Das Gesundheitswesen
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Das Gesundheitswesen · Oct 2002
[Validity of care assessment in disabled and mentally retarded children].
16 children with spastic cerebral palsy and 25 mentally retarded children were assessed via the scales "Self-Care" and "Mobility" of the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI). Age-adjusted PEDI scores were compared with the classification according to the three levels of the German statutory nursing insurance. ⋯ Apparently, assessment guidelines of the German statutory nursing insurance do not guarantee a valid assessment in all disabled children. In conclusion, future assessments of nursing needs in children should employ standardised assessment methods.
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Das Gesundheitswesen · Jul 2002
[Well-informed on health matters--how well? The German 'Clearinghouse for Patient Information'--objective, background and methods].
Health information for lay people in print or electronic form are internationally recognised as useful tools and as necessary in the decision-making process of individuals. The effectiveness of offered patient information depends on quality and accessibility. Because much of the available health information is significantly deficient, the Agency for Quality in Medicine developed a programme for assessing the quality of specialised health and medical information for all non-medically trained persons. The German 'Clearinghouse for Patient Information' project is an adjunct to the already established German 'Clearinghouse for Clinical Guidelines'. ⋯ To advance the process of quality improvement for medical information for non-medical and lay persons, it is essential to develop and to intensify the cooperation with stake holders and partners at different levels. Only through close cooperation with others it is possible to create a basis to continuously develop and improve the information quality assessment instrument further. In addition, effective strategies need to be developed to disseminate these endeavours to patients and consumers of health information in a user-friendly and transparent way.
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Extension of the medical health care system for social fringe groups by means of a special 'Health Care Apartment' for homeless people with an ambulatory nursing service. Between 55-70 % of the homeless people in Germany are in-patients for medical treatment nearly once a year. Only 10-20 % have a family doctor. ⋯ : The pilot study of the special Health Care Apartment for homeless people in Hannover closes a gap in the provision of medical care which exists in many major cities. Moreover, hospital admissions for homeless people can be prevented and their social reintegration promoted.
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Das Gesundheitswesen · Apr 2002
[Work-satisfaction and Health of Hospital Nursing and Medical Personnel].
The implementation of new service demands and increasing rationalisation measures exercise stress and pressure on medical and nursing personnel in German hospitals. However, their satisfaction and health are important quality criteria in the ranking of a hospital. Basing on the introduction of a new tool, an inquiry was conducted among the medical and nursing personnel of two hospitals (A and B) in respect of the quality of their working conditions. ⋯ Individual health condition were also classified more negatively by the nursing personnel than by the doctors, and the overall physical complaints of the nursing personnel were generally greater than with the average population, whereas medical personnel registered fewer complaints. Health promotion measures in hospitals may help to prevent negative developments. Such measures are too rarely translated into reality.
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Das Gesundheitswesen · Apr 2002
[Preparing for the G-DRG system: portfolio analysis of the hospitals in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany].
Diagnosis-Related Groups are scheduled for step-by-step introduction into the German hospital system. Initially DRG base rates will be specific to each hospital (i. e. in keeping with the present budget), but eventually (by 2007) a common base rate will be reached in each federal state. This development may have grave financial consequences for some hospitals where initial base rates are above average and hence likely to be reduced. ⋯ We found considerable differences between hospitals in terms of the payments per case and the LOS, independent of the stratification of the cases. For example, Magdeburg University Clinical Centre registered hospitalisations that were short (below average) but expensive (well above average), hence there is less scope for further rationalization of the LOS in this hospital compared to others. Considerable adjustments will become necessary in due course when switching over from hospital-specific base rates to a common regional base rate.