1,659 research outputs found
Influencing Physician Drug Prescription Habits Towards Cost Containment
In Israel, diffusion of clinical information systems is almost universal in ambulatory medical services. The drug prescription module embedded in a widely-used electronic patient record system has the capacity to intervene and notify physicians about available generic or therapeutic substitute drugs, when their first choice is outside the insurer\u27s preferred drug list. The objective of this paper is to study how such intervention influences drug prescription habits of physicians and helps contain costs. To this end we monitored system use for 40 weeks, recording physicians’ willingness to change their choice to a substitute following system notification. Findings show higher physician compliance with generic substitutes than with therapeutic substitutes, based on a cognitive decision process upon notification, and increase in compliance over time, until stabilization. The resulting direct financial savings on expenditure for drugs, estimated to be 4.7% for chronic drugs, entail long-term savings
Applications of aerospace technology in the public sector
Current activities of the program to accelerate specific applications of space related technology in major public sector problem areas are summarized for the period 1 June 1971 through 30 November 1971. An overview of NASA technology, technology applications, and supporting activities are presented. Specific technology applications in biomedicine are reported including cancer detection, treatment and research; cardiovascular diseases, diagnosis, and treatment; medical instrumentation; kidney function disorders, treatment, and research; and rehabilitation medicine
Information seeking behavioural paths of physicians for diabetes mellitus care: a qualitative comparative analysis of information needs, sources, and barriers
This study addresses diabetes physicians’ information seeking behavioural paths (digital, conventional, interpersonal) which lead to information needs satisfaction and the barriers encountered in this process. The study was based on empirical evidence from a survey of 159 physicians. Theoretical analysis was informed by Wilson’s model of information seeking behaviour. The data were analysed using fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis method. The method was successful in identifying five behavioural paths leading to physicians’ information needs satisfaction (professional/health coaching) which demonstrate different relationships between information sources (conventional/interpersonal/digital) and information barriers (personal/digital illiteracy) and five behavioural paths that are not leading to satisfaction
Strict Liability and Informed Consent: Don\u27t Say I Didn\u27t Tell You So!
The purpose of this article is the cogent presentation of the arguments favoring application of contemporary strict tort liability concepts to the doctrine of informed consent. While not a panacea, adoption of this proposal would afford the consumer of medical services the requisite protection to make an effective, informed medical choice, while lending consistency and certainty to the physician, long harrassed, both morally and legally, by doubts as to what constitutes an informed consent.
This author will assume, arguendo, for the purpose of this article that all physicians are good-faith, competent practitioners. However, the reader should be forewarned: The existing requirement that medical consumers render an informed consent constitutes a knotty and complex problem, both ethically and legally, for the most conscientious and competent medical practitioner. Entrusting enforcement of the existing informed consent laws to the few physicians who fail to adhere to the high standards promulgated by the medical profession can be likened to deploying the fox to guard the henhouse.
Likewise, the reader should note that the proposed standard of strict tort liability applies only to the situation in which the physician has failed to adequately advise the patient of the attendant risks of the proposed treatment, and not to a physician\u27s liability for treatment where informed consent has been obtained
Southwest Research Institute assistance to NASA in biomedical areas of the technology
Significant applications of aerospace technology were achieved. These applications include: a miniaturized, noninvasive system to telemeter electrocardiographic signals of heart transplant patients during their recuperative period as graded situations are introduced; and economical vital signs monitor for use in nursing homes and rehabilitation hospitals to indicate the onset of respiratory arrest; an implantable telemetry system to indicate the onset of the rejection phenomenon in animals undergoing cardiac transplants; an exceptionally accurate current proportional temperature controller for pollution studies; an automatic, atraumatic blood pressure measurement device; materials for protecting burned areas in contact with joint bender splints; a detector to signal the passage of animals by a given point during ecology studies; and special cushioning for use with below-knee amputees to protect the integrity of the skin at the stump/prosthesis interface
ARIA digital anamorphosis : Digital transformation of health and care in airway diseases from research to practice
Digital anamorphosis is used to define a distorted image of health and care that may be viewed correctly using digital tools and strategies. MASK digital anamorphosis represents the process used by MASK to develop the digital transformation of health and care in rhinitis. It strengthens the ARIA change management strategy in the prevention and management of airway disease. The MASK strategy is based on validated digital tools. Using the MASK digital tool and the CARAT online enhanced clinical framework, solutions for practical steps of digital enhancement of care are proposed.Peer reviewe
CLINICAL SITUATIONS OF UNCERTAINTY AND ACCESS TO RESOURCES: A STUDY OF COMMUNITY FAMILY PHYSICIANS
Aims: To explore the situational factors that are present during moments of uncertainty
that lead family physicians to access external resources of varying type.
Methods: Situational cues were identified using self-observational journaling. A survey was then performed to study physicians\u27 likelihood of accessing external resources in response to each situation.
Findings: Identified situational cues included case aspects such as unfamiliar or complex presentations, potentially serious conditions, failure of previous treatments, and the patient or others in attendance being perceived as anxious, demanding, distrustful or dissatisfied. In all situations, physicians reported greatest likelihood to refer to specialists. However, with conditions that seem unfamiliar or complex, they reported similar likelihood to access internet sources, and in complex situations, to consult with peers.
Conclusions: Both medical and social situational factors led family physicians to access external resources. Consultation with specialists and peers are considered highly valued resources in managing situations of uncertainty
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