Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Improvements in Access to Care for Minority Children
http://www.fcd-us.org/usr_doc/DisparitiesBrief.pdf
Foundation for Child Development
"Since 1985, racial/ethnic differences among Black, Hispanic, and White children have been narrowing overall. This is good news. If, however, we aim to close the gaps within a generation, we must remain vigilant about advancing policies that raise the well-being of all our children.
Our goal is not only to close gaps, but also to raise the quality of life for all American children higher than it now is. These findings from a new analysis of child well-being demonstrate that change in child well-being is possible, but more must be done.
This report is the first to analyze how child and youth well-being has changed among Black, Hispanic, and White children from 1985-2004.
Key findings include:
--Black, Hispanic, and White children experienced overall improvements in the quality of life.
--Both Black children and Hispanic children were advantaged compared to White children in the emotional/spiritual domain.
--Black and Hispanic children also benefited from advances in the safety-behavioral domains including reduced cigarette smoking, drinking alcohol, and use of illicit drugs.
--Gaps in family economic well-being narrowed for both Black and Hispanic children as parental employment and health insurance coverage increased.
--Even if Black and Hispanic children reached parity with the current level of well-being among White children, the overall well-being of all three groups would be substantially below the best that the U.S. has ever achieved on these measures, and levels of well-being currently experienced by international peers of the U.S.
This report is based on the full paper "Measuring Social Disparities: A Modified Approach to the Index of Child Well-Being (CWI) for Race-Ethnic, Immigrant-Generation, and Socioeconomic Groups with New Results for Whites, Blacks, and Hispanics," drawing on a working paper prepared for the forum "Review of the Child Well-Being Index," on May 10, 2006, co-sponsored by Foundation for Child Development and the Brookings Institution."
Foundation for Child Development
"Since 1985, racial/ethnic differences among Black, Hispanic, and White children have been narrowing overall. This is good news. If, however, we aim to close the gaps within a generation, we must remain vigilant about advancing policies that raise the well-being of all our children.
Our goal is not only to close gaps, but also to raise the quality of life for all American children higher than it now is. These findings from a new analysis of child well-being demonstrate that change in child well-being is possible, but more must be done.
This report is the first to analyze how child and youth well-being has changed among Black, Hispanic, and White children from 1985-2004.
Key findings include:
--Black, Hispanic, and White children experienced overall improvements in the quality of life.
--Both Black children and Hispanic children were advantaged compared to White children in the emotional/spiritual domain.
--Black and Hispanic children also benefited from advances in the safety-behavioral domains including reduced cigarette smoking, drinking alcohol, and use of illicit drugs.
--Gaps in family economic well-being narrowed for both Black and Hispanic children as parental employment and health insurance coverage increased.
--Even if Black and Hispanic children reached parity with the current level of well-being among White children, the overall well-being of all three groups would be substantially below the best that the U.S. has ever achieved on these measures, and levels of well-being currently experienced by international peers of the U.S.
This report is based on the full paper "Measuring Social Disparities: A Modified Approach to the Index of Child Well-Being (CWI) for Race-Ethnic, Immigrant-Generation, and Socioeconomic Groups with New Results for Whites, Blacks, and Hispanics," drawing on a working paper prepared for the forum "Review of the Child Well-Being Index," on May 10, 2006, co-sponsored by Foundation for Child Development and the Brookings Institution."
Labels: Access to Health Care, Children, Minorities
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Knowing What Works in Health Care
http://www.iom.edu/Object.File/Master/50/721/Knowing%20What%20Works%20report%20brief%20FINAL%20for%20web.pdf
Institute of Medicine/National Academies Press
"Solutions to some of the nation’s most pressing health problems hinge on the ability to identify which diagnostic, treatment, and prevention services work best for various patients and circumstances. Spending on ineffective care contributes to rising health costs and insurance premiums. Variations in how health care providers treat the same conditions reflect uncertainty and disagreement about what the standards for clinical practice should be. Patients and insurers cannot always be confident that health professionals are delivering the most effective care.
A new report from the Institute of Medicine offers a blueprint for a national program to assess the effectiveness of clinical services and to provide credible, unbiased information about what really works in health care. The report recommends that Congress direct the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to establish a program with the authority, expertise, and resources necessary to set priorities for evaluating clinical services and to conduct systematic reviews of the evidence. This program would also be responsible for developing and promoting rigorous standards for clinical practice guidelines, which could help minimize the use of questionable services and target services to the patients most likely to benefit, said the committee that wrote the report."
