Reinventing primary health care in the Greece of austerity: the role of health-care workers

Simou, Effie; Karamagioli, Evika; Róumeliotou, A.

doi:10.1017/s1463423613000431

Cited by 20 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 22 publications

(37 reference statements)

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“…staff category) in Greece, employing widely used international methodologies. Yet, there are several studies concerning the importance of health workforce planning and the need of health workforce sustainability in Greece, especially in regard to the relatively recent Greek economic crisis that has had a major impact on the healthcare system as a whole, revealing a complete absence of planning and the need for healthcare workforce management tools 7,[40][41][42] .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The implementation process of the Workload Indicators Staffing Need (WISN) method by WHO in determining midwifery staff requirements in Greek Hospitals

Gialama¹,

Saridi²,

Prezerakos³

et al. 2019

Eur J Midwifery

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INTRODUCTION One of the greatest challenges in the healthcare field is planning the health workforce under limited financial resources while being fully capable of responding to an affordable, fair and efficient healthcare system. This study aimed to demonstrate the implementation process of the health workforce planning tool 'Workload Indicators of Staffing Needs' introduced by the World Health Organization. METHODS A descriptive and cross-sectional study was carried out at four (two public and two private) hospitals in Greece, to estimate midwifery staff requirements at ward level during 2015-2016, using the WISN software tool. Focus group discussions, structured interviews and annual service statistics from the hospitals' records were used to obtain data. RESULTS Results for both private hospitals showed a shortage in the number of midwives. However, after combining the interpretation of the results, as indicated by the WISN methodology and the structured interviews, current and required staffing is in balance in both. On the other hand, both public hospitals indicate a surplus of midwives (1.83 and 1.33 ratios for the General hospitals in Korinthos and Kalamata, respectively). CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrated the implementation process of the WISN methodology through its application in midwifery staff at four hospitals in Greece and confirmed its usefulness in estimating staffing requirements. The application of the WISN methodology should be viewed as a vital tool in assessing overstaffing and understaffing through the estimation of workload pressure among different categories of health staff, thus providing the basis for effective health workforce redistribution in Greece. AFFILIATION

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The implementation process of the Workload Indicators Staffing Need (WISN) method by WHO in determining midwifery staff requirements in Greek Hospitals

Gialama¹,

Saridi²,

Prezerakos³

et al. 2019

Eur J Midwifery

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“…Each primary health center caters for 10,000 – 30,000 citizens. The primary care system in Greece is hospital-oriented, focused on the provision of curative services rather than disease prevention, health promotion and home-care services [28]. There is no gatekeeping system (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pediatricians’ and health visitors’ views towards detection and management of maternal depression in the context of a weak primary health care system: a qualitative study

et al. 2014

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BackgroundThe present study’s aim has been to investigate, identify and interpret the views of pediatric primary healthcare providers on the recognition and management of maternal depression in the context of a weak primary healthcare system.MethodsTwenty six pediatricians and health visitors were selected by using purposive sampling. Face to face in-depth interviews of approximately 45 minutes duration were conducted. The data were analyzed by using the framework analysis approach which includes five main steps: familiarization, identifying a thematic framework, indexing, charting, mapping and interpretation.ResultsFear of stigmatization came across as a key barrier for detection and management of maternal depression. Pediatric primary health care providers linked their hesitation to start a conversation about depression with stigma. They highlighted that mothers were not receptive to discussing depression and accepting a referral. It was also revealed that the fragmented primary health care system and the lack of collaboration between health and mental health services have resulted in an unfavorable situation towards maternal mental health.ConclusionsEven though pediatricians and health visitors are aware about maternal depression and the importance of maternal mental health, however they fail to implement detection and management practices successfully. The inefficiently decentralized psychiatric services but also stigmatization and misconceptions about maternal depression have impeded the integration of maternal mental health into primary care and prevent pediatric primary health care providers from implementing detection and management practices.

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“…The efforts undertaken the past years seem to be ineffective in restoring the Greek health care system primarily focusing on short team effects by reducing expenditures [6]. Current health policy discussions focus on the re-organization of primary care services and a restricted budget for medicines and emergency healthcare provision, in a time where the reinvention of primary care in Greece is clearly needed [7].…”

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confidence: 99%

Financial crisis and primary health care in Greece. Is it time for family medicine?

Lionis¹

2015

fmpcr

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The austerity period in Greece over the past few years has impacted the Greek health care system and more specifically primary care, with the ongoing budget cuts directly affecting the health care sector. This period has impacted access to healthcare services and a great proportion of the population does not receive continuous and personalized care. Primary care is known to be a fragmented system with a lack of integration; the Greek National Health Health System has attempted to improve with clear outcomes; yet there is still room for criticism. A focus of improvements will be considered in the current review. The Greek health care system is unstable and General Practice/Family Medicine still requires further recognition to enhance Primary Care to the general population, although many efforts have been undertaken. The current situation will be explained in this review, examining the tailoring that is required to enhance General Practice/Family Medicine in Greece and if it is necessary. In addition, approaches will be discussed on how to increase the populations' health status and above all to reduce health inequalities; as they are evident in the current health care setting. It is a subject that is receiving prompt attention during this difficult period in Greece. Key words: performance, development, Greece, general practice, quality improvement.Okres oszczędzania w Grecji w ciągu kilku ostatnich lat wpłynął na grecki system opieki medycznej, zwłaszcza na podstawową opiekę medyczną, z powodu powtarzanych cięć budżetowych mających bezpośredni wpływ na sektor opieki zdrowotnej. Okres ten wpłynął na dostęp do świadczeń opieki zdrowotnej, a spora część ludności nie jest objęta stałą i indywidualną opieką. Podstawowa opieka medyczna jest systemem rozdrobnionym i brakuje mu integracji. Grecki NFZ próbował go poprawić, osiągając niewątpliwe rezultaty; jednak jest jeszcze miejsce na krytykę. Działania mające na celu usprawnienie systemu będą rozpatrywane w ramach bieżącej pracy. Grecki system ochrony zdrowia jest niestabilny i podstawowa opieka medyczna/medycyna rodzinna wciąż wymagają uznania, że należy zwiększyć dostęp populacji ogólnej do podstawowej opieki zdrowotnej, choć podejmowano już działania w tym celu. Obecna sytuacja jest opisana w bieżącej pracy, w tym działania, które są wymagane w celu wzmocnienia podstawowej opieki medycznej/medycyny rodzinnej w Grecji, i ocena, czy jest to konieczne. Ponadto zostaną omówio-ne strategie na rzecz poprawy stanu zdrowia ludności, a przede wszystkim w celu zmniejszenia nierówności dotyczą-cych zdrowia; są one widoczne w bieżącym działaniu opieki zdrowotnej. To jest temat, który wymaga natychmiastowej uwagi w tym trudnym czasie w Grecji.

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Reinventing primary health care in the Greece of austerity: the role of health-care workers

Cited by 20 publications

References 22 publications

The implementation process of the Workload Indicators Staffing Need (WISN) method by WHO in determining midwifery staff requirements in Greek Hospitals

The implementation process of the Workload Indicators Staffing Need (WISN) method by WHO in determining midwifery staff requirements in Greek Hospitals

Pediatricians’ and health visitors’ views towards detection and management of maternal depression in the context of a weak primary health care system: a qualitative study

Financial crisis and primary health care in Greece. Is it time for family medicine?

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