NHS waiting times for elective care in England

"This study examines the performance, recording and management of elective care waiting times in England."

NHS waiting times for elective care in England
National Audit Office
January 2014

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Effect of a national quality improvement collaborative on prehospital care

"The use of care bundles as measures, clinical engagement, application of quality improvement methods, provider prompts, individualized feedback and opportunities for learning and interaction within and across organizations helped the collaborative to achieve its aims."

The effect of a national quality improvement collaborative on prehospital care for acute myocardial infarction and stroke in England
A Niroshan Siriwardena, D Shaw, N Essam, FJ Togher, Z Davy, A Spaight, M Dewey
Implementation Science, 2014, 9:17

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An interprofessional shared decision-making and goal-setting decision aid for patients

"Interprofessional shared decision-making regarding priority-setting with the use of a decision aid toolkit may help prioritize care of individuals with multiple comorbid conditions."

Designing and evaluating an interprofessional shared decision-making and goal-setting decision aid for patients with diabetes in clinical care - systematic decision aid development and study protocol
CH Yu, D Stacey, J Sale, S Hall, DM Kaplan, N Ivers, J Resmovitz, FH Leung, BR Shah, SE Straus
Implementation Science, 2014, 9:16

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Patient-specific computer-based decision support in primary healthcare

"The aim was to measure the effects of such reminders on patient care. The hypothesis was that the total number of triggered reminders would decrease in the intervention group compared with the control group, indicating an improvement in patient care."

Patient-specific computer-based decision support in primary healthcare: a randomized trial
T Kortteisto, J Raitanen, J Komulainen, I Kunnamo, M Makela, P Rissanen, M Kaila
Implementation Science, 2014, 9:15

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Institution specific risk factors for 30 day readmission at a community hospital

"We found that 30 day hospital readmissions may be associated with institution specific risk factors, even after adjustment for patient factors. These institution specific risk factors may be targets for interventions to prevent readmissions."

Institution specific risk factors for 30 day readmission at a community hospital: a retrospective observational study
L Park, D Andrade, A Mastey, J Sum
BMC Health Services Research, 2014, 14:40

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Evidence-based medicine: an oral history

"This video, produced by a collaboration between The BMJ and JAMA, takes the form of a panel discussion involving some of the individuals most associated with the origins of the Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM) movement, including Iain Chalmers, Gordon Guyatt, Brian Haynes, David Sackett, Kay Dickersin, Drummond Rennie, Muir Gray and Paul Glasziou."

Watch the video here.

Reducing hospital admissions from nursing homes

"...several interventions had effects on reducing hospital admissions and may represent important aspects of nursing home care to reduce hospital admissions."

Reducing hospital admissions from nursing homes: a systematic review
B Gaverholt, L Forsetlund, G Jamtvedt
BMC Health Services Research, 2014, 14:36

Read more here.

The role of academic health science centres and networks in England

"This article focuses on accountability relationships in universities and teaching hospitals, as well as other healthcare providers that form core constituent parts of academic health science centres and networks."

Improving accountability through alignment: the role of academic health science centres and networks in England
PV Ovseiko, A Heitmueller, P Allen, SM Davies, G Wells, GA Ford, A Darzi, AM Buchan
BMC Health Services Research, 2014, 14:24

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The performative dynamics of lean management theory

"...we investigate the case of the Québec public health care system, where a managerial theory – that of “lean management” – has recently emerged, gained saliency and become dominant in 
organizational practice."

Saying what you do and doing what you say: the performative dynamics of lean management theory
V Sergi, M Lusiani, A Langley, JL Denis
Universita Ca'Foscari Venezia
December 2013

Read more here.

Capturing lessons learned from evidence-to-policy initiatives through structured reflection

"Deliberative dialogues informed by evidence briefs were identified as the most commendable tools by interviewees for enhancing evidence-informed health policymaking."

Capturing lessons learned from evidence-to-policy initiatives through structured reflection
F El-Jardali, J Lavis, K Moat, T Pantoja, N Ataya
Health Research Policy and Systems, 2014, 12:2

Read more here.

Any town toolkit for clinical commissioning groups

"NHS England has produced a toolkit called ‘Any town’, which using high level health system modelling, allows clinical commissioning groups to map how interventions could improve local health services and close the financial gap."

