Monday, January 24, 2011

[EQ] Framework for assessing, improving and enhancing health service planning

Framework for assessing, improving and enhancing health service planning


Mihaly Fazekas, Stefanie Ettelt, Jennifer Newbould, Ellen Nolte

Sponsored by the Bertelsmann Foundation – RAND Europe 2010

Available online PDF [88p.] at: http://bit.ly/faIg7S

“…..Healthcare planning forms a key instrument for decision makers to influence and direct health service provision, a function which is likely to become more important in the light of increasingly complex challenges that demand innovative solutions. How this is achieved best and in what circumstances remains however uncertain, given the variety of approaches adopted in different settings.

 

This report aims to contribute to policy learning across countries from the diversity of healthcare planning approaches in Europe and elsewhere through developing and validating a framework for assessing, improving and enhancing healthcare planning. It identifies a set of criteria within three broad themes:
- "Vision",
- "Governance" and
- "Intelligence", which were then tested empirically through an in-depth analysis of four countries, using a case study approach: Germany, Austria, Canada (Ontario) and New Zealand.

 

The analysis provides important insights into how different systems approach healthcare planning, identifying common challenges, but also differences highlighting the very contextual nature within which healthcare planning as an instrument to directing health service provision sits. It will be important to understand the role and power of actors as powerful stakeholder interests are likely to undermine effective planning if there are no mechanisms in place that allow for consensus building and establish lines of accountability for implementation.

Broad political goals, such as ensuring economic sustainability, have to be considered and weighed against the goals of healthcare planning. The framework developed presents a first step towards developing a tool for assessing….”

Content:

CHAPTER 1 Introduction

CHAPTER 2 Healthcare planning and its context

2.1 Defining healthcare planning

2.1.1 What is healthcare planning?

2.2 The rationalist model of planning and its critique

2.2.1 Rational policy making and rational planning

2.2.2 Critique of rational planning

2.3 The context of healthcare planning

CHAPTER 3 The assessment framework


CHAPTER 4 Assessing international approaches to healthcare planning

4.1 Vision

4.1.1 Alignment of planning goals with health system goals

4.1.2 Comprehensiveness of the planning approach

4.1.3 Planning horizon

4.2 Governance

4.2.1 Clear responsibilities and lines of accountability

4.2.2 Appropriate sanctions and incentives

4.2.3 Balanced stakeholder involvement and commitment

4.2.4 Consistency of strategic and operational planning approaches

4.3 Intelligence

4.3.1 Availability of high quality data

4.3.2 Availability of appropriate analytical tools

4.3.3 Availability of adequate analytical and administrative capacity

4.3.4 Continuous monitoring and evaluation

4.4 Summary

CHAPTER 5 Conclusions

Reference List

APPENDICES 43

Appendix A: Germany

Appendix B: Austria

Appendix C: Ontario (Canada)

Appendix D: New Zealand
Appendix E: Topic guide


 
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This message from the Pan American Health Organization, PAHO/WHO, is part of an effort to disseminate
information Related to: Equity; Health inequality; Socioeconomic inequality in health; Socioeconomic
health differentials; Gender; Violence; Poverty; Health Economics; Health Legislation; Ethnicity; Ethics;
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and interpretations included in the Materials are those of the authors and not necessarily of The Pan American
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[EQ] Addressing the Intersection: Preventing Violence and Promoting Healthy Eating and Active Living

Addressing the Intersection:
Preventing Violence and Promoting Healthy Eating and Active Living

 

This document was prepared by Prevention Institute with funding from Kaiser Permanente, 2010

Principal authors: Larry Cohen, Rachel Davis, Virginia Lee, Erica Valdovinos

Available online PDF [33p.] at: http://bit.ly/hE564v

“…..Reducing violence in neighborhoods enhances the community environment and allows people to thrive. The prevention of violence facilitates community cohesion and participation, fosters neighborhood improvements, expands employment and educational opportunities, and improves overall health and well-being.


Violence influences where people live, work, and shop; whether parents let kids play outside and walk to school; and whether there is a grocery store or places for

employment in the community. Violence jeopardizes health and safety directly—causing injuries, death, and emotional trauma. Witnessing or directly experiencing violence, as well as the fear of violence, are damaging, with consequences that also contribute to unhealthy behavior and a diminished community environment.

Violence and fear undermine attempts to improve healthy eating and active living, thereby exacerbating existing illnesses and increasing the risk for onset of disease, including chronic disease. They affect young people, low-income communities, and communities of color disproportionately. Violence and food- and activity-related chronic diseases are most pervasive in disenfranchised communities, where they occur more frequently and with greater severity, making them fundamental equity issues.

