MEDBOX | Toolbox Health Care Systems

Best Practices for Environmental Cleaning in Healthcare Facilities: in Resource-Limited Settings

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC (2019) C_CDC

Healthcare-associated infections (HAI) are a significant burden globally, with millions of patients affected each year. These infections affect both high- and limited-resource healthcare settings, but in limited-resource settings, rates are approximately twice as high as high-resource settings (15 out of every 100 patients versus 7 out of every 100 patients). Furthermore, rates of infections within certain patient populations are significantly higher in limited-resource settings, including surgical patients, patients in intensive-care units (ICU) and neonatal units. It is well documented that environmental contamination plays a role in the transmission of HAIs in healthcare settings. Therefore, environmental cleaning is a fundamental intervention for infection prevention and control (IPC).It is a multifaceted intervention that involves cleaning and disinfection (when indicated) of the environment alongside other key program elements to support successful implementation (e.g., leadership support, training, monitoring, and feedback mechanisms). To be effective, environmental cleaning activities must be implemented within the framework of the facility IPC program, and not as a standalone intervention. It is also essential that IPC programs advocate for and work with facility administration and government officials to budget, operate and maintain adequate water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure to ensure that environmental cleaning can be performed according to best practices

Tags: AMR, Antimicrobial resistance, Health, healthcare, infection prevention, Cleaning, limited resources, health settings, health care facilities,

Source: https://www.cdc.gov/hai/pdfs/resource-li

Fortalecer la atención primaria de salud para hacer frente a la discriminación racial, promover servicios interculturales y reducir las desigualdades sanitarias: síntesis de la investigación

World Health Organization WHO (2022) C_WHO

Mientras los países se esfuerzan por avanzar hacia los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible (ODS) y lograr la cobertura sanitaria universal, las desigualdades sanitarias provocadas por la discriminación racial y los factores interrelacionados siguen estando omnipresentes. Las desigualdades que sufren los pueblos indígenas, los afrodescendientes, los romaníes y otras minorías étnicas son preocupantes a nivel mundial; son injustas, prevenibles y remediables Los propios sistemas de salud son determinantes importantes de la salud y la equidad sanitaria. Pueden perpetuar las desigualdades sanitarias al reflejar el racismo estructural y las prácticas discriminatorias de la sociedad en general. En este sentido, el racismo sistémico (por ejemplo, relacionado con la ubicación de los servicios o los requisitos para acceder a ellos), los prejuicios implícitos, la práctica clínica mal informada o la discriminación por parte de los profesionales de la salud contribuyen a las desigualdades sanitarias. Ahora bien, los sistemas de salud también pueden convertirse en una de las principales fuerzas para combatir las desigualdades a las que se enfrentan las poblaciones que sufren discriminación racial. La atención primaria de salud (APS) representa la estrategia esencial que permite reorientar los sistemas de salud y las sociedades para que sean más saludables, equitativos, eficaces y sostenibles. En 2018, al cumplirse el 40.º aniversario de la Declaración de Alma-Ata, la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) y el Fondo de las Naciones Unidas para la Infancia (UNICEF) renovaron el énfasis en la atención primaria de salud con su estrategia sobre la atención primaria de salud en el siglo XXI. La OMS ha señalado 14 mecanismos estratégicos y operacionales con los que los responsables políticos pueden reforzar la atención primaria de salud. Cada mecanismo dispone de múltiples puntos de partida posibles para emprender acciones específicas dirigidas a combatir la discriminación racial, fomentar la atención de salud intercultural y reducir las desigualdades sanitarias que sufren los pueblos indígenas, los afrodescendientes, los romaníes y otras minorías étnica

Tags: primary health care, discrimination, inequalities, salud primaria, discriminación racial,

Source: https://apps.who.int/iris/rest/bitstream

Strengthening primary health care to tackle racial discrimination, promote intercultural services and reduce health inequities

