspects of natural drivers and human drivers. Natural drivers (climate, soil, elevation, land cover) had incentive to the ecological services. Human activity was quantified by an integrated human activity index (HAI) based on population density, farmland ratio, and the influence of road networks and residential areas. We found relationships between ecosystem services, human activities and many natural factors, however these varied according to the service studied. Human activities were mostly negatively related to each ecosystem services, while population and residential land ware positively related to agricultural production. Land use change had made a contribution to ecosystem services. Based on the selected ecosystem services and HAI, we provided sustainable ecosystem management suggestions.

Mental Health Service Use Among Adolescents with an Autism Spectrum Disorder

PubMed Central

Narendorf, Sarah Carter; Shattuck, Paul T.; Sterzing, Paul R.

2012-01-01

Objective This study examined prevalence and correlates of mental health service use among adolescents with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Methods Data from the National Longitudinal Transition Study-2 (NLTS2) was used to examine mental health service use among youth with an ASD (n=920). Nationally representative estimates generalize to students enrolled in the special education autism category. Regression models examined the association of predisposing, enabling, and need factors with service use overall then with receiving these services at school. Results Overall, 46% had used a mental health service in the past year. Of those that received a service, 49% had received it at school. Need variables were the strongest correlates of service use. African American youths, and youths from lower income families were more likely to receive school-based services. Conclusion The school plays a key role in providing services, especially for vulnerable populations. Focused attention on these youths is needed to ensure continuity of care as they leave high school. PMID:21807842

Medical abortion: understanding perspectives of rural and marginalized women from rural South India.

PubMed

Sri, B Subha; Ravindran, T K Sundari

2012-09-01

To understand how rural and other groups of marginalized women define safe abortion; their perspectives and concerns regarding medical abortion (MA); and what factors affect their access to safe abortion. Focus group discussions were held with various groups of rural and marginalized women in Tamil Nadu to understand their perspectives and concerns on abortion, especially MA. Nearly a decade after mifepristone was approved for abortion in India, most study participants had never heard of MA. When they learned of the method, most preferred it over other methods of abortion. The women also had questions and concerns about the method and recommendations on how services should be provided. Their definition of a "safe abortion" included criteria beyond medical safety. They placed a high priority on "social safety," including confidentiality and privacy. In their view, factors affecting access to safe abortion and choice of provider included cost, assurance of secrecy, promptness of service provision, and absence of provider gatekeeping and provider-imposed conditions for receiving services. Women's preference for MA shows the potential of this technology to address the problem of unsafe abortion in India. Women need better access to information and services to realize this potential, however. Women's preferences regarding information dissemination and service provision need to be taken into account if policies and programs are to be truly responsive to the needs of marginalized women. Copyright © 2012. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

Adolescents Confusion in Receiving Health Services: A Qualitative Study

PubMed Central

Azh, Nezal; Ozgoli, Giti; Ardalan, Gelayol

2017-01-01

Introduction Providing health services for adolescents requires exploration of hidden factors from the perspective of adolescents, providers, and key individuals. Understanding the process of providing health services from adolescents point of view will help receiving and continuation of services. Although many studies have been conducted in Iran on adolescents health needs, few studies have dealt with provision of these services to adolescents. Aim The present study aimed to explain the adolescents and key informants’ perception of healthcare provision. Materials and Methods The present qualitative study was conducted according to grounded theory. Data were collected using deep semi-structured individual interviews and group discussion. Participants were selected through purposive sampling followed by theoretical sampling. Participants in present study were 65 adolescents, nine youths (19-24-year-old), and 19 parents and key people involved in providing health services. Adolescents and their parents were selected from different parts of Tehran. Data collection continued until data saturation, and was analysed using Corbin-Strauss (2008) method. Results Issues relating to adolescents perception of the process of providing services included health concerns, society’s inappropriate behaviours, and weakness of the health services system in responding to adolescents needs, which as underlying factors contributed to adolescents confusion in receiving services and their proper coping with puberty. Conclusion Due to lack of education on how to manage puberty by parents, schools, society, and the health system, participating adolescents from Tehran were confused about receiving information and unable to manage puberty problems. Solving this problem requires continuity of services and interaction of family, school and community. PMID:28658809

Telemedical applications and grid technology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Graschew, Georgi; Roelofs, Theo A.; Rakowsky, Stefan; Schlag, Peter M.; Kaiser, Silvan; Albayrak, Sahin

2005-11-01

Due to the experience in the exploitation of previous European telemedicine projects an open Euro-Mediterranean consortium proposes the Virtual Euro-Mediterranean Hospital (VEMH) initiative. The provision of the same advanced technologies to the European and Mediterranean Countries should contribute to their better dialogue for integration. VEMH aims to facilitate the interconnection of various services through real integration which must take into account the social, human and cultural dimensions. VEMH will provide a platform consisting of a satellite and terrestrial link for the application of medical e-learning, real-time telemedicine and medical assistance. The methodologies for the VEMH are medical-needs-driven instead of technology-driven. They supply new management tools for virtual medical communities and allow management of clinical outcomes for implementation of evidence-based medicine. Due to the distributed character of the VEMH Grid technology becomes inevitable for successful deployment of the services. Existing Grid Engines provide basic computing power needed by today's medical analysis tasks but lack other capabilities needed for communication and knowledge sharing services envisioned. When it comes to heterogeneous systems to be shared by different institutions especially the high level system management areas are still unsupported. Therefore a Metagrid Engine is needed that provides a superset of functionalities across different Grid Engines and manages strong privacy and Quality of Service constraints at this comprehensive level.

Audit Today, Revocation Tomorrow?

PubMed

Miserez, Kevin R

2015-01-01

Federal regulations grant the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) the authority to revoke a healthcare provider's Medicare billing privileges for submitting claims for services that could not have been provided on the purported date of service, such as billing for deceased beneficiaries. A Final Rule became effective in 2015 extending the authority of CMS to revoke a provider's billing privileges if CMS determines that the provider has a pattern or practice of billing for services that do not meet Medicare requirements. Violations under the Final Rule include situations in which a provider regularly and repeatedly submits claims for medically unnecessary services. While historically a provider's noncompliance exposed the provider to overpayment refund demands resulting from CMS audit activity, this new revocation authority emphasizes an even greater need for providers to ensure their billing and documentation practices are in compliance with Medicare reimbursement requirements.

Twenty-first-century medical microbiology services in the UK.

PubMed

Duerden, Brian

2005-12-01

With infection once again a high priority for the UK National Health Service (NHS), the medical microbiology and infection-control services require increased technology resources and more multidisciplinary staff. Clinical care and health protection need a coordinated network of microbiology services working to consistent standards, provided locally by NHS Trusts and supported by the regional expertise and national reference laboratories of the new Health Protection Agency. Here, I outline my thoughts on the need for these new resources and the ways in which clinical microbiology services in the UK can best meet the demands of the twenty-first century.

Stigmatized by association: challenges for abortion service providers in Ghana.

PubMed

Aniteye, Patience; O'Brien, Beverley; Mayhew, Susannah H

2016-09-10

Unsafe abortion is an issue of public health concern and contributes significantly to maternal morbidity and mortality globally. Abortion evokes religious, moral, ethical, socio-cultural and medical concerns which mean it is highly stigmatized and this poses a threat to both providers and researchers. This study sought to explore challenges to providing safe abortion services from the perspective of health providers in Ghana. A descriptive qualitative study using in-depth interviews was conducted. The study was conducted in three (3) hospitals and five (5) health centres in the capital city in Ghana. Participants (n = 36) consisted of obstetrician/gynaecologists, nurse-midwives and pharmacists. Stigma affects provision of safe-abortion services in Ghana in a number of ways. The ambiguities in Ghanaian abortion law and lack of overt institutional support for practitioners increased reluctance to openly provide for fear of stigmatisation and legal threat. Negative provider attitudes that stigmatised women seeking abortion care were frequently driven by socio-cultural and religious norms that highly stigmatise abortion practice. Exposure to higher levels of education, including training overseas, seemed to result in more positive, less stigmatising views towards the need for safe abortion services. Nevertheless, physicians open to practicing abortion were still very concerned about stigma by association. Stigma constitutes an overarching impediment for abortion service provision. It affects health providers providing such services and even researchers who study the subject. Exposure to wider debate and education seem to influence attitudes and values clarification training may prove useful. Proper dissemination of existing guidelines and overt institutional support for provision of safe services also needs to be rolled out.

45 CFR 2533.10 - Eligible activities.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... following activities: (i) Assist entities carrying out State or local community service programs with needs assessments and planning; (ii) Conduct research and evaluations concerning community service; (iii) Provide...

45 CFR 2533.10 - Eligible activities.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... following activities: (i) Assist entities carrying out State or local community service programs with needs assessments and planning; (ii) Conduct research and evaluations concerning community service; (iii) Provide...

Improving palliative care outcomes for Aboriginal Australians: service providers’ perspectives

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background Aboriginal Australians have a lower rate of utilisation of palliative care services than the general population. This study aimed to explore care providers’ experiences and concerns in providing palliative care for Aboriginal people, and to identify opportunities for overcoming gaps in understanding between them and their Aboriginal patients and families. Methods In-depth, qualitative interviews with urban, rural and remote palliative care providers were undertaken in inpatient and community settings in Western Australia. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and coded independently by two researchers with QSR NVivo 10 software used to help manage data. Data analysis was informed by multiple theoretical standpoints, including the social ecological model, critical cultural theories and the ‘cultural security’ framework. Thematic analysis was carried out that identified patterns within data. Results Fifteen palliative care providers were interviewed. Overall they reported lack of understanding of Aboriginal culture and being uncertain of the needs and priorities of Aboriginal people during end-of-life care. According to several participants, very few Aboriginal people had an understanding of palliative care. Managing issues such as anger, denial, the need for non-medical support due to socioeconomic disadvantage, and dealing with crises and conflicts over funeral arrangements were reported as some of the tensions between Aboriginal patients and families and the service providers. Conclusion Early referral to palliative care is important in demonstrating and maintaining a caring therapeutic relationship. Paramount to meeting the needs for Aboriginal patients was access to appropriate information and logistical, psychological and emotional support. These were often seen as essential but additional to standard palliative care services. The broader context of Aboriginal history and historical distrust of mainstream services was seen to impinge on Aboriginal people’s willingness and ability to accept care and support from these services. This context needs to be understood and acknowledged at the system level. More cultural safety training was requested by care providers but it was not seen as replacing the need for an Aboriginal worker in the palliative care team. PMID:23875957

Cross-sector Service Provision in Health and Social Care: An Umbrella Review.

PubMed

Winters, Shannon; Magalhaes, Lilian; Anne Kinsella, Elizabeth; Kothari, Anita

2016-04-08

Meeting the complex health needs of people often requires interaction among numerous different sectors. No one service can adequately respond to the diverse care needs of consumers. Providers working more effectively together is frequently touted as the solution. Cross-sector service provision is defined as independent, yet interconnected sectors working together to better meet the needs of consumers and improve the quality and effectiveness of service provision. Cross-sector service provision is expected, yet much remains unknown about how it is conceptualised or its impact on health status. This umbrella review aims to clarify the critical attributes that shape cross-sector service provision by presenting the current state of the literature and building on the findings of the 2004 review by Sloper. Literature related to cross-sector service provision is immense, which poses a challenge for decision makers wishing to make evidence-informed decisions. An umbrella review was conducted to articulate the overall state of cross-sector service provision literature and examine the evidence to allow for the discovery of consistencies and discrepancies across the published knowledge base. Sixteen reviews met the inclusion criteria. Seven themes emerged: Focusing on the consumer, developing a shared vision of care, leadership involvement, service provision across the boundaries, adequately resourcing the arrangement, developing novel arrangements or aligning with existing relationships, and strengthening connections between sectors. Future research from a cross-organisational, rather than individual provider, perspective is needed to better understand what shapes cross-sector service provision at the boundaries. Findings aligned closely with the work done by Sloper and raise red flags related to reinventing what is already known. Future researchers should look to explore novel areas rather than looking into areas that have been explored at length. Evaluations of out-comes related to cross-sector service provision are still needed before any claims about effectiveness can be made.

Cross-sector Service Provision in Health and Social Care: An Umbrella Review

PubMed Central

Magalhaes, Lilian; Anne Kinsella, Elizabeth; Kothari, Anita

2016-01-01

Introduction: Meeting the complex health needs of people often requires interaction among numerous different sectors. No one service can adequately respond to the diverse care needs of consumers. Providers working more effectively together is frequently touted as the solution. Cross-sector service provision is defined as independent, yet interconnected sectors working together to better meet the needs of consumers and improve the quality and effectiveness of service provision. Cross-sector service provision is expected, yet much remains unknown about how it is conceptualised or its impact on health status. This umbrella review aims to clarify the critical attributes that shape cross-sector service provision by presenting the current state of the literature and building on the findings of the 2004 review by Sloper. Methods: Literature related to cross-sector service provision is immense, which poses a challenge for decision makers wishing to make evidence-informed decisions. An umbrella review was conducted to articulate the overall state of cross-sector service provision literature and examine the evidence to allow for the discovery of consistencies and discrepancies across the published knowledge base. Findings: Sixteen reviews met the inclusion criteria. Seven themes emerged: Focusing on the consumer, developing a shared vision of care, leadership involvement, service provision across the boundaries, adequately resourcing the arrangement, developing novel arrangements or aligning with existing relationships, and strengthening connections between sectors. Future research from a cross-organisational, rather than individual provider, perspective is needed to better understand what shapes cross-sector service provision at the boundaries. Conclusion: Findings aligned closely with the work done by Sloper and raise red flags related to reinventing what is already known. Future researchers should look to explore novel areas rather than looking into areas that have been explored at length. Evaluations of out-comes related to cross-sector service provision are still needed before any claims about effectiveness can be made. PMID:27616954

Identifying barriers and improving communication between cancer service providers and Aboriginal patients and their families: the perspective of service providers

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background Aboriginal Australians experience poorer outcomes from cancer compared to the non-Aboriginal population. Some progress has been made in understanding Aboriginal Australians’ perspectives about cancer and their experiences with cancer services. However, little is known of cancer service providers’ (CSPs) thoughts and perceptions regarding Aboriginal patients and their experiences providing optimal cancer care to Aboriginal people. Communication between Aboriginal patients and non-Aboriginal health service providers has been identified as an impediment to good Aboriginal health outcomes. This paper reports on CSPs’ views about the factors impairing communication and offers practical strategies for promoting effective communication with Aboriginal patients in Western Australia (WA). Methods A qualitative study involving in-depth interviews with 62 Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal CSPs from across WA was conducted between March 2006 - September 2007 and April-October 2011. CSPs were asked to share their experiences with Aboriginal patients and families experiencing cancer. Thematic analysis was carried out. Our analysis was primarily underpinned by the socio-ecological model, but concepts of Whiteness and privilege, and cultural security also guided our analysis. Results CSPs’ lack of knowledge about the needs of Aboriginal people with cancer and Aboriginal patients’ limited understanding of the Western medical system were identified as the two major impediments to communication. For effective patient–provider communication, attention is needed to language, communication style, knowledge and use of medical terminology and cross-cultural differences in the concept of time. Aboriginal marginalization within mainstream society and Aboriginal people’s distrust of the health system were also key issues impacting on communication. Potential solutions to effective Aboriginal patient-provider communication included recruiting more Aboriginal staff, providing appropriate cultural training for CSPs, cancer education for Aboriginal stakeholders, continuity of care, avoiding use of medical jargon, accommodating patients’ psychosocial and logistical needs, and in-service coordination. Conclusion Individual CSPs identified challenges in cross-cultural communication and their willingness to accommodate culture-specific needs within the wider health care system including better communication with Aboriginal patients. However, participants’ comments indicated a lack of concerted effort at the system level to address Aboriginal disadvantage in cancer outcomes. PMID:24188503

HR Shared Services and the Realignment of HR.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Reilly, P.