Institute of Medicine/National Academies Press
"Solutions to some of the nation’s most pressing health problems hinge on the ability to identify which diagnostic, treatment, and prevention services work best for various patients and circumstances. Spending on ineffective care contributes to rising health costs and insurance premiums. Variations in how health care providers treat the same conditions reflect uncertainty and disagreement about what the standards for clinical practice should be. Patients and insurers cannot always be confident that health professionals are delivering the most effective care.
A new report from the Institute of Medicine offers a blueprint for a national program to assess the effectiveness of clinical services and to provide credible, unbiased information about what really works in health care. The report recommends that Congress direct the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to establish a program with the authority, expertise, and resources necessary to set priorities for evaluating clinical services and to conduct systematic reviews of the evidence. This program would also be responsible for developing and promoting rigorous standards for clinical practice guidelines, which could help minimize the use of questionable services and target services to the patients most likely to benefit, said the committee that wrote the report."
Labels: Health Care
Economic Costs of Diabetes in the U.S. in 2007
http://care.diabetesjournals.org/misc/econcosts.pdf
American Diabetes Association
"Diabetes is costing Americans $174 billion annually, a figure that has increased by 32 percent since 2002, according to a study commissioned by the American Diabetes Association (ADA).
The ADA, leaders from the Congressional Diabetes Caucus, and diabetes experts discussed the economic impact of this compelling new data during a congressional briefing today on Capitol Hill.
The study reveals that the direct economic costs associated with diabetes have reached unprecedented levels. Medical expenditures of care for people with diabetes are estimated to be $116 billion, with a disproportionate percentage of the costs resulting from treatment and hospitalization of people with diabetes-related complications. The findings also suggest that 1 out of every 5 health care dollars is spent caring for someone with diagnosed diabetes."
American Diabetes Association
"Diabetes is costing Americans $174 billion annually, a figure that has increased by 32 percent since 2002, according to a study commissioned by the American Diabetes Association (ADA).
The ADA, leaders from the Congressional Diabetes Caucus, and diabetes experts discussed the economic impact of this compelling new data during a congressional briefing today on Capitol Hill.
The study reveals that the direct economic costs associated with diabetes have reached unprecedented levels. Medical expenditures of care for people with diabetes are estimated to be $116 billion, with a disproportionate percentage of the costs resulting from treatment and hospitalization of people with diabetes-related complications. The findings also suggest that 1 out of every 5 health care dollars is spent caring for someone with diagnosed diabetes."
Labels: Diabetes, health care costs
Friday, January 25, 2008
Database for Drug Effectiveness Needed
http://nationalacademies.org/includes/KWWreportbrief3.pdf
Reuters
"The Institute of Medicine released a report that called for the creation of a single, public database that gauges the effectiveness of drugs and health services. IOM said such a database could help eliminate spending on ineffective treatments and reduce the $2 trillion in annual health spending. The report said Congress should direct HHS to establish and fund a program to evaluate health services and review clinical studies. According to the report, the database could house a "credible, unbiased and understandable synthesis" of studies, which "could help minimize the use of questionable services and target services to the patients most likely to benefit." The report laid out plans for a private or public-private entity that could produce the database. The report said, "If conducted properly, the systematic review should make obvious the gap between what is known about the effectiveness of a particular service and what clinicians and patients want to know."Barbara McNeil, a report author and head of the department of health care policy at Harvard School of Medicine, said, "We need a way to synthesize data about the effectiveness of health care products and services in a standardized, objective fashion that will be considered reliable and trustworthy by all decision makers."
Reuters
"The Institute of Medicine released a report that called for the creation of a single, public database that gauges the effectiveness of drugs and health services. IOM said such a database could help eliminate spending on ineffective treatments and reduce the $2 trillion in annual health spending. The report said Congress should direct HHS to establish and fund a program to evaluate health services and review clinical studies. According to the report, the database could house a "credible, unbiased and understandable synthesis" of studies, which "could help minimize the use of questionable services and target services to the patients most likely to benefit." The report laid out plans for a private or public-private entity that could produce the database. The report said, "If conducted properly, the systematic review should make obvious the gap between what is known about the effectiveness of a particular service and what clinicians and patients want to know."Barbara McNeil, a report author and head of the department of health care policy at Harvard School of Medicine, said, "We need a way to synthesize data about the effectiveness of health care products and services in a standardized, objective fashion that will be considered reliable and trustworthy by all decision makers."
