Asia-Pacific Journal of Health Management (ACHSM)
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The Evolving Role of Aged Care Managers in Australia: A content analysis of aged care manager job descriptions
No full textAged care management roles have evolved over the last decade from a focus on clinical skills to encompassing governance, business, facilities and service management skills. The role requirements have changed in response to the 2021 Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety findings [1], which were echoed in the 2022 NSW Parliamentary Committee report into health outcomes and access to health and hospital services in rural, regional and remote NSW [2]. Both reports identified workforce issues impacting on the management of aged care services and a need to improve governance, financial management, and service management. The reports indicated the breadth of the contemporary aged care manager role, the skill gap between traditional clinician-managers, and possibilities for appropriately trained non-clinical health services managers.
Recruiting and retaining skilled aged care managers is a critical issue facing a sector that was already experiencing significant ‘churn’ prior to the burnout associated with the COVID-19 pandemic [3]. This paper, informed by a market-orientated job skill valuation approach [4], reviewed 100 consecutive aged care management position descriptions advertised on public media between October and December 2020. Content analysis of each position description was conducted to identify key competencies, specific skills, experiences, and personal attributes required of managers of aged care services in Australia.
Our study identified five main themes relating to aged care manager competencies: (i) interpersonal communication, (ii) organisational and time management, (iii) quality improvement, (iv) business development, and (v) leadership and human resources. These competencies are congruent with the revised Australasian College of Health Service Management competency domains and action competencies [5]
Disease Patterns among Patients Seeking Emergency and Intensive Care: A single-hospital study in north central Vietnam in 2020
No full textObjective: This retrospective study aims to describe the disease patterns among patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) in a public provincial hospital in North Central Vietnam in 2020.
Design: We conducted a retrospective descriptive study.
Setting: The study was conducted in the Thanh Hoa General Hospital, Thanh Hoa Province, Vietnam. The study included all emergency and critical care admissions hospitalized from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020.
Main outcome measures: Data on age, gender, hospital admission, and discharge dates, length of hospital stays, illness chapters (based on ICD-10 codes), and treatment results determined at the hospital discharge of 27,152 episodes of ICU admission were collected.
Results: The three illness chapters of ICD-10 with the most patients were Chapter IX-Diseases of the Circulatory System, Chapter XI-Diseases of the Digestive System, and Chapter XIX-Injury, Poisoning, and Some Other Consequences of External Causes, with 21.6%, 21%, and 20.3% of patients, respectively. Most episodes (n = 21,999, 81.0%) showed improved health at the time of hospital discharge, with up to 87% of patients finding a cure.
Conclusions: The insights gained from this study can inform healthcare strategies, resource planning, and policy decisions to enhance the delivery of critical care services in the region. Further research and ongoing surveillance will be essential to adapt healthcare systems to the evolving landscape of diseases and to ensure the continued improvement of patient outcomes in intensive care settings
Estimation of Pro-Inflammatory Markers In Night Shift Healthcare Workers And Identify Risk Factors Associated With It
No full textShift labor, with hours outside of the regular diurnal work cycle, is used to facilitate round-the-clock emergency healthcare services. This impacts the circadian rhythm, which can potentially activate the pro-inflammatory responses of the immune system. This study aimed to find out the levels of pro-inflammatory markers in night shift healthcare workers and find risk factors associated with their increase.
303 participants (doctors, nurses, technicians, health care aids) were recruited with 169 participants nightshift and 134 dayshift workers. Pro-inflammatory markers Highly Sensitive C-Reactive Protein (hsCRP) and Total Leukocyte Count (TLC)] were estimated. Factors were compared by t test, Wilcoxon Rank Sum test and Chi square test. Risk factors for hsCRP elevation were identified by logistic regression analysis.
Pro-inflammatory markers like hsCRP and TLC were significantly increased in night shift health workers in comparison to the day shift workers (hsCRP 0.30± 0.33 mg/dl vs 0.10± 0.09 mg/dl, TLC 8181.06± 1181.53 /cu mm vs 7473.80± 1018.81 /cu mm) respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed night shift work (OR 48.20 95% CI (4.99-465.61), age (OR 1.13 95% CI (1.01-1.26)) and BMI (OR 1.18 95% CI (1.06-1.32)) as independent predictors of elevated hsCRP after adjusting for other risk factors. Hence, night-shift work is an independent risk factor for a rise in pro-inflammatory markers. These findings might aid health care workers and policymakers strategize methods to tackle the challenges through providing support programs, counselling sessions to avoid ailments and deliver health services in a better way
Blockchain-Based Electronic Health Records: Revolutionizing healthcare in Malaysia
No full textIntroduction: Despite the government's continuous efforts since the 1990s, the public healthcare sector of Malaysia still faces issues related to system deployment and technology adoption. As a result, the nationwide health information exchange remains as not fully established, hampering the Malaysian aspirations of health service provision for citizens. The government long to establish health information exchange, enabling blockchain technology-based applications. This paper aims to review the government's digitalization initiatives and describe the provision of blockchain Electronic Health Records for healthcare services in Malaysia.