This report examines how adopting the shared services model of human resources (HR) services delivery can help businesses achieve better alignment between their HR service and specific business needs. Chapter 1 provides background information on the research project underlying this report, which included the following data collection activities:…

Use of Campus Support Services by Ontario College Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dietsche, Peter

2012-01-01

Offering an array of support services to meet the diverse needs of post-secondary learners assumes that these services improve success by providing students with compensatory resources and opportunities for engagement (Purnell & Blank, 2004). Little Canadian research, however, has examined students' use of support services. This study…

Shifting Practices Toward Recovery-Oriented Care Through an E-Recovery Portal in Community Mental Health Care: A Mixed-Methods Exploratory Study.

PubMed

Gammon, Deede; Strand, Monica; Eng, Lillian Sofie; Børøsund, Elin; Varsi, Cecilie; Ruland, Cornelia

2017-05-02

Mental health care is shifting from a primary focus on symptom reduction toward personal recovery-oriented care, especially for persons with long-term mental health care needs. Web-based portals may facilitate this shift, but little is known about how such tools are used or the role they may play in personal recovery. The aim was to illustrate uses and experiences with the secure e-recovery portal "ReConnect" as an adjunct to ongoing community mental health care and explore its potential role in shifting practices toward recovery. ReConnect was introduced into two Norwegian mental health care communities and used for 6 months. The aim was to support personal recovery and collaboration between service users and health care providers. Among inclusion criteria for participation were long-term care needs and at least one provider willing to interact with service users through ReConnect. The portal was designed to support ongoing collaboration as each service user-provider dyad/team found appropriate and consisted of (1) a toolbox of resources for articulating and working with recovery processes, such as status/goals/activities relative to life domains (eg, employment, social network, health), medications, network map, and exercises (eg, sleep hygiene, mindfulness); (2) messaging with providers who had partial access to toolbox content; and (3) a peer support forum. Quantitative data (ie, system log, questionnaires) were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Qualitative data (eg, focus groups, forum postings) are presented relative to four recovery-oriented practice domains: personally defined recovery, promoting citizenship, working relationships, and organizational commitment. Fifty-six participants (29 service users and 27 providers) made up 29 service user-provider dyads. Service users reported having 11 different mental health diagnoses, with a median 2 (range 1-7) diagnoses each. The 27 providers represented nine different professional backgrounds. The forum was the most frequently used module with 1870 visits and 542 postings. Service users' control over toolbox resources (eg, defining and working toward personal goals), coupled with peer support, activated service users in their personal recovery processes and in community engagement. Some providers (30%, 8/27) did not interact with service users through ReConnect. Dyads that used the portal resources did so in highly diverse ways, and participants reported needing more than 6 months to discover and adapt optimal uses relative to their individual and collaborative needs. Regardless of providers' portal use, service users' control over toolbox resources, coupled with peer support, offered an empowering common frame of reference that represented a shift toward recovery-oriented practices within communities. Although service users' autonomous use of the portal can eventually influence providers in the direction of recovery practices, a fundamental shift is unlikely without broader organizational commitments aligned with recovery principles (eg, quantified goals for service user involvement in care plans). ©Deede Gammon, Monica Strand, Lillian Sofie Eng, Elin Børøsund, Cecilie Varsi, Cornelia Ruland. Originally published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (http://www.jmir.org), 02.05.2017.

Self-perceived healthcare needs for African American women in street-level prostitution: strategies for interventions.

PubMed

Prince, Lola M

2013-01-01

Prostituted women have a unique combination of overall healthcare needs. This qualitative study explored the general health and perceived healthcare needs for eleven women. Lack of access to affordable culturally sensitive health clinics, individual mental health counseling, and healthy nutrition were unmet needs. Cultural sensitivity training and formation of partnerships among health care providers at Federally Qualified Health Centers with those in the social service and behavioral health fields could facilitate the provision of integrated healthcare services.

The experiences and needs of individuals with disabilities exposed to chronic political violence.

PubMed

Shpigelman, Carmit-Noa; Gelkopf, Marc

2017-01-01

Purpose The main objective of this study was to understand, describe and map the experiences, challenges and needs of individuals with lifelong disabilities, who have been exposed to chronic politically violent events (terror, war or continuous missile attacks) in Israel. Method The study was conducted within the qualitative-constructivist paradigm. Three focus groups consisting of 18 individuals with lifelong disabilities were conducted; each focus group included a specific disability type (physical, visual and hearing impairment). Results The participants reported encountering environmental barriers, such as inaccessibly of the physical environment and information as well as dependency on others. These barriers limited the participants' functioning during emergency period and thus increased their level of distress. The participants also emphasized their physical, social and psychological needs. Conclusions The needs of individuals with disabilities in emergency situations can be met if they have a safe place to stay in, are with someone else, and plan every daily action in advance. It is also imperative to provide accessible services and information. Furthermore, it is recommended to develop training sessions for individuals with disabilities and for service providers regarding how to locate, communicate with and assist individuals with disabilities during security threat situations. Implications for Rehabilitation Successful coping of individuals with lifelong disabilities with chronic politically violent events depends on personal and organizational accommodations. Besides an accessible physical environment, the information provided should be available and accessible through mass media and assistive technologies. A comprehensive emergency service for various disabilities is needed. Service providers should be trained on how to locate, communicate with, and assist individuals with disabilities during security threat situations.

The Flexible Care Service: a third-sector service for older people with mental health needs.

PubMed

Ryder, Elaine

2015-01-01

Demographic patterns indicate that by 2030, one in five people in England will be over 65. Together with the fact that as people age they are more likely to suffer from comorbidities, it is of paramount importance that local services are designed to meet the needs of individual older people. The Flexible Care Service is a resource for older people with mental health problems. Through the use of client case studies, the Department of Health's 'six Cs' (care, compassion, competence, communication, courage and commitment) are used as a framework to demonstrate how a third-sector service such as Flexible Care can offer a person-centred approach in order to meet the diverse needs of individual clients. The framework is also used to demonstrate the high level of skills needed by flexible carers in order to provide this support.

A Framework for Providing Culturally Responsive Early Intervention Services

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bradshaw, Wendy

2013-01-01

The purpose of this article is to provide a framework that offers a way for early intervention (EI) service providers to better meet the needs of the culturally diverse children and families they serve. This framework was created to organize existing research and literature on cultural responsiveness in a way that fit the unique context of EI. The…

Acceptance of Swedish e-health services.

PubMed

Jung, Mary-Louise; Loria, Karla

2010-11-16

To investigate older people's acceptance of e-health services, in order to identify determinants of, and barriers to, their intention to use e-health. Based on one of the best-established models of technology acceptance, Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), in-depth exploratory interviews with twelve individuals over 45 years of age and of varying backgrounds are conducted. This investigation could find support for the importance of usefulness and perceived ease of use of the e-health service offered as the main determinants of people's intention to use the service. Additional factors critical to the acceptance of e-health are identified, such as the importance of the compatibility of the services with citizens' needs and trust in the service provider. Most interviewees expressed positive attitudes towards using e-health and find these services useful, convenient, and easy to use. E-health services are perceived as a good complement to traditional health care service delivery, even among older people. These people, however, need to become aware of the e-health alternatives that are offered to them and the benefits they provide.

Acceptance of Swedish e-health services

PubMed Central

Jung, Mary-Louise; Loria, Karla

2010-01-01

Objective: To investigate older people’s acceptance of e-health services, in order to identify determinants of, and barriers to, their intention to use e-health. Method: Based on one of the best-established models of technology acceptance, Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), in-depth exploratory interviews with twelve individuals over 45 years of age and of varying backgrounds are conducted. Results: This investigation could find support for the importance of usefulness and perceived ease of use of the e-health service offered as the main determinants of people’s intention to use the service. Additional factors critical to the acceptance of e-health are identified, such as the importance of the compatibility of the services with citizens’ needs and trust in the service provider. Most interviewees expressed positive attitudes towards using e-health and find these services useful, convenient, and easy to use. Conclusion: E-health services are perceived as a good complement to traditional health care service delivery, even among older people. These people, however, need to become aware of the e-health alternatives that are offered to them and the benefits they provide. PMID:21289860

Mental Health Services, Free Appropriate Public Education, and Students with Disabilities: Legal Considerations in Identifying, Evaluating, and Providing Services

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yell, Mitchell; Smith, Carl; Katsiyannis, Antonis; Losinski, Mickey

2018-01-01

In the past few years, the provision of mental health services in public schools has received considerable attention. When students with disabilities are eligible for special education and related services under the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), mental health services are required if such services are needed to provide…

Knowledge Sourcing in IT Support Services

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Workman, Sue B.

2011-01-01

Indiana University (IU) provides great support for the technology the community needs to teach, learn, and conduct research. Rather than limiting support by defining a rigid support matrix, IU has chosen instead to utilize knowledge management technology to provide self-service for repetitive information technology (IT) questions, and focus…

Libraries and Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rainie, Lee

2016-01-01

The majority of Americans think local libraries serve the educational needs of their communities and families pretty well and library users often outpace others in learning activities. But many do not know about key education services libraries provide. This report provides statistics on library usage and presents key education services provided…

ADHERENCE TO ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY AMONG HIV-INFECTED ADULTS IN THE UNITED STATES

PubMed Central

Beer, Linda; Skarbinski, Jacek

2015-01-01

National estimates of antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence and adherence support services utilization are needed to inform efforts to improve the health of HIV-infected persons in the United States. In a nationally representative sample of HIV-infected adults receiving medical care, 86% self-reported taking all ART doses in the past 72 hours. Overall, 20% reported using adherence support services and 2% reported an unmet need for services. If all nonadherent persons not receiving adherence support and all persons with a self-perceived unmet need for adherence support accessed services, resources to support ~42,673 additional persons would be needed. Factors associated with lower adherence included younger age, female gender, depression, stimulant use, binge alcohol use, greater than once-daily dosing, longer time since HIV diagnosis, and patient beliefs. Predictors of adherence are multifactorial so multiple targeted strategies to improve adherence are warranted. Providing adherence support services to all those in need may require additional resources. PMID:25490733

Report of the Special Task Force to Study Not-for-Profit Hospitals and Unsponsored Charity Care.

PubMed

Anderson, R J; Milburn, L T

1990-04-01

Texas not-for-profit hospitals recently received intense scrutiny regarding their involvement in charity-related contributions when Texas Attorney General Jim Mattox formed the Task Force to Study Not-for-Profit Hospitals and Unsponsored Charity Care. This article details the task force's recommendations concerning charity care obligations of Texas not-for-profit hospitals. Setting the stage for these recommendations was a broad definition of charitable services that included costs for delivering services to indigents and for providing community services to fulfill the hospital's charitable, religious, educational, research, or eleemosynary purposes. The task force unanimously agreed that a mandated level of charity care was incongruent with the hospitals' individual missions and specific community needs, but they supported the formation of standard accounting procedures for charitable services and the voluntary submission of their mission statements to the attorney general of Texas. While the hospitals' role in providing charitable services is very important, the task force emphasized that the overall need for adequate financing and reimbursement of health care is a societal problem that needs specific state and federal actions.

Psychosocial assessment of nursing home residents via MDS 3.0: recommendations for social service training, staffing, and roles in interdisciplinary care.

PubMed

Simons, Kelsey; Connolly, Robert P; Bonifas, Robin; Allen, Priscilla D; Bailey, Kathleen; Downes, Deirdre; Galambos, Colleen

2012-02-01

The Minimum Data Set 3.0 has introduced a higher set of expectations for assessment of residents' psychosocial needs, including new interviewing requirements, new measures of depression and resident choice, and new discharge screening procedures. Social service staff are primary providers of psychosocial assessment and care in nursing homes; yet, research demonstrates that many do not possess the minimum qualifications, as specified in federal regulations, to effectively provide these services given the clinical complexity of this client population. Likewise, social service caseloads generally exceed manageable levels. This article addresses the need for enhanced training and support of social service and interdisciplinary staff in long term care facilities in light of the new Minimum Data Set 3.0 assessment procedures as well as new survey and certification guidelines emphasizing quality of life. A set of recommendations will be made with regard to training, appropriate role functions within the context of interdisciplinary care, and needs for more realistic staffing ratios. Copyright © 2012 American Medical Directors Association, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The selling of mental health services: some ethical reflections.

PubMed

Neumann, M

1993-01-01

Since the introduction of public mental health services in Israel, the main principle of our work has been to provide equal and free of charge health services to all patients. We were proud of our ability to provide optimal treatment to all patients in all our facilities, regardless of cost or status of insurance. During the last decade, the cost of providing good quality public health services, including mental health services, has constantly increased, and the system has reached a state of financial distress resulting in insufficiency and inability to perform properly. In order to maintain the level of mental health services, the health authorities started planning a system of payment for various mental health services which, until now, were supplied free of charge. This change of policy and attitude towards the population in need poses severe ethical and practical questions and problems. It is questionable that the amount of income ensuing from the sale of mental health services and whether a relatively small financial profit justify possible injury of the population in need of these services, especially the sicker and weaker members of it. This article raises some ethical doubts involved in charging money for psychiatric services that are given to this special group of the mentally ill, and claims that the feasibility of selling services in this area of public health should be reinvestigated.

Reducing health care costs--potential and limitations of local authority health services.

PubMed

Ijsselmuiden, C B; De Beer, C

1990-08-04

Local authorities (LAs) currently provide preventive and promotive services. It is argued that, by extending the role of the LA to the provision of comprehensive services, including ambulatory and hospital curative care, both the quality and the cost-effectiveness of health care would be improved. Making health care the responsibility of the LA would minimise fragmentation, allow for the provision of a number of services that currently are neglected because they fall through the gap that exists between preventive and curative services, and result in the more effective use of personnel currently restricted to providing preventive care only. LAs offer an appropriate structure for effective community control over the health services, and are more likely to be sensitive to local needs and demands. In addition, their administrative proximity to other LA departments responsible for housing, town planning and parks and recreation allows for an effective multisectoral approach to health. The positive aspects of LA care can only be achieved in the context of racially integrated services provided by an LA elected by universal adult franchise. Smaller LAs may need to be grouped together in larger units for the purpose of achieving satisfactory economies of scale in the provision of health care.

