NHS Locums and the Great Healthcare Debate

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The recent criticism of the increase in the amount spent on locum doctors by the NHS over the last two years and the subsequent speculation over whether or not patient care has suffered as a direct result has served to underline the importance of ensuring high standards in the medical recruitment industry.

Amid all the wrangling between unions, healthcare bosses, politicians and front-line staff, that most pertinent and worthy of questions “Was it worth it?” is perhaps the only line that can be drawn under the debate. The money has been spent. So what then of the services rendered?

With the spectre of healthcare cuts looming overhead, this climate of heightened scrutiny surrounding the use, and indeed, performance of locum doctors, nurses and other specialists is likely to continue for the foreseeable future. The merits of it are threefold. Firstly, an increased demand for the very best professionals and expertise.

Secondly, a thrust towards a more responsible, structured and consistent recruitment market. And thirdly, and most importantly, an assurance to patients that their healthcare providers are seeking top quality staffing solutions – both temporary and permanent – from top quality staffing providers.

The 19th Century American physician Oliver Wendall Holmes once wrote “Put not your trust in money, but put your money in trust”. In the business of healthcare, these are words to be ignored at one’s peril. At its most extreme, in no other sector can a financial decision result so directly in a life/death defining outcome and this is the key reason why the debate over increased expenditure on locums has gathered such momentum. For healthcare providers in need of finding expert manpower, often at short notice, it ultimately boils down to placing trust in an agency that not only understands their needs but is also able to offer them the highest quality candidates available.

The NHS is facing a staffing shortage. The debate about increased expenditure on locums will continue, drawing ever more attention to their role in the system. Regardless of this, the bottom line for healthcare providers is that there are temporary posts that need filling. Do it right and you get a professional and flexible workforce. Do it wrong and it is not just reputations but lives that are placed on the line.

Healthcare Social Media Rx For Connecting With Key Audiences

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From medicines to medical instruments and everything in between, just about every company has adopted a healthcare social media approach. To maximize your success with healthcare social media relations you need a firm with the experience to help you produce high-quality and compelling stories and content, navigate shifting landscapes, anticipate opportunities and swiftly execute communication campaigns for maximum business impact.

Marketing and communication in the medical world require continuous attention given the rapid changes that take place and a large part of a healthcare social media effort should involve monitoring the environment. Consider:

*Technology and markets change very quickly;

*The regulatory environment is continuously shifting;

*Target audiences range from concerned consumers to highly-educated and discriminating physicians, other practitioners, technicians and healthcare executives;

*New trends and new competitors emerge without notice;

*Legal restrictions create pitfalls as much as they provide guidance;

*Breaking industry news can require immediate action;

*A crisis can emerge without notice;

*Businesses and consumers respond differently to stories that can appear one day in industry media and break widely the next day in mainstream media.

Deploying a Healthcare Social Media program is one of the most efficient ways of dealing with this shifting landscape. In addition, healthcare social media is an excellent avenue for patient care and customer service in addition to delivering important product news. One of the biggest issues for healthcare providers is public perception driven by patients. With or without you, the conversations are going to take place. People want to share their stories and experiences. Engage and embrace healthcare social media discussions by having a dedicated staff member canvas the healthcare social media landscape to respond to questions or concerns about programs, medications, doctors, coverage, etc. The days of voicemails and emails have evolved to live online chat options for customers, but utilizing social media feeds like Twitter takes it a step further. Do you have a staff member that can commit to being your Healthcare Social Media Manager?

To truly maximize the effectiveness of healthcare social media involvement, you need a firm that understands that healthcare social media should be an integrated component of a cross-channel marketing strategy. By combining healthcare social media efforts with targeted tactics like updated promotional materials, email marketing, direct mail, event sponsorships, traditional advertising, search engine optimization and paid search, healthcare providers can tailor messaging to both prospects and current clientele.

Britons Go Abroad For Healthcare

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Britons go abroad for healthcare.

While Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards was out marching to protest against NHS plans to downgrade his local hospital in Chichester a few weekends ago aptly named St. Richards record numbers of Britons continue to fly abroad for medical treatment.

Last year Britons spent 60m on overseas treatments. Main reasons were lower prices, NHS waiting lists, a better choice of alternative medical treatments and cosmetic surgery clinics such as those in Marbella where many patients choose to combine procedures with a break in the sun to return home looking better on the outside and feeling better on the inside. With many increasingly concerned about the rise in hospital superbugs, more people are also choosing to recuperate overseas in a warmer climate following surgery.

Market researchers Mintel recently reported money spent by Britons going abroad for treatments will increase 150% by 2011. According to the survey a quarter of Britons would seriously consider recuperating abroad after an operation and one in eight would go overseas for surgery.