The toolkit contains 5 modules:

• A methodology guide
• An urban model module
• A suburban model module
• A rural model module
• A further information guide

Access the toolkit here.

Tool providing information on inequalities in life expectancy

"Public Health England's Segment Tool provides information on inequalities in life expectancy at local authority level. This tool should help local authorities identify causes of death that contribute most to their life expectancy gaps and, therefore, enable them to target interventions appropriately."

Access the tool here.

Body mass index thresholds for intervening to prevent ill health among black, Asian and other minority ethnic groups

"This briefing summarises NICE's recommendations for local authorities and partner organisations on the use of body mass index (BMI) as a signal for preventive action against long-term medical conditions. The focus is on people from black, Asian and other minority ethnic groups."

Body mass index thresholds for intervening to prevent ill health among black, Asian and other minority ethnic groups
NICE Public Health Briefing
January 2014

Read more here.

Undetermined impact of patient decision support interventions on healthcare costs and savings: systematic review

"Although there is evidence to show that patients choose more conservative approaches when they become better informed,there is insufficient evidence, as yet, to be confident that the implementation of patient decision support interventions leads to system-wide savings."

Undetermined impact of patient decision support interventions on healthcare costs and savings: systematic review
T Walsh, PJ Barr, R Thompson, E Ozanne, C O'Neill, G Elwyn
British Medical Journal, 2014, 348:g188

Read more here.

Lean thinking in hospitals: is there a cure for the absence of evidence?

"Findings from the review suggest that characteristics and local application of lean, in addition to strategic and cultural capability, should be given further attention in healthcare quality improvement."

Lean thinking in hospitals: is there a cure for the absence of evidence? A systematic review of reviews
H Andersen, KA Rovik, T Ingebrigtsen
BMJ Open, 2014; 4:e003873

Read more here.

Staff care: how to engage staff in the NHS staff and why it matters

"This report aims to remind people of the evidence that staff engagement, in its widest sense, matters, that there is substantial room for improvement in the NHS and little cause for complacency."

Staff care: how to engage staff in the NHS staff and why it matters
The Point of Care Foundation
January 2014

Read more here.

Life after death: six steps to improve support in bereavement

"These steps could bring great benefits to individuals and to society as a whole: reducing the use of acute health and social care services, lessening the number of days lost to the economy, and improving the wellbeing of those facing such a significant change in their lives."

Life after death: six steps to improve support in bereavement
National Bereavement Alliance, National Council for Palliative Care, Dying Matters Coalition
January 2014

Read more here.

Integrated care value case toolkit

"The toolkit should enable Health and Wellbeing Boards and local partners to understand the evidence and impact of different integrated care models on service users, as well as the associated impact on activity and cost to different parts of the health and care system."

Integrated care value case toolkit
Local Government Association
January 2014

Access the toolkit here.

Psychological wellbeing and work: improving service provision and outcomes

"This report aims to examine the existing evidence on mental health interventions and propose new approaches to develop the evidence base for future policy development."

Psychological wellbeing and work: improving service provision and outcomes
C van Stolk, J Hofman, M Hafner, B Janta
RAND Europe
January 2014

Read more here.

Closing the gap: priorities for essential change in mental health

"High-quality mental health services with an emphasis on recovery should be commissioned in all areas, reflecting local need."

Closing the gap: priorities for essential change in mental health
Social Care, Local Government and Care Partnership Directorate
January 2014

Read more here.

Making best use of the Better Care Fund

"This paper summarises the evidence from work by The King’s Fund and other research about which approaches are likely to offer commissioners maximum impact in a way that will benefit both the NHS and social care."

Making best use of the Better Care Fund
R Humphries, L Bennett
The King's Fund
January 2014

Read more here.

NHS co-payments: how popular are they among healthcare users?

"A survey of patients and their opinions on the use of co-payments and top-up fees in the NHS."

NHS co-payments: how popular are they among healthcare users?
The Patients Association
January 2014

Read more here.

Patient reports of the outcomes of treatment: a structured review of approaches

"The purpose of this was to identify suitable candidate questions for a short instrument to tap patient evaluations of in-patient hospital interventions."

Patient reports of the outcomes of treatment: a structured review of approaches
H Lloyd, C Jenkinson, M Hadi, E Gibbons, R Fitzpatrick
Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 2014, 12:5

Read more here.