Combating unethical publications with plagiarism detection services

PubMed Central

Garner, H.R.

2010-01-01

About 3,000 new citations that are highly similar to citations in previously published manuscripts that appear each year in the biomedical literature (Medline) alone. This underscores the importance for the opportunity for editors and reviewers to have detection system to identify highly similar text in submitted manuscripts so that they can then review them for novelty. New software-based services, both commercial and free, provide this capability. The availability of such tools provides both a way to intercept suspect manuscripts and serve as a deterrent. Unfortunately, the capabilities of these services vary considerably, mainly as a consequence of the availability and completeness of the literature bases to which new queries are compared. Most of the commercial software has been designed for detection of plagiarism in high school and college papers, however, there is at least one fee-based service (CrossRef) and one free service (etblast.org) which are designed to target the needs of the biomedical publication industry. Information on these various services, examples of the type of operability and output, and things that need to be considered by publishers, editors and reviewers before selecting and using these services is provided. PMID:21194644

Combating unethical publications with plagiarism detection services.

PubMed

Garner, H R

2011-01-01

About 3,000 new citations that are highly similar to citations in previously published manuscripts that appear each year in the biomedical literature (Medline) alone. This underscores the importance for the opportunity for editors and reviewers to have detection system to identify highly similar text in submitted manuscripts so that they can then review them for novelty. New software-based services, both commercial and free, provide this capability. The availability of such tools provides both a way to intercept suspect manuscripts and serve as a deterrent. Unfortunately, the capabilities of these services vary considerably, mainly as a consequence of the availability and completeness of the literature bases to which new queries are compared. Most of the commercial software has been designed for detection of plagiarism in high school and college papers; however, there is at least 1 fee-based service (CrossRef) and 1 free service (etblast.org), which are designed to target the needs of the biomedical publication industry. Information on these various services, examples of the type of operability and output, and things that need to be considered by publishers, editors, and reviewers before selecting and using these services is provided. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Sexual Health Services for Young People in a Rural Area of Northern Ireland: A Study of the Key Issues for Those Who Provide Them

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McCann, Lyndsey; Donnelly, Lyn; Quinn, Phelim; McAnerney, Rosemary

2008-01-01

Objective: To identify the key issues for service providers in delivering high quality sexual health services, responsive to the needs of young people, in a rural area of Northern Ireland. Design: A triangulation survey approach using questionnaires, in-depth interviews and focus groups was undertaken with a range of organizations and…

Public Library Services for Aging in the Eighties. A 1981 White House Conference on the Aging Background Paper.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Turock, Betty J.

This report provides an overview of library and information services for older adults today. New programs are described which have been developed to serve older adults and to respond to their needs. The training of librarians to provide such services is also discussed. The first section of this report focuses on access and includes discussions on…

The U.N. Population Fund: Background and the U.S. Funding Debate

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-07-24

provided $41 million specifically to procure contraceptive commodities. While UNFPA receives voluntary contributions from many countries — 180 in 2006...meeting unmet needs for contraceptive services; ! Supporting young people — providing accurate information, counseling, and services to prevent unwanted...services, postponing pregnancy for young girls, improving girls’ nutrition, and repairing physical and emotional damage. CRS-6 6 UNFPA. Annual Report

An Observational Study of Service Dogs for Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.

PubMed

Yarborough, Bobbi Jo H; Owen-Smith, Ashli A; Stumbo, Scott P; Yarborough, Micah T; Perrin, Nancy A; Green, Carla A

2017-07-01

This study examined needs related to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), assistance by service dogs, and feasibility of data collection among veterans receiving service dogs. Questionnaires assessed PTSD-related needs and services performed or expected to be performed by service dogs among 78 veterans who had or were on a wait list for a service dog (average age, 42; women, 31%). Analyses compared pre-post characteristics among 22 veterans who received a service dog as part of the study (91% follow-up; average follow-up=3.37±2.57 months). Veterans reported that the most important services performed were licking or nudging veterans to help them "stay present," preventing panic, and putting space between veterans and strangers. High follow-up rates and improvements in outcomes with moderate to large effect sizes among recipients of study-provided dogs suggest further study is warranted. Service dogs may be feasible supports for veterans with PTSD; randomized clinical trials are needed to assess effectiveness.

Co-morbid drug and alcohol and mental health issues in a rural New South Wales Area Health Service.

PubMed

Hoolahan, Bryan; Kelly, Brian; Stain, Helen J; Killen, Didi

2006-08-01

In 2003 the New South Wales (NSW) Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health (CRRMH) conducted an analysis of co-morbid drug and alcohol (D&A) and mental health issues for service providers and consumers in a rural NSW Area Health Service. This paper will discuss concerns raised by rural service providers and consumers regarding the care of people with co-morbid D&A and mental health disorders. Current literature on co-morbidity was reviewed, and local area clinical data were examined to estimate the prevalence of D&A disorders within the mental health service. Focus groups were held with service providers and consumer support groups regarding strengths and gaps in service provision. A rural Area Health Service in NSW. Rural health and welfare service providers, consumers with co-morbid D&A and mental health disorders. Data for the rural area showed that 43% of inpatient and 20% of ambulatory mental health admissions had problem drinking or drug-taking. Information gathered from the focus groups indicated a reasonable level of awareness of co-morbidity, and change underway to better meet client needs; however, the results indicated a lack of formalised care coordination, unclear treatment pathways, and a lack of specialist care and resources. Significant gaps in the provision of appropriate care for people with co-morbid D&A and mental health disorders were identified. Allocation of service responsibly for these clients was unclear. It is recommended that D&A, mental health and primary care services collaborate to address the needs of clients so that a coordinated and systematic approach to co-morbid care can be provided.

Serving some and serving all: how providers navigate the challenges of providing racially targeted health services.

PubMed

Zhou, Amy

2017-10-01

Racially targeted healthcare provides racial minorities with culturally and linguistically appropriate health services. This mandate, however, can conflict with the professional obligation of healthcare providers to serve patients based on their health needs. The dilemma between serving a particular population and serving all is heightened when the patients seeking care are racially diverse. This study examines how providers in a multi-racial context decide whom to include or exclude from health programs. This study draws on 12 months of ethnographic fieldwork at an Asian-specific HIV organization. Fieldwork included participant observation of HIV support groups, community outreach programs, and substance abuse recovery groups, as well as interviews with providers and clients. Providers managed the dilemma in different ways. While some programs in the organization focused on an Asian clientele, others de-emphasized race and served a predominantly Latino and African American clientele. Organizational structures shaped whether services were delivered according to racial categories. When funders examined client documents, providers prioritized finding Asian clients so that their documents reflected program goals to serve the Asian population. In contrast, when funders used qualitative methods, providers could construct an image of a program that targets Asians during evaluations while they included other racial minorities in their everyday practice. Program services were organized more broadly by health needs. Even within racially targeted programs, the meaning of race fluctuates and is contested. Patients' health needs cross cut racial boundaries, and in some circumstances, the boundaries of inclusion can expand beyond specific racial categories to include racial minorities and underserved populations more generally.

Refocusing and Evolving Subseasonal-to-Seasonal Services in NOAA's National Weather Service

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Timofeyeva-Livezey, M. M.; Horsfall, F. M. C.; Silva, V.; Mangan, M. R.; Meyers, J. C.; Zdrojewski, J.

2017-12-01

NOAA's National Weather Service (NWS) recently completed a reorganization to better support its goal to build a Weather-Ready Nation. As part of the reorganization, NWS streamlined its 11 national service programs, including climate services, to provide a more structured approach to supporting service delivery needs. As the American public increasingly requests information at sub-seasonal and seasonal time scales for decision making, the NWS Climate Services Program is striving to meet those needs by accelerating transition of research to operations, improving delivery of products and services, and enhancing partnerships to facilitate provision of seamless weather, water, and climate products and services at regional and local scales. Additionally, NWS forecasters are requesting more tools to be able to put severe weather and water events into a climate context to provide more effective impact-based decision support services (IDSS). This paper will describe the activities to more effectively integrate climate services into the NWS suite of environmental information, the roles of the NWS offices supporting or delivering sub-seasonal and seasonal information to the US public, and engaging NWS core and deep-core partners in provision of information on climatological risks and preparedness as a part of IDSS. We will discuss the process by which we collect user requests and/or needs and the NWS process that allows us to move these requests and needs through a formal requirements validation process and thus place the requirement on a path to identify a potential solution for implementation. The validation of a NWS climate-related requirement is also key to identify research, development, and transition mission delivery needs that are supported through the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) Climate Program Office (CPO). In addition, we will present the outcomes of key actions of the first ever NWS National Climate Services Meeting (NCSM) that was held in May 2016 with the participation of more than 250 NWS climate services staff and key partners from across the country. The key actions include understanding core and deep-core partners, advancing training for NWS staff focused on IDSS, and better organization of service delivery at regional and local levels.

Client satisfaction and quality of health care in rural Bangladesh.

PubMed Central

Mendoza Aldana, J.; Piechulek, H.; al-Sabir, A.

2001-01-01

OBJECTIVE: To assess user expectations and degree of client satisfaction and quality of health care provided in rural Bangladesh. METHODS: A total of 1913 persons chosen by systematic random sampling were successfully interviewed immediately after having received care in government health facilities. FINDINGS: The most powerful predictor for client satisfaction with the government services was provider behaviour, especially respect and politeness. For patients this aspect was much more important than the technical competence of the provider. Furthermore, a reduction in waiting time (on average to 30 min) was more important to clients than a prolongation of the quite short (from a medical standpoint) consultation time (on average 2 min, 22 sec), with 75% of clients being satisfied. Waiting time, which was about double at outreach services than that at fixed services, was the only element with which users of outreach services were dissatisfied. CONCLUSIONS: This study underscores that client satisfaction is determined by the cultural background of the people. It shows the dilemma that, though optimally care should be capable of meeting both medical and psychosocial needs, in reality care that meets all medical needs may fail to meet the client's emotional or social needs. Conversely, care that meets psychosocial needs may leave the clients medically at risk. It seems important that developing countries promoting client-oriented health services should carry out more in-depth research on the determinants of client satisfaction in the respective culture. PMID:11436472

Nutrition and health services needs among the homeless.

PubMed Central

Wiecha, J L; Dwyer, J T; Dunn-Strohecker, M

1991-01-01

This review discusses nutrition and related health problems among homeless Americans, summarizes recent information, and identifies needs for services and future research. The nature of homelessness today provides a context for the discussion. Many homeless persons eat fewer meals per day, lack food more often, and are more likely to have inadequate diets and poorer nutritional status than housed U.S. populations. Yet many homeless people eligible for food stamps do not receive them. While public and private agencies provide nutritious food and meals for homeless persons, availability of the services to homeless persons is limited. Many homeless people lack appropriate health care, and certain nutrition-related health problems are prevalent among them. Compared with housed populations, alcoholism, anemia, and growth problems are more common among homeless persons, and pregnancy rates are higher. The risks vary among homeless persons for malnutrition, nutrition-related health problems, drug and alcohol abuse, and mental illness. For example, among homeless persons, fewer heads of families than single adults are substance abusers, and mental illness varies in prevalence among single men, single women, and parents in homeless families. Homeless persons need improved access to food, nutrition, and health services. More nutrition education needs to be available to them and to service providers. Use of representative samples and validation of self-reported nutrition and health data will help future investigators to clarify the relationships between the characteristics of the homeless and their nutritional status. PMID:1908587

Racial-ethnic variation in U.S. mental health service use among Latino and Asian non-U.S. citizens.

PubMed

Lee, Sungkyu; Laiewski, Laurel; Choi, Sunha

2014-01-01

This study examined the factors associated with service utilization for mental health conditions among Latino and Asian non-U.S. citizens in the United States by service type and race. Data were obtained from the National Latino and Asian American Study (NLAAS). The sample for this study was 849 Latino and 595 Asian non-U.S. citizens between ages 18 and 64 (N=1,444). Mental health services obtained through three types of service providers were examined: specialty mental health services, general medical services, and other services. Guided by the modified Andersen health behavioral model, analyses involved logistic regression models conducted with penalized maximum likelihood estimation. Although having a psychiatric disorder increased mental health service use in both groups, only 32% of Latino and 52% of Asian non-U.S. citizens with psychiatric needs reported using mental health services during the past 12 months. Overall, noncitizen Latinos and Asians were more likely to use mental health services from general health care providers and other providers than from specialty mental health providers. Several significant predisposing, enabling, and need factors, such as age, health insurance, and having psychiatric conditions, also interacted with race. Findings of the study suggest that there are ethnoracial variations in mental health service use between Latino and Asian non-U.S. citizens. Mental health professionals should consider developing tailored mental health interventions that account for cultural variations to enhance access to services for these vulnerable subgroups of Latinos and Asians. Further research should examine ethnic disparities in mental health service use among various non-U.S. citizen racial-ethnic subgroups.

The impact of medical tourism on Thai private hospital management: informing hospital policy.

PubMed

James, Paul T J

2012-01-01

The purpose of this paper is to help consolidate and understand management perceptions and experiences of a targeted group (n=7) of Vice-Presidents of international Private Thai hospitals in Bangkok regarding medical tourism impacts. The method adopted uses a small-scale qualitative inquiry. Examines the on-going development and service management factors which contribute to the establishment and strengthening of relationships between international patients and hospital medical services provision. Develops a qualitative model that attempts to conceptualize the findings from a diverse range of management views into a framework of main (8) - Hospital Management; Hospital Processes; Hospital Technology; Quality Related; Communications; Personnel; Financial; and Patients; and consequent sub-themes (22). Outcomes from small-scale qualitative inquiries cannot by design be taken outside of its topical arena. This inevitably indicates that more research of this kind needs to be carried out to understand this field more effectively. The evidence suggests that Private Thai hospital management have established views about what constitutes the impact of medical tourism on hospital policies and practices when hospital staff interact with international patients. As the private health service sector in Thailand continues to grow, future research is needed to help hospitals provide appropriate service patterns and appropriate medical products/services that meet international patient needs and aspirations. Highlights the increasing importance of the international consumer in Thailand's health industry. This study provides insights of private health service providers in Bangkok by helping to understand more effectively health service quality environments, subsequent service provision, and the integrated development and impacts of new medical technology.

