What is the care pathway of patients who undergo thyroid surgery in France and its potential pitfalls? A national cohort.

Context: The rate of thyroid cancer is increasing in France, as well as concerns about overdiagnosis and treatment.

Objectives: To examine the care pathway of patients who undergo thyroid surgery in France and detect potential pitfalls.

Design: A large observational study based on medical reimbursements, 2009-2011.

Improving stroke care: a French health-care organiser's perspective.

The French national action plan: 'Stroke 2010-2014' results from years of increasing concern related to stroke, initially carried by stoke physicians and progressively shared by all other health professionals and more recently by administration and politicians. Its aim is the development not only of stroke care networks, but also of prevention and health education. Its success will mainly depend on the reactivity of the regional health agencies; therefore it is important to maintain political momentum and pressure.

Capsule endoscopy or push enteroscopy for first-line exploration of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding?

Background And Aims: The position of capsule endoscopy (CE) relative to push enteroscopy (PE) in the diagnostic algorithm of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding is unclear, as previous studies involved the use of both techniques in all patients. We therefore conducted a trial in which patients were randomized to undergo one or other exploration.

Methods: All consecutive patients referred for obscure gastrointestinal bleeding were randomized between CE and PE as the first-line exploration.

[The TELIF network of Paris-area public hospitals (AP-HP)].

After a feasibility study, the TELIF network (neurosurgical emergencies in the Paris region) was created in November 1994. The goal was to reduce the number of patient transfers among the different hospitals, by teletransmission of computed tomography images between computers located in the emergency departments of general hospitals and the neurosurgery department. The initial goal has been reached, with a 70 % reduction in the number of patient transfers.

Impact of CEDIT recommendations: An example of health technology assessment in a hospital network.

Objectives: The objective of this study is to assess the impact of CEDIT (French Committee for the Assessment and Dissemination of Technological Innovations) recommendations on the introduction of technological innovations within the AP-HP (Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris), the French hospital network to which this body is attached.

Methods: In 2002, a study based on semidirective interviews of fourteen people affected by these recommendations and a case study relating to thirteen recommendations issued between 1995 and 1998 were conducted.

Results: The CEDIT is very scientifically reputable among interviewees.