Health insurance in Zaire

This study of health insurance systems in Zaire was carried out as part of a larger program of initiatives designed to improve the sustainability of health care systems and increase the health status of the Zairian population. This paper presents the objectives of the study and a discussion of the economic aspects of health insurance, background information about the health sector and health financing systems in Zaire and highlights of previous related work. The major motivations for this study were: (a) to provide information for the ongoing social sector adjustment dialogue in Zaire; and (b) to serve as a case study in the World Bank's Region Study of Health Finance. Specifically, the study sought to document different types of insurance systems in Zaire, and to conduct in-depth case studies of several schemes. The in-depth case studies presented in this report evaluate the design, management operational efficiency of four health insurance programs from both rural and urban areas. The case studies also attempt to analyze the effects of insurance on equity of access, utilization of health care services, and mobilization of financial resources for the health sector. From these analyses, the report draws conclusions about the advantages and disadvantages of health insurance programs as a means of financing health care services in Zaire, and suggests avenues for future research, policy, and programming initiatives.Health Monitoring&Evaluation,Insurance Law,Health Economics&Finance,Insurance&Risk Mitigation,Health Systems Development&Reform

Electronic Consultations Between Primary and Specialty Care Clinicians: Early Insights

Outlines how e-consultation enables clinicians and specialists to communicate more easily and reduce the need for in-person referrals; experiences for patients, clinicians, and health systems; benefits such as continuity of care; and barriers to adoption

The Promise of Health Information Technology: Ensuring that Florida's Children Benefit

Substantial policy interest in supporting the adoption of Health Information Technology (HIT) by the public and private sectors over the last 5 -- 7 years, was spurred in particular by the release of multiple Institute of Medicine reports documenting the widespread occurrence of medical errors and poor quality of care (Institute of Medicine, 1999 & 2001). However, efforts to focus on issues unique to children's health have been left out of many of initiatives. The purpose of this report is to identify strategies that can be taken by public and private entities to promote the use of HIT among providers who serve children in Florida

Community Health Centers: The Challenge of Growing to Meet the Need for Primary Care in Medically Underserved Communities

Provides an overview of community health centers, their patients, and recent federal and state funding cuts, as well as funding prospects for the centers' expansion to meet greater demand among patients newly eligible for Medicaid or private coverage

Organizing for Higher Performance: Case Studies of Organized Delivery Systems

Offers lessons learned from healthcare delivery systems promoting the attributes of an ideal model as defined by the Fund: information continuity, care coordination and transitions, system accountability, teamwork, continuous innovation, and easy access

International Profiles of Health Care Systems, 2012

This publication presents overviews of the health care systems of Australia, Canada, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Japan, Iceland, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States. Each overview covers health insurance, public and private financing, health system organization, quality of care, health disparities, efficiency and integration, care coordination, use of health information technology, use of evidence-based practice, cost containment, and recent reforms and innovations. In addition, summary tables provide data on a number of key health system characteristics and performance indicators, including overall health care spending, hospital spending and utilization, health care access, patient safety, care coordination, chronic care management, disease prevention, capacity for quality improvement, and public views

Organizing the U.S. Health Care Delivery System for High Performance

Analyzes the fragmentation of the healthcare delivery system and makes policy recommendations -- including payment reform, regulatory changes, and infrastructure -- for creating mechanisms to coordinate care across providers and settings

Assessing Transformation of Optimizing Ambulatory Surgery Center Services with Telehealth

Background: As technology advances and the ability to provide adequate and convenient surgical procedures improves; the usage of telehealth resources in an Ambulatory Surgery Center setting are evermore capable. The current environment of Ambulatory Surgery Center’s provides a baseline of support to alleviate main operating volume and to absorb more of the outpatient procedures with support from technology and telehealth. Objective: To understand how the telehealth abilities can enhance the efficiency and scope of service of Ambulatory Surgery Centers. To explore if telehealth resources can be utilized to strengthen, improve, and combine tasks that delay progress in the current model. To examine if as telehealth infuses with modern medicine, do the abilities make manual tasks obsolete given the transparent capabilities of telehealth resources. Methods: Utilizing a Value System Map (VSM) model to examine the current state of an Ambulatory Surgery Center, highlights in process delays are discussed and substituted in a later, future state model. Through displaying current vs. future state, areas of improvement are highlighted that provide areas of improvement in an Ambulatory Surgery Center setting. Results: In highlighting workflows with Ambulatory Surgery Center procedures, telehealth substitutions of current manual processes show promising improved efficiency with proper technology. Conclusion: The utilization of telehealth in place of current Ambulatory Surgery Center processes has begun due to recent pandemic of COVID-19; in which support from telehealth capabilities have supported growth in the ASC setting for more comprehensive usages when used accordingly with corresponding telehealth resources

International Profiles of Health Care Systems

Compares the healthcare systems of Australia, Canada, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States, including spending, use of health information technology, and coverage

Why Not the Best? Results From the National Scorecard on U.S. Health System Performance, 2008

Assesses the U.S. healthcare system's average performance as measured by thirty-seven indicators of health outcomes, quality, access, efficiency, and equity. Analyzes trends compared to the 2006 scorecard and to international benchmark rates