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Editor's Picks
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China aims for universal healthcare
China has announced it will extend medical services to all its citizens by 2020. The reforms aim to boost funding and oversight to provide "safe, effective, convenient, and affordable" health services for all 1.3 billion citizens, according to a plan approved by the State Council, China's Cabinet. Under the reforms, hospitals and clinics in the poor countryside and less developed cities would be improved and the price of essential medicines used by public hospitals and clinics would be capped. China's healthcare system has been criticized for being underfunded in the past, and the high cost and poor availability of services has created dissatisfaction among the Chinese. The new plan is designed to allay these concerns, experts say. [Read More]
WHO calls for disaster-proof hospitals
The World Health Organization has called on governments to make their hospitals disaster-proof. The message was compounded by a powerful earthquake that hit Central Italy yesterday. Parts of the main hospital in the medieval town of L'Aquila, near where the quake struck, were evacuated because they were at risk of collapse, and only two operating rooms were in use. "The tragedy of emergencies or disasters is compounded when health facilities fail," said WHO Director-General Margaret Chan. "When a hospital collapses, all its functions are disrupted; lives that depend on emergency care can be lost." Chan suggested governments select safe locations when building hospitals, ensure that existing facilities are made more resilient, and develop emergency response plans. [Read More]
Kaiser's business a model in struggling economy
Despite all of the criticism the business of United States healthcare receives, reformers in the U.S. and abroad are looking at giant health maintenance organization Kaiser Permanente as a model for some of the biggest ideas in healthcare today, according to this piece in the Los Angeles Times. At Kaiser, members are promised comprehensive medical care for a preset price, and its emphasis on prevention and early detection are ideals many health reform advocates favor because it reduces costs by deterring and catching illness early. [Read More]
Commentary: Healthcare in U.S., Britain, and Canada all hurting
In this interesting opinion piece published in the Los Angeles Times, Ezra Klein compares the U.S. health system with that of Canada and Britain, where healthcare is run by the government. Among major concerns in all three countries is long wait times for medical care. While sometimes patients in Britain and Canada, both of which have government-run healthcare systems, are forced to wait months for elective treatments, no one goes without healthcare. Studies show that the U.S. reports much lower wait times, but this is due to a lower number of people waiting for care because many just can't afford it. [Read More]
TLT Call For Entries
As we celebrate the fifth year of the Top Leadership Teams in Healthcare program, we are once again looking for the next story of great leadership. Last year, we opened up the competition to include a "Global Hospitals" category, with Bangkok Hospital Medical Center in Thailand named the winner. If you think your organization has an outstanding teamwork story to share, submit your entry to HealthLeaders Media today. The deadline for submissions is April 30.
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Global Health Headlines
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China reports hepatitis infections from hospital
New York Times - April 2, 2009
Study: Hospitals can save by doing less
Reuters - April 6, 2009
Egypt pressured to end underground organ trade
AP/Yahoo News - April 7, 2009
Health chief pay-offs in UK's NHS merger costs taxpayers
The Daily Mail - April 7, 2009
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From HealthLeaders Magazine |
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SOS: Public Hospitals
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On the brink even during good economic times, many public hospitals are operating in technical insolvency amid a painful recession. [Read More] |
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Service Lines Management |
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Beyond Obstetrics
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A changing female demographic has created new opportunities for hospitals to grow the women's health service line into much more than just labor and delivery. [Read More] |
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Audio Feature
Engage Physicians to Achieve Top Cardiac Care: Physician leaders discuss how to enhance quality in the cardiac service line. [Listen Now]
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