Picking process improvement: The case of a company in the sporting goods retail sector

Although, with Covid-19, some sports-related activities were temporarily affected, the pandemic reinforced the importance of physical activity for a healthy life, resulting in a greater practice of sports both formally and informally, which had already been gaining more and more adherence in Portugal. Having said this, companies in the sports-related activity sectors must be prepared for this reality. Markets are increasingly competitive, it is essential to revise and improve processes in a continuous and systematic way. Order picking is one of the processes that most requires this effort, as it is one of the processes that involves more working hours and has a direct impact on the quality and efficiency of the entire supply chain. This is clearly the case at the logistics centre of Company X, particularly in the area of bulky items. In this sense, this study focuses on finding appropriate strategies to improve this process. With this objective in mind, and based on the literature review, a Business Process Improvement (BPI) approach was used. As an integral part of this approach, and also as a consequence of the literature review, it was proposed an improvement solution that involves the replacement of the current pick-by-label method with pick-by-tablet combined with RFID technology as a confirmation method. All the analyses performed lead to the conclusion that this proposal may represent significant improvements in terms of process efficiency and effectiveness, thus meeting the objectives established for the project.Apesar de, com a Covid-19, algumas atividades ligadas ao desporto terem sido temporariamente afetadas, a pandemia veio reforçar a importância da atividade física para uma vida saudável, resultando numa maior prática de desporto tanto a nível formal como informal, que já vinham a ganhar cada vez mais adesão em Portugal. Dito isto, as empresas nos setores de atividades ligadas à prática desportiva devem estar preparadas para esta realidade. Os mercados são cada vez mais competitivos, é fundamental rever e melhorar os processos de uma forma contínua e sistemática. Order picking é um dos processos que mais exige este esforço, pois é um dos processos que implica mais horas de trabalho e tem um impacto direto na qualidade e eficiência de toda a cadeia de abastecimento. Este é claramente o caso no centro logístico da Empresa X, mais concretamente na área dos artigos volumosos. Neste sentido, o presente estudo foca-se em encontrar estratégias apropriadas que permitam melhorar este processo. Tendo em conta este objetivo, e com base na revisão de literatura, foi usada uma abordagem de Business Process Improvement (BPI). Como parte integrante desta abordagem, e também como consequência da revisão de literatura, foi proposta uma solução de melhoria que passa pela substituição do atual método de pick-by-label por pick-by-tablet juntamente com tecnologia RFID como método de confirmação. Todas as análises efetuadas permitem concluir que esta proposta poderá representar melhorias significativas no que diz respeito à eficiência e eficácia do processo, indo assim de encontro aos objetivos estabelecidos para o projeto

a review

Introduction: eHealth and mHealth are technologies that allow services to be extended closer to patients, in pursuit of the objectives of Health 2020: a European policy framework and strategy for the 21st century and of the Global Strategy on Human Resources for Health: workforce 2030. As Europe faces increased demand for health services due to ageing populations, rising patient mobility, and a diminishing supply of health workers caused by retirement rates that surpass recruitment rates, this paper illustrates how eHealth and mHealth can improve the delivery of services by the health workforce in response to increasing demands. Methods: Through a scoping literature review, the impact of eHealth/mHealth on the health workforce was assessed by examining how these technologies affect four dimensions of the performance of health professionals, according to the so-called AAAQ: availability, accessibility, acceptability, and quality. Results: Few high-quality studies were found. Most studies focused on the utilization of text messaging (SMS) for patient behavior change, and some examined the potential of mhealth to strengthen health systems. We also found some limited literature reporting effects on clinical effectiveness, costs, and patient acceptability; we found none reporting on equity and safety issues. Facilitators and barriers to the optimal utilization of eHealth and mHealth were identified and categorized as they relate to individuals, professional groups, provider organizations, and the institutional environment. Discussion: There are ongoing clinical trial protocols of largescale, multidimensional mHealth interventions, suggesting that the current limited evidence base will expand in coming years. The requirement for new digital skills for human resources for health (HRH) was observed as significant. This has implications for the education of health workers, the management of health services, policy-making, and research.publishersversionpublishe

The functional power of the CPLP in the framework ok development cooperation in food security and nutrition (FSN)

The Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP), about to celebrate its twenty year of existence, was born to preserve the language and a common cultural heritage and has been gradually strengthening other policy dimensions which have led to increased visibility. The cooperation in the areas of Health and Food and Nutrition Security (SAN) is such an example. In fact, the "Food Security and Nutrition Strategy (ESAN-CPLP)", adopted in 2011, is a real and operational tool to improve levels of human development in the member states of the CPLP, and is recognized in international fora as an example of good practice by partners such as the European Union, while also being perfectly aligned with the U.N.'s Goals of Sustainable Development. Despite the unique role of the CPLP and its potential functional power in the framework of international cooperation, some threats have emerged, preventing its further affirmation, namely the assertion of a clear political will by the member states. Despite the gap between the present CPLP and the Agostinho da Silva's dream of creating a true Lusophone community, its contemporary role and potential is quite clear, and outstanding are the efforts to establish in its framework the Human Right to Adequate Food

