Ca 2+ -signaling-based molecular communication systems: Design and future research directions

The geographical accessibility to hospitals relies on the configuration of the hospital network, spatial impedance and population distribution. This paper explores the potential geographic accessibility of the population to public hospitals in Romania by using the Distance Application Program Interface (API) Matrix service from Google Maps and open data sources. Based on real-time traffic navigation data, we examined the potential accessibility of hospitals through a weighted model that took into account the hospital competency level and travel time while using personal car transportation mode. Two scenarios were generated that depend on hospitals' level of competency (I-V). When considering all categories of hospitals, access is relatively good with over 80% of the population reaching hospitals in less than 30 min. This is much lower in the case of hospitals that provide complex care, with 34% of the population travelling between 90 to 120 min to the nearest hospital classed in the first or second category of competence. The index of spatial accessibility (ISA), calculated as a function of real travel time and level of competency of the hospitals, shows spatial patterns of services access that highlight regional disparities or critical areas. The high concentration of infrastructure and specialised medical personnel in particular regions and large cities limits the access of a large part of the population to quality health services with travel time and distances exceeding optimal European level values. The results can help decision-makers to optimise the location of health services and improve health care delivery.

https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/22/8487/pdf

Modelling Potential Geographical Access of the Population to Public Hospitals and Quality Health Care in Romania.

Globally, nursing education has moved from a hospital-based education to a university-based
education. Though this change resulted in the improvement of the quality of nurses it has also
presented its own challenges. Clinical education, one of the major components of nursing
education, was adversely affected by the reduction in the amount of time and the quality of
clinical placements. In order to combat these challenges, innovative models on clinical
education were developed with the objective to produce nurses that can deliver quality care to
patients in an evolving health sector.

Development of a clinical nursing education model for Nigerian universities

Against the background of a thorough specialization, any professional, no matter his/her specialization, has to build around and for himself strong integrated and marketing campaigns, which should shed light on him/her and make him/her eligible for the consumers of services from his/her area of specialization. The personal brand is what a person wishes to do in order for him/her to escape the anonymity of his/her profession, to become visible in a certain circle or for a particular cause. The cover is important, but the content is essential, as it is the one that gives the final touch to the product and/or services. As regards the medical field, the evolution of the medical system in Romania and, even more so, the existence of private medical services are factors against which the imposing app, the reputation, the fame of a doctor work as an elegant and outstanding label placed in front of the consumers. Unlike other types of services, medical services, including doctors, no matter their specialization, have that particular feature of being evaluated by the consumers only from the point of view of perception, few of them having the necessary competences to make an objective assessment.

The Importance of the Professional Personal Brand. The Doctors’Personal Brand

Purpose To explore patient safety culture among Romanian staff, using the U.S. Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture (HSOPSC). Material and methods A cross-sectional study was carried out in six hospitals, located in four Romanian regions (Craiova, Cluj-Napoca, Bucharest and Brasov), based on staff census in the Units/hospitals which volunteered to participate in the study (N=1,184). The response rate was 84%. The original questionnaire designed by the American Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality was translated into Romanian (with back translation), pre-tested before application and psychometrically checked. It consists of 42 questions grouped in 12categories, covering multiple aspects of patient safety culture (dimensions). Percentages of positive responses (PPRs) by question and category were analyzed overall and by staff profession. Results Most respondents were nurses (69%). The main work areas were surgery (24%) and medicine (22%). The highest PPRs were for Supervisor/Manager Expectations & Actions Promoting Safety (88%), Teamwork Within Units (86%), Handoffs and Transitions (84%), Organizational Learning-Continuous Improvement (81%), Overall Perceptions of Safety (80%), Feedback & Communication About Error (75%). The lowest PPRs were for: Staffing (39%), Frequency of Events Reported (59%) and Non-punitive Response to Errors (61%). Nurses exhibited significantly higher PPRs than doctors. Conclusions This small-scale study of staff's attitude towards patient safety in Romanian hospitals suggests that there is room for future improvement, especially within the doctor category. Further research should assess the relationship between patient safety culture and frequency of adverse events.

Measuring Patient Safety Culture in Romania Using the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture (HSOPSC).

Nanotechnology field is one of the segments with the highest expectations and as the progress of new medical technologies is becoming more and more alert, the expected benefits did not delay to occur. Currently, nanomedicine is considered not only a possible and promising path to a diagnosis of certainty and to an early and effective treatment, but also a probable way for prevention of chronic diseases. Nanomedicine applications include a wide spectrum range of interventions in specialties such as: internal medicine; oncology; emergency medicine through new first aid methods in physical injuries / accidents, burns and exposure to radiation; surgery; cardiology and cardiovascular surgery through rapid intervention and rehabilitation methods; neurology and neuro-surgery through new neurographic methods, spinal regenerating methods and interventions of brain repair; gastroenterology and nutrition area, to improve nutrition and digestion; sexology; human reproduction area; geriatria / gerontology - biostasis and ageing control strategies; genetics – the human body growth and development processes; gene therapy, reconstruction and cell regeneration; other areas: recreation and leisure, cosmetic, regulatory and sociological issues on the future of the medical profession, the hospitals and pharmaceutical companies. Keywords: nanomedicine, nanotechnology applications in medicine, nanotechnology risk assessment, development potential.

