Who Conducts Health Economic Evaluations of Laboratory Tests? A Scoping Review.

Background: Health economic evaluations (HEEs) are effectively used to inform decision making in healthcare. We sought to assess the level of involvement of laboratory professionals (LPs) in HEEs of laboratory tests.

Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in Medline (2013 to November 28, 2018) for original articles reporting HEEs of medical laboratory tests.

A framework to analyze hospital-wide patient flow logistics: evidence from an Italian comparative study.

Through a comparative study of six Italian hospitals, the paper develops and tests a framework to analyze hospital-wide patient flow performance. The framework adopts a system-wide approach to patient flow management and is structured around three different levels: (1) the hospital, (2) the pipelines (possible patient journeys within the hospital) and (3) the production units (physical spaces, such as operating rooms, where service delivery takes places). The focus groups and the data analysis conducted within the study support that the model is a useful tool to investigate hospital-wide implications of patient flows.

[New role for hospital department directors in a Milan hospital, Italy].

In Italy, the hospital departmental model was introduced over 30 years ago with the aim of fostering collaboration between wards and promoting the appropriate use of resources. However, these objectives have not been consistently met. For this reason, the Strategic Direction of the hospital "Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico" in Milan has proposed a new model in which department directors are given a more active role in hospital management and actively participate in decision-making processes.