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Barriers to completing colonoscopy after a positive fecal occult blood test
ConclusionsWe identified important barriers that need to be addressed to improve the effectiveness of the screening program. Targeted interventions for populations at risk for non-adherence, specifically for those with low literacy levels, and better explanation of the need for follow-up as a routine need to be set in place. Lack of agreement between screening recommendations and gastroenterologist opinion, and lack of awareness among healthcare authority figures negatively impact the screening program need to be addressed at the organizational and national level.Trial registrationThis study was approved by the IRB in both...
Source: Israel Journal of Health Policy Research - February 11, 2021 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research

Survey of faculty development in four Israeli medical schools: clinical faculty development is inadequate and clinical teaching is undervalued in Israeli faculties of medicine
ConclusionsOf the one-third of the physicians surveyed who had received some training in clinical teaching, the training was perceived as inadequate and not aligned with their needs. There was a significant difference in rates of pedagogic training between the Technion and other medical schools. In addition, most clinical teachers surveyed felt that teaching students is inadequately valued. Due to its focus on just three disciplines, and higher relative number participants from the Technion faculty of medicine, our survey may not fully represent the activities of the faculties of medicine in Israel. Nevertheless, given the...
Source: Israel Journal of Health Policy Research - February 8, 2021 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research

Strategy drives implementation: COVID vaccination in Israel
AbstractThis commentary on Rosen, Waitzberg, and Israeli ’s assessment of Israel’s COVID response points to differences in the coherence of each national government’s strategy as the key factor influencing the effectiveness of the vaccine drive. The strengths of the Israeli healthcare system facilitated implementation of the roll-out, but the gover nment’s unambiguous prioritization of vaccination drove implementation success. (Source: Israel Journal of Health Policy Research)
Source: Israel Journal of Health Policy Research - February 1, 2021 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research

The association between hallway boarding in internal wards, readmission and mortality rates: a comparative, retrospective analysis, following a policy change
ConclusionEnabling inpatient boarding in our medical center, effectively, had increased bed capacity and generated an increase in the volume of patients. It was associated with lower in-hospital mortality and an increased 30-day readmission, without increasing 30-day mortality. Since this is an observational study, conducted in a single center, further research is necessary to confirm and qualify these observations. (Source: Israel Journal of Health Policy Research)
Source: Israel Journal of Health Policy Research - January 27, 2021 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research

Israel ’s rapid rollout of vaccinations for COVID-19
AbstractAs of the end of 2020, the State of Israel, with a population of 9.3 million, had administered more COVID-19 vaccine doses than all countries aside from China, the US, and the UK. Moreover, Israel had administered almost 11.0 doses per 100 population, while the next highest rates were 3.5 (in Bahrain) and 1.4 (in the United Kingdom). All other countries had administered less than 1 dose per 100 population.While Israel ’s rollout of COVID-19 vaccinations was not problem-free, its initial phase had clearly been rapid and effective. A large number of factors contributed to this early success, and they can be divided...
Source: Israel Journal of Health Policy Research - January 26, 2021 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research

The National Immunization Technical Advisory Group in Israel
AbstractNational Immunization Technical Advisory Groups (NITAGs) are defined by the World Health Organization as multidisciplinary groups of health experts who are involved in the development of a national immunization policy. The NITAG has the responsibility to provide independent, evidence-informed advice to the policy makers and national programme managers, on policy issues and questions related to immunization and vaccines.This paper aims to describe the NITAG in Israel. The Israeli NITAG was established by the Ministry of Health in1974. The NITAG ’s full formal name is “the Advisory Committee on Infectious Disease...
Source: Israel Journal of Health Policy Research - January 26, 2021 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research

What can we learn from Israel ’s rapid roll out of COVID 19 vaccination?
AbstractIsrael has led the world in rolling out its  COVID-19 vaccination program. This experience provides lessons that others can learn from. It is, however, necessary to consider some national specificities, including the small size of the country, its young population, and the political imperative to drive this program forward. Israel also has a number of other advantages, including a strong public health infrastructure. The lessons that can be learnt include the importance of coordinating delivery mechanisms with the inevitable prioritisation of groups within the population, timely deployment of a skilled cadre of h...
Source: Israel Journal of Health Policy Research - January 26, 2021 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research