World Health Organization WHO (2022) C_WHO

As countries aim to progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and achieving universal health coverage, health inequities driven by racial discrimination and intersecting factors remain pervasive. Inequities experienced by indigenous peoples as well as people of African descent, Roma and other ethnic minorities are of concern globally; they are unjust, preventable and remediable. Health systems themselves are important determinants of health and health equity. They can perpetuate health inequities by reflecting structural racism and discriminatory practices of wider society. For instance, systemic racism, implicit bias, misinformed clinical practice, or discrimination by health professionals contributes to health inequities. However, health systems can also be a leading force for tackling the inequities faced by populations experiencing racial discrimination. Primary health care (PHC) is the essential strategy for reorientating health systems and societies to become healthier, equitable, effective and sustainable. In 2018, on the 40th anniversary of the Declaration of Alma-Ata, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) renewed the emphasis on PHC with their strategy, WHO outlines 14 strategic and operational levers for policy-makers to strengthen PHC. Within each lever, there are multiple potential entry points for targeted actions to address racial discrimination, foster intercultural care, and reduce health inequities experienced by indigenous peoples as well as people of African descent, Roma and other ethnic minorities

Tags: primary health care, discrimination, inequalities,

Source: https://apps.who.int/iris/rest/bitstream

Medical Clinics for Planetary Health

Planetary Health Alliance (2022) CC

Case Study. The surprising link between logging and healthcare in Indonesia. You can download the teaching material and the case study after filling in a free registration form. his case study examines a connection between rainforest conservation and affordable healthcare access in communities surrounding Gunung Palung National Park (GPNP) in West Kalimantan, Indonesia. It recognizes that human and environmental wellbeing cannot be seen as separate from one another. Specifically, it explores how deforestation impacts human health and well-being, and how implementing co-beneficial solutions can improve human health while protecting natural ecosystems. Finally, this case study highlights the importance of collaboration to achieve planetary health, both within communities and within organizational teams

Tags: ecosystem approach, Case Study, OneHealth, health care system, environmental health,

Source: https://www.planetaryhealthalliance.org/

Planetary Health Case Studies: An Anthology of Solutions

Planetary Health Alliance (2022) CC

the Planetary Health Alliance issued a call for planetary health case studies to strengthen and expand the field of planetary health by shining a light on cross-sectoral solutions that optimize human health in the face of anthropogenic environmental change. After receiving submissions and proposals from organizations and institutions worldwide, ten diverse case studies were chosen to create a cohesive anthology of examples ranging in thematic area, problem-solving approach, ecosystem characteristics, and geographic region. Our freelance Case Study Writer, Hilary Duff, traveled the world in 2018-2019 conducting interviews with stakeholders and organization leads to build this anthology of planetary health stories. These cases invite students to reflect on the pressing realities of people living in vulnerability, the complex connections between people and planet, and how the anthropogenic acts of one generation can reverberate through the next

Tags: case studies, biodiversity, Zoonotic diseases, health care system, ecosystem approach,

Source: https://www.planetaryhealthalliance.org/

Considerations to integrate climate change mitigation and adaptation into health care system strengthening

USAID (2022) CC

Addressing gaps and improving health system performance is simply not enough to prepare a health system to tackle the effects of the climate crisis. Climate change’s impact on the health and well-being of people globally is reaching catastrophic levels. As the earth continues to warm, tens of millions of people are at increased risk from rapid and unpredictable spread of infectious diseases, heatwaves, water and food insecurity and scarcity, air pollution, poverty and homelessness. Health services are often regarded as a first line defense in preventing adverse health outcomes, especially from those caused by climate impact

Tags: Climate Change, Impact, health care system, performance, WASH, renewable energy, Healthcare facilities,

Source: https://www.climatelinks.org/sites/defau

Healthy people, healthy business. Strategies for business to strengthen health system resilience

World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) (2022) C2

WBCSD Vision 2050 sets out the goal to achieve the highest attainable standard of health and wellbeing for everyone by 2050, calling for a world in which: people live healthy lives; societies promote and protect health; everyone has access to robust, resilient and sustainable healthcare services; and all workplaces promote health and wellbeing. Business has a significant role to play in realizing this vision, thereby creating healthier and happier societies and building business resilience

