TY  - JOUR
AB  - Purpose– Evidence suggests that healthcare system performance may be improved with policy emphasis on primary care, quality improvement, and information technology. The authors therefore sought to investigate the extent to which policy makers in seven countries are emphasizing these areas. Design/methodology/approach– Policies in these three areas in seven high-income countries were compared. A comparative descriptive approach was taken in which each of the country-specialist authors supplied information on key policies and developments pertaining to primary care, quality improvement and information technology, supplemented with routine data. Findings– Each of the seven countries faces similar challenges with healthcare system performance, yet differs in emphasis on the three key policy areas; efforts in each are, at best, patchy. The authors conclude that there is substantial scope for policy makers to further emphasize primary care, quality improvement and information technology if aiming for high-performing healthcare systems. Originality/value– This is the first study to investigate policy-makers' commitment to key areas known to improve health system performance. The comparative method illustrates the different emphases that countries have placed on primary care, quality improvement and information technology development.
VL  - 28
IS  - 1
SN  - 1477-7266
DO  - 10.1108/JHOM-03-2013-0057
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1108/JHOM-03-2013-0057
AU  - Gauld Robin
AU  - Burgers Jako
AU  - Dobrow Mark
AU  - Minhas Rubin
AU  - Wendt Claus
AU  - B. Cohen Alan
AU  - Luxford Karen
PY  - 2014
Y1  - 2014/01/01
TI  - Healthcare system performance improvement: A comparison of key policies in seven high-income countries
T2  - Journal of Health Organization and Management
PB  - Emerald Group Publishing Limited
SP  - 2
EP  - 20
Y2  - 2024/04/25
ER  -