Methodology: A review of the scholarly databases Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, along with the grey literature from the Malaysian government, was conducted. In addition, health-related government websites have been searched for information until the end of March 2023.
Results: There were 55 documents yielded from the database, and a grey literature search was retained for content analysis.
Discussion: The major barrier that could push back governments' efforts is user resistance, particularly from medical professionals. Besides, Regulatory reform is needed to facilitate blockchain provision for healthcare data management. Technical issues directly associated with the system and vendor are worth addressing.
Conclusion: Malaysia has a progressive vision towards healthcare digitalization aimed at 2030. To be able to successfully achieve this target then it is essential to implement appropriate strategies. User readiness assessment calls for research, while system-related issues regarding; hardware, software, and vendor needs to be properly planned. Patients' ownership of medical data is to be allowed by law. Currently this information strictly belongs to hospitals and health partitioners therefore data management is physician centric
Evaluating the Factors Affecting the Employee Retention Strategy in Pharmaceutical Companies
No full textThe employee retention is being an emerging concept in the branches of Human Resource Management (HRM). The employee retention concept seems to be expensive and it is not globally adopted by all the pharmaceutical companies. The companies need to be aware of the value of efficient employees and their contribution to the economic growth of the companies. The primary aim of the management should be the employee retention which will enable the companies to reap benefits on the long run. As per various government and association medical representatives’ reports, the employee attrition rates in the pharmaceutical companies are high when compared to various sectors. This will create high level of mismatch between employee demand and supply for the medical representatives. The objective of the research study is to identify the various factors that are influencing the employee retention and also examine the various inter-relationships that exists among those factors. An empirical study is performed to collect the data from the 128 medical representatives in Salem, Tamilnadu, India through self-administered questionnaires method. Convenient sampling technique is adopted. The research performs a quantitative analysis using the SPSS version 23 software package and also determine percentage analysis as well as factor analysis. Structural equation modelling are used to analyse factors such as Monetary Rewards, Work Pressure and Performance and other Perquisites which influences employee retention of pharmaceutical companies. The outcome of the study reveals that there exists a high level of inter-relationship among these factors which have significant impact on the employee retention
My Voice, My Choice: A systematic review of the literature relating to consumer-directed care in Australia
No full textObjectives and importance of study: The objective of this systematic review of the literature was to examine the evidence relating to consumer-directed care (CDC) in the aged care environment. CDC entails providing individuals with the option of choice and flexibility in their care, to empower aged care recipients with autonomous decisions over their healthcare choices. Additionally, the researchers found evidence relating to the vulnerability of users of aged care services and the lack of understanding towards a true consumer-oriented approach which was highlighted during the Royal Commission into Aged Care Safety and Quality.
Study type and method: The research team used the PRISMA Method to review the available literature systematically. This qualitative review of the literature on consumer choice in the aged and social care sectors assessed sixteen high-quality research papers and identified themes that emerged to promote authentic consumer voice in aged care services. These articles provided insight into what aged care providers require to increase transparency and facilitate effective, meaningful consumer choice.
Results: Six themes emerged from the literature reviewed: Informed Choice, See Me Hear Me, Funding My Choices, My Choice My Way, Policy, and Know Me, Include Me. The authors found significant challenges to authentic consumer voice in terms of reliable information, complex, inflexible service provision, and a trusted and skilled carer workforce.