Cost containment by peer prior authorization program for second line treatment in patients with retinal disease
ConclusionsThe data presented shows a low request rate for funding with a high approval rate, proving this peer reviewed report-based authorization process successfully achieved a sentinel effect while controlling cost. We suggest this innovative model be considered in similar decisions processes. (Source: Israel Journal of Health Policy Research)
Source: Israel Journal of Health Policy Research - January 25, 2021 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research

Correlates of psychological distress and self-rated health among Palestinian citizens of Israel: findings from the health and environment survey (HESPI)
ConclusionsIt appears that the burden of poverty, chronic disease and low education in this population, which suffers from multiple stressors, is disproportionate and should be addressed by the authorities, together with concrete plans to improve the education of the younger generations. Clearly, the association between discriminating policies and deprivation with psychological distress is not unique to the case of the Palestinian minority in Israel and therefore this study will allow for the examination and generalization of the current findings to other discriminated and disadvantaged minorities. (Source: Israel Journal ...
Source: Israel Journal of Health Policy Research - January 20, 2021 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research

Utilization of the Public Health Ordinance to prevent nosocomial spread in a case of acute measles-associated psychosis
AbstractMeasles is a highly contagious disease. A 24  years old patient, recently exposed to measles (unvaccinated), presented in the emergency department with severe agitation, compatible with an acute psychotic episode, during the measles epidemic which spread in Israel in 2018–2019. Upon hospital admission, strict isolation was instructed, yet, without compliance, probably due to the patient’s status. Measles diagnosis was promptly confirmed. As measles transmission was eminent, public health measures were employed through immediate implementation of the section 15 of the Public Health Ordinance, allowing for comp...
Source: Israel Journal of Health Policy Research - January 15, 2021 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research

Adapting the Israeli national health insurance law to the 21 st century – a report from the 19 th Dead Sea Conference
AbstractPassage of the National Health Insurance Law (NHIL) in 1995 marked a turning point in the history of the Israeli healthcare system, ensuring sustainable, high-quality medical care to all eligible Israeli residents. Over 100 amendments have been made to the law over the years, yet additional adaptations are required to ensure the law ’s relevance in years to come. In honor of the 25th anniversary of the passage of the law, the 19th annual Dead Sea Conference brought together prominent figures in the Israeli healthcare system for a discussion on “25 Years to the NHIL: Suggested Changes and Adaptations”. Key top...
Source: Israel Journal of Health Policy Research - January 5, 2021 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research

Reflections on the 7th international Jerusalem conference on health policy in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak
AbstractIn 2019, a conference in Israel showcased new frontiers in technology in healthcare, highlighting research conducted in Israel as well as across the globe. At the time, no one realized how critical —and ubiquitous—some of these technologies would become. In the wake of a global pandemic, the ability to provide healthcare remotely has become ever more important. We explore some Israeli innovations and consider how healthcare may be permanently changed. (Source: Israel Journal of Health Policy Research)
Source: Israel Journal of Health Policy Research - December 28, 2020 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research

Sustaining primary care teams in the midst of a pandemic
AbstractThe challenges wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic on health systems have tested primary care clinicians, who are on the front lines of care delivery. To ensure the longevity of the primary care workforce, strong interprofessional teams are one important solution to alleviating burnout and increasing clinician and patient satisfaction, but the pandemic has demonstrated that the operating manual needs to be adapted for virtual work. Essential principles of primary care, including preventative care, communication and collaboration, and building strong relationships, can be applied to strengthen virtual primary care team...
Source: Israel Journal of Health Policy Research - December 28, 2020 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research

The insurability of innovative pharmaceutical cancer technologies
AbstractThe scientific literature, including several papers published in the IJHPR, has raised the issue of the spiraling cost of cancer treatment, including that of cancer drugs and other technologies such as gene and cell therapies. In this perspective, we review three criteria for insurability and show that they may not be met.First, the uncertain trends in the cost of innovative pharmaceutical and other cancer technologies make themaximum possible loss per event very difficult to predict and to manage in terms of insurer solvency. Second, the uncertainty of the price, the period that a drug or other cancer care technol...
Source: Israel Journal of Health Policy Research - December 21, 2020 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research

Motorcycle-related head and neck injuries: increased risk among ethnic minorities
ConclusionsHelmet non-use is an important etiologic factor associated with motorcycle-related HNI and TBI among Arabs. While in Israel, ethnic equality exists in in-hospital health care, disparities in ambulance and rehabilitation utilization was found. Intervention programs should target the Arab population and focus on helmet compliance. (Source: Israel Journal of Health Policy Research)
Source: Israel Journal of Health Policy Research - December 8, 2020 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research