27,254 research outputs found
Dancing on a Pin: Health Planning in Arizona
This publication challenges us to step back and reflect on the past, present and future of health systems. Take a deeper look at planning and how we got here, review the roles of competition and regulation, and learn about the health planning matrix along with the concept of health planning bridges. Discover for yourself if these thoughts and tools help the signal of quality health planning rise more clearly from out of the noise
Economic Tools for Rural Health Planning
The full contribution of hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, etc to the rural economy often goes unrecognized. Quality health services are needed to attract businesses, and required for rural populations with a high proportion of elderly. This paper will share economic tools which can be used in any country to assist rural leaders in maintaining and advancing their health services. More specifically: 1. Health impact model to measure the economic impact of the health sector on a local economy 2. Community engagement tool to evaluate local health services; and 3. Health budget tools to determine the feasibility of a specific health service.Health Economics and Policy,
Animal Health Planning and Animal Health Plans - Concepts, principles and practicalities
In the United Kingdom it is mandatory for organic livestock farms to have an animal health plan as a document providing evidence of active management of disease and building positive health (Anon 2006). Many organisations, both organic and non organic, (e.g. BCVA, Defra Compendium of UK Organic Standards, Soil Association, RSPCA Freedom Food, NDFAS, FAWL) develop, describe and use animal health planning as a part of their strategy (see Box 1). Currently, it is the presence of a regularly updated health plan document that serves as evidence that this is in place.
The benefits of health plans, including animal welfare improvement, financial gain and increased farm efficacy have all been highlighted in various publications (Sibley 2000, Gray & Hovi 2001, Dobbs 2005, Lovatt 2004). It has frequently been suggested that, through good stockmanship and appropriate use of veterinary medicinal products, health planning can improve the smooth running of a farm.
An animal health plan should be an active tool for animal health and welfare planning. However, as organic certification and several farm assurance schemes require a health plan there is a danger that they become seen as something to be policed when in fact they should being used as a forum for advice. In order to fulfil this challenge a health plan must therefore be farm specific and relate to farm specific issues
Comprehensive Health Planning Agencies
It is no news to South Dakotans that, just as retail services have deserted the countryside for the larger population centers, so too have medical services concentrated in urban areas. The results for many South Dakotans have been inadequate or nonexistent emergency care, neglected health problems, and hours consumed on the road and in the doctor\u27s waiting room
Positive health: preventive measures and alternative strategies (5th NAHWOA Workshop)
content:
Part A: Therapy and prophylactics in organic systems
Part B: Tools for holistic health planning
Part C: Farm visits
The first part of the Positive Health Workshop focused on the use and role of alternative or complementary therapy on organic farms. The current EU-standards on organic livestock production require that alternatives to chemically synthesised , conventional veterinary drugs are used when safe and efficacious. In addition to this principle, various disincentives involved with the use of conventional therapy (e.g. prolonged prodcut withhold times) encourage organic livestock producers to use alternative/complementary therapies. This shift from routine, veterinary-supervised drug use to new modalities is not easy or simple, particularly in the absence of widely available advise and support. The papers of the first part of these proceedings both describe these problems and seek solutions that will allow compliance with organic standards and regualtions. The EU-regulation on organic livestock production (18104/99) also requires that organic farms base their positive health promotion on good planning.
The second part of the Workshop generated a lively discussion on the format and procedure that this health planning should take. The general conclusion from the Workshop strongly supported the idea of formalised, written health plans that would allow evidence-based and dynamic health promotion on organic farms.
