Serious concern has been raised about the sustainability of public health care systems in the European Nations, and ultimately about the health of ordinary people, as a consequence of the economic crisis that has distressed Europe since 2008. The current Euro zone crisis threatens to impact public services of even nations with a robust domestic growth. Although the relation between the effects of economic instability and health has been the subject of a decades-long research, engaging experts since the beginning of the last Century, the interconnections between the two are not yet fully understood and the definition of proper solutions to be applied is still open for discussion1, 2, 3. The aim of this report is to explore the existence of rational and feasible strategies able to reduce the incrementing costs of public expenses (in service) in the current time of economic crisis in European countries, while maintaining a positive cost-quality balance. The local Italian Pediatric Ambulatory Consulting Service (PACS) program is described and discussed as an example of successful approach in the management of public health. Furthermore, the report explores the feasibility to expand the local model into a continental perspective. This will be done through the example of “cross-border healthcare” as a model for improving the quality and cost-effectiveness of public services delivered to the population. Finally the report speculates whether the model proposed in the area of public health could be exported in different areas, including the management of cultural goods, education or transportation.

INTEGRATING AND RATIONALIZING PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES AS A SOURCE OF COST SAVING IN A TIME OF ECONOMIC CRISIS: THE PEDIATRIC AMBULATORY CONSULTING SERVICE (PACS) PROGRAM

PETTOELLO MANTOVANI, MASSIMO;GIARDINO, IDA;
2013-01-01

Abstract

Serious concern has been raised about the sustainability of public health care systems in the European Nations, and ultimately about the health of ordinary people, as a consequence of the economic crisis that has distressed Europe since 2008. The current Euro zone crisis threatens to impact public services of even nations with a robust domestic growth. Although the relation between the effects of economic instability and health has been the subject of a decades-long research, engaging experts since the beginning of the last Century, the interconnections between the two are not yet fully understood and the definition of proper solutions to be applied is still open for discussion1, 2, 3. The aim of this report is to explore the existence of rational and feasible strategies able to reduce the incrementing costs of public expenses (in service) in the current time of economic crisis in European countries, while maintaining a positive cost-quality balance. The local Italian Pediatric Ambulatory Consulting Service (PACS) program is described and discussed as an example of successful approach in the management of public health. Furthermore, the report explores the feasibility to expand the local model into a continental perspective. This will be done through the example of “cross-border healthcare” as a model for improving the quality and cost-effectiveness of public services delivered to the population. Finally the report speculates whether the model proposed in the area of public health could be exported in different areas, including the management of cultural goods, education or transportation.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11369/287166
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