Turnaround times for reports on uncomplicated biopsies in five major anatomical pathology laboratories in NSW, Australia.

This paper reports on the findings of a 1997 survey of the turnaround times (TATs) of small, uncomplicated biopsies performed in five major anatomical pathology (AP) departments in NSW over a period of four weeks. A comparative analysis of the performance of the departments shows that in the majority of cases the standard of two working days between specimen receipt and availability for dispatch after verification (as proposed by the College of American Pathologists) is met. This is within the two working days of the Clinical Indicator of the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards. Notwithstanding the apparent adequacy of this result, there is an emerging-although still a minority-view in which it is suggested that the TAT between specimen accession and verification of reports for uncomplicated cases should be one day. This more stringent benchmark is readily achievable, as is demonstrated in the results obtained. In this study a one day TAT was obtained in 73.4% of cases.

A history of medical professionalisation in NSW: 1788-1950.

This paper presents a brief history of medical professionalisation in the colony and State of New South Wales to the middle of the twentieth century. It is suggested initially that although 'western' medicine is a powerful international organisation with common structures and a shared scientific core, any worthwhile study of the medical profession in a particular setting must be founded on an analysis of the intersection of local conditions and international structures. Thus various overseas and interstate accounts of the social history of medicine are reviewed in terms of their relevance in helping to explain the process of medical professionalisation as it occurred in New South Wales.

The "beds to the west" scheme: the politics and outcomes of the 1982 New South Wales hospital rationalisation programme.

Recent announcements by the NSW Government concerning the closure and relocation of hospital services are reminiscent of similar initiatives in 1982. It is timely that consideration be given to the impact and longer term effectiveness of the "beds to the west" scheme as the earlier redistribution programme became known. A review of the extent to which the programme's objectives were achieved together with a description of the principal management features of the decommissioning process provide significant lessons for today's policy makers.

Attitudes of nursing executives to the health care facility accreditation program: an exploratory study.

This paper reports an exploratory study which examined the attitudes of hospital nursing executives to aspects of the Health Care Facility Accreditation Program conducted by the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards. A comparative analysis of responses obtained via a structured questionnaire was undertaken on the basis of accreditation status, facility type (that is, private or public ownership) and bed capacity. Findings suggest that while the public/private categorisation is not a factor influencing level of involvement with accreditation, organisational size is related directly to program participation. Respondents from smaller facilities (less than 100 beds) demonstrate a different appreciation of program objectives than do their counterparts from larger organisations. Analysis indicates a significantly lower level of satisfaction with the program on a number of items relating to accreditation standards. All respondents show similar variations in their perception of those service areas which have been influenced by accreditation involvement.

Using a systems approach to evaluate the effectiveness of health service programs: the Health Care Facility Accreditation Program as an example.

This paper examines the value of developing a "systems" perspective of organisational/suborganisational characteristics as an aid to evaluating the effectiveness of programs within the health services context. An example of applying the theory to a specific health service program is given. The commonly used approach to evaluation--the goal attainment model--is examined in detail. It is contrasted with other approaches including systems theory. The conclusion is reached that the systems approach is more suitable as a means of structuring evaluation within the health care field.

The Australian model of hospital accreditation: a discussion.

This article conceptualises aspects of the process of hospital accreditation as it is exhibited in Australia under the auspices of the Australian Council on Hospital Standards (ACHS), and provides reasons for the approach which has developed in this country. Attention is given also to components of the structure of the ACHS. Suggestions are made as to an alternate model which could be adopted in the area of accreditation standards development. Such suggestions may allow for the promotion of an effective means of assessing the functions of the multi-agency health care facilities created by the recent introduction of areaisation in urban NSW.

The retention of large particles (greater than 2mum) in fibrous filters.

A simple method of testing fibrous filters to obtain the grade efficiency curve in the particle size range 2-22 mum is described. Dust collected by the method has been used to measure the retention efficency of model filters and it is shown that there is a maximun in the grade efficency curve. The influence of relative humidity on filter behaviour has been investigated. It is shown that the efficiency of filtration in high particle inertia systems increases with increasing relative humidity. It is considered that the reason for this is an increase in particle-fiber adhesion force.

A growth model with population as an endogenous variable.

Abstract This paper presents a recursive model of economic growth in which particular attention is paid to the demographic assumptions and their effects on the growth of income per head. The labour inputs depend both on the growth of the labour force and on the effectiveness of labour supplied, which in turn depends on the level of consumption per head, given the stock of capital and natural resources. Population growth is a function of two types of birth control programme; one is the subsidized supply of birth control instruments and the other is a bonus scheme which pays people not to have children. In examining the solution of the model, emphasis is placed on the sensitivity of the growth rate to variations in the allocation of the state's budget among various growth and non-growth inducing expenditures, including birth control. A numerical simulation, based on South Asian data, indicates the kind of calculation that can be made in this type offully recursive model.