Healthcare transformation journey in the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia: an overview, challenges and lessons learned.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has embarked on a transformation journey referred to as "Vision 2030", which commenced in June 2016. The healthcare sector is currently going through a radical transformation under this Vision. The new Model of Care shifts the focus of the healthcare sector towards proactive care and wellness, aiming to achieve better health, better care, and better value. This paper aims to provide an overview of the Model of Care and review its achievements and progress in the Eastern Region. The paper will further discuss the challenges faced and lessons learned through the implementation process. Internal documents were reviewed, and a comprehensive literature search was undertaken in relevant search engines and databases. Some of the successes of the Model of Care implementation include improved data management, collection and visualization, and better patient and community engagement. Nevertheless, there is a sense of urgency to face the many challenges identified in the Saudi Arabian health system over the coming decade. Although the Model of Care focuses on addressing these identified challenges and gaps, there are many difficulties facing its implementation in the country and several lessons learned during the first few years since its launch, which this paper mentions. Hence, there is a need to measure the successes of pathways and the overall impact of the Model of Care on both the healthcare provision as well as improved population health.

Disability inclusion assessment in primary healthcare centers in Eastern Saudi Arabia: a way forward.

Individuals with disabilities often experience barriers in accessing healthcare facilities, including physical barriers such as inaccessible facilities, transportation difficulties, and a lack of assistive devices. Other barriers may include a lack of communication assistive devices and stigma or negative attitudes from healthcare personnel or society. Published literature emphasizes the value of creating a supportive and safe environment for the inclusion of persons with disabilities in society. Establishing guidelines for disability inclusion becomes imperative to ensure equitable access to healthcare services. This study aimed to identify challenges related to accessibility in infrastructure, services, equipment, processes, and training in primary healthcare settings. The study was conducted in Dammam, AlKhobar, and AlQatif in August 2022, using an analytical, quantitative cross-sectional approach. A total of 56 primary healthcare centers (PHCs) were assessed across multiple domains. Government-built PHCs had an average accessibility rate of 83.2%, while those located in rented buildings scored an average of 67.1%. One domain that scored highly among both building types was the clinic rooms domain, with an average score of 90%. Conversely, the services domain showed significant differences, with an average accessibility rate of 47% for rented buildings and 75% for government-built buildings. Finally, the study looked into recommendations drawn from other health systems and recommended ways to help improve disability needs inclusion in the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia.

Lung Abscess Case Series and Review of the Literature.

(1) Background: Lung abscess is a lung infection that leads to the destruction of the lung parenchyma, resulting in a cavity formation and central necrosis filled with purulent fluids. It is an uncommon pediatric problem, and there is a paucity of literature reviews on this subject, especially for the pediatric age group. Lung abscess is commonly divided into those considered primary in previously well children or secondary in those with predisposing co-morbidities. The predominant pathogens isolated from primary lung abscesses are the aerobic organisms, including streptococcal species, Staphylococcus aureus, and Klebsiella pneumoniae, while anaerobic bacteria such as Bacteroides species are predominant in secondary groups. Children usually present with fever, cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, and sputum. While physical examination may reveal diffuse crackles on auscultation, the diagnosis is usually confirmed by chest X-ray. (2) Methods: We report four different cases with lung abscesses from both primary and secondary group with similar presentations and radiological findings, but the approach was different in each according to the underlining cause. (3) Conclusions: Conservative therapies with a prolonged course of antibiotics remain the cornerstone of therapy for both primary and secondary lung abscesses. The underlying cause should be considered when there is a suboptimal response. However, invasive intervention is becoming more popular with better yield, shorter duration of antibiotics and admission, and excellent prognosis.