Tags: health system strengthening, strategies, business, strategy goals, health system resilience, prepardness,

Source: https://www.wbcsd.org/contentwbc/downloa

Global Green and Healthy Hospitals Resources

Global Green and Healthy Hospitals (2022) CC

Acting Together for Environmental health. Imagine hospitals, health care facilities, health systems, and health organizations from around the world working together for a healthier, more sustainable planet…this is Global Green and Healthy Hospitals. GGHH is an international network of hospitals, health care facilities, health systems, and health organizations dedicated to reducing their environmental footprint and promoting public and environmental health

Tags: green checklist, green hospitals, sustainability, Environment, resource platform,

Source: https://www.greenhospitals.net/

Pan American Health Association PAHO Website - Smart Hospitals Toolkit

Pan American Healtlh Association PAHO (2022) CC

Health care facilities are smart when they link their structural and operational safety with green interventions, at a reasonable cost-to-benefit ratio. This Toolkit is comprised of previously developed instruments such as the Hospital Safety Index, which many countries are using to help ensure that new or existing health facilities are disaster-resilient. The Green Checklist and other accompanying tools support the Safe Hospitals Initiative and will guide health officials and hospital administrators in achieving smart health care facilities

Tags: planetary health, training, education, resource platforms, green checklist,

Source: https://www.paho.org/en/health-emergenci

A Concrete Example of the One Health Approach in the Brazilian Unified Health System

Souza, P.C.A.; et al. (2021) CC

Front. Public Health, 04 June 2021 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2021.618234