“This sector (medical tourism) is a thriving industry as a growing number of well-off baby boomers take their health needs into their own hands and pursue the elixir of eternal youth,” said Richard Cope, senior Mintel analyst.

But what happens when you fall ill abroad? One of the largest holiday resort companies on the Costa del Sol, Club La Costa, offers onsite medical care at its California Beach Resort near Mijas. Now, thanks to a new contract negotiated between the modern, high tech Xanit Hospital in Benalmadena which opened in 2006, and Club La Costa, the hospitals state-of-the-art facilities and highly trained medical staff are available to both CLC members and staff in Spain.

Richard Fletcher, Resort Director at Club La Costa Resorts & Hotels, said: Weve always made it a priority to have medical provision on site, but our new agreement with Xanit means that should any of our members need medical treatment while on holiday, not only do we have access to one of the top hospitals in southern Spain, its literally minutes away.

As for alternative therapies and keep-fit, Britons seem to be increasingly looking overseas for a better deal. Last year, Britons spent about 25m on going abroad for yoga holidays, holistic healing, health farms beauty treatments and spa visits, according to the Mintel report.

Spain is one of the most visited destinations in Europe for surgery, especially for patients who want to combine medical treatment with a wellness holiday; also popular are Hungary, Turkey, Germany and Poland.

The Future Of The Home Healthcare Equipment Market To 2016 – Market Forecasts, Competitive Landscape

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Browse Complete Report: Home Healthcare Market

GBI Researchs report, The Future of the Home Healthcare Equipment Market to 2016 – Increasing Awareness Driving Demand provides key data, information and analysis on the global home healthcare equipment market. The report provides market landscape, competitive landscape and market trends information on seven home healthcare equipment market segments glucose monitoring systems, insulin delivery devices, inhalation systems, hematology rapid tests, automatic sphygmomanometers and remote patient monitoring. The report provides comprehensive information on the key trends affecting these categories, and key analytical content on the market dynamics. The report also reviews the competitive landscape, key pipeline products and technology offerings.

This report is built using data and information sourced from proprietary databases, primary and secondary research and in-house analysis by GBI Researchs team of industry experts.

Scope
Key geographies covered include the US (United States), Canada, the UK (United Kingdom), Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, China, India, Australia, and Brazil.
Market size and company share data for seven home healthcare equipment market categories glucose monitoring systems, insulin delivery devices, inhalation systems, hematology rapid tests, automatic sphygmomanometers and remote patient monitoring.
Annualized market revenues data from 2002 to 2009, forecast forward for 7 years to 2016. Company shares data for 2008
Qualitative analysis of key market trends, market drivers, and restraints by each category within the home healthcare equipment market.
The report also covers information on the leading market players, the competitive landscape, and the leading pipeline products and technologies.

Reasons to buy
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Whats the next being thing in the home healthcare equipment market landscape? Identify, understand and capitalize.
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Browse All: Home Healthcare Market

Related Reports:
Technologies for Long-Term Care and Home Healthcare: Global Markets
US Home Healthcare Equipment & Services Market: An Analysis
Home Healthcare Market (2009-2014) updated

Emr – Shaping The Future Of Healthcare

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We all are aware of how the CMS multimillion dollar plan for EMR adoption created waves in the Healthcare IT industry. EMR was a proven tool to optimize practice operations and workflows. Large hospital corporations and technology enthusiasts were already reaping its benefits long before the government’s incentive program. Within the last two and a half years, EMR has managed to change the face of the Healthcare industry in the US. The adoption rates are now higher than ever. With the introduction of affordable, web-based EMR solutions, smaller practices can now look to automate their clinical and administrative processes as well.

While a practice may benefit from cost savings and improved productivity, the real benefactors are the patients themselves. An EMR offers increased quality of care through built-in interaction checks, improved accountability and ease of access, thus the future of healthcare backed by EMRs looks very promising indeed.
With increased focus on EDI and security, it is easier to anticipate what may come next. Healthcare portals are slowly gaining popularity amongst patients. With access to electronic personal health record, a patient is remains informed. The CMS wants to establish a new, more efficient method for care delivery by promoting online healthcare information exchange. This is also keenly reflected within the meaningful use objectives for stage 1 and the proposed stage 2.

Utilizing the technology available today, physician-patient interaction can be transformed completely. Integrated EMR Portals remove care delivery barriers and keep patients synchronized with real-time data to manage their health better. These may include online follow ups along with clinical alerts and reminders through instant messaging (email and text). With patients already using a patient portal to book their appointments, access lab results, request prescription refills and review visit notes, the next step may be a completely virtual clinical checkup.

With the development in online healthcare information exchange, patients can manage their health better and transport vital health information anywhere, anytime. EMR is definitely changing the healthcare system and a lot of us are just beginning to realize its significance, with the dawn of a new era of accountable and accessible care for all.