Nanomedicine- the future medicine

In Romania, the level of knowledge in terms of hospital quality processes is quite low. The project "Regional Centers of Excellence for Performance Improvement Processes in Health Care System in Romania" has proposed, as a first step to configure the present quality of hospital processes, seen from the perspective of decision makers and professionals of health. The project is focused on the implementation of innovative concepts for optimization of hospital processes by developing skills in quality management, performance and efficiency of health services of the medical and managerial staff from hospitals in three regions in Romania, as well as implementation of improvement projects. By this project in addition to the research stage, important steps have been made to introduce an innovative methodology - Lean Six Sigma tool in hospitals from Romania, through a training program for the managers and specialists from hospitals in order to identify the processes that they are carrying out, the problems they are facing and to find and apply solutions with the help of small or large-scale projects. We hope that this steps will open a new perspective, will bring a new mind setting for the staff and the new approaches based on activity optimization to be an important part of the hospital practice and activity in Romania. Key words: processes, hospital actyivity, quality, Romania

Study on quality processes in hospitals from the perspective of decision-makers and health professionals

Increasingly health and social policies in Europe and its Member States are based on scientific evidence. Many countries have Science Advisory Bodies which provide advisory reports based on science. The European Science Advisory Network for Health (EuSANH) brings together Science Advisory Bodies from 13 countries actively involved in producing and providing science advice to policy makers in their respective countries. Aim: As part of the EuSANH - Improving Science Advice for Health in Europe project, this study aims to provide an overview of the manner in which science advice is produced and a profile of science advisory reports. Results: This study shows a great deal of variation in the methods by which science advisory reports (SARs) are produced across EuSANH members, often depending on the topic addressed. There is no common framework for advisory reports and no common protocol for producing sound scientific advice. Due to the very large diversity of the methodology encountered, it is impossible from this sample to define one single way to produce a successful or influential SAR. Discussions: The wide variety found in this study poses some questions about possible best practices. Opportunities for collaboration to improve the quality but most of all the efficiency in advising policy makers in Member States could be found in a collaborative agenda. Since the national positioning of Science Advisory Bodies is so different, advice to national government will most likely remain a national issue. However, the initial scientific base for such a report could well be shared. Furthermore, advisory reports to policy makers at a European and international level should benefit from international collaboration. Finally, it is worth exploring the possibility to optimise science advice by using a common methodological framework that will promote not only quality, but also the mutual credibility and international exchange of the reports from different Member States. Key words: science advisory report, thematic analysis, methodological issues, EUSANH

Profile of science advisory reports on health in european member states: results of a survey

The accessibility of health services in rural areas represents a high priority for the Romanian Ministry of Public Health; in this context, the improvement of the access of rural population to primary care services (provided as much as possible in a continuously manner) and to emergency and pharmaceutical services, is considered a strategic objective in the health reform medium term plan of the Ministry of Public Health. Keywords: health services accessibility, rural areas, geographic accessibility, temporal accessibility.

Aspects on healthcare provision in Romanian rural areas, geographical accesibility

The continuous preoccupation at the international level to improve the quality of oncologic care has led to the development of models of good practice with proven efficacy, such as "oncology nurse navigator". Given the current situation in Romania, in terms of morbidity and mortality through cancer, it is necessary the adoption and introduction of such innovative practice models, of great benefit to patients with cancer, but also for the health system. National School of Public Health, Management and Professional Development and Romanian Nursing Association meet this aim through the project "Innovative Strategy for Bridging Cancer Care in Romania" by elaboration of aninnovativemodel for oncology services in Romania. This modelstartsfrom the knowledge of the current situation regarding the barriers in the system, the needs of patients and medical staff and proposes the integration of the positive experiences in United States regarding the improving of early detection of the disease, improving the quality of patients' care and patient s’ satisfaction. The model of "nurse navigator" adapted, adequate for Romania is one of guidance, counselling, information and support for patients with oncological diseases, but at the same time, of education and prevention among the general population and population groups at higher risk for cancer. Keywords: cancer, quality of services, innovative models, Romania, "nurse navigator"

Carmen Sasu

Papers

Nanomedicine- the future medicine

Study on quality processes in hospitals from the perspective of decision-makers and health professionals

Profile of science advisory reports on health in european member states: results of a survey

Aspects on healthcare provision in Romanian rural areas, geographical accesibility

Innovative model of counselling and guidance for cancer patients and persons at risk, in order to improve the quality of oncological services