Gender Differences in Trends in Incidence and Mortality of Acute Myocardial Infarction in the Small Island Developing State of Barbados.

Objective To determine trends, identify predictors of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) incidence and mortality, and explore performance metrics for AMI care in Barbados. Methods Data on all cases diagnosed with AMI were collected by the Barbados National Registry for Non-Communicable Diseases (BNR) from the island's only tertiary hospital, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, and the National Vital Registration Department. Participants who survived hospital admission were then followed up at 28 days and one year post event via telephone survey and retrieval of death certificates. Age-standardized incidence and mortality rates were calculated. Determinants of mortality at 28 days were examined in multivariable logistic regression models. Median and interquartile ranges (IQR) were calculated for performance metrics (e.g., time from pain onset to reperfusion). Results In a 10-year period between 2010 and 2019, 4,065 cases of myocardial infarction were recorded. The median age of the sample was 73 years (IQR: 61,83), and approximately half (47%) were female. Over a 10-year period, standardized incidence increased in women on average yearly by three per 100,000 (95% CI: 1 to 6; p=0.02), while in men, the average increase per year was six per 100,000 (95% CI: 4 to 8; p<0.001). There was no increase in 28-day mortality in women; mortality in men increased each year by 2.5 per 100,000 (95% CI: 0.4 to 4.5; p=0.02). The time from arrival at the hospital to the ECG was 44 minutes IQR (20,113). Conclusion AMI incidence and mortality are increasing in Barbados, and men have a higher velocity of mortality rate increase than women, which contradicts global data.

Ruta integral de atención en salud para personas con amputaciones de miembro inferior, para mejorar el funcionamiento y la calidad de vida / Integral pathway of health care for people with lower limb amputations, to improve the functioning and quality of life / Rota abrangente de cuidados de saúde de pessoas com amputações de membros inferiores, para melhorar o funcionamento e qualidade de vida

Resumen Objetivo: Presentar el estudio mediante el cual se construyó una ruta integral de atención en salud (RIAS) para la atención del paciente amputado de miembro inferior por causas traumática, vascular o diabetes mellitus, cuyo fin es implementar las recomendaciones de la Guía de práctica clínica del paciente amputado y garantizar la atención integral en salud de esta población en Colombia. Con la ruta se pretende orientar a los actores involucrados en la ejecución de intervenciones individuales para el diagnóstico, el tratamiento y la rehabilitación, e impactar en los desenlaces en salud y equidad de esta población. Metodología: Este estudio responde a una estrategia de mejoramiento de la atención en salud. Para esto, se revisó el Manual metodológico para la elaboración e implementación de las RIAS; se creó el grupo desarrollador de la ruta; se priorizaron y describieron las intervenciones en función del proceso continuo de atención en salud; se evaluó la práctica asistencial actual con grupos focales de pacientes y profesionales; se formularon los resultados esperados en el proceso de gestión y atención en salud (hitos), y se elaboró el diagrama de la ruta. Resultados: A partir de la Guía de práctica clínica se elaboraron 25 intervenciones individuales priorizadas y caracterizadas según el actor responsable, la población objetivo y el entorno. Para cada una de las intervenciones se presentan resultados esperados en salud, calidad de prestación de servicios, aspectos relacionados con la equidad, y la perspectiva de pacientes y actores involucrados con la atención. Se construyeron los indicadores para el seguimiento e implementación de la ruta. Conclusión: Se construyó la primera ruta integral de atención en salud del paciente con amputación de miembro inferior, de acuerdo con los lineamientos del manual del Ministerio de Salud y de la Protección Social.

Abstract Objective: Build an Integral Health Care Pathway for the care of patients with lower limb amputation due to traumatic, vascular or diabetes mellitus causes, in order to implement the recommendations of the cpg for amputee patients and guarantee comprehensive health care for this population in Colombia. Methodology: This study is a strategy to improve health care. Carried out by a review of the Methodological Manual for the Development and Implementation of Comprehensive Health Care Pathway, then the development group was created. A process of prioritization and description of required individual interventions was developed based on health care. Evaluation of current care practice with focus groups, formulation of milestones and development of the intervention diagram. Results: 25 individual interventions were prioritized and characterized according to the responsible actor, target population and environment. Expected results in health, quality of service delivery, issues related to equity, as well as the perspective of patients and actors involved with care are shown. Indicators were built for monitoring and implementation of the pathway. Conclusion: With the previous results, the first Integral Health Care Pathway for the Lower Limb Amputee Patient was developed. It intends to guide the actors involved, when executing individual interventions for the diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation, to impact outcomes in health and equity of this group .