Labels: Database, Drug Effectiveness
Database for Drug Effectiveness Needed
http://nationalacademies.org/includes/KWWreportbrief3.pdf
Reuters
"The Institute of Medicine released a report that called for the creation of a single, public database that gauges the effectiveness of drugs and health services. IOM said such a database could help eliminate spending on ineffective treatments and reduce the $2 trillion in annual health spending. The report said Congress should direct HHS to establish and fund a program to evaluate health services and review clinical studies (Steenhuysen, Reuters, 1/24). According to the report, the database could house a "credible, unbiased and understandable synthesis" of studies, which "could help minimize the use of questionable services and target services to the patients most likely to benefit." The report laid out plans for a private or public-private entity that could produce the database (Walker, CQ Healthbeat, 1/24). The report said, "If conducted properly, the systematic review should make obvious the gap between what is known about the effectiveness of a particular service and what clinicians and patients want to know."Barbara McNeil, a report author and head of the department of health care policy at Harvard School of Medicine, said, "We need a way to synthesize data about the effectiveness of health care products and services in a standardized, objective fashion that will be considered reliable and trustworthy by all decision makers" (Reuters, 1/24)."
Reuters
"The Institute of Medicine released a report that called for the creation of a single, public database that gauges the effectiveness of drugs and health services. IOM said such a database could help eliminate spending on ineffective treatments and reduce the $2 trillion in annual health spending. The report said Congress should direct HHS to establish and fund a program to evaluate health services and review clinical studies (Steenhuysen, Reuters, 1/24). According to the report, the database could house a "credible, unbiased and understandable synthesis" of studies, which "could help minimize the use of questionable services and target services to the patients most likely to benefit." The report laid out plans for a private or public-private entity that could produce the database (Walker, CQ Healthbeat, 1/24). The report said, "If conducted properly, the systematic review should make obvious the gap between what is known about the effectiveness of a particular service and what clinicians and patients want to know."Barbara McNeil, a report author and head of the department of health care policy at Harvard School of Medicine, said, "We need a way to synthesize data about the effectiveness of health care products and services in a standardized, objective fashion that will be considered reliable and trustworthy by all decision makers" (Reuters, 1/24)."
Labels: Database, Drug Effectiveness
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Immigrants and Health Care: A Complex Picture
http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/2008/RAND_RB9317.pdf
RAND Corporation
"This fact sheet describes the diverse health care needs of immigrant populations and specifies needs that health policies can target."
RAND Corporation
"This fact sheet describes the diverse health care needs of immigrant populations and specifies needs that health policies can target."
Labels: Health Care, Immigrants
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
End-of-Life Care
http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d0866.pdf
Government Accountability Office
"The studies identified the following key components in providing care to individuals nearing the end of life: care management to coordinate and facilitate service delivery; supportive services, such as transportation, provided to individuals residing in noninstitutional settings; pain and symptom managment; family and caregiver support such as respite care; communication among the individuals, families and program staff; and assistance with advance care planning to aid individuals with making decisions about their future care."
Government Accountability Office
"The studies identified the following key components in providing care to individuals nearing the end of life: care management to coordinate and facilitate service delivery; supportive services, such as transportation, provided to individuals residing in noninstitutional settings; pain and symptom managment; family and caregiver support such as respite care; communication among the individuals, families and program staff; and assistance with advance care planning to aid individuals with making decisions about their future care."
Labels: end-of-life care
Confidentiality: An Expectation in Health Care
http://lsr.nellco.org/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1200&context=upenn/wps
Penn Guide to Bioethics
"The practice of confidentiality has continued in an era of increased, voluntary openness about medical information in everyday life. Indeed the number and variety of state and federal laws mandating confidentiality by medical professionals has increased in the last dozen years. Moreover, personal injury suits alleging breach of confidentiality or invasion of privacy, along with suits asserting evidentiary privileges, reflect the reality that expectations of confidentiality of medical records and relationships remain strong."
Penn Guide to Bioethics
"The practice of confidentiality has continued in an era of increased, voluntary openness about medical information in everyday life. Indeed the number and variety of state and federal laws mandating confidentiality by medical professionals has increased in the last dozen years. Moreover, personal injury suits alleging breach of confidentiality or invasion of privacy, along with suits asserting evidentiary privileges, reflect the reality that expectations of confidentiality of medical records and relationships remain strong."