Case Study of Diabetes

Funding Information: L.V.L. would like to acknowledge Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT—MCTES) for its financial support via the project UIDB/00667/2020 (UNIDEMI). Publisher Copyright: © 2023 by the authors.European cities should address the climate change challenges, improving quality of life and reducing costs. They need potential smart and digital approaches. Public health (PH) has recognized climate change as a major challenge. The development of urban policies should be guided by evidence-based PH practices. The environmental health determinants and the climate crisis now represent a clear PH threat. The core of the Smart City is sustainability, and its basic condition is active PH. The inclusion of public health into the pillars of the Smart City concept to contribute toward mitigating PH crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, is a framework for action. Design Science Research Methodology (DSRM) is used to elicit a Smart Public Health City (SPHEC) framework. A set of PH and smart city experts participated in the DSRM process, using diabetes as a case study. The European Green Deal served as a blueprint for this transformational change toward a healthier and more sustainable city. The SPHEC framework was defined by elucidating clearly the several dimensions of the PH functions within a digital city, via the identification of a set of digital PH services that are required to support the SPHEC framework. This allows for an assessment of the actual benefits that are obtained with the digital health services, and provides evidence for guiding decision-making. The role of digital PH services emerges from the analysis of the SPHEC framework, through the development of proper digital health services within the smart city, strengthening capacity and resilience in future climate emergencies, and motivating policy makers to take this challenge more seriously.publishersversionpublishe

a modified Delphi technique

© Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2018. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to elucidate the top five key priorities and barriers to chronic care in the health system of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). DESIGN: A modified Delphi study was performed to reach consensus on priority areas and barriers to the development of the Chronic Care Model in the health system of Abu Dhabi. Individual wireless audience response devices (keypads) linked to a computer were used to reduce 28 priorities and 20 barriers to the top five during three iterative rounds over three consecutive days. SETTING: Chronic care services for patients with diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer, in both private and publicly funded healthcare services in the emirate of Abu Dhabi. PARTICIPANTS: A purposive sample of 20 health systems' experts were recruited. They were front-line healthcare workers from the public and private sector working in the delivery of care for patients with diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer. RESULTS: The 'overall organizational leadership in chronic illness care' was ranked as the most important priority to address (26.3%) and 'patient compliance' was ranked as the most important barrier (36.8%) to the development of the Chronic Care Model. CONCLUSIONS: This study has identified the current priorities and barriers to improving chronic care within Abu Dhabi's healthcare system. Our paper addresses the UAE's 2021 Agenda of achieving a world-class healthcare system, and findings may help inform strategic changes required to achieve this mission.publishersversionpublishe

IT governance maturity patterns in Portuguese healthcare

The pervasive use of technology in organizations to address the increased services complexity has created a critical dependency on information technology (IT) that calls to a specific focus on IT Governance (ITG). However, determining the right ITG mechanisms remains a complex endeavor. This paper uses Design Science Research and proposes an exploratory research by analyzing ITG case studies to elicit possible ITG mechanisms patterns. Six interviews were performed in Portuguese healthcare services organizations to assess the ITG practices. Our goal is to build some theories (ITG mechanisms patterns), which we believe will guide healthcare services organizations about the advisable ITG mechanisms given their specific context. We also intend to elicit conclusions regarding the most relevant ITG mechanisms for Portuguese healthcare services organizations. Additionally, a comparison is made with the financial industry to identify improvement opportunities. We finish our work with limitations, contribution and future work.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