Resumo Objetivo: Construir uma Rota de Atenção Integral à Saúde do Paciente Amputado do Membro Inferior por causas traumáticas, vasculares ou diabetes mellitus, com a finalização de implementar as recomendações do gpc do paciente amputado e garantir a atenção integral na saúde desta población em Colômbia. Metodologia: Este estudo responde a uma estratégia para melhorar os cuidados de saúde. Foi realizada uma revisão do Manual Metodológico para o Desenvolvimento e Implementação de Rotas Integrais de Atenção à Saúde, criação do grupo de desenvolvimento da rota. Um processo de priorização e descrição das intervenções individuais necessárias foi desenvolvido com base na continuidade dos cuidados de saúde. Avaliação da prática assistencial atual com grupos focais, formulação de marcos e desenvolvimento do diagrama de intervenção. Resultados: 25 intervenções individuais foram priorizadas e caracterizadas de acordo com o ator responsável, população-alvo e ambiente. Determinação dos resultados esperados em saúde, qualidade da prestação de serviços, questões relacionadas a equidade, bem como a perspectiva de pacientes e atores envolvidos no atendimento. Foram construídos indicadores para o monitoramento e implementação da rota. Conclusão: Com os resultados anteriores, foi construída a primeira Rota de Atenção Integral à Saúde do paciente com amputação de membros inferiores por causas traumáticas e neurovasculares, com sua implementação, visando orientar os atores envolvidos na execução de intervenções individuais para a diagnóstico, tratamento e reabilitação, impactar os resultados em saúde e eqüidade dessa população.

MedPath: A process-based modeling language for designing care pathways.

CONTEXT: Medical professionals and hospitals promote solutions like care pathways and Health Information Systems (HIS) to support medical conduct and improve the quality of medical care. PURPOSE: This study proposes MedPath: a Domain Specific Language (DSL) for modeling care pathways based on the paradigms of Model-Based Engineering (MBE) that can be integrated into software solutions. PROCEDURES: We have developed MedPath's abstract syntax with the Eclipse Modeling Framework by employing Ecore technology and concrete syntax with the Eclipse Sirius. FINDINGS: We have modeled over 85 care pathways that are in use in 45 hospitals in Brazil. MedPath-originated pathways have been used over 3.2 million times since October 2017. We conducted a survey among the professionals who used MedPath to evaluate user satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: We believe MedPath can translate any care pathway into an action flow with its current abstractions. MedPath makes care pathways more easily integrated into HIS and electronic patient records, as it enables programmatic modeling and generates consumable artifacts.

Clinical Leadership as an Agent for Change: A Health System Improvement Intervention in Curaçao.

INTRODUCTION: The healthcare system in Curaçao is complex, fragmented, and poorly organized and typifies a system in a resource-limited environment. Deficits in competencies and local cultural barriers are factors that hinder sustainable healthcare in such settings and a failure to meet WHO sustainable development goals. This study reports the potential cost-effectiveness and improved health outcomes of the first stage of a healthcare improvement project. The intervention, which is a multidisciplinary team-based leadership training program (MLP), reflects a promising strategy to tackle local healthcare needs. METHODS: A Multidisciplinary group of healthcare professionals in St. Elisabeth hospital, Curaçao, was selected to 1) participate in the MLP and 2) co-design a healthcare pathway on the management of decubitus ulcers. Using a qualitative research methodology, we conducted interviews to assess the perceived leadership growth, teamwork, and the barriers to the introduction of the new care pathway in their setting. Six themes were identified that explained the perceived leadership development and interprofessional collaboration. These included 1) Professional background, 2) Healthcare pathway design, 3) Resources, 4) Personal development, 5) Collaboration 6) Execution. CONCLUSION/IMPLICATION: The participants valued the interdisciplinary approach of this health improvement project and acknowledged the added value of a training program that also addressed personal growth. This study shows how MLPs for health professionals can also serve as catalysts for health improvement efforts in resource-limited environments.

A mudança de modelo assistencial de cuidado ao idoso na Saúde Suplementar: identificação de seus pontos-chave e obstáculos para implementação / The change of care model to elderly care in Supplementary Health: identification of its key points and obstacles to implementation

Resumo A partir de uma análise crítica sobre os atuais modelos de atenção à saúde para idosos, este artigo apresenta uma proposta de linha do cuidado para este segmento etário, tendo como foco a promoção e a prevenção da saúde, de modo a evitar a sobrecarga do sistema de saúde. Enfatiza-se o setor suplementar, pois como um quarto da população utiliza este sistema, uma discussão mais minuciosa se faz necessária. O conhecimento científico já identificou corretamente os fatores de risco para a população idosa, mas isso não basta. É prioritário utilizar esse conhecimento para efetuar a necessária transição do modelo assistencial clínico para o preventivo. Este precisa se configurar como um fluxo de ações de educação, promoção da saúde, prevenção de doenças evitáveis, postergação de moléstias, cuidado precoce e reabilitação de agravos. Não se nega a importância das instâncias pesadas (hospital, instituições de longa permanência, entre outras), mas estamos particularmente preocupados com uma abordagem contemporânea, que cuide de forma adequada o idoso e diminua custos. Se não for deste modo, o sistema se torna inviável.

Abstract From a critical analysis of current models of health care for the elderly, this article proposes a care line for this age group, focusing on the promotion and health prevention in order to avoid overloading the health system. It emphasizes the supplementary sector, since a quarter of the population uses this system, a more thorough discussion is needed. Scientific knowledge has correctly identified the risk factors for the elderly, but this is not enough. It is a priority to use this knowledge to make the necessary transition from the clinical care to preventive model. This needs to be configured as a stream of education initiatives, health promotion, prevention of preventable diseases, postponement of diseases, early care and rehabilitation of injuries. There is no denying the importance of heavy bodies (hospital, long-term care facilities, etc.), but we are particularly concerned about an approach that improves the quality of life and decrease costs. If not so, the system becomes impractical.