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1 – 10 of 71Russell Jaffe, Robert A. Nash, Richard Ash, Norman Schwartz, Robert Corish, Tammy Born, Harold Lazarus and ASIMP Working Group on Healthcare Transparency
Healthcare is an ever‐growing segment of the American economy. Transparency facilitates better decision‐making and better outcomes measures. The purpose of this paper is to…
Abstract
Purpose
Healthcare is an ever‐growing segment of the American economy. Transparency facilitates better decision‐making and better outcomes measures. The purpose of this paper is to present the human and economic results of increasing transparency.
Design/methodology/approach
The ASIMP Working Group on Healthcare Transparency represents a diverse yet conscilient group of practitioners, researchers, regulators, economists, and academics. Given the need for re‐envisioning healthcare to include more accountability, evidence of efficacy and transparency, this integrative medicine (ASIMP) working group is suitable to address the above purpose.
Findings
Substantial opportunity exists to reduce morbidity and mortality, suffering and excess death, unnecessary costs and risks. Greater transparency facilitates the transition to safer, more effective, more humane healthcare.
Research limitations/implications
This paper starts from a need to improve clinical outcomes and value for resources devoted. Best efforts of a national working group are presented. The implications of the report, when tested, will determine the enduring value of this work.
Practical implications
Consumers and business, administrators and practitioners can improve care at lower cost by increasing transparency. This will accelerate the diffusion of effective approaches that are not yet in widespread use despite replication of efficacy.
Originality/value
This is the first time an integrative approach has been compared with conventional healthcare models, particularly with regard to the role of transparency in healthcare management.
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Russell Jaffe, Robert A. Nash, Richard Ash, Norm Schwartz, Robert Corish, Tammy Born, James P. Carter and Harold Lazarus
Healthcare is both the largest (17 + percent) and the most rapidly growing (three plus times the consumer product index (measure of inflation) and half a percent of gross domestic…
Abstract
Purpose
Healthcare is both the largest (17 + percent) and the most rapidly growing (three plus times the consumer product index (measure of inflation) and half a percent of gross domestic product each year) segment of the US economy. The purpose of this paper is to focus on outcome successes that illustrate application of a previously reported health equation. The health equation allows an organized and more transparent assessment of healthcare outcomes.
Design/methodology/approach
The approach includes “end use/least cost” techniques that identifies healthful care as a big unmet need (BUN) and equally attractive business opportunity in identifying health promotion that improves outcome at lower net costs.
Findings
Opportunity exists to reduce costs while also reducing adverse events, healthcare morbidity and morality. Transparency is essential to find what works more effectively to yield desired outcomes. Metrics and measures, particularly more precise tools to assess true outcome in promoting health or managing ill health, are given priority as they allow quantified and, often econometric, outcome opportunities in the midst of current uncertainties.
Practical implications
This paper is for consumers and businesses, managers and administrators, professionals and allied health professionals. The successes described herein illustrate fundamental opportunities driving change and innovation within healthcare and in our society.
Originality/value
Attention is called to opportunity areas that can fund out of savings the transition from the authors' current “sickness care” system to a healthful care, proactive prevention approach to delivering care. Novel application of transparency and end use/least cost can help guide choices to achieve healthier outcomes.
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Russell Jaffe, Robert A. Nash, Richard Ash, Norm Schwartz, Robert Corish, Tammy Born and Harold Lazarus
This article aims to present an equation of health to allow measurement and more precise comparison of what is more or less effective in promoting health or managing ill health…
Abstract
Purpose
This article aims to present an equation of health to allow measurement and more precise comparison of what is more or less effective in promoting health or managing ill health. It builds upon and extends a prior report (JMD, Volume 25 Number 10, 2006, pp. 981‐995).
Design/methodology/approach
Applying basic scientific methods and empiric observations, the equation proposed in this article is a state of the current science. Such an equation allows for more systematic and predictive comparison of health initiatives.
Findings
The pace of scientific progress is outstripping our institutional adaptive response mechanisms. An approach to the causes of ill health appears more promising than re‐configuration of current disease reactive, symptom treatment care. This paper starts from first principles and builds a model that results in an equation of health.
Research limitations/implications
Refinement of the model and replication by others are needed to fully determine the predictive value of this approach.
Practical implications
The opportunity to reduce costs while also reducing adverse events, healthcare morbidity and morality.
Originality/value
This article calls attention to areas of opportunity to fund out of savings the transition from our current “sick care” system to a health promotion/proactive prevention approach to caring.
