Over-crowding in Emergency Departments (EDs) generates potential inefficiencies. Using regional administrative data, we investigate the impact of an increase in the accessibility of primary care on ED visits in Italy. We test whether extending practice opening hours up to 12 hours/day reduces inappropriate ED visits. We estimate count data models, considering different measures for ED visits recorded at the list level. Since the extension programme is voluntary, we also account for the potential endogeneity of participation, using a two-stage residual inclusion and a GMM approach. Our results show that improving primary care accessibility favours a more appropriate use of EDs.

Countries could potentially spend significantly less on health care with no impact on health system performance, or on health outcomes. This report reviews strategies put in place by countries to limit ineffective spending and waste.

This issue covers topics central to the management of the patient with a chronic disease by taking a comprehenisve look at: Successful/Innovative Models in Chronic Disease Management, The Patient-Centered Medical Home, Self-Management Education and Support, Major Pharmacologic Issues in Chronic Disease Management, Health Information Technology, Community-Based Partnerships for Improving Chronic Disease Management, and Effective Strategies for Behavioral Change, Diabetes Management, CHF Management, Asthma Management, and Depression Management.

This book unveils and demystifies a revolution occurring in health care in the United States and beyond and how it will reform the health care system. There is something new in health care. Retail clinics, sometimes partnering with prestigious health-care institutions such as the Cleveland Clinic, offer an affordable, accessible solution for delivering primary-care services to underserved populations. The Retail Revolution in Health Care presents an overview of the retail health trend and its implications for consumers, employers, health care providers, health care companies, insurers, and health policy makers. The authors examine the phenomenon of retail health care from an entrepreneurial perspective, discussing the growth of retail care beyond traditional retail establishments and possible performance indicators to assess health outcomes. They report on the differing perspectives of retail care from a variety of experts, including doctors, nurses, patients, and insurers. Finally, they address business realities in the United States and globally as they affect the clinics. Retail clinics will almost certainly play a key role as either an alternative to national health insurance or a component of health reform. This important book explores their part in furthering the availability of health care for all Americans.

This book discusses the many factors impinging on daily practice and the place of pharmacy in the delivery of health care. It goes beyond simply practice and draws on a diverse range of disciplines, including sociology, social policy, psychology, anthropology, history and health economics, with each contributor bringing a unique perspective and insight into the practice. In this fully updated edition, the content and presentation have been thoroughly revised and new material added to reflect the many changes that have occurred, particularly in pharmacy and health policy and professional regulation and development.

This publication includes a list of LTC interventions that all countries could consider, prioritize and provide and could integrate within health and social care sectors, depending on their context. The package should be implemented in line with overall plans to design, establish and expand formal, integrated LTC systems and services towards universal health coverage (UHC). The package is intended primarily for governments and policy-makers responsible for planning and implementing LTC service provision at national or subnational level. It provides guidance in foreseeing and mainstreaming essential LTC interventions, which can be contextualized according to local needs and resources. The package is neither a clinical guideline for LTC service providers in daily practice nor a manual, standard operating procedures or specific steps.