The Impact of Medical Tourism on Thai Private Hospital Management: Informing Hospital Policy

PubMed Central

James, Paul TJ

2012-01-01

Background: The purpose of this paper is to help consolidate and understand management perceptions and experiences of a targeted group (n=7) of Vice-Presidents of international Private Thai hospitals in Bangkok regarding medical tourism impacts. Methods: The method adopted uses a small-scale qualitative inquiry. Examines the on-going development and service management factors which contribute to the establishment and strengthening of relationships between international patients and hospital medical services provision. Develops a qualitative model that attempts to conceptualise the findings from a diverse range of management views into a framework of main (8) - Hospital Management; Hospital Processes; Hospital Technology; Quality Related; Communications; Personnel; Financial; and Patients; and consequent sub-themes (22). Results: Outcomes from small-scale qualitative inquiries cannot by design be taken outside of its topical arena. This inevitably indicates that more research of this kind needs to be carried out to understand this field more effectively. The evidence suggests that Private Thai hospital management have established views about what constitutes the impact of medical tourism on hospital policies and practices when hospital staff interact with international patients. Conclusions: As the private health service sector in Thailand continues to grow, future research is needed to help hospitals provide appropriate service patterns and appropriate medical products/services that meet international patient needs and aspirations. Highlights the increasing importance of the international consumer in Thailand’s health industry. This study provides insights of private health service providers in Bangkok by helping to understand more effectively health service quality environments, subsequent service provision, and the integrated development and impacts of new medical technology. PMID:22980119

Assessment of health facility capacity to provide newborn care in Bangladesh, Haiti, Malawi, Senegal, and Tanzania

PubMed Central

Winter, Rebecca; Yourkavitch, Jennifer; Wang, Wenjuan; Mallick, Lindsay

2017-01-01

Background Despite the importance of health facility capacity to provide comprehensive care, the most widely used indicators for global monitoring of maternal and child health remain contact measures which assess women’s use of services only and not the capacity of health facilities to provide those services; there is a gap in monitoring health facilities’ capacity to provide newborn care services in low and middle income countries. Methods In this study we demonstrate a measurable framework for assessing health facility capacity to provide newborn care using open access, nationally–representative Service Provision Assessment (SPA) data from the Demographic Health Surveys Program. In particular, we examine whether key newborn–related services are available at the facility (ie, service availability, measured by the availability of basic emergency obstetric care (BEmOC) signal functions, newborn signal functions, and routine perinatal services), and whether the facility has the equipment, medications, training and knowledge necessary to provide those services (ie, service readiness, measured by general facility requirements, equipment, medicines and commodities, and guidelines and staffing) in five countries with high levels of neonatal mortality and recent SPA data: Bangladesh, Haiti, Malawi, Senegal, and Tanzania. Findings In each country, we find that key services and commodities needed for comprehensive delivery and newborn care are missing from a large percentage of facilities with delivery services. Of three domains of service availability examined, scores for routine care availability are highest, while scores for newborn signal function availability are lowest. Of four domains of service readiness examined, scores for general requirements and equipment are highest, while scores for guidelines and staffing are lowest. Conclusions Both service availability and readiness tend to be highest in hospitals and facilities in urban areas, pointing to substantial equity gaps in the availability of essential newborn care services for rural areas and for people accessing lower–level facilities. Together, the low levels of both service availability and readiness across the five countries reinforce the vital importance of monitoring health facility capacity to provide care. In order to save newborn lives and improve equity in child survival, not only does women’s use of services need to increase, but facility capacity to provide those services must also be enhanced. PMID:29423186

Governance and Purchasing Function under Social Health Insurance in Nepal: Looking Back and Moving Forward.

PubMed

Sapkota, V P; Bhusal, U P

2017-01-01

Nepal is pursuing Social Health Insurance as a way of mobilizing revenues to achieve Universal Health Coverage. The Social Health Insurance governance encourages service providers to maintain quality and efficiency in services provision by practicing strategic purchasing. Social Health Security Programme is a social protection program which aspires to achieve the goals of Social Health Insurance. Social Health Security Development Committee needs to consider following experiences to function as a strategic purchaser. The Social Health Security Development Committee need to be an independent body instead of falling under Ministry of Health. Similarly, purchasing of health services needs to be made strategic, i.e., Social Health Security Development Committee should use its financial power to guide the provider behavior that will eventually contribute to achieving the goals of quality and efficiency in service provision. The other social health security funds should be merged with Social Health Security Development Committee and develop a single national fund. Finally, the state has to regulate and monitor the performance of the SHI agency.

The practice of neurology: Looking ahead by looking back.

PubMed

Ringel, Steven P

2015-05-19

Over the last 50 years, there have been many improvements in therapy for individuals with neurologic disorders. Simultaneously, the complexity and cost of care have increased. The delivery of neurologic services is inefficient. The needs of both patients and neurologists are not being optimally addressed. Although greater attention is on the quality, safety, and value of the care, there remains a need for fundamental redesign in the way neurologic services are provided. The future practice of neurology will likely be interdisciplinary and provide both easy access and efficient coordination of services. No matter what changes in financing of health care are adopted, focus needs to be on reducing health care costs. Patients seeking neurologic care will expect seamless, innovative, and cost-effective services and to be active participants in their care. The proposed modifications address current demands and advocate for prospective innovative solutions. The changes proposed to improve care for patients will simultaneously make the careers of neurologists more gratifying and less stressful. © 2015 American Academy of Neurology.

Out-of-hours primary care use at the end of life: a descriptive study

PubMed Central

Fisher, Rebecca FR; Lasserson, Daniel; Hayward, Gail

2016-01-01

Background Out-of-hours (OOH) primary care services are integral to the care of patients at end of life. Little is known about the OOH service usage of patients with palliative care needs. Aim To describe patterns of usage of patients presenting to an OOH service and coded as ‘palliative’. Design and setting A descriptive study of data from the Oxfordshire OOH service. Method A database of all patient contacts with the Oxfordshire OOH service from a 4-year period (June 2010–August 2014) was used to extract demographic and service usage data for all contacts to which clinicians had applied a ‘palliative’ code. Observed differences in demographic features between palliative and non-palliative contacts were tested using logistic regression. Results Out of a total of 496 931 contacts, there were 6045 contacts coded palliative; those ‘palliative’ contacts provided care to 3760 patients. Patients contacting the OOH service with palliative care needs did so predominantly during weekend daytime periods, and over a third had more than one contact. Patients were predictably older than the average population, but contacts coded as ‘palliative’ were relatively less deprived than contacts to the OOH service for all causes, even after adjusting for age and sex. Conclusion The current ‘one-size-fits-most’ model of OOH primary care may not allow for the specific needs of patients at the end of life. Wider analysis of palliative patient flow through urgent care services is needed to identify whether healthcare access at the end of life is inequitable, as well as the capacity requirements of a community-based service that can provide high-quality end-of-life care. PMID:27381487

Telemedicine Networks of EHAS Foundation in Latin America

PubMed Central

Prieto-Egido, Ignacio; Simó-Reigadas, Javier; Liñán-Benítez, Leopoldo; García-Giganto, Víctor; Martínez-Fernández, Andrés

2014-01-01

Rural areas in developing countries are characterized by lack of resources, low population density, and scarcity of communications infrastructure. These circumstances make it difficult to provide appropriate health-care services. This paper explains research results achieved by Enlace Hispano Americano de Salud – Hispano American Health Link (EHAS) and how they have contributed to improve healthcare in isolated areas of developing countries through the use of information and communication technologies (ICT). As the first step, EHAS always collaborates with public health systems to identify its communication and information needs. Based on the analysis of needs, EHAS does research on appropriate technologies to provide communication in each context and on information systems suited to needs of health personnel. In parallel, EHAS has worked to provide applications that, making use of the communications services installed, could improve the health-care services in these remote areas. In this line, solutions to improve epidemiological surveillance or to provide telemedicine services (like a digital stethoscope or a tele-microscopy system) have been developed. EHAS has also performed several researches trying to ensure the sustainability of their solutions and has summarized them in a Management Framework for Sustainable e-Healthcare Provision. Finally, the effort to spread acquired knowledge has crystallized in a book that details all the technologies and procedures previously mentioned. PMID:25360436

Identifying perceived barriers to monitoring service quality among substance abuse treatment providers in South Africa

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background A performance measurement system is planned for South African substance abuse treatment services. Provider-level barriers to implementing these systems have been identified in the United States, but little is known about the nature of these barriers in South Africa. This study explored the willingness of South African substance abuse treatment providers’ to adopt a performance measurement system and perceived barriers to monitoring service quality that would need to be addressed during system development. Methods Three focus group discussions were held with treatment providers from two of the nine provinces in South Africa. These providers represented the diverse spread of substance abuse treatment services available in the country. The final sample comprised 21 representatives from 12 treatment facilities: eight treatment centres in the Western Cape and four in KwaZulu-Natal. Content analysis was used to extract core themes from these discussions. Results Participants identified barriers to the monitoring of service quality that included outdated modes of collecting data, personnel who were already burdened by paperwork, lack of time to collect data, and limited skills to analyse and interpret data. Participants recommended that developers engage with service providers in a participatory manner to ensure that service providers are invested in the proposed performance measurement system. Conclusion Findings show that substance abuse treatment providers are willing to adopt a performance measurement system and highlight several barriers that need to be addressed during system development in order to enhance the likelihood that this system will be successfully implemented. PMID:24499037

Thinking Big Picture: Meeting the Needs of Researchers in Northern Australia

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mamtora, Jayshree

2011-01-01

Due to the increase in research activity at Charles Darwin University in recent years, the Library created the position of Research Services Coordinator to meet researcher needs. Eighteen months after the new staff member was in place, an online survey was carried out to gauge the success of the new services and resources provided, and thereby…

An Analysis of WCC's Community Needs Survey. Office of Institutional Research Report #78-3.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lauth, Laurence V.; Zabek, Robert J.

A community needs survey was conducted of Wytheville Community College's five-county, one-city service area, to determine what area residents know about the college and the various community services it provides. In early December 1977, phone calls to randomly selected prospective participants were made to solicit their participation in the…

77 FR 69920 - Notice of Availability for Public Review of the Draft Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement for...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-11-21

... would provide an alternative to automobile, bus, and air travel by decreasing travel times, increasing... and need criteria by: decreasing travel times; increasing frequency of service; improving service... current and future demand for travel in the Study area. The need stems from travel demand and increasing...

Unmet Healthcare and Social Services Needs of Older Canadian Adults with Developmental Disabilities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shooshtari, Shahin; Naghipur, Saba; Zhang, Jin

2012-01-01

The authors sought to create a demographic, socioeconomic, and health-related profile of older (40+) Canadian adults with developmental disabilities (DD) residing in their communities, and to enhance current knowledge of their unmet health and social support services needs. They provide a secondary analysis of cross-sectional data from the 2001…

Square Pegs into Round Holes? Meeting the Educational Needs of Girls Engaged in Delinquent Behaviour

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chen Zhang, Kaili

2008-01-01

This study reports data on the challenges and needs of girls engaged in delinquent behaviour and the effectiveness of services provided by a girls' home. Implications and suggestions for the planning and implementation of effective programmes and services in alternative educational settings are included. It concludes that alternative education is…

Needs Analysis of People with a Disability Living in Remote and Rural Areas of NSW.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gething, Lindsay; And Others

This paper examines the unmet service needs and problems of persons with disabilities in rural and remote regions of New South Wales (Australia). Data were collected through consultations with disabled persons, families, and service providers in Sydney and four rural areas; a literature review; compilation of an in-depth inventory of service…

Enhancing Collaboration between School Nurses and School Psychologists When Providing a Continuum of Care for Children with Medical Needs

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hernández Finch, Maria E.; Finch, W. Holmes; Mcintosh, Constance E.; Thomas, Cynthia; Maughan, Erin

2015-01-01

Students who are medically involved often require sustained related services, regular care coordination, and case management to ensure that they are receiving a free and appropriate public education. Exploring the collaboration efforts of school psychologists and school nurses for meeting the educational and related services needs of these…

CWLA Standards of Excellence for Services for Abused or Neglected Children and Their Families. Revised Edition.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Child Welfare League of America, Inc., Washington, DC.

Child welfare program standards based on current knowledge, children's developmental needs, and tested ways of meeting these needs most effectively provide benchmarks of excellence that can be used as goals to advance and guide contemporary practice. This book delineates standards for services for abused or neglected children and their families.…

Adapting the Training Site to Training Needs. Self-Paced Instructional Module. Module Number VII-A.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

King, Sylvester; Brooks, Kent

One of 33 self-paced instructional modules for training industry services leaders to provide guidance in the performance of manpower services by public agencies to new and expanding private industry, this module contains three sequential learning activities on adapting the training site to training needs. The first learning activity is designed to…

Evaluation Services from Needs Assessment to Follow-up: A Case Study.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Broadbooks, Wendy J.

This paper describes the nature and scope of evaluation services provided within the training division of Arthur Andersen & Company, and highlights some of the evaluation results. The cycle of assessment began with a needs assessment study at the curriculum level. Curriculum planning was undertaken for first-year trainees in the Tax Division.…

Treatment Services for Drug Dependent Women. Volume 1. Treatment Research Monograph Series.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Beschner, George M., Ed.; And Others

This book is the first of two volumes designed to highlight and integrate current knowledge about drug dependent women, with a focus on needed services and appropriate delivery systems, as well as to provide useful information for counselors and treatment program developers. The special problems, needs, and characteristics of women drug abusers…

Foster Care: State Practices for Assessing Health Needs, Facilitating Service Delivery, and Monitoring Children's Care. Report to the Chairman, Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support, Committee on Ways and Means, House of Representatives. GAO-09-26

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brown, Kay; Bascetta, Cynthia A.

2009-01-01

Providing health care services for foster children, who frequently have significant health care needs, can be challenging. The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) oversees foster care, but state child welfare agencies are responsible for ensuring that these children receive health care services, which are often financed by Medicaid. In…

Why carers use adult day respite: a mixed method case study

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background We need to improve our understanding of the complex interactions between family carers’ emotional relationships with care-recipients and carers use of support services. This study assessed carer’s expectations and perceptions of adult day respite services and their commitment to using services. Methods A mixed-method case study approach was used with psychological contract providing a conceptual framework. Data collection was situated within an organisational case study, and the total population of carers from the organisation’s day respite service were approached. Fifty respondents provided quantitative and qualitative data through an interview survey. The conceptual framework was expanded to include Maslow’s hierarchy of needs during analysis. Results Carers prioritised benefits for and experiences of care-recipients when making day respite decisions. Respondents had high levels of trust in the service and perceived that the major benefits for care-recipients were around social interaction and meaningful activity with resultant improved well-being. Carers wanted day respite experiences to include all levels of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs from the provision of physiological care and safety through to the higher levels of belongingness, love and esteem. Conclusion The study suggests carers need to trust that care-recipients will have quality experiences at day respite. This study was intended as a preliminary stage for further research and while not generalizable it does highlight key considerations in carers’ use of day respite services. PMID:24906239

Why carers use adult day respite: a mixed method case study.