Quality of reporting in systematic reviews of adverse events

"Improving reporting of adverse events in systematic reviews is an important step towards a balanced assessment of an intervention."

Quality of reporting in systematic reviews of adverse events: systematic review
L Zorzela, S Golder, Y Liu, K Pilkington, L Hartling, A Joffe, Y Loke, S Vohra
British Medical Journal, 2014, 348 (8th January)

Read more here.

Capturing value from health technologies in lean times

"The adoption of new health technologies brings potential improvements to quality of life as well as new costs for provincial healthcare systems."

Capturing value from health technologies in lean times
Commentary no.396
A Blomqvist, C Busby, D Husereau
C.D. Howe Institute
December 2013

Read more here.

Read a summary from the Commissioning Elf here.

Variations in outcome and costs among NHS providers for common surgical procedures

"We identify variation in patient-reported outcomes (PROs) across hospitals, assess the relationship between the cost and outcomes among NHS hospitals for these procedures, and determine the extent to which variations in outcomes and costs are due to differences in hospital performance."

Variations in outcome and costs among NHS providers for common surgical procedures: econometric analyses of routinely collected data
A Street, N Gutacker, C Bojke, N Devlin, S Daidone
National Institute of Health Research
Health Services and Delivery Research, 2014, 2(1)

Read more here.

New evidence on management and leadership

"Public concern about patient care has highlighted uncertainties about the current role and nature of managers in today’s NHS. This digest presents key findings from fourteen new studies on leadership and management practice."

New evidence on management and leadership
Health Services and Delivery Research Programme
National Institute for Health Research
December 2013

Read more here.

Evidence-based de-implementation for contradicted, unproven, and aspiring healthcare practices

"De-implementing practices reflects a recommitment to evidence-based healthcare. This is important for medications, devices, procedures, behavioral or psychological interventions, screening and diagnostic tests, and any other intervention undertaken by people in the health professions."

Evidence-based de-implementation for contradicted, unproven, and aspiring healthcare practices
V Prasad, JPA Ioannidis
Implementation Science, 2014, 9:1

Read more here.

Everyone counts: planning for patients 2014/15 to 2018/19

"Last year’s guidance identified stronger commissioning as a key theme for driving change. This section has set out those things which local commissioners need to include in their plans which will deliver the change they want to see."

Everyone counts: planning for patients 2014/15 to 2018/19
NHS England
December 2013

Read more here.

Planning and delivering service changes for patients

"This guidance is designed to support CCGs and NHS England with the planning, development and assurance of proposals for major service change and reconfiguration. It provides a high level process, sets out good practice, and explains how to assess proposals against the Government’s ‘four tests’."

Planning and delivering service changes for patients
Strategy Unit - NHS England
December 2013

Read more here.

QIPP case study: Home administration of intravenous diuretics to heart failure patients

This case study "summarises a two-year pilot programme to assess safe and effective ways for specialist nursing teams to administer intravenous (IV) diuretics to people at home or in a day-care setting preventing hospital admissions and improving patient experience."

Home administration of intravenous diuretics to heart failure patients: Increasing productivity and improving quality of care
British Heart Foundation
December 2013

Read more here.

Unlocking the power of information

"Part of the Smart Guides to Engagement series, this guide helps clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) and service providers understand how information is the foundation for effective engagement with patients so that they can become partners in decision-making about their own health and care."

Smart guides to engagement: Unlocking the power of information
M Duman
NHS Networks
December 2013

Read more here.

Engaging with individual patients

"Part of the Smart Guides to Engagement series, this guide helps clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) and service providers to enable and support the engagement of individuals with healthcare services."

Smart guides to engagement: Engaging with individual patients
D Redding
NHS Networks
December 2013

Read more here.

The power of partnership: how to seize the potential

"This report aims to promote the use of partnership arrangements and to offer practical advice and useful case studies of partnership working."

The power of partnership: how to seize the potential: A practical guide to forming and maintaining cross-sector partnerships in healthcare
November 2013
Sodexo

Read more here.

Health and care integration: making the case from a public health perspective

"Integration must be as much about keeping people well and independent as it is about ensuring they receive the services they need if they become unwell."

Health and care integration: making the case from a public health perspective
Public Health England
December 2013

Read more here.