Tags: OneHealth, Best Practice Examples, Brazil, health systems,

Source: https://fjfsdata01prod.blob.core.windows

	Best Practices for Environmental Cleaning in Healthcare Facilities: in Resource-Limited Settings Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC (2019) C_CDC Open external link (31) Add to my MEDBOX Healthcare-associated infections (HAI) are a significant burden globally, with millions of patients affected each year. These infections affect both high- and limited-resource healthcare settings, but in limited-resource settings, rates are approximately twice as high as high-resource settings (15 out of every 100 patients versus 7 out of every 100 patients). Furthermore, rates of infections within certain patient populations are significantly higher in limited-resource settings, including surgical patients, patients in intensive-care units (ICU) and neonatal units. It is well documented that environmental contamination plays a role in the transmission of HAIs in healthcare settings. Therefore, environmental cleaning is a fundamental intervention for infection prevention and control (IPC).It is a multifaceted intervention that involves cleaning and disinfection (when indicated) of the environment alongside other key program elements to support successful implementation (e.g., leadership support, training, monitoring, and feedback mechanisms). To be effective, environmental cleaning activities must be implemented within the framework of the facility IPC program, and not as a standalone intervention. It is also essential that IPC programs advocate for and work with facility administration and government officials to budget, operate and maintain adequate water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure to ensure that environmental cleaning can be performed according to best practices Tags: AMR, Antimicrobial resistance, Health, healthcare, infection prevention, Cleaning, limited resources, health settings, health care facilities, Source: https://www.cdc.gov/hai/pdfs/resource-li
	Fortalecer la atención primaria de salud para hacer frente a la discriminación racial, promover servicios interculturales y reducir las desigualdades sanitarias: síntesis de la investigación World Health Organization WHO (2022) C_WHO View PDF(18) Download (7) Add to my MEDBOX Mientras los países se esfuerzan por avanzar hacia los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible (ODS) y lograr la cobertura sanitaria universal, las desigualdades sanitarias provocadas por la discriminación racial y los factores interrelacionados siguen estando omnipresentes. Las desigualdades que sufren los pueblos indígenas, los afrodescendientes, los romaníes y otras minorías étnicas son preocupantes a nivel mundial; son injustas, prevenibles y remediables Los propios sistemas de salud son determinantes importantes de la salud y la equidad sanitaria. Pueden perpetuar las desigualdades sanitarias al reflejar el racismo estructural y las prácticas discriminatorias de la sociedad en general. En este sentido, el racismo sistémico (por ejemplo, relacionado con la ubicación de los servicios o los requisitos para acceder a ellos), los prejuicios implícitos, la práctica clínica mal informada o la discriminación por parte de los profesionales de la salud contribuyen a las desigualdades sanitarias. Ahora bien, los sistemas de salud también pueden convertirse en una de las principales fuerzas para combatir las desigualdades a las que se enfrentan las poblaciones que sufren discriminación racial. La atención primaria de salud (APS) representa la estrategia esencial que permite reorientar los sistemas de salud y las sociedades para que sean más saludables, equitativos, eficaces y sostenibles. En 2018, al cumplirse el 40.º aniversario de la Declaración de Alma-Ata, la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) y el Fondo de las Naciones Unidas para la Infancia (UNICEF) renovaron el énfasis en la atención primaria de salud con su estrategia sobre la atención primaria de salud en el siglo XXI. La OMS ha señalado 14 mecanismos estratégicos y operacionales con los que los responsables políticos pueden reforzar la atención primaria de salud. Cada mecanismo dispone de múltiples puntos de partida posibles para emprender acciones específicas dirigidas a combatir la discriminación racial, fomentar la atención de salud intercultural y reducir las desigualdades sanitarias que sufren los pueblos indígenas, los afrodescendientes, los romaníes y otras minorías étnica Tags: primary health care, discrimination, inequalities, salud primaria, discriminación racial, Source: https://apps.who.int/iris/rest/bitstream
	Strengthening primary health care to tackle racial discrimination, promote intercultural services and reduce health inequities World Health Organization WHO (2022) C_WHO View PDF(18) Download (7) Add to my MEDBOX As countries aim to progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and achieving universal health coverage, health inequities driven by racial discrimination and intersecting factors remain pervasive. Inequities experienced by indigenous peoples as well as people of African descent, Roma and other ethnic minorities are of concern globally; they are unjust, preventable and remediable. Health systems themselves are important determinants of health and health equity. They can perpetuate health inequities by reflecting structural racism and discriminatory practices of wider society. For instance, systemic racism, implicit bias, misinformed clinical practice, or discrimination by health professionals contributes to health inequities. However, health systems can also be a leading force for tackling the inequities faced by populations experiencing racial discrimination. Primary health care (PHC) is the essential strategy for reorientating health systems and societies to become healthier, equitable, effective and sustainable. In 2018, on the 40th anniversary of the Declaration of Alma-Ata, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) renewed the emphasis on PHC with their strategy, WHO outlines 14 strategic and operational levers for policy-makers to strengthen PHC. Within each lever, there are multiple potential entry points for targeted actions to address racial discrimination, foster intercultural care, and reduce health inequities experienced by indigenous peoples as well as people of African descent, Roma and other ethnic minorities Tags: primary health care, discrimination, inequalities, Source: https://apps.who.int/iris/rest/bitstream