Chronic disease is a major health challenge—it contributes to premature death, lowers quality of life, and accounts for the dramatic rise in recent healthcare spending. One striking example is the increasing prevalence of diabetes in the United States. Researchers predict that by 2034, the number of people suffering from diabetes will likely double to 44.1 million, and related health care costs will triple to $336 billion.1 Improving healthy eating and active living environments and behaviors is the crucial link to preventing many forms of chronic disease….”

 

Table of Contents

Introduction
Findings .

Violence and fear of violence affect individual behaviors related to healthy eating and active living .

1. Violence and fear of violence cause people to be less physically active and spend less time outdoors

2. Violence and fear of violence alter people’s purchasing patterns, limiting access to healthy food

3. Experiencing and witnessing violence decrease motivation and capability of eating healthfully and being active

    Violence and fear of violence diminish the community environment, reducing support for healthy eating and active living

4. Violence reduces social interactions that would otherwise contribute to community cohesion

5. Violence acts as a barrier to investments in community resources and opportunities that support healthy eating and active living.


Emerging Strategies for Making the Connection between Preventing Violence and Promoting Healthy Eating and Active Living

1. Understanding a community-wide approach for preventing violence— especially in highly impacted neighborhoods

Prioritizing Key Risk & Resilience Factors
Convening Partners from Institutions and the Community.

Developing a Multifaceted Plan.

Ensuring Adequate Funding .

2. Applying a violence prevention lens to environmental and policy change strategies to promote healthy eating and active living efforts

Creating Safe Spaces

Promoting Community Development and Employment.

Fostering Social Cohesion.

3. Elevating the role of healthy eating, active living practitioners in fostering safer communities through advocacy and partnerships


Conclusion .
Appendix A: Methodology

Appendix B: Risk and Resilience Factors

Endnotes

 *      *     *
This message from the Pan American Health Organization, PAHO/WHO, is part of an effort to disseminate
information Related to: Equity; Health inequality; Socioeconomic inequality in health; Socioeconomic
health differentials; Gender; Violence; Poverty; Health Economics; Health Legislation; Ethnicity; Ethics;
Information Technology - Virtual libraries; Research & Science issues.  [DD/ KMC Area]
Washington DC USA

“Materials provided in this electronic list are provided "as is". Unless expressly stated otherwise, the findings
and interpretations included in the Materials are those of the authors and not necessarily of The Pan American
Health Organization PAHO/WHO or its country members”.
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[EQ] Chronic diseases and development - The Lancet Series

Chronic diseases and development

 

The Lancet - Website: http://bit.ly/fvLopJ

 

“……..In September 2011, the UN will hold its first High-level Meeting of the General Assembly on chronic non-communicable diseases. The Lancet’s Series of papers is a contribution to preparations for the September meeting.
These papers cover a range of diseases – cardiovascular, diabetes, cancer, and chronic obstructive respiratory diseases – and present strategies for substantial health gains, monitoring, and scaling up of interventions. We also highlight earlier Lancet Series and provide links through to all of the relevant content. …’



Series Comment


Chronic diseases: global action must match global evidence

Full Text | PDF


Rethinking health-care systems: a focus on chronicity

Full Text | PDF


Mobilising the world for chronic NCDs

Full Text | PDF


Series Papers


Raising the priority of preventing chronic diseases: a political process

Summary | Full Text | PDF


Health, agricultural, and economic effects of adoption of healthy diet recommendations

Summary | Full Text | PDF


Tackling of unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, and obesity: health effects and cost-effectiveness

Summary | Full Text | PDF


Prevention and management of chronic disease: a litmus test for health-systems strengthening in low-income and middle-income countries

Summary | Full Text | PDF


Monitoring and surveillance of chronic non-communicable diseases: progress and capacity in high-burden countries

Summary | Full Text | PDF


Additional Lancet Series


Chronic diseases and injuries in India


Published Jan 11, 2011
Summary | Full text | PDF

 *      *     *
This message from the Pan American Health Organization, PAHO/WHO, is part of an effort to disseminate
information Related to: Equity; Health inequality; Socioeconomic inequality in health; Socioeconomic
health differentials; Gender; Violence; Poverty; Health Economics; Health Legislation; Ethnicity; Ethics;
Information Technology - Virtual libraries; Research & Science issues.  [DD/ KMC Area]
Washington DC USA

“Materials provided in this electronic list are provided "as is". Unless expressly stated otherwise, the findings
and interpretations included in the Materials are those of the authors and not necessarily of The Pan American
Health Organization PAHO/WHO or its country members”.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PAHO/WHO Website

Equity List - Archives - Join/remove: http://listserv.paho.org/Archives/equidad.html
Twitter http://twitter.com/eqpaho





IMPORTANT: This transmission is for use by the intended
recipient and it may contain privileged, proprietary or
confidential information. If you are not the intended
recipient or a person responsible for delivering this
transmission to the intended recipient, you may not
disclose, copy or distribute this transmission or take
any action in reliance on it. If you received this transmission
in error, please dispose of and delete this transmission.

Thank you.