Labels: confidentiality
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Getting Communities On Track for An Aging Population
http://www.aginginplaceinitiative.org/storage/aipi/documents/maturing_of_america_reformatted_for_printing.pdf
National Association of Area Agencies on Aging, in partnership with the International City/County Management Association, National Association of Counties, National League of Cities and Partners for Livable Communities
"The vast majority of older Americans want to age in their homes and communities for as long as possible. However, the aging of the population will pose new challenges for the delivery of local services such as health care, recreation, housing, transportation, public safety, employment and education. While these services assist a broad segment of the population, they also have a major impact on the quality of life of older Americans. The aging of America will also present opportunities as the nation’s communities realize the largest population of educated and skilled older adults in its history. To help cities and counties better meet the needs of their aging population, and to harness the experience and talent of their older citizens, five national organizations joined forces to identify ways to prepare for the aging of this population. Known as The Maturing of America — Getting Communities on Track for an Aging Population, the project is being led by the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging, in partnership with the International City/County Management Association, National Association of Counties, National League of Cities and Partners for Livable Communities. The initiative is funded by a grant from MetLife Foundation. In the project’s first phase, Maturing of America partners surveyed 10,000 local governments to:
--determine their ”aging readiness” to provide programs, policies and services that address the needs of older adults and their caregivers;
--to ensure that their communities are ”livable” for persons of all ages; and
--to harness the talent, wisdom and experience of older adults to contribute to the community at large.
The survey found that only 46 percent of American communities have begun to address the needs of the rapidly increasing aging population. The survey results show that although many communities have some programs to address the needs of older adults, few have undertaken a comprehensive assessment to make their communities ”elder friendly” or livable communities for all ages.
Survey findings indicate that local governments generally offer basic health and nutrition programs, but as yet do not have the policies, programs or services in place to promote the quality of life and the ability of older adults to live independently and contribute to their communities for as long as possible. These services might include job retraining, flextime and other job accommodations; home chore services, home modification and senior-friendly housing options, tax relief, roadway redesign or public transportation assistance as well as volunteer opportunities targeted to older adults.
The needs of older adults are often interrelated. For example, providing housing will not be sufficient if residents lack transportation to get to basic services such as medical offices, the pharmacy or grocery store. These interdependent needs of older adults may require a completely new comprehensive, holistic approach to service delivery organization and management. American’s communities need to take a fresh look at their existing policies, programs and services to see if they address the needs of an aging population. Those communities who have already begun to test their ”aging readiness” are now reaching out to their older citizens to engage them in discussions about what changes to local government services may be needed to enhance their quality of life and ensure that they can grow old successfully in the community. "
National Association of Area Agencies on Aging, in partnership with the International City/County Management Association, National Association of Counties, National League of Cities and Partners for Livable Communities
"The vast majority of older Americans want to age in their homes and communities for as long as possible. However, the aging of the population will pose new challenges for the delivery of local services such as health care, recreation, housing, transportation, public safety, employment and education. While these services assist a broad segment of the population, they also have a major impact on the quality of life of older Americans. The aging of America will also present opportunities as the nation’s communities realize the largest population of educated and skilled older adults in its history. To help cities and counties better meet the needs of their aging population, and to harness the experience and talent of their older citizens, five national organizations joined forces to identify ways to prepare for the aging of this population. Known as The Maturing of America — Getting Communities on Track for an Aging Population, the project is being led by the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging, in partnership with the International City/County Management Association, National Association of Counties, National League of Cities and Partners for Livable Communities. The initiative is funded by a grant from MetLife Foundation. In the project’s first phase, Maturing of America partners surveyed 10,000 local governments to:
--determine their ”aging readiness” to provide programs, policies and services that address the needs of older adults and their caregivers;
--to ensure that their communities are ”livable” for persons of all ages; and
--to harness the talent, wisdom and experience of older adults to contribute to the community at large.
The survey found that only 46 percent of American communities have begun to address the needs of the rapidly increasing aging population. The survey results show that although many communities have some programs to address the needs of older adults, few have undertaken a comprehensive assessment to make their communities ”elder friendly” or livable communities for all ages.
Survey findings indicate that local governments generally offer basic health and nutrition programs, but as yet do not have the policies, programs or services in place to promote the quality of life and the ability of older adults to live independently and contribute to their communities for as long as possible. These services might include job retraining, flextime and other job accommodations; home chore services, home modification and senior-friendly housing options, tax relief, roadway redesign or public transportation assistance as well as volunteer opportunities targeted to older adults.
The needs of older adults are often interrelated. For example, providing housing will not be sufficient if residents lack transportation to get to basic services such as medical offices, the pharmacy or grocery store. These interdependent needs of older adults may require a completely new comprehensive, holistic approach to service delivery organization and management. American’s communities need to take a fresh look at their existing policies, programs and services to see if they address the needs of an aging population. Those communities who have already begun to test their ”aging readiness” are now reaching out to their older citizens to engage them in discussions about what changes to local government services may be needed to enhance their quality of life and ensure that they can grow old successfully in the community. "
Labels: communities, older people