PubMed

Stirling, Christine M; Dwan, Corinna A; McKenzie, Angela R

2014-06-06

We need to improve our understanding of the complex interactions between family carers' emotional relationships with care-recipients and carers use of support services. This study assessed carer's expectations and perceptions of adult day respite services and their commitment to using services. A mixed-method case study approach was used with psychological contract providing a conceptual framework. Data collection was situated within an organisational case study, and the total population of carers from the organisation's day respite service were approached. Fifty respondents provided quantitative and qualitative data through an interview survey. The conceptual framework was expanded to include Maslow's hierarchy of needs during analysis. Carers prioritised benefits for and experiences of care-recipients when making day respite decisions. Respondents had high levels of trust in the service and perceived that the major benefits for care-recipients were around social interaction and meaningful activity with resultant improved well-being. Carers wanted day respite experiences to include all levels of Maslow's hierarchy of needs from the provision of physiological care and safety through to the higher levels of belongingness, love and esteem. The study suggests carers need to trust that care-recipients will have quality experiences at day respite. This study was intended as a preliminary stage for further research and while not generalizable it does highlight key considerations in carers' use of day respite services.

The structure of service quality perceptions for multiple-encounter services.

PubMed

Andaleeb, Syed Saad; Kara, Ali

2013-01-01

The objective of this study was to examine a complex service environment-hospitals-to suggest how service quality could be reframed and measured for multiple-encounter service situations more effectively. In this cross-sectional study, a sample of 371 patients completed the survey instrument. Service quality measures were guided by the literature but allowed to flow from the respondents at the preliminary stage. Confirmatory factor analysis, along with structural equation modeling, was used to test the hypothesized relationships among key actors' performance metrics (KAPMs). Patient satisfaction is significantly influenced by perceived service quality based on KAPMs. For multiple-encounter services, service quality dimensions and measures ought to be tied to KAPMs. Primary actors-ie, doctors-need knowledge and skills about patient psychology, negotiation, handling difficult patients, and, importantly, "putting the customer first." Sensitivity training on such matters should be provided. The secondary actors are the nurses who have more frequent contact with the patients. Nurses need to be perceived as "patient advocates." Effective advocacy begins with prompt and caring services to build trust. The tertiary actors in their support role also ought to be integrated into becoming vital part of the service provided.

14 CFR 271.3 - Carrier subsidy need.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... Aeronautics and Space OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (AVIATION PROCEEDINGS) ECONOMIC REGULATIONS GUIDELINES FOR SUBSIDIZING AIR CARRIERS PROVIDING ESSENTIAL AIR TRANSPORTATION § 271.3 Carrier subsidy need. In establishing the subsidy for an air carrier providing essential air service at an...

Place and provision: mapping mental health advocacy services in London.

PubMed

Foley, Ronan; Platzer, Hazel

2007-02-01

The National Health Service (NHS) Executive for London carried out an investigation in 2002 as part of their wider mental health strategy to establish whether existing mental health advocacy provision in the city was meeting need. The project took a two-part approach, with an emphasis on, (a) mapping the provision of advocacy services and, (b) cartographic mapping of service location and catchments. Data were collected through a detailed questionnaire with service providers in collaboration with the Greater London Mental Health Advocacy Network (GLMHAN) and additional health and government sources. The service mapping identified some key statistics on funding, caseloads and models of service provision with an additional emphasis on coverage, capacity, and funding stability. The questionnaire was augmented by interviews and focus groups with commissioners, service providers and service users and identified differing perspectives and problems, which informed the different perspectives of each of these groups. The cartographic mapping exercise demonstrated a spatially-even provision of mental health advocacy services across the city with each borough being served by at least one local service as well as by London wide specialist schemes. However, at local level, no one borough had the full range of specialist provision to match local demographic need. Ultimately the research assisted the Advisory Group in providing commissioning agencies with clear information on the current status of city-wide mental health advocacy services, and on gaps in existing advocacy provision alongside previously unconsidered geographical and service dimensions of that provision.

Meeting Intergenerational Needs through Service Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Natvig, Deborah

2007-01-01

This service-learning project provided a venue for university students majoring in business administration to learn about the successful aging process while contributing to a positive quality of life for retirees living in a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC). The project provided the retirees an opportunity to learn computer skills that…

1973 Rural Manpower Report. [North Dakota]. ES-225F.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

North Dakota State Employment Security Bureau, Bismarck. Employment Service Div.

The Rural Manpower Service's objective is to provide the State's rural people "equity of access" to all programs administered by the North Dakota Employment Security Bureau. It provides services to agriculture, business, government, and workers in meeting their employment and manpower needs. Functional supervision and direction to the…

Information Policy -- Distance Education: Provider and Victim Libraries.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Heron, Peter; Dugan, Robert E.

1997-01-01

This discussion of information policy focuses on library services for distance education. Topics include the logistics and management of providing library services off-site and/or responding to student requests; and meeting the needs of distance education students for information and library instruction, both students from the member institution…

38 CFR 62.33 - Supportive service: Assistance in obtaining and coordinating other public benefits.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... pharmaceuticals, supplies, equipment, devices, appliances, and assistive technology. (b) Daily living services...) Child care, which includes the: (1) Referral of a participant, as appropriate, to an eligible child care provider that provides child care with sufficient hours of operation and serves appropriate ages, as needed...

77 FR 16818 - Proposed Collection; Comment Request

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-03-22

... forms of information technology. DATES: Consideration will be given to all comments received by May 21... Number: 0704-TBD. Needs and Uses: The Application of Child Care Services Form, DLA Form 1854, is used to request child care services provided by DLA managed facilities. Enrollee records are provided to the Child...

38 CFR 62.33 - Supportive service: Assistance in obtaining and coordinating other public benefits.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... pharmaceuticals, supplies, equipment, devices, appliances, and assistive technology. (b) Daily living services...) Child care, which includes the: (1) Referral of a participant, as appropriate, to an eligible child care provider that provides child care with sufficient hours of operation and serves appropriate ages, as needed...

38 CFR 62.33 - Supportive service: Assistance in obtaining and coordinating other public benefits.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... pharmaceuticals, supplies, equipment, devices, appliances, and assistive technology. (b) Daily living services...) Child care, which includes the: (1) Referral of a participant, as appropriate, to an eligible child care provider that provides child care with sufficient hours of operation and serves appropriate ages, as needed...

38 CFR 62.33 - Supportive service: Assistance in obtaining and coordinating other public benefits.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... pharmaceuticals, supplies, equipment, devices, appliances, and assistive technology. (b) Daily living services...) Child care, which includes the: (1) Referral of a participant, as appropriate, to an eligible child care provider that provides child care with sufficient hours of operation and serves appropriate ages, as needed...

Overall Economy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Occupational Outlook Quarterly, 2010

2010-01-01

The economy's need for workers originates in the demand for the goods and services that they provide. So, to project employment, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) starts by projecting the gross domestic product (GDP) for 2018. GDP is the value of the final goods produced and services provided in the United States. Then, BLS estimates the…

Overall Economy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Occupational Outlook Quarterly, 2012

2012-01-01

The economy's need for workers originates in the demand for the goods and services that these workers provide. So, to project employment, BLS starts by estimating the components of gross domestic product (GDP) for 2020. GDP is the value of the final goods produced and services provided in the United States. Then, BLS estimates the size--in…

State Title I Migrant Participation Information, 1998-99.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Henderson, Allison; Daft, Julie

States use federal Migrant Education Program (MEP) funds to provide migrant children with services that address the special needs related to continual educational disruption. MEP services can be instructional or supporting. This report summarizes MEP participation information provided by state education agencies for the 1998-99 school year. The…

State Title I Migrant Participation Information 1996-97.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Henderson, Allison; Daft, Julie; Fong, Pauline

The Migrant Education Program (MEP) is a federal formula grant to states to provide migratory children aged 3-21 with services that address special needs resulting from continual educational disruption. Services can be instructional or supporting, such as social work and health. This report summarizes MEP participation information provided by…

Banking on the Internet.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Internet Research, 1996

1996-01-01

Electronic ground was broken in 1995 with the development of the completely Internet-based bank Security First Network Bank. This article discusses the need for developing online services, outlines the reasons for the formation of an Internet-based bank and argues that to remain competitive financial services providers must provide easier customer…

Health services research: building capacity to meet the needs of the health care system

PubMed Central

Barratt, Helen; Shaw, Jay; Simpson, Lisa; Bhatia, Sacha; Fulop, Naomi

2017-01-01

Health services researchers have an important role to play in helping health care systems around the world provide high quality, affordable services. However, gaps between the best evidence and current practice suggest that researchers need to work in new ways. The production of research that meets the needs and priorities of the health system requires researchers to work in partnership with decision-makers to conduct research and then mobilize the findings. To do this effectively, researchers require a new set of skills that are not conventionally taught as part of doctoral research programmes. In addition to wider contextual changes, researchers need to understand better the needs of decision-makers, for example through short placements in health system decision-making settings. Second, researchers need to learn to accommodate those needs throughout the research process, including identifying research needs; conducting research collaboratively with decision-makers and producing effective research products. PMID:28786700

7 CFR 273.2 - Office operations and application processing.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOOD STAMP AND FOOD DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM CERTIFICATION OF ELIGIBLE... income (working households). The State agency must provide timely, accurate, and fair service to... determined eligible. The State agency must make expedited service available to households in immediate need...

75 FR 25113 - High-Cost Universal Service Support, Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service, Lifeline and...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-05-07

... is a virtual reality,'' because 92.8 percent of households surveyed in Puerto Rico had wireline or... providing service,'' so ``[i]t need not reflect physical reality in all aspects if it produces `reasonably...

42 CFR 440.169 - Case management services.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... access to needed medical, social, educational, and other services, in accordance with § 441.18 of this... for any medical, educational, social, or other services. These assessment activities include the... documentation. (iii) Gathering information from other sources, such as family members, medical providers, social...

42 CFR 440.169 - Case management services.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... access to needed medical, social, educational, and other services, in accordance with § 441.18 of this... for any medical, educational, social, or other services. These assessment activities include the... documentation. (iii) Gathering information from other sources, such as family members, medical providers, social...

Scalable service architecture for providing strong service guarantees

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Christin, Nicolas; Liebeherr, Joerg

2002-07-01

For the past decade, a lot of Internet research has been devoted to providing different levels of service to applications. Initial proposals for service differentiation provided strong service guarantees, with strict bounds on delays, loss rates, and throughput, but required high overhead in terms of computational complexity and memory, both of which raise scalability concerns. Recently, the interest has shifted to service architectures with low overhead. However, these newer service architectures only provide weak service guarantees, which do not always address the needs of applications. In this paper, we describe a service architecture that supports strong service guarantees, can be implemented with low computational complexity, and only requires to maintain little state information. A key mechanism of the proposed service architecture is that it addresses scheduling and buffer management in a single algorithm. The presented architecture offers no solution for controlling the amount of traffic that enters the network. Instead, we plan on exploiting feedback mechanisms of TCP congestion control algorithms for the purpose of regulating the traffic entering the network.

Promotion of family planning services in practice leaflets.

PubMed

Marshall, M N; Gray, D J; Pearson, V; Phillips, D R; Owen, M

1994-10-08

Providing 75% of family planning services in the United Kingdom, general practitioners are required to produce leaflets which describe the contraceptive services they provide. The authors analyzed information about family planning provided to clients through practice leaflets. 88% of practice leaflets from the 198 practices in Devon were available from the Devon Family Health Services Authority for analysis. It was determined that the leaflets are not being best used to advertise the range and potential of family planning services. Although all practices in Devon offer contraceptive services, only 90% of leaflets mentioned that the services are available. Reference to postcoital contraception and information about services outside the practice for people who might not want to see their family doctor are also sorely lacking. A clear need exists to provide patients with more information. Finally, the authors found that group practices and those with female partners are most likely to give high priority to family planning issues in their leaflets.

Productivity and patient satisfaction in primary care--conflicting or compatible goals?

PubMed

Glenngård, Anna Häger

2013-07-01

Following recent reforms in Swedish primary care, providers are accountable to both citizens and county councils, in their role as payers. Productivity and quality measurement is fundamental for ensuring health care providers accountability to payers and that resources are spent as intended. The purpose was to study productivity and patient satisfaction in Swedish primary care. One measure of productivity capturing volume of visits and one measure capturing individual's judgment about the quality of services in relation to allocated resources was estimated. The potential conflict between the two measures and variation with respect to different factors was analyzed. There was a great variation in both measures of productivity. No conflict between the two measures of productivity was found. Thus, most providers could increase their volume of services without adverse effects for the quality and vice versa. Providers are however faced with different conditions. Traditional productivity measures are not enough to assess whether allocated resources are used according to set priorities and generates value for money. Information about the length and content of visits and the distribution of services produced is also needed, in particular to assess if resources allocated based on expected great needs among certain groups actually benefits those individuals. Effects of services produced are also needed. This is particularly important to assess if resources allocated based on expected great needs among certain groups actually benefits those individuals. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Providing palliative care for cardiovascular disease from a perspective of sociocultural diversity: a global view.

PubMed

Davidson, Patricia M; Phillips, Jane L; Dennison-Himmelfarb, Cheryl; Thompson, Sandra C; Luckett, Tim; Currow, David C

2016-03-01

This article discusses the available information on providing palliative care for cardiovascular disease (CVD) for individuals from culturally and linguistically diverse populations, and argues the need for cultural competence and awareness of healthcare providers. The burden of CVD is increasing globally and access to palliative care for individuals and populations is inconsistent and largely driven by policy, funding models, center-based expertise and local resources. Culture is an important social determinant of health and moderates health outcomes across the life trajectory. Along with approachability, availability, accommodation, affordability and appropriateness, culture moderates access to services. Health disparities and inequity of access underscore the importance of ensuring services meet the needs of diverse populations and that care is provided by individuals who are culturally competent. In death and dying, the vulnerability of individuals, families and communities is most pronounced. Using a social-ecological model as an organising framework, we consider the evidence from the literature in regard to the interaction between the individual, interpersonal relationships, community and society in promoting access to individuals with cardiovascular disease. This review highlights the need for considering individual, provider and system factors to tailor and target healthcare services to the needs of culturally diverse populations. Beyond translation of materials, there is a need to understand the cultural dimensions influencing health-seeking behaviors and acceptance of palliative care and ensuring the cultural competence of health professionals in both primary and specialist palliative care.

Women's Stake in Improving the Availability, Affordability, and Quality of Child Care and Early Education.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

National Women's Law Center, Washington, DC.

This report discusses women's need as parents for affordable, high-quality child care, and women's need as providers of child care services for compensation, training, and advancement opportunities that reflect the value of the important work they undertake. Regarding mothers' needs, the report provides a discussion of statistics on: (1) mothers…

Report on the Condition of Higher Education in Ohio: Meeting the State's Future Needs

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ohio Board of Regents, 2008

2008-01-01

The "Report on the Condition of Higher Education in Ohio" is issued annually as a statutory responsibility. Its purpose is to provide policymakers and the general public a snapshot of where the state stands in providing the higher education services Ohio needs in the competitive world. The Regents believe that Ohio needs college…

Variables Associated With Perceived Unmet Need for Mental Health Care in a Canadian Epidemiologic Catchment Area.