	Medical Clinics for Planetary Health Planetary Health Alliance (2022) CC Open external link (139) Add to my MEDBOX Case Study. The surprising link between logging and healthcare in Indonesia. You can download the teaching material and the case study after filling in a free registration form. his case study examines a connection between rainforest conservation and affordable healthcare access in communities surrounding Gunung Palung National Park (GPNP) in West Kalimantan, Indonesia. It recognizes that human and environmental wellbeing cannot be seen as separate from one another. Specifically, it explores how deforestation impacts human health and well-being, and how implementing co-beneficial solutions can improve human health while protecting natural ecosystems. Finally, this case study highlights the importance of collaboration to achieve planetary health, both within communities and within organizational teams Tags: ecosystem approach, Case Study, OneHealth, health care system, environmental health, Source: https://www.planetaryhealthalliance.org/
	Planetary Health Case Studies: An Anthology of Solutions Planetary Health Alliance (2022) CC Open external link (119) Add to my MEDBOX the Planetary Health Alliance issued a call for planetary health case studies to strengthen and expand the field of planetary health by shining a light on cross-sectoral solutions that optimize human health in the face of anthropogenic environmental change. After receiving submissions and proposals from organizations and institutions worldwide, ten diverse case studies were chosen to create a cohesive anthology of examples ranging in thematic area, problem-solving approach, ecosystem characteristics, and geographic region. Our freelance Case Study Writer, Hilary Duff, traveled the world in 2018-2019 conducting interviews with stakeholders and organization leads to build this anthology of planetary health stories. These cases invite students to reflect on the pressing realities of people living in vulnerability, the complex connections between people and planet, and how the anthropogenic acts of one generation can reverberate through the next Tags: case studies, biodiversity, Zoonotic diseases, health care system, ecosystem approach, Source: https://www.planetaryhealthalliance.org/
	Considerations to integrate climate change mitigation and adaptation into health care system strengthening USAID (2022) CC View PDF(52) Download (24) Add to my MEDBOX Addressing gaps and improving health system performance is simply not enough to prepare a health system to tackle the effects of the climate crisis. Climate change’s impact on the health and well-being of people globally is reaching catastrophic levels. As the earth continues to warm, tens of millions of people are at increased risk from rapid and unpredictable spread of infectious diseases, heatwaves, water and food insecurity and scarcity, air pollution, poverty and homelessness. Health services are often regarded as a first line defense in preventing adverse health outcomes, especially from those caused by climate impact Tags: Climate Change, Impact, health care system, performance, WASH, renewable energy, Healthcare facilities, Source: https://www.climatelinks.org/sites/defau
	Healthy people, healthy business. Strategies for business to strengthen health system resilience World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) (2022) C2 View PDF(66) Download (35) Add to my MEDBOX WBCSD Vision 2050 sets out the goal to achieve the highest attainable standard of health and wellbeing for everyone by 2050, calling for a world in which: people live healthy lives; societies promote and protect health; everyone has access to robust, resilient and sustainable healthcare services; and all workplaces promote health and wellbeing. Business has a significant role to play in realizing this vision, thereby creating healthier and happier societies and building business resilience Tags: health system strengthening, strategies, business, strategy goals, health system resilience, prepardness, Source: https://www.wbcsd.org/contentwbc/downloa
	Global Green and Healthy Hospitals Resources Global Green and Healthy Hospitals (2022) CC Open external link (247) Add to my MEDBOX Acting Together for Environmental health. Imagine hospitals, health care facilities, health systems, and health organizations from around the world working together for a healthier, more sustainable planet…this is Global Green and Healthy Hospitals. GGHH is an international network of hospitals, health care facilities, health systems, and health organizations dedicated to reducing their environmental footprint and promoting public and environmental health Tags: green checklist, green hospitals, sustainability, Environment, resource platform, Source: https://www.greenhospitals.net/
	Pan American Health Association PAHO Website - Smart Hospitals Toolkit Pan American Healtlh Association PAHO (2022) CC Open external link (191) Add to my MEDBOX Health care facilities are smart when they link their structural and operational safety with green interventions, at a reasonable cost-to-benefit ratio. This Toolkit is comprised of previously developed instruments such as the Hospital Safety Index, which many countries are using to help ensure that new or existing health facilities are disaster-resilient. The Green Checklist and other accompanying tools support the Safe Hospitals Initiative and will guide health officials and hospital administrators in achieving smart health care facilities Tags: planetary health, training, education, resource platforms, green checklist, Source: https://www.paho.org/en/health-emergenci
	A Concrete Example of the One Health Approach in the Brazilian Unified Health System Souza, P.C.A.; et al. (2021) CC View PDF(61) Download (24) Add to my MEDBOX Front. Public Health, 04 June 2021 \| https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2021.618234 Tags: OneHealth, Best Practice Examples, Brazil, health systems, Source: https://fjfsdata01prod.blob.core.windows