A Pediatric Telecardiology Service 20 years on-An exploratory study

Background: Telemedicine services are promoting more access to healthcare. Portugal was an early adopter of telemedicine to overcome both its geological barriers and the shortage of healthcare professionals. The Pediatric Cardiology Service (PCS) at Coimbra University Hospital Centre (CHUC) has been using telemedicine to increase access and coverage since 1998. Their Pediatric Telecardiology Service has been daily connecting CHUC with 13 other Portuguese national hospitals, and regularly connecting with Portuguese-speaking African countries, through a teleconsultation platform. Methods: This study aims at exploring the Pediatric Telecardiology Service's evolution, through a comprehensive assessment of the PCS's development, evolution and impact in public health, to better understand the critical factors for implementation and sustainability of telemedicine, in the context of healthcare services digitalization. A case study was performed, with cost-benefit, critical factors and organizational culture assessment. Finally, the Kingdon's framework helped to understand the implementation and scale-up process and the role of policy-making. Results: With the total of 32,685 out-patient teleconsultations, growing steadily from 1998 to 2016, the Pediatric Telecardiology Service has reached national and international recognition, being a pioneer and an active promotor of telemedicine. This telemedicine service has saved significant resources, about 1.1 million euros for the health system (e.g. in administrative and logistic costs) and approximately 419 euros per patient (considering an average of 1777 patients per year). PCS presents a dominant "Clan" culture. The Momentum's critical factors for telemedicine service implementation enabled us to understand how barriers were overcome (e.g. political forces). Willingness, perseverance and teamwork, allied with partnership with key stakeholders, were the foundation for professionals' engagement and service networking development. Its positive results, new regulations and the increasing support from the hospital board, set up a window of opportunity to establish a sustainable telemedicine service. Conclusion: The Pediatric Telecardiology Service enables real-time communication and the sharing of clinical information, overcoming many barriers (from geographical ones to shortage of healthcare professionals), improving access to specialized care both in Portugal and Africa. Motivation and teamwork, and perseverance, were key for the Pediatric Telecardiology Service to tackle the window of opportunity which created conditions for sustainability.publishersversionpublishe

combinando la salud digital y el liderazgo del enfermero

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Isto é mesmo uma questão de vida ou de morte! : preocupações existenciais no doente oncológico

Tese de mestrado em Cuidados Paliativos, apresentada à Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, 2008As preocupações existenciais, normalmente surgem em situações limite, como no caso de uma doença crónica, progressiva e incurável, ainda que sejam inatas em todos os indivíduos, mesmo naqueles livres de doença. O objectivo deste estudo foi identificar dimensões/preocupações existenciais no doente oncológico paliativo. Verificou-se: a sua existência na totalidade da amostra; que emergem de forma mais intensa na fase avançada da doença; e que são uma das principais fontes de sofrimento dos doentes. São igualmente, das menos compreendidas, monitorizadas e intervencionadas, porque encerram os conflitos identificados no estudo: interrogações sobre o sentido da própria vida e da vida em geral; a consciência da inevitabilidade da morte, o medo desta e o desejo de continuar a viver; a necessidade de posse de uma vida livre, mas que necessariamente implica responsabilidade; e a dicotomia entre a necessidade de proximidade/pertença e de isolamento perante a iminente separação do mundo e das pessoas significativas. Verificou-se igualmente que o bem-estar existencial tem efeito protector contra o desespero em fim de vida e que os conflitos identificados decorrentes das preocupações existenciais necessitam de um profundo trabalho de elaboração. A inexistência ou o fracasso dessa elaboração tem como consequências directas, comportamentos desajustados ou disfuncionais e uma vida desprovida de sentido. Assim, a intervenção paliativa deve ter por base a antecipação dos problemas existenciais, sabendo que a condição de vida dos doentes paliativos cria espaço para um profundo trabalho de elaboração existencial. Esta elaboração, como se verificou, pode ocorrer em todas as pessoas, com maior ou menor profundidade, desde que a relação com o doente se traduza de forma adequada.Existential ultimate concerns emerge naturally in boundary situations, as in case of chronicle, progressive, and incurable illness, although they are inborn in all individuals, even in those who are not ill. The purpose of this study was to identify dimensions/concerns in terminally illcancer patients. The results showed: its presence in the entire sample; that they emergein a more intensive way in advanced disease, and that they are one of the main patient'ssuffering sources. They are equally, the less understood, evaluated and with lessintervention, because they beget the conflicts identified in the study: issues about themeaning of the own life and life in general; the awareness of the inevitability of death,its fear and the wish to continue to live; the needs of ownership a free life, but thatimplies responsibility; and the dichotomy between the needs of belongings and isolation, face to the imminent separation from the world and the loved ones. The results also showed that the existential well-being has a protective outcomeagainst the end-of-life despair, and that the conflicts from the existential ultimate concerns are in need of a deep elaboration work. The inexistence or the failure of this elaboration work brings, as direct consequence, maladjustment and dysfunctional behaviours and a meaningless life. Thereby, the palliative intervention should have its foundation in the existential problem's anticipation, being aware that palliative patient's life's circumstances offers space to a deep existential elaboration work. This elaboration, as verified, may occur in all the individuals, with greater or less depth, once the relation with the patient is expressed in an appropriate manner. In the confrontation with the own existence, grief and existential suffering arise the advanced illness is this paradigm and these should be one of the priority targets of the palliative care intervention