PubMed

Fleury, Marie-Josée; Grenier, Guy; Bamvita, Jean-Marie; Perreault, Michel; Caron, Jean

2016-01-01

This study identified variables associated with perceived partially met and unmet needs for information, medication, and counseling, as well as overall perceived unmet needs, related to mental health among 571 people in a Canadian epidemiologic catchment area. Needs were measured with the Perceived Need for Care Questionnaire and a comprehensive set of independent variables based on Andersen's behavioral model. Four models were constructed for the following dependent variables: perceived unmet needs for information, medication, and counseling (multinomial logistic regression) and overall perceived unmet needs (multiple logistic regression). The proportions reporting fully unmet need were as follows: counseling, 30%; information, 18%; and medication, 4%. Variables associated with unmet needs for information, medication, and counseling were quite distinct. Enabling factors (for example, neighborhood perception variables) were strongly associated with perceived unmet need for information. Need factors were more strongly associated with unmet need for medication, predisposing factors with unmet needs for information and medication, and health service use with unmet information and counseling needs. People whose overall needs went unmet tended to be younger, to have an addiction, and to have consulted fewer professionals. Mental health services should facilitate access to psychologists or other clinicians to better meet counseling and information needs. They should also take neighborhoods into account when assessing needs and provide more information about mental disorders and the treatments and services offered in disadvantaged areas. Finally, services should be further developed for younger people with addiction, who tend to be stigmatized and avoid using health services.

DESYCO: a Decision Support System to provide climate services for coastal stakeholders dealing with climate change impacts.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Torresan, S.; Gallina, V.; Giannini, V.; Rizzi, J.; Zabeo, A.; Critto, A.; Marcomini, A.

2012-04-01

At the international level climate services are recognized as innovative tools aimed at providing and distributing climate data and information according to the needs of end-users. Furthermore, needs-based climate services are extremely effective to manage climate risks and take advantage of the opportunities associated with climate change impacts. To date, climate services are mainly related to climate models that supply climate data (e.g. temperature, precipitations) at different spatial and time scales. However, there is a significant gap of tools aimed at providing information about risks and impacts induced by climate change and allowing non-expert stakeholders to use both climate-model and climate-impact data. DESYCO is a GIS-Decision Support System aimed at the integrated assessment of multiple climate change impacts on vulnerable coastal systems (e.g. beaches, river deltas, estuaries and lagoons, wetlands, agricultural and urban areas). It is an open source software that manages different input data (e.g. raster or shapefiles) coming from climate models (e.g. global and regional climate projections) and high resolution impact models (e.g. hydrodynamic, hydrological and biogeochemical simulations) in order to provide hazard, exposure, susceptibility, risk and damage maps for the identification and prioritization of hot-spot areas and to provide a basis for the definition of coastal adaptation and management strategies. Within the CLIM-RUN project (FP7) DESYCO is proposed as an helpful tool to bridge the gap between climate data and stakeholder needs and will be applied to the coastal area of the North Adriatic Sea (Italy) in order to provide climate services for local authorities involved in coastal zone management. Accordingly, a first workshop was held in Venice (Italy) with coastal authorities, climate experts and climate change risk experts, in order to start an iterative exchange of information about the knowledge related to climate change, climate models and projections, impact and risk parameters and to know what are stakeholder needs related to climate change in a climate service perspective. The preliminary results gained from the workshop showed that DESYCO is an helpful tool for the impact and risk assessment related to climate change that could be improved in order to fulfill stakeholder needs.

Supporting family caregivers to identify their own needs in end-of-life care: Qualitative findings from a stepped wedge cluster trial.

PubMed

Aoun, Samar; Deas, Kathleen; Toye, Chris; Ewing, Gail; Grande, Gunn; Stajduhar, Kelli

2015-06-01

The Carer Support Needs Assessment Tool encompasses the physical, psychological, social, practical, financial, and spiritual support needs that government policies in many countries emphasize should be assessed and addressed for family caregivers during end-of-life care. To describe the experience of family caregivers of terminally ill people of the Carer Support Needs Assessment Tool intervention in home-based palliative care. This study was conducted during 2012-2014 in Silver Chain Hospice Care Service in Western Australia. This article reports on one part of a three-part evaluation of a stepped wedge cluster trial. All 233 family caregivers receiving the Carer Support Needs Assessment Tool intervention provided feedback on their experiences via brief end-of-trial semi-structured telephone interviews. Data were subjected to a thematic analysis. The overwhelming majority reported finding the Carer Support Needs Assessment Tool assessment process straightforward and easy. Four key themes were identified: (1) the practicality and usefulness of the systematic assessment; (2) emotional responses to caregiver reflection; (3) validation, reassurance, and empowerment; and (4) accessing support and how this was experienced. Family caregivers appreciated the value of the Carer Support Needs Assessment Tool intervention in engaging them in conversations about their needs, priorities, and solutions. The Carer Support Needs Assessment Tool presented a simple, yet potentially effective intervention to help palliative care providers systematically assess and address family caregivers' needs. The Carer Support Needs Assessment Tool provided a formal structure to facilitate discussions with family caregivers to enable needs to be addressed. Such discussions can also inform an evidence base for the ongoing development of services for family caregivers, ensuring that new or improved services are designed to meet the explicit needs of family caregivers. © The Author(s) 2015.

The Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) for Children With Special Educational Needs.

PubMed

Lipkin, Paul H; Okamoto, Jeffrey

2015-12-01

The pediatric health care provider has a critical role in supporting the health and well-being of children and adolescents in all settings, including early intervention (EI), preschool, and school environments. It is estimated that 15% of children in the United States have a disability. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act entitles every affected child in the United States from infancy to young adulthood to a free appropriate public education through EI and special education services. These services bolster development and learning of children with various disabilities. This clinical report provides the pediatric health care provider with a summary of key components of the most recent version of this law. Guidance is also provided to ensure that every child in need receives the EI and special education services to which he or she is entitled. Copyright © 2015 by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

A systematic review of HIV partner counseling and referral services: client and provider attitudes, preferences, practices, and experiences.

PubMed

Passin, Warren F; Kim, Angela S; Hutchinson, Angela B; Crepaz, Nicole; Herbst, Jeffrey H; Lyles, Cynthia M

2006-05-01

The objectives of this study were to understand client and provider attitudes, experiences, and practices regarding HIV partner notification in the United States and to help identify future research and program needs. The goals of this study were to synthesize the literature reporting client and provider attitudes, experiences, and practices and to identify potential negative effects of HIV partner notification. This study consisted of a systematic qualitative review. Clients were willing to self-notify partners and participate in provider notification, and few reported negative effects. The majority of health care providers were in favor of HIV partner notification; however, they did not consistently refer index clients to HIV partner notification programs. Considering that clients have positive attitudes toward self- and provider referral, local HIV prevention programs need to ensure that all HIV-positive clients are offered partner notification services. Additional research is needed to assess the potential risks of notifying partners and to identify effective techniques to improve client and provider participation.

Role perceptions of occupational therapists providing support and education for caregivers of persons with dementia.

PubMed

Toth-Cohen, S

2000-01-01

This pilot study explored occupational therapists' perceptions of their roles as interventionists providing education and support for caregivers of persons with dementia. The intervention was provided in caregivers' homes as part of a larger funded study. Interviews were conducted with four occupational therapists to elicit their reflections on practice and their views on occupational therapy services on the basis of their experiences providing support and education for caregivers in the funded study. Key themes consisted of the contrasts between the therapists' roles in the study and their customary practices and the professional and personal impact of their role in the study. Their recommendations for occupational therapy services emphasized the need to (a) collaborate with patients, families, and other health care staff members to solve problems; (b) acknowledge others as experts; (c) include family perspectives; and (d) fully address the needs of patients and families in their home environments. Providing support and education for caregivers in the community can be a major transition for therapists accustomed to practicing in more traditional settings. Additional research is needed to explore the ways in which specific practice contexts influence delivery of occupational therapy services.

Quality Assessment of Family Planning Sterilization Services at Health Care Facilities: Case Record Audit.

PubMed

Mathur, Medha; Goyal, Ram Chandra; Mathur, Navgeet

2017-05-01

Quality of sterilization services is a matter of concern in India because population control is a necessity. Family Planning Sterilization (FPS) services provided at public health care facilities need to be as per Standard Operating Procedures. To assess the quality of FPS services by audit of case records at selected health care facilities. This cross-sectional study was conducted for two and a half year duration at selected public health care facilities of central India by simple random sampling where FPS services were provided. As per the standards of Government of India, case records were audited and compliance was calculated to assess the quality of services. Results of record audit were satisfactory but important criteria like previous contraceptive history and postoperative counselling were found to be deviated from standards. At Primary Health Centres (PHCs) only 89.5% and at Community Health Centres (CHCs) 58.7% of records were having details of previous contraceptive history. Other criteria like mental illness (only 70% at CHCs) assessment were also inadequate. Although informed consent was found to be having 100% compliance in all records. Quality of care in FPS services is the matter of concern in present scenario for better quality of services. This study may enlighten the policy makers regarding improvements needed for providing quality care.

The State of Leadership Education in Emergency Medical Services: A Multi-national Qualitative Study.

PubMed

Leggio, William Joseph

2014-10-01

This study investigated how leadership is learned in Emergency Medical Services (EMS) from a multi-national perspective by interviewing EMS providers from multiple nations working in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. A phenomenological, qualitative methodology was developed and 19 EMS providers from multiple nations were interviewed in June 2013. Interview questions focused on how participants learned EMS leadership as an EMS student and throughout their careers as providers. Data were analyzed to identify themes, patterns, and codes to be used for final analysis to describe findings. Emergency Medical Services leadership is primarily learned from informal mentoring and on-the-job training in less than supportive environments. Participants described learning EMS leadership during their EMS education. A triangulation of EMS educational resources yielded limited results beyond being a leader of patient care. The only course that yielded results from triangulation was EMS Management. The need to develop EMS leadership courses was supported by the findings. Findings also supported the need to include leadership education as part of continuing medical education and training. Emergency Medical Services leadership education that prepares students for the complexities of the profession is needed. Likewise, the need for EMS leadership education and training to be part of continuing education is supported. Both are viewed as a way to advance the EMS profession. A need for further research on the topic of EMS leadership is recognized, and supported, with a call for action on suggested topics identified within the study.

Quality of Life and Unmet Need in People with Psychosis in the London Borough of Haringey, UK

PubMed Central

Lambri, Maria; Chakraborty, Apu; Leavey, Gerard; King, Michael

2012-01-01

Objectives. Deinstitutionalization of long-term psychiatric patients produced various community-based residential care facilities. However, inner-city areas have many patients with severe mental illness (SMI) as well as deprivation, unemployment, and crime. This makes meeting their community needs complex. We undertook a needs assessment of service provision and consonance between service users' evaluation of need and by care workers. Design. Cross-sectional study with random sample of SMI service users in four housing settings: rehabilitation units; high-supported; medium-supported; low-supported housing. Setting. London Borough of Haringey. Outcome Measures. 110 SMI service users and 110 keyworkers were interviewed, using Camberwell Assessment of Need; SF-36; Lancashire Quality-of-Life profile; demographic and clinical information. Results. People in “low-support” and “high-support” housing had similar symptom scores, though low support had significantly lower quality of life. Quality of life was positively predicted by self-reported mental-health score and negatively predicted by unmet-need score in whole sample and in medium-support residents. Residents' and care-workers' assessments of need differed considerably. Conclusions. Although patients' housing needs were broadly met, those in low-supported housing fared least well. Attendance to self-reported mental health and unmet social needs to quality of life underpins planning of residential services for those with SMI. Social and personal needs of people in supported housing may be underestimated and overlooked; service providers need to prioritise these if concept of “recovery” is to advance. PMID:23213300

Mental Health Services Coordination: Working towards Utopia. Human Resources Series.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Paterson, Andrea

1986-01-01

The need for mental health services coordination is discussed in this report. It is noted that, without coordination, government units and service providers can operate independently and in competition with one another. The move to deinstitutionalization is discussed, including the lack of service coordination resulting from this move and the…

A Road Map for Empowering Undergraduates to Practice Service Leadership through Service-Learning in Teams

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Snell, Robin Stanley; Chan, Maureen Yin Lee; Ma, Carol Hok Ka; Chan, Carman Ka Man

2015-01-01

We present a road map for providing course-embedded service-learning team projects as opportunities for undergraduates to practice as service leaders in Asia and beyond. Basic foundations are that projects address authentic problems or needs, partner organization representatives (PORs) indicate availability for ongoing consultation, students…

Developing case managers for chronically ill children: Florida's registered nurse specialist program.

PubMed

Urbano, M T; vonWindeguth, B; Siderits, P; Parker, J; Studenic-Lewis, C

1991-01-01

This article describes the Florida Health and Rehabilitative Services/Children's Medical Services Nurse Specialist Program. This program is a statewide training and service delivery system designed to prepare selected nurses to provide comprehensive, family-centered case management services to children with special health care needs, within the home and community settings.

Reciprocity within Biochemistry and Biology Service-Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Santas, Amy J.

2009-01-01

Service-learning has become a popular pedagogy because of its numerous and far-reaching benefits (e.g. student interest, engagement, and retention). In part, the benefits are a result of the student learning while providing a service that reflects a true need--not simply an exercise. Although service-learning projects have been developed in the…

Defense Health Care Reform: Actions Needed to Help Realize Potential Cost Savings from Medical Education and Training

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-07-01

services in carrying out their medical missions, manage the military s health plan, oversee the medical operations within and provide 10 shared services , including...oversight of medical education and training. According to DOD, a shared services concept is a combination of common services performed across

29 CFR 552.6 - Companionship services for the aged or infirm.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... services shall mean those services which provide fellowship, care, and protection for a person who, because of advanced age or physical or mental infirmity, cannot care for his or her own needs. Such services may include household work related to the care of the aged or infirm person such as meal preparation...

42 CFR 422.113 - Special rules for ambulance services, emergency and urgently needed services, and maintenance and...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... equivalent, where other means of transportation would endanger the beneficiary's health. (b) Emergency and... enrollee is temporarily absent from the MA plan's service (or, if applicable, continuation) area (or, under... but the organization's provider network is temporarily unavailable or inaccessible) when the services...

Enhanced service zone architecture for multiservices over IP

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Michaely, Boaz; Mohan, Seshadri

2001-07-01

Recently, the field of IP Telephony has been experienced considerable evolution through the specification of new protocols and introduction of products implementing these protocols. We visualize IP Telephony evolving to soon offer multiservices encompassing not only voice, but also data, video and multimedia. While the progress has focused on refining protocols and architectures, very little attention has been given to business models for offering these services. This paper introduces the concept of a Service Zone, which from a service provider/network operator perspective fits within the operator's administrative domain, but is viewed as an independent zone with its own management and services, requiring minimal integration with the core network services. Besides its own management, the Enhanced Services Zone may also provide provisioning and maintenance features needed to provide the customer services and availability that subscribers expect from a telephony service providers. The platform must provide reliable service over time, be scalable to meet increased capacity demands, and be upgradeable to incorporate advanced services and features as they become available. Signaling flows are illustrated using SIP and H.323.

