Uwarunkowania funkcjonowania szpitali we współczesnej Europie ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem zasobów kadrowych

The aim of the article is to present the scope of determinants influencing hospitals’ functioning in contemporary Europe with emphasize put on the health sector human recourses issue. Multiplicity of the functions realized by the hospitals units relates to the plurality of determinants which influence their present situation as well as long-term transformation processes. The determinants can be categorized into three main groups: these related to the demand side of the hospital services, their supply and determinants being the results of the social and economic changes. Regardless of the differences existing between health systems in specific countries – all European countries are facing similar problems of increasing health care costs, strong need of efficiency improvement and deficits of medical staff. In case of the hospital sector the key issue is number of beds reduction and transformation of the hospitals’ organizational for

Financial performance of public hospitals : a cross-sectional study among Polish providers

There is growing evidence of a positive association between health care providers’ financial standing and the quality of care. In Poland, the instable financial situation and growing debt of public hospitals has been a source of concern for more than two decades now. The objectives of this paper were to compare the financial performance of public hospitals in Poland, depending on the ownership and organizational form; and analyze whether there is an association between financial performance and the chosen variables. We conducted a cross sectional study covering the whole population of public hospitals operating in 2018. The total number of included units was 805. The hospitals’ financial outcomes were measured by several variables; Spearman’s rank correlation was calculated, and a multivariable logistic regression model was performed. In 2018, the majority of public hospitals in Poland (52%) generated a gross loss, while 40% hospitals had overdue liabilities. There were statistically significant differences between hospital groups, with university hospitals and those owned by counties (local hospitals) being in the most disadvantageous situation. Additionally, corporatized public hospitals performed worse than those functioning in the classic legal form of independent health care units. Urgent actions are needed to measure and monitor the potential impact of financial performance on the quality of care

Koordynacja podaży usług szpitalnych – doświadczenia międzynarodowe a sytuacja w Polsce

The article provides a comparison of methods of hospital services’ supply coordination in three European countries: the United Kingdom (on England example), Germany and France. The coordination methods are defined as both the processes of planning the current hospital services supply levels (e.g. number of hospitals’ beds by speciality) and regulations regarding the investment projects within this sector. The results of the international comparison are then used in the context of analysis of the current situation in Polish hospital sector. Major (past and present) initiatives aimed at introduction of some form of hospital services supply coordination in Polish system are described. Shifting the emphasis from ‘competition’ to ‘coordination’ is presented as a basic recommendation for reforms

Rola funduszy strukturalnych Unii Europejskiej w finansowaniu inwestycji w obszarze ochrony zdrowia w Polsce

European Union structural funds’ role in financing investments in Polish heath care sectorThe article presents the analysis of European Union structural funds’ role in financing investments in Polish heath care sector. The analysis includes investments in physical assets (mainly equipment, renovations) as well all projects related to human capital (education). Distinguishing features of EU co-financed investments projects are presented. The analysis is focused on the period 2007–2013, however some basic assumptions for the new financial perspective (2014–2020) ware also discussed. The outcomes of the analysis confirm that EU structural funds constitute an important (and in many cases major) source of financing investments in Polish health care sector. However, at the macro level the is a strong need for introduction of coordination policies and rationalization mechanisms (linking the investments planning with the actual heath needs and sustainability prognosis)

Hospital sector in the United States – basic characteristics and current financial challenges

The aim of this article is to present the basic characteristics of the U.S. hospital sector (with an emphasis on structure, utilization level and the system of financing) as well as its current challenges and reform trends. Hospitals in the U.S. constitute a complicated and heterogeneous subsystem. There are diverse types of hospitals, functioning independently or in networks, developing innovative care models and using a multiple payer structure. The recent health care reform has created new organizational and financial challenges on both the macro and micro levels. The major ones are: the extension of the insured population; Medicare Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program; new requirements for non-profit hospitals regarding charity services; the role of accountable care organizations (ACOs). Additional challenge results from a strong public pressure for hospital’s price transparency

The European hospitals’ functioning determinants with special emphasis on the human resources issue

The aim of the article is to present the scope of determinants influencing hospitals’ functioning in contemporary Europe with emphasize put on the health sector human recourses issue. Multiplicity of the functions realized by the hospitals units relates to the plurality of determinants which influence their present situation as well as long-term transformation processes. The determinants can be categorized into three main groups: these related to the demand side of the hospital services, their supply and determinants being the results of the social and economic changes. Regardless of the differences existing between health systems in specific countries – all European countries are facing similar problems of increasing health care costs, strong need of efficiency improvement and deficits of medical staff. In case of the hospital sector the key issue is number of beds reduction and transformation of the hospitals’ organizational for

Exploring satisfaction and migration intentions of physicians in three University Hospitals in Poland

Introduction: University hospitals constitute a unique group of health care organizations which traditionally link three functions: (1) providing highly specialized services, (2) teaching activities, and (3) conducting research. Objectives: To assess the level of carrier satisfaction among physicians working in three university hospitals in Poland (1); to assess whether the physicians have the intention to migrate and what the main reasons for migration are (2); and to identify the actions that might be taken at the hospital level to mitigate physicians’ intentions to migrate (3). Methods: Cross-sectional study with both quantitative and qualitative components. In the quantitative part, an online questionnaire was distributed among physicians working in three university hospitals. A total number of 396 questionnaires were analyzed. In the qualitative part, in-depth interviews with six hospital managers were conducted and analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: On a scale from one “very dissatisfied” to six “very satisfied”, the mean career satisfaction of physicians was 4.0 (SD = 0.74). The item with the lowest mean concerned salary level (2.8, SD = 1.41). In the sample, 34% of physicians declared intentions to migrate from Poland. The main reasons for the intention to migrate were: Better working conditions abroad, higher earnings, the ability to maintain better work-life balance, better training opportunities abroad, and problems due to a stressful current workplace. Hospital managers considered the actions that can be taken at the hospital level to mitigate physicians’ migration to be specific to those focused on the working environment. Conclusions: Career development opportunities and features related to the working environment are the main factors influencing physicians’ satisfaction and migration intentions that can be modified at the university hospital level