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Tom McManus, Yair Holtzman, Harold Lazarus and Johan Anderberg
Dave Whittington and Tammy Dewar
This short paper will introduce some tools and processes that can be used to develop a more strategic approach to organisational learning. They were developed over a two‐year…
Abstract
This short paper will introduce some tools and processes that can be used to develop a more strategic approach to organisational learning. They were developed over a two‐year action research project carried out by Business Lab (www.businesslab.co.uk) in Aberdeen, Scotland, involving dozens of UK and international companies, government agencies, and educational institutions. The toolset, called LearningEdge, evolved out of the best practices of these organisations and learning organisation theory. Calliope Learning has been using the toolset in the North American market since 2003.
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Niko Suhonen, Timo Tammi, Jani Saastamoinen, Jarkko Pesu, Matti Turtiainen and Lasse Okkonen
Public procurement of innovations (PPIs) addresses a specified need of the public-sector customer or aims at fostering private firms’ innovativeness. In an operational sense…
Abstract
Purpose
Public procurement of innovations (PPIs) addresses a specified need of the public-sector customer or aims at fostering private firms’ innovativeness. In an operational sense, issues of information asymmetry and risk sharing between the public agency and the supplier are of paramount importance. The purpose of this paper is to focus on the contract design issues of PPI.
Design/methodology/approach
Explicit and implicit contracting methods are reviewed, and a conceptual framework is proposed in which procurement characteristics are analyzed, focusing on the dimensions of the supplier’s sensitivity to the procurement risk and the power of implicit contracting methods.
Findings
Because of its complex nature, applying cost-plus contracts instead of more common fixed-price contracts is advisable in PPI.
Originality/value
Possible reasons for the more prominent role of contract design in the USA as opposed to the European Union procurement are discussed.
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Timo Tammi, Jani Saastamoinen and Helen Reijonen
Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have been found to be under-represented in the awarding of public sector procurement contracts. Currently, very little is known about the…
Abstract
Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have been found to be under-represented in the awarding of public sector procurement contracts. Currently, very little is known about the strategic and behavioral aspects associated with SMEsʼ participation in public sector procurement. To take a step in filling the gap, we used a conceptual construct known as market orientation (MO). The construct comprises a firmʼs orientation in gathering information on competitors and customers, and using the information to gain competitive advantage. This research found that MO has a positive effect on how active SMEs are in searching information on available requests for tenders and how actively they participate in bidding contests. This work strongly suggests that MO should be taken into account when designing procurement contracts, and MO should be fostered among SMEs.
Elizabeth K. Wilson and Tammy Cook
Ecology and population studies are among the most important curriculum standards of the NCSS. Population Connection has aligned its various lessons with NCSS national standards…
Abstract
Ecology and population studies are among the most important curriculum standards of the NCSS. Population Connection has aligned its various lessons with NCSS national standards. The NCSS standard “People, Places, and Environments” aligns with the state standards of history and geography. Both the state and NCSS provide K-12 grade alignment. Social studies teachers nationwide are able to use the NCSS standards that Population Connection has provided to align the many lessons with NCSS national standards and state standards. Each of the following three lessons is designed for the elementary classroom teachers to integrate social studies with other elementary content. All three lessons have been field-tested and provide an overview, procedures, objectives, standards, skills and materials, discussion questions, and extension activities.
Mary Turner, Nigel King, Dara Mojtahedi, Viv Burr, Victoria Gall, Graham R. Gibbs, Lara Flynn Hudspith, Chelsea Beatrice Leadley and Tammi Walker
In the past decade, there has been growing awareness of well-being and its importance and an increase in the development of activities or programmes aimed at improving well-being…
Abstract
Purpose
In the past decade, there has been growing awareness of well-being and its importance and an increase in the development of activities or programmes aimed at improving well-being. The purpose of this study is to investigate what well-being programmes were being offered to prisoners in England and Wales and what benefits and other outcomes were experienced.
Design/methodology/approach
The study used a mixed-methods exploratory design in two phases. Phase 1 was a questionnaire survey of all adult prisons in England and Wales, completed by prison staff. In Phase 2, a sample of survey respondents took part in in-depth interviews.
Findings
The programmes identified in Phase 1 included physical activities, creative arts, mindfulness, horticulture, reading and animal-assisted activities. Prison staff reported a range of universally positive outcomes shared by all programmes, including enthusiasm from prisoners, enjoyment of the activities and being able to do something different from the usual prison routine. However, in Phase 2, interviewees rarely mentioned direct health and well-being benefits. The impetus for programmes was varied and there was little reference to national policy on health and well-being; this reflected the ad hoc way in which programmes are developed, with a key role being played by the Well-being Officer, where these were funded.
Originality/value
The literature on well-being programmes in prisons is limited and tends to focus on specific types of initiatives, often in a single prison. This study contributes by highlighting the range of activities across prisons and elucidating the perspectives of those involved in running such programmes.
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