Integrated service delivery and the role of hospitals

Abstract

Public health and primary care have a huge impact on the demand of hospital services which is reflected in regional differences. In general, hospitals have strategies based on functionality and do master these functions quite efficiently. However if the total cost per capita eventually rises due to a high demand on hospitalisation, the benefit will be lost. A systems approach is needed to face this dilemma. The relationship and interdependence between cost, productivity and the measures on health play a significant role in understanding and assessing service delivery in hospitals. The session will highlight some of these elements and factors, including further need for studies such as EuroHOPE and others. The content of the workshop is as follows: Prof. Terje Hagen from the Department of Health Management and Health Economics in the University of Oslo will present the scope and first preliminary results of EuroHOPE, (European Health Care Outcomes, Performance and Efficiency), a European four-year research project launched to evaluate the performance of European health care systems in terms of outcomes, quality, use of resources and costs. Dr. Anna Stavdal, Vice President WONCA (World Organisation of Family Doctors) will give an overview from the primary care and general practice angle, regarding the demand for hospital services. Dr. Jorma Penttinen, Chief Medical Officer from Kuopio University Hospital will reflect on the rising demand on hospital services, with a special emphasis on the costliest 10 per cent of patients based on own research. Associate Prof. Paul Dugdale from the Australian National University will give a presentation on health policy responses to rising rates of multi-morbid chronic illness in Australia and New Zealand The session will be moderated by Dr. Risto Miettunen MD, CEO of Kuopio University Hospital, Finland. Dr. Miettunen is a nominee for the Governing Council in the IHF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]Copyright of International Journal of Integrated Care (IJIC) is the property of Ubiquity Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)