Search results for "Risk Analysis"
showing 10 items of 375 documents
Framing Caesarean Section Reduction Policies Through a Dynamic Performance Management Approach: A Maternity Pathway Case-Based Analysis
2017
The World Health Organization since the last three decades strongly encourages countries to reduce the caesarean section (CS) rate down to 10–15%. However, this goal nowadays appears still far from its achievement. Public decision-makers are indeed struggling to design and implement effective policies to reduce the CS rate. The literature provides a wide range of factors causing a change in the CS rate, such as the patient clinical profile and the healthcare service quality provided. Maternity pathway (MP) is considered a mean through which to standardize the cares and to reduce CSs. This study investigates the MP recently introduced in Sicilian local health authorities. Based on such an an…
Sinkholes risk analysis: case history of Marsala (Sicily, Italy)
2006
Given the increasing phenomenon of Sinkholes all over Italy, the Gruppo Nazionale per la Difesa dalle Catastrofi Idrogeologiche (G.N.D.C.I) and the Dipartimento della Protezione Civile (D.P.C.), during 2004, started a plan called Sinkholes dedicated to the phenomena in Italy. The plan provides the publication of the database realized by the D.P.C. by means of the census of beyond 1000 cases scattered across the nation. The city of Marsala is strongly characterized by the presence of a great number of Calcarenite cavities. The material object of extraction is the Calcarenite di Marsala of the Pleistocene, frequently used in the construction of buildings. The presence of the underground cavit…
Improving Communication in Risk Management of Health Information Technology Systems by means of Medical Text Simplification
2019
Health Information Technology Systems (HITS) are increasingly used to improve the quality of patient care while reducing costs. These systems have been developed in response to the changing models of care to an ongoing relationship between patient and care team, supported by the use of technology due to the increased instance of chronic disease. However, the use of HITS may increase the risk to patient safety and security. While standards can be used to address and manage these risks, significant communication problems exist between experts working in different departments. These departments operate in silos often leading to communication breakdowns. For example, risk management stakeholder…
Selection of high potential embryos using time-lapse imaging: the era of morphokinetics.
2013
Incorporation of time-lapse imaging in the field of IVF has provided much information about embryo development. The combination of the embryo appearance (morphology) and the importance of when and how the cellular processes that lead to this appearance occur (kinetics) are now integrated into the unique concept of morphokinetics. At present, efforts are focused on using this information to improve embryo selection and existing success rates without losing sight of the ever-present objective of implementing a single ET strategy to avoid multiple gestations. Several investigative groups have identified predictive morphokinetic variables for embryo viability and implantation potential. Promisi…
Manufacturing, characterization and control of cell-based medicinal products: challenging paradigms toward commercial use
2015
During the past decade, a large number of cell-based medicinal products have been tested in clinical trials for the treatment of various diseases and tissue defects. However, licensed products and those approaching marketing authorization are still few. One major area of challenge is the manufacturing and quality development of these complex products, for which significant manipulation of cells might be required. While the paradigms of quality, safety and efficacy must apply also to these innovative products, their demonstration may be demanding. Demonstration of comparability between production processes and batches may be difficult for cell-based medicinal products. Thus, the development …
Premature diagnostic closure: An avoidable type of error
2013
A well-developed clinical interview makes it possible to adequately focus the diagnosis. However, cognitive psychology shows that mistakes are made when the persons face complex problems, such as those faced when making a diagnosis, especially if time or resources are limited. The main cause of failures in clinical reasoning is using "cognitive shortcuts". Among them, premature closure is a key factor triggering a diagnostic error. Cognitive errors are predictable and thus, it is possible to learn strategies to reduce or avoid them. Knowing the main features of cognitive shortcuts and identifying those automatically used is the first step towards preventing errors or minimizing their conseq…
An integrated methodological approach for optimising complex systems subjected to predictive maintenance
2021
Abstract The present paper addresses the relevant topic of maintenance management, widely recognised as a fundamental issue involving complex engineering systems and leading companies towards the optimisation of their assets while pursuing cost efficiency. With this regard, our research aims to provide companies with a hybrid methodological approach based on Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) capable to deal with the main failures potentially involving complex systems subjected to predictive maintenance. Such an approach is going to be integrated within the framework of traditional Failure Mode Effects and Criticality Analysis (FMECA), whose strengths and weaknesses are considered. In pa…
Computational Modelling of Public Policy: Reflections on Practice
2018
Computational models are increasingly being used to assist in developing, implementing and evaluating public policy. This paper reports on the experience of the authors in designing and using computational models of public policy (‘policy models’, for short). The paper considers the role of computational models in policy making, and some of the challenges that need to be overcome if policy models are to make an effective contribution. It suggests that policy models can have an important place in the policy process because they could allow policy makers to experiment in a virtual world, and have many advantages compared with randomised control trials and policy pilots. The paper then summari…
Serious Games for Health and Safety Training
2011
EUROSTAT figures show that 5720 people die in the European Union every year as a consequence of work-related accidents. Training in Health and Safety is indeed a key aspect to reduce this figure, and serious games constitute an effective method to provide this training. However, the development of this type of computer applications is a complex issue, requiring cross discipline knowledge on different areas, including instructional design, psychology, sociology, law, and computer graphics. Beyond the challenges already present in the development of non-educational computer games, serious games for health and safety are instructional tools. Therefore, they require an instructional design to c…
Towards More Sustainable Pavement Management Practices Using Embedded Sensor Technologies
2019
Road agencies are constantly being placed in difficult situations when making road maintenance and rehabilitation decisions as a result of diminishing road budgets and mounting environmental concerns for any chosen strategies. This has led practitioners to seek out new alternative and innovative ways of monitoring road conditions and planning maintenance routines. This paper considers the use of innovative piezo-floating gate (PFG) sensors and conventional strain gauges to continuously monitor the pavement condition and subsequently trigger maintenance activities. These technologies can help develop optimized maintenance strategies as opposed to traditional ad-hoc approaches, which often le…