A systematic review of service-learning in medical education: 1998-2012.

PubMed

Stewart, Trae; Wubbena, Zane C

2015-01-01

PHENOMENON: In the United States, the Affordable Care Act has increased the need for community-centered pedagogy for medical education such as service-learning, wherein students connect academic curriculum and reflections to address a community need. Yet heterogeneity among service-learning programs suggests the need for a framework to understand variations among service-learning programs in medical education. A qualitative systematic review of literature on service-learning and medical education was conducted for the period between 1998 and 2012. A two-stage inclusion criteria process resulted in articles (n = 32) on service-learning and Doctor of Medicine or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine being included for both coding and analysis. Focused and selective coding were employed to identify recurring themes and subthemes from the literature. The findings of the qualitative thematic analysis of service-learning variation in medical education identified a total of seven themes with subthemes. The themes identified from the analysis were (a) geographic location and setting, (b) program design, (c) funding, (d) participation, (e) program implementation, (f) assessment, and (g) student outcomes. Insights: This systematic review of literature confirmed the existence of program heterogeneity among service-learning program in medical education. However, the findings of this study provide key insights into the nature of service-learning in medical education building a framework for which to organize differences among service-learning programs. A list of recommendations for future areas of inquiry is provided to guide future research.

Perceptions of homelessness in older homeless veterans, VA homeless program staff liaisons, and housing intervention providers.

PubMed

Molinari, Victor A; Brown, Lisa M; Frahm, Kathryn A; Schinka, John A; Casey, Roger

2013-05-01

To understand the needs and challenges encountered by older homeless veterans. We conducted six focus groups of older veterans, two focus groups, and one semi-structured interview of VA staff liaisons, and two focus groups and one semi-structured interview of housing intervention providers. Major themes for older veterans: 1) negative homelessness experience; 2) benefits of the structured transitional housing program; 3) importance of peer outreach; and 4) need for age-tailored job placement programs. Major themes for VA staff liaison/housing intervention providers: 1) belief that the transitional housing program has made a positive change; 2) need for individualized criteria to address the unique needs of veterans; 3) distinct differences between older and younger homeless veterans; 4) outreach services; 5) permanent housing issues; and 6) coordination of services. Compared with younger veterans, older veterans have less social support, greater employment and health challenges, and, perhaps greater motivation to change.

How To Work with Small Businesses: Advice and Guidance for Providers of Training and Business Support.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Allen, Anne Marie, Ed.

This publication provides guidance on good practice to help training providers in the United Kingdom improve the quality and relevance of services to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Section 1 focuses on key research findings regarding SMEs' needs and SME-college collaboration, including trading conditions for SMEs; services on offer by…

Network Hardware Virtualization for Application Provisioning in Core Networks

DOE PAGES

Gumaste, Ashwin; Das, Tamal; Khandwala, Kandarp; ...

2017-02-03

We present that service providers and vendors are moving toward a network virtualized core, whereby multiple applications would be treated on their own merit in programmable hardware. Such a network would have the advantage of being customized for user requirements and allow provisioning of next generation services that are built specifically to meet user needs. In this article, we articulate the impact of network virtualization on networks that provide customized services and how a provider's business can grow with network virtualization. We outline a decision map that allows mapping of applications with technology that is supported in network-virtualization - orientedmore » equipment. Analogies to the world of virtual machines and generic virtualization show that hardware supporting network virtualization will facilitate new customer needs while optimizing the provider network from the cost and performance perspectives. A key conclusion of the article is that growth would yield sizable revenue when providers plan ahead in terms of supporting network-virtualization-oriented technology in their networks. To be precise, providers have to incorporate into their growth plans network elements capable of new service deployments while protecting network neutrality. Finally, a simulation study validates our NV-induced model.« less

Network Hardware Virtualization for Application Provisioning in Core Networks

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gumaste, Ashwin; Das, Tamal; Khandwala, Kandarp

We present that service providers and vendors are moving toward a network virtualized core, whereby multiple applications would be treated on their own merit in programmable hardware. Such a network would have the advantage of being customized for user requirements and allow provisioning of next generation services that are built specifically to meet user needs. In this article, we articulate the impact of network virtualization on networks that provide customized services and how a provider's business can grow with network virtualization. We outline a decision map that allows mapping of applications with technology that is supported in network-virtualization - orientedmore » equipment. Analogies to the world of virtual machines and generic virtualization show that hardware supporting network virtualization will facilitate new customer needs while optimizing the provider network from the cost and performance perspectives. A key conclusion of the article is that growth would yield sizable revenue when providers plan ahead in terms of supporting network-virtualization-oriented technology in their networks. To be precise, providers have to incorporate into their growth plans network elements capable of new service deployments while protecting network neutrality. Finally, a simulation study validates our NV-induced model.« less

Supporting the scientific lifecycle through cloud services

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gensch, S.; Klump, J. F.; Bertelmann, R.; Braune, C.

2014-12-01

Cloud computing has made resources and applications available for numerous use cases ranging from business processes in the private sector to scientific applications. Developers have created tools for data management, collaborative writing, social networking, data access and visualization, project management and many more; either for free or as paid premium services with additional or extended features. Scientists have begun to incorporate tools that fit their needs into their daily work. To satisfy specialized needs, some cloud applications specifically address the needs of scientists for sharing research data, literature search, laboratory documentation, or data visualization. Cloud services may vary in extent, user coverage, and inter-service integration and are also at risk of being abandonend or changed by the service providers making changes to their business model, or leaving the field entirely.Within the project Academic Enterprise Cloud we examine cloud based services that support the research lifecycle, using feature models to describe key properties in the areas of infrastructure and service provision, compliance to legal regulations, and data curation. Emphasis is put on the term Enterprise as to establish an academic cloud service provider infrastructure that satisfies demands of the research community through continious provision across the whole cloud stack. This could enable the research community to be independent from service providers regarding changes to terms of service and ensuring full control of its extent and usage. This shift towards a self-empowered scientific cloud provider infrastructure and its community raises implications about feasability of provision and overall costs. Legal aspects and licensing issues have to be considered, when moving data into cloud services, especially when personal data is involved.Educating researchers about cloud based tools is important to help in the transition towards effective and safe use. Scientists can benefit from the provision of standard services, like weblog and website creation, virtual machine deployments, and groupware provision using cloud based app store-like portals. And, other than in an industrial environment, researchers will want to keep their existing user profile when moving from one institution to another.

How to integrate social care services into primary health care? An experience from Iran

PubMed Central

Montazeri, Ali; Riazi-Isfahani, Sahand; Damari, Behzad

2016-01-01

Background: Social issues have prominent effects on the peoples' physical and mental health and on the health risk factors. In Iran, many organizations provide social care services to their target population. This study aimed to explore the roles and functions of Primary Health Care (PHC) system in providing social care services in Iran. Methods: This was a qualitative study, for which data were collected via three sources: A review of the literature, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with experts and stakeholders. The main objective was to find a way to integrate social care into the Iranian PHC system. A conventional content analysis was performed to explore the data. Results: Overall, 20 experts were interviewed and the acquired data were classified into four major categories including priorities, implementation, requirements and stewardship. The main challenges were the existing controversies in the definition of social care, social service unit disintegration, multiple stewards for social care services, weaknesses of rules and regulations and low financing of the public budget. Social care services can be divided into two categories: Basic and advanced. Urban and rural health centers, as the first level of PHC, could potentially provide basic social care services for their defined population and catchment areas such as detecting social harms in high risk individuals and families and providing counseling for people in need. They can also refer the individuals to receive advanced services. Conclusion: Iran has a successful history of establishing the PHC System especially in rural areas. This network has an invaluable capacity to provide social health services. Establishing these services needs some prerequisites such as a reform PHC structure, macro support and technical intersectoral collaboration. They should also be piloted and evaluated before they could be implemented in the whole country. PMID:27683649

Service Dogs in the Perioperative Setting.

PubMed

Levey, Janet A; Chappy, Sharon L

2017-04-01

Service dogs are critical for the independence of individuals with disabilities because they assist with daily living activities and help these individuals navigate society. Perioperative nurses need a working knowledge of disability laws pertaining to service dogs to provide patient-centered care for individuals using service dogs. This article provides information on the Americans With Disabilities Act regulations regarding service dogs, makes recommendations for the care of patients with service dogs across the perioperative continuum, and offers policy directives to ensure that safe, high-quality care is delivered to patients using service dogs. Copyright © 2017 AORN, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

A study of commuter air service

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Belina, F. W.; Bush, L. R.

1977-01-01

A regionally oriented overview of the commuter air service industry is provided. A framework for an eventual assessment of potential technology directions that may be of benefit to the industry is presented. Data are provided on the industry's market characteristics, service patterns, patronage characteristics, aircraft and airport needs, economic characteristics and institutional issues. Using personal interview and literature survey methods, investigation of a considerable cross-section of the industry was made.

Investing in big ideas: utilisation and cost of Medicare Allied Health services in Australia under the Chronic Disease Management initiative in primary care.

PubMed

Cant, Robyn P; Foster, Michele M

2011-11-01

To critically examine utilisation of the 13 allied health services provided through Medicare Chronic Disease Management program and related general practitioner (GP) care planning initiatives. Statistics generated from national billing data from July 2005 to June 2009 were extracted from Medicare data and compared by profession, State or Territory and population. Most services grew over 4 years although nationally consistent service levels were not found for any allied health provider profession. On referral from GPs, podiatry, physiotherapy and dietetics provided most services (82%) in 2008-09. Professions had unique patterns of referral instanced by age range and sex of clientele. Wide variation was apparent in per capita utilisation of allied health services by State or Territory; some with far less than average national use and others with high use. Annual number of GP Management Plans or Team Care Arrangements was low (mean: ≤22 per GP in 2008-09), indicating low use of care planning. Inequality of accessibility for patients was apparent. Five years into the program, a review of Medicare Allied Health CDM policy is warranted. Implications. Research and evaluation is needed to identify whether the program is meeting the needs of GPs, allied health providers and chronic disease patients.

Budgeting based on need: a model to determine sub-national allocation of resources for health services in Indonesia

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background Allocating national resources to regions based on need is a key policy issue in most health systems. Many systems utilise proxy measures of need as the basis for allocation formulae. Increasingly these are underpinned by complex statistical methods to separate need from supplier induced utilisation. Assessment of need is then used to allocate existing global budgets to geographic areas. Many low and middle income countries are beginning to use formula methods for funding however these attempts are often hampered by a lack of information on utilisation, relative needs and whether the budgets allocated bear any relationship to cost. An alternative is to develop bottom-up estimates of the cost of providing for local need. This method is viable where public funding is focused on a relatively small number of targeted services. We describe a bottom-up approach to developing a formula for the allocation of resources. The method is illustrated in the context of the state minimum service package mandated to be provided by the Indonesian public health system. Methods A standardised costing methodology was developed that is sensitive to the main expected drivers of local cost variation including demographic structure, epidemiology and location. Essential package costing is often undertaken at a country level. It is less usual to utilise the methods across different parts of a country in a way that takes account of variation in population needs and location. Costing was based on best clinical practice in Indonesia and province specific data on distribution and costs of facilities. The resulting model was used to estimate essential package costs in a representative district in each province of the country. Findings Substantial differences in the costs of providing basic services ranging from USD 15 in urban Yogyakarta to USD 48 in sparsely populated North Maluku. These costs are driven largely by the structure of the population, particularly numbers of births, infants and children and also key diseases with high cost/prevalence and variation, most notably the level of malnutrition. The approach to resource allocation was implemented using existing data sources and permitted the rapid construction of a needs based formula that is highly specific to the package mandated across the country. Refinement could focus more on resources required to finance demand side costs and expansion of the service package to include priority non-communicable services. PMID:22931536

Budgeting based on need: a model to determine sub-national allocation of resources for health services in Indonesia.

PubMed

Ensor, Tim; Firdaus, Hafidz; Dunlop, David; Manu, Alex; Mukti, Ali Ghufron; Ayu Puspandari, Diah; von Roenne, Franz; Indradjaya, Stephanus; Suseno, Untung; Vaughan, Patrick

2012-08-29

Allocating national resources to regions based on need is a key policy issue in most health systems. Many systems utilise proxy measures of need as the basis for allocation formulae. Increasingly these are underpinned by complex statistical methods to separate need from supplier induced utilisation. Assessment of need is then used to allocate existing global budgets to geographic areas. Many low and middle income countries are beginning to use formula methods for funding however these attempts are often hampered by a lack of information on utilisation, relative needs and whether the budgets allocated bear any relationship to cost. An alternative is to develop bottom-up estimates of the cost of providing for local need. This method is viable where public funding is focused on a relatively small number of targeted services. We describe a bottom-up approach to developing a formula for the allocation of resources. The method is illustrated in the context of the state minimum service package mandated to be provided by the Indonesian public health system. A standardised costing methodology was developed that is sensitive to the main expected drivers of local cost variation including demographic structure, epidemiology and location. Essential package costing is often undertaken at a country level. It is less usual to utilise the methods across different parts of a country in a way that takes account of variation in population needs and location. Costing was based on best clinical practice in Indonesia and province specific data on distribution and costs of facilities. The resulting model was used to estimate essential package costs in a representative district in each province of the country. Substantial differences in the costs of providing basic services ranging from USD 15 in urban Yogyakarta to USD 48 in sparsely populated North Maluku. These costs are driven largely by the structure of the population, particularly numbers of births, infants and children and also key diseases with high cost/prevalence and variation, most notably the level of malnutrition. The approach to resource allocation was implemented using existing data sources and permitted the rapid construction of a needs based formula that is highly specific to the package mandated across the country. Refinement could focus more on resources required to finance demand side costs and expansion of the service package to include priority non-communicable services.

The role of community-based and philanthropic organizations in meeting cancer patient and caregiver needs.

PubMed

Shelby, Rebecca A; Taylor, Kathryn L; Kerner, Jon F; Coleman, Ellen; Blum, Diane

2002-01-01

We examined information from community-based and philanthropic organizations to document the cancer-related services that are currently available, establish which services are still needed, and determine who utilizes these formal support networks. In Phase I, 32 of 41 eligible organizations participated in a survey conducted from December 1999 to March 2000. The most common mission focus among participating organizations was information/referral-centered. The most common services provided were referrals to information resources and provision of cancer-related information. Only two of the organizations in Phase I provided client demographic information and both indicated that client populations were predominantly white, female, and over age 40. Phase II of the study involved analyzing patient data from Cancer Care, Inc., a national service organizations for cancer patients. Between 1983 and 1997, there were 2,714 prostate cancer patients and 9,451 breast cancer patients included in the Cancer Care database. Their most commonly reported problems were related to personal adjustment to illness, financial, home care, and transportation needs. There were significant differences in problems reported depending upon age and disease status. In addition, the results of this study support the idea that those at highest risk for developing and dying of cancer are the least likely to utilize formal support networks. Further, a gap in service provision for assistance with practical needs (e.g., transportation, home care, child care, psychosocial support) was identified. Due to the increasing use of outpatient care for cancer patients, a greater demand for practical assistance can be expected in the future. The availability of practical services will need to be increased in order to effectively meet cancer patient needs.