Conclusion: Authentic consumer choice requires collaboratively designed care plans with consumers, integrating their care-related preferences and values. Providers who have embraced CDC principles, and innovative practices have enhanced person-centred care, and consumer experience and autonomy. Cultivating inclusive, transparent, and collaborative environments to empower older Australians to shape and control their care provision and wellbeing is a key challenge for providers
International Medical Graduate Integration into the Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service (SCHHS): A practice note: - ACHSM Asia-Pacific Health Leadership Congress in Brisbane 2024
No full textAustralia’s healthcare workforce shortage demands innovative solutions to ensure the delivery of high-quality healthcare. International Medical Graduates (IMGs), particularly those on the standard pathway—doctors whose primary medical qualifications are obtained in non-comparable healthcare systems such as those outside the UK, USA, Canada, Ireland, or New Zealand—play a crucial role in bridging workforce gaps. However, transitioning into the Australian healthcare system presents significant challenges for these IMGs, including adapting to clinical practices, communication styles, and cultural norms.
This practice note outlines the Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service’s (SCHHS) comprehensive IMG integration program, specifically designed to address the unique needs of standard pathway IMGs. The program, structured into three phases—robust selection, structured orientation and onboarding, and ongoing mentorship—has demonstrated high retention rates, enhanced IMG confidence, and positive feedback from both participants and supervisors.
Key findings from the SCHHS initiative underscore the importance of early, structured support in mitigating the difficulties faced by IMGs during their transition. This model provides a scalable approach to improving IMG integration, enhancing patient safety, and addressing critical healthcare workforce shortages across Australia
Hunter New England and Central Coast Primary Health Network (The PHN) Journey to Employer of Choice: A Brief Note: - ACHSM Asia-Pacific Health Leadership Congress in Brisbane 2024
No full textIn 2019, the PHN initiated a three-year People and Culture (P&C) Strategy (2020-2023) aimed at enhancing organisational culture and achieving the Australian Business Awards Employer of Choice [EOC®]. This recognition was awarded to the PHN in 2023, the first Primary Health Network to receive the honor. The Strategy focused on four key pillars of the EOC Framework: Culture, Leadership, and Strategy; Education, Training, and Development; Performance, Recognition, and Remuneration; and Health, Safety, and Satisfaction. This brief outlines the PHN’s journey to achieve this goal and provides an overview of the PHN’s new three-year PHN EOC Strategy to continue building exceptional capability, culture, and delivery
Using Machine Learning Approaches to Enhance Heatwave Measurement for Vulnerability Assessment and Timely Management of Heat-related Health Services: - ACHSM Asia-Pacific Health Leadership Congress in Brisbane 2024
No full textClimate change is one of the most critical challenges facing Australia and the global community today. Data from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) indicates that Australia has been experiencing rising temperatures, particularly since the late 20th century. The frequency, duration, and intensity of heatwaves are projected to continue increasing . Since national records began in 1910, Australia has warmed by an average of 1.47°C (±0.24°C), with the highest official temperature recorded at 50.7 degrees Celsius in Onslow, Western Australia (WA), on January 13, 2022. Furthermore, a recent unprecedented high temperature of +41.6°C was recorded during winter on August 26, 2024, in Yampi Sound, WA. Among all natural disasters in Australia, heatwave (HW) represents a leading silent killer and pose a significant public health threat. However, innovative methods for assessing vulnerability for HW-related health services remain limited
Australian Residential Aged Care Facilities Managers’ and Nurses’ Experiences In Implementing Telehealth and Social Connection During COVID-19
No full textIntroduction: Residential aged care facility (RACF) residents are highly vulnerable to severe infection and death from COVID-19. During the pandemic, telehealth (telephone and video) provided a mechanism to deliver for health care and social support. We examined logistical factors associated with telehealth, reasons for its use and barriers associated with the choice of telehealth.
Methods: A mixed method exploratory study. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Qualitative data were analysed using a hybrid framework approach; deductive analysis followed by inductive analysis for sub-themes.
Results: Participants (n=19) reported an increase in telehealth use during COVID-19. Organisations bought new equipment, predominately tablets; half had internet connectivity difficulties; nurses used personal devices to overcome connectivity issues or inadequate devices and 74% used three or more platforms/software. Few residents had personal digital devices or could connect with family and friends alone.
Five key sub-themes emerged from qualitative data. 1. Needing and persisting with telehealth. RACFs had limited video telehealth use before COVID-19. 2. Being dependent on health providers offering telehealth services. Telehealth was used for a broad range of services. However, many health providers did not offer telehealth consultations. 3 Residents living with dementia. Telehealth was suitable for residents with dementia, depending on the disease stage and clinical need. 4. Challenges with implementing telehealth consultations. Most challenges pertained to workflows. 5. Suitability of videoconferencing for social connection. Staff supported residents with video calls which were highly valued.
Conclusion: To capitalise on and sustain telehealth activity in RACFs, further guidance and support to overcome operational barriers are required