content:
Part A: Therapy and prophylactics in organic systems
M. Hovi: Alternative therapy use on UK organic farms - constraints and pitfalls
T.W. Bennedsgaard, S.M. Thamsborg, M. Vaarst: Mastitis treatment and production losses in organic dairy herds
A. Striezel: Homeopathy as part of health management on organic farms
M. Walkenhorst, S. Garbe, P. Klocke, C. Merck, C. Notz, P. Rusch, J. Spranger: Strategies for prophylaxis and therapy of bovine mastitis
A. Martini, P. Tambini, M. Miccinesi, R. Bozzi: Homeopathic medicine: research data from Italy
L. Hektoen: Controlled clinical trials used in the evaluation of clinical effect of homeopathic treatment in farm animals
B. Henriksen, L. GrØva: Poster presentation: Use of alternative medicine in Norwegian organic husbandry
M. Vaarst, C. Fossing, S.M. Thamsborg: Discussion report: Alternative treatment methods
Part B: Tools for holistic health planning
M. Eysker: Strategies for internal parasite control in organic cattle
A. Roepstorff, H. Mejer: Strategies for parasite control in organic pigs
M. Bouilhol, C. Mage: Parasitism in organic sheep farming
S.M. Thamsborg: Parasite control on organic sheep farms: options and limitations
F.S. MacNaeidhe: Pasture management and composition as a means of minimizing mineral disorders in organic livestock
G.A. Smolders: Preventive measures for animal health and practical means for management support on organic dairy farms in the Netherlands
J. Baumgartner, T. Leeb, T. Guber, R. Tiefenbacher: Pig health and health planning in organic herds in Austria
D. Gray, M. Hovi: Animal health plans for organic farms: the UK experience
M. Vaarst, E. Noe, T.B. Nissen, T. Stjernholm, C. SØrensen, P.S. Enemark, S.M. Thamsborg, T.W. Bennedsgaard, T. Kristensen, H.J. Andersen, C. Enevoldsen: Development of health advisory service in Danish organic dairy herds - presentation of an action research project
M. Hovi, A. Sundrum: Discussion report: Health planning and management in organic livestock systems
Part C: Farm visits
M. Vaarst, M. Thamsborg :Report on farm visits: Danish organic dairy and pig herd
The Paradoxes of Health Planning
The National Health Planning Act of 1974 designated 200 Health Systems Agencies (HSAs) nationally and a State Health Planning and Development Agency in each state. Components of the law are analyzed to illustrate its ambiguities and contradictions. The components analyzed are: the findings which led to the passage of the law; the law\u27s purpose; the ten national health priorities; the National Guidelines for Health Planning; the purposes of the HSAs and the data they are to assemble and analyze. The major contradiction is that agencies designated to focus on cost containment in health care are expected to make health care services more accessible and acceptable, and improve their quality. These agencies are also expected to improve the health of the population, including ill health attributable to environmental factors.
Social policy regarding prevention is discussed, particularly the current trend toward blaming the victim. Contradictions and ironies in planning for cost containment are also pointed out: patients are blamed for utilization that is provider-induced; there is no constituency for cost containment; consumers (i.e., purchasers) with the greatest potential clout are large employers and organized labor, but such labor-management coalitions are just beginning to be developed; Certificates of Need require no proof of need; and current anti-regulation fervor may not distinguish state health planning regulations for cost containment, such as those adopted in New Jersey, from the cost-generating regulations of most government agencies
Planning for better animal health and welfare, Report from the 1st ANIPLAN project workshop, Hellevad, October 2007
’Minimising medicine use in organic dairy herds through animal health and welfare planning’, ANIPLAN, is a CORE-Organic project which was initiated in June 2007. The main aim of the project is to investigate active and well planned animal health and welfare promotion and disease prevention as a means of minimising medicine use in organic dairy herds. This aim will be met through the development of animal health and welfare planning principles for organic dairy farms under diverse conditions based on an evaluation of current experiences. This also includes application of animal health and welfare assessment across Europe. In order to bring this into practice the project also aims at developing guidelines for communication about animal health and welfare promotion in different settings, for example, as part of existing animal health advisory services or farmer groups such as the Danish Stable School system and the Dutch network programme. The project is divided into the following five work packages, four of which comprise research activities with the other focused on coordination and knowledge transfer, through meetings, workshops and publications. These proceedings represent our first results in terms of presented papers and discussions at our first project workshop in Hellevad Vandmølle as well as a review of Animal Health Planning in UK.
The content of the workshop proceedings reflect the aim and starting points of all work packages, both in terms of analyses prior to the workshop, and developments during the workshop emanating from group work. Besides a general introduction to the project and the ideas of the project, Christoph Winckler provides an overview of the use of animal based parameters based on the results of the WelfareQuality project. Christopher Atkinson and Madeleine Neale presented concepts, principles and the practicalities of Animal Health Planning and Animal Health Plans based on UK experiences. Pip Nicholas from The University of Wales, Aberystwyth produced a report reviewing the current use of animal health and welfare planning. The entire document is included in these workshop proceedings. This was supplemented through presentations from all countries regarding animal health and welfare planning processes and research. These are summarised together with the concepts developed through dialogue at the workshop in the paper by Nicholas, Vaarst and Roderick. Finally, the Danish Stable School principles were presented by Mette Vaarst followed by discussion on different approaches of communication in farmer groups and at the individual level between farmers and advisors.
One important outcome from this workshop is a set of preliminary principles for a good health planning process. We concluded through group discussions followed by a plenary session that a health planning process should aim at continuous development and improvement, and should incorporate health promotion and disease handling, based on a strategy where the current situation is evaluated and form basis for action, which is then reviewed in a new evaluation. It is important that any health plan is farm specific and based on farmer ownership, although an external person(s) should be involved, as well as external knowledge. The organic principles should form the framework for any action (meaning that a systems approach is needed), and the plan should be written. The good and positive aspects on each farm – things that other farmers potentially can learn from. The work and studies in dairy farms within the project will be based on these principles and comprise evaluation and review using animal based parameters as well as finding ways of communication with farmers about animal health and welfare
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