Dental services utilization by women of childbearing age by socioeconomic status.

PubMed

Kaylor, Mary B; Polivka, Barbara J; Chaudry, Rosemary; Salsberry, Pamela; Wee, Alvin G

2010-04-01

For women of childbearing age, oral health not only affects their physical and psychological well-being but also that of their children. This study used the 2003-2004 Ohio Family Health Survey (N = 9,819) to examine dental need and utilization by women in Ohio. Predisposing, enabling, and need variables were examined as they effect dental health service utilization by women of childbearing age at different socioeconomic status (SES) levels. The proportion of women in the low SES group self reporting a dental need (18%) was 3 times that of the proportion of women in the higher SES group with a self reported need (6%). Results of bivariate analysis showed that having a dental visit in the past year varied significantly by SES, race, insurance status, provider density, and need. A racial disparity in dental service utilization was noted in the bivariate analysis of the middle SES group. While dental need and type of dental coverage varied by SES, both were significantly associated with utilization of dental services within all 3 SES categories in the logistic regressions. These results suggest that measures need to be implemented to meet the goal of increasing access and utilization of dental health services by low-income populations.

42 CFR 51c.303 - Project elements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... Health PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES GRANTS GRANTS FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH... population including a substantial proportion of individuals of limited English-speaking ability, have developed a plan and made arrangements responsive to the needs of such populations for providing services to...

Developmental Services for Children with HIV Infection.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Crocker, Allen C.

1989-01-01

The special developmental needs of young children with congenital HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) infection require evaluation, training, therapy, and other supports. Such services should be guided by developmentalists in a child study center in close alliance with medical, educational, and community service providers. Concerns about the…

Active Learning through Service-Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Goldberg, Lynette R.; Richburg, Cynthia McCormick; Wood, Lisa A.

2006-01-01

Service-learning (SL) is a relatively new pedagogical approach to facilitate student learning at the university level. In SL, students enrolled in an academic course provide a needed service to a community partner. Through guided reflection, students link classroom-based, theoretical knowledge with clinical applications. Students' active…

Service-Learning in Sports

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mumford, Vincent; Kane, Jennifer

2006-01-01

This article examines how a graduate sport-marketing class, at an urban university, implemented a sport-related service-learning project (Hoops Against Hunger) that provided relief to victims of Florida's 2004 hurricanes. The article describes the seven components of the project (need, participants, learning, service, publicity, evaluation, and…

76 FR 35162 - Service Dogs

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-06-16

... DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 38 CFR Part 17 RIN 2900-AN51 Service Dogs AGENCY: Department of... its regulations concerning veterans in need of service dogs. Under current regulations, VA provides benefits to veterans with guide dogs, and this rulemaking would broaden and clarify those benefits. This...

Smart learning services based on smart cloud computing.

PubMed

Kim, Svetlana; Song, Su-Mi; Yoon, Yong-Ik

2011-01-01

Context-aware technologies can make e-learning services smarter and more efficient since context-aware services are based on the user's behavior. To add those technologies into existing e-learning services, a service architecture model is needed to transform the existing e-learning environment, which is situation-aware, into the environment that understands context as well. The context-awareness in e-learning may include the awareness of user profile and terminal context. In this paper, we propose a new notion of service that provides context-awareness to smart learning content in a cloud computing environment. We suggest the elastic four smarts (E4S)--smart pull, smart prospect, smart content, and smart push--concept to the cloud services so smart learning services are possible. The E4S focuses on meeting the users' needs by collecting and analyzing users' behavior, prospecting future services, building corresponding contents, and delivering the contents through cloud computing environment. Users' behavior can be collected through mobile devices such as smart phones that have built-in sensors. As results, the proposed smart e-learning model in cloud computing environment provides personalized and customized learning services to its users.

Smart Learning Services Based on Smart Cloud Computing

PubMed Central

Kim, Svetlana; Song, Su-Mi; Yoon, Yong-Ik

2011-01-01

Context-aware technologies can make e-learning services smarter and more efficient since context-aware services are based on the user’s behavior. To add those technologies into existing e-learning services, a service architecture model is needed to transform the existing e-learning environment, which is situation-aware, into the environment that understands context as well. The context-awareness in e-learning may include the awareness of user profile and terminal context. In this paper, we propose a new notion of service that provides context-awareness to smart learning content in a cloud computing environment. We suggest the elastic four smarts (E4S)—smart pull, smart prospect, smart content, and smart push—concept to the cloud services so smart learning services are possible. The E4S focuses on meeting the users’ needs by collecting and analyzing users’ behavior, prospecting future services, building corresponding contents, and delivering the contents through cloud computing environment. Users’ behavior can be collected through mobile devices such as smart phones that have built-in sensors. As results, the proposed smart e-learning model in cloud computing environment provides personalized and customized learning services to its users. PMID:22164048

Home and Community-Based Service Use by Vulnerable Older Adults.

PubMed

Weaver, Raven H; Roberto, Karen A

2017-06-01

The purpose of this study was to identify different types of clients who use home and community-based services. Enrollment characteristics of 76 clients at risk of nursing home placement and Medicaid spend-down who were enrolled in the Virginia Community Living Program were analyzed. Two-step cluster analysis identified 4 groups of service users. Enabling resources (caregiver relationship to participant, participant living arrangement, and length of time caregiver provided assistance to participant) and disability type (physical, cognitive, traumatic brain injury, or other) differentiated the client groups. Groups differed on average service cost per day and likelihood of nursing home placement if services were not provided. Findings point to the value of having practitioners assist vulnerable clients in tailoring services to meet different care needs and the need for refining policies guiding home and community-based care. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Gerontological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Determining suitability for home versus community-based ambulatory therapy services for adults with arthritis.

PubMed

Rothman, L M; Badley, E M

1996-02-01

A survey of clients seen by a community-based arthritis therapy service was conducted to investigate how characteristics of clients might provide information to assist in the development of guidelines for services delivered in the home versus in a community-based ambulatory setting. Clients completed a self-administered questionnaire, which included the Health Assessment Questionnaire, and a mobility handicap measure. Two indicator variables selected as criteria for suitability for ambulatory therapy were the therapists' rating of client suitability and the clients' report of going out more than once weekly. Based on these indicator variables, 60-76% of clients currently receiving home therapy by this service could potentially receive services in a community-based ambulatory setting. The results demonstrate the usefulness of considering client characteristics when deciding whether clients need to be seen at home. This study emphasizes the need to determine the most efficient and effective methods of providing services to people in the community with chronic conditions.

Inclusive practices for children and youths with communication disorders. Ad Hoc Committee on Inclusion for students with Communication Disorders.

PubMed

1996-01-01

An array of inclusive service delivery models is recommended for the implementation of services to children and youths with communication disorders. Inclusive practices are intervention services that are based on the unique and specific needs of the individual, and provided in a context that is least restrictive. There are a variety of models through which inclusive practices can be provided, including a direct (pull-out) program, in classroom-based service delivery, community-based models, and consultative interventions. These models should be seen as flexible options that may change depending on student needs. The speech-language pathologist, in collaboration with parents, the student, teachers, support personnel, and administrators, is in the ideal position to decide the model or combination of models that best serves each individual student's communication needs. Implementation of inclusive practices requires consideration of multiple issues, including general education reform, cost effectiveness, and program efficacy. In addition, administrative and school system support, personnel qualifications, staff development, flexible scheduling, and the effects of inclusive practices on all learners need to be considered. At present, available research suggests guarded optimism for the effectiveness of inclusive practices. However, many critical questions have not yet been addressed and additional research is needed to assess the full impact of inclusive practices for students with communication disorders.

Contracts to devolve health services in fragile states and developing countries: do ethics matter?

PubMed

Jayasinghe, S

2009-09-01

Fragile states and developing countries increasingly contract out health services to non-state providers (NSPs) (such as non-governmental organisations, voluntary sector and private sector). The paper identifies ethical issues when contracts involve devolution of health services to NSPs and proposes procedures to prevent or resolve these ethical dilemmas. Ethical issues were identified by examining processes of contracting out. Health needs could be used to select areas to be contracted out and to identify service needs. Health needs comprise "disease-burden-related needs", "health-service needs", and "urgency of health-service needs". The mix of services should include an analysis of cost-effectiveness. NSPs should be selected fairly, without bias, and conflicts of interest during their work must be avoided. The population's views must be respected and accountability structures established. Devolved health services should ensure equity of access to healthcare. The services ought to be sustainable and evaluated objectively. Of these issues, conflicts of interest among NSPs and sustainability of health services have not attracted attention in the literature on ethics of health policy. Fair procedures could address these ethical issues-for example, public consultation on issues; decisions based on the public consultation and made on evidence; principles of decisions stated and reasonable; decisions given adequate publicity; a mechanism established to challenge decisions; assurance that mechanisms meet the above conditions; and regular review of the policies. These procedures are complemented by improving self-governance of NSPs, countries' development of guidelines for devolving health services, and measures to educate the public of the client countries on these issues.

Developing stroke-specific vocational rehabilitation: a soft systems analysis of current service provision

PubMed Central

Radford, Kathryn; Grant, Mary; Terry, Jane

2014-01-01

Purpose: This study aimed to clarify the existing service provision of stroke-specific vocational rehabilitation (VR) in one English county, in order to facilitate future service development. Method: Using soft systems methodology, services in Health, Social Care, Department of Work and Pensions, the voluntary and private sectors, which were identified as supporting return to work after stroke, were mapped using a mixed-methodology approach. Results: A lack of a sanctioned VR pathway meant access to support relied on brokered provision and tacit knowledge. The timing of an intervention was complex and there was a substantial degree of unmet need for mild stroke patients. VR was seen as “non-essential” due to competing commissioning priorities. Service providers from all sectors lacked training and cross-sector partnerships were tenuous and provider roles unclear. Conclusions: Stroke-specific VR should be delivered by an integrated, cross-sector multi-disciplinary team and integrated commissioning between health and other sectors is necessary. Although early intervention is important, support later on in the recovery process is also necessary. Service providers need adequate training to meet the needs of stroke survivors wishing to return to work and better awareness of best practice guidelines. Business cases which demonstrate the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of VR are vital. Implications for Rehabilitation The timeliness of a vocational rehabilitation (VR) intervention is complex; services need to be responsive to the changing needs of the stroke survivor throughout their recovery process and have better mechanisms to ensure re-entry into the stroke pathway is possible. Return to work is a recognised health outcome; health services need to develop better mechanisms for interagency/cross sector working and liaison with employers and not assume that VR is beyond their remit. Therapists and non-health service providers should receive sufficient training to meet the needs of stroke survivors wishing to return to work. Rehabilitation teams must decide how to implement national guidance within existing resources and what training is needed to deploy SSVR. The lack of a sanctioned pathway results in disorganised and patchy provision of VR for stroke survivors; mild stroke patients can fall through the net and receive little or no support. The journey back to work commences at the point of stroke. Mechanisms for identifying acute stroke survivors who were working at onset and for assessing the impact of the stroke on their work need to be put in place. The entire MDT has a role to play. In the absence of a VR specialist, even patients without obvious disability should be referred for ongoing rehabilitation with detailed work assessment and signposted to employment specialists e.g. disability employment advisors EARLY after stroke. Health-based VR interventions can influence work return and job retention. However, therapists must routinely measure work outcomes to inform their business case and be encouraged to demonstrate these outcomes to local commissioners. Commissioners should consider emerging evidence of early VR interventions on reduced length of stay, health and social care resource use and the wider health benefits of maintaining employment. PMID:23692389

Developing stroke-specific vocational rehabilitation: a soft systems analysis of current service provision.

PubMed

Sinclair, Emma; Radford, Kathryn; Grant, Mary; Terry, Jane

2014-01-01

This study aimed to clarify the existing service provision of stroke-specific vocational rehabilitation (VR) in one English county, in order to facilitate future service development. Using soft systems methodology, services in Health, Social Care, Department of Work and Pensions, the voluntary and private sectors, which were identified as supporting return to work after stroke, were mapped using a mixed-methodology approach. A lack of a sanctioned VR pathway meant access to support relied on brokered provision and tacit knowledge. The timing of an intervention was complex and there was a substantial degree of unmet need for mild stroke patients. VR was seen as "non-essential" due to competing commissioning priorities. Service providers from all sectors lacked training and cross-sector partnerships were tenuous and provider roles unclear. Stroke-specific VR should be delivered by an integrated, cross-sector multi-disciplinary team and integrated commissioning between health and other sectors is necessary. Although early intervention is important, support later on in the recovery process is also necessary. Service providers need adequate training to meet the needs of stroke survivors wishing to return to work and better awareness of best practice guidelines. Business cases which demonstrate the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of VR are vital. Implications for Rehabilitation The timeliness of a vocational rehabilitation (VR) intervention is complex; services need to be responsive to the changing needs of the stroke survivor throughout their recovery process and have better mechanisms to ensure re-entry into the stroke pathway is possible. Return to work is a recognised health outcome; health services need to develop better mechanisms for interagency/cross sector working and liaison with employers and not assume that VR is beyond their remit. Therapists and non-health service providers should receive sufficient training to meet the needs of stroke survivors wishing to return to work. Rehabilitation teams must decide how to implement national guidance within existing resources and what training is needed to deploy SSVR. The lack of a sanctioned pathway results in disorganised and patchy provision of VR for stroke survivors; mild stroke patients can fall through the net and receive little or no support. The journey back to work commences at the point of stroke. Mechanisms for identifying acute stroke survivors who were working at onset and for assessing the impact of the stroke on their work need to be put in place. The entire MDT has a role to play. In the absence of a VR specialist, even patients without obvious disability should be referred for ongoing rehabilitation with detailed work assessment and signposted to employment specialists e.g. disability employment advisors EARLY after stroke. Health-based VR interventions can influence work return and job retention. However, therapists must routinely measure work outcomes to inform their business case and be encouraged to demonstrate these outcomes to local commissioners. Commissioners should consider emerging evidence of early VR interventions on reduced length of stay, health and social care resource use and the wider health benefits of maintaining employment.

Designing online audiovisual heritage services: an empirical study of two comparable online video services

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ongena, G.; van de Wijngaert, L. A. L.; Huizer, E.

2013-03-01

The purpose of this study is to seek input for a new online audiovisual heritage service. In doing so, we assess comparable online video services to gain insights into the motivations and perceptual innovation characteristics of the video services. The research is based on data from a Dutch survey held among 1,939 online video service users. The results show that online video service held overlapping antecedents but does show differences in motivations and in perceived innovation characteristics. Hence, in general, one can state that in comparison, online video services comply with different needs and have differences in perceived innovation characteristics. This implies that one can design online video services for different needs. In addition to scientific implications, the outcomes also provide guidance for practitioners in implementing new online video services.