Alireza Jabari; Gholamreza Sharifirad; Azad Shokri; Najmeh Bahman Ziari; Ayan Kordi; Ahmad Rajab Zadeh
Volume 10, Issue 1 , May 2014, , Pages 1-2
Alireza Jabbari,; Farzaneh Mahmoudi Meymand; Fatemeh Nezamdoust; Zahra Agharahimi; Leila Shojaei
Volume 9, Issue 7 , December 2012, , Pages 1032-1038
Abstract
Introduction: In recent years, dental tourism had a growing trend. As a branch of medical tourism, indental tourisms people travel abroad to receive dental services which are with a higher cost in theircountry. This study aimed to identify potential of dental tourism in Isfahan, Iran.Methods: This was ...
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Introduction: In recent years, dental tourism had a growing trend. As a branch of medical tourism, indental tourisms people travel abroad to receive dental services which are with a higher cost in theircountry. This study aimed to identify potential of dental tourism in Isfahan, Iran.Methods: This was a qualitative study that was conducted in 2011 in Isfahan. Data collection was doneusing a semi-structured questionnaire with directed questions that was completed through interview. Formeasurement of the validity, the data of the qualitative study was checked with some participants toensure the acceptance rate (objectivity). Dentists who provided service for foreign patients during the pastyear were selected.Results: Out of 79 patients who were referred to dentists and participated in the study, 63.3% of themwere females. Reconstructive services were allocated the highest percentage (58.2) between the types ofservices received by the foreign patients. 81.8% were with Iranian nationality residing abroad. Potential ofdental tourism in seven categories were the demand conditions, urban advantages of Isfahan, manpoweroperating conditions, competitive conditions in the dental centers offering medical tourism, medicaltourism requirements, related and supporting industries and information strategies.Conclusion: Despite suitable capabilities of ecotourism, professional staff and competitive advantage inIsfahan, its position is not clear yet. To develop the dental tourism in Isfahan, It is necessary to strengthenrequirements for medical tourism, increase coordination of related and supporting industries, increaseinformation strategy and marketing.
Alireza Jabbari; Raja Mardani
Volume 9, Issue 7 , December 2012, , Pages 1104-1112
Abstract
Information and communication technology have made it easier to trade health services and the business israpidly growing. Health services under the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) are tradedthrough four modes. Migration of health professionals, the 4th mode of trade in health services, ...
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Information and communication technology have made it easier to trade health services and the business israpidly growing. Health services under the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) are tradedthrough four modes. Migration of health professionals, the 4th mode of trade in health services, has had agrowing trend due to demographic changes, aging populations and rising health care costs in high-incomecountries as factors that increase demand, and expanding exports, increase foreign exchange incomes,increase knowledge and skills of employees supply as factors encouraging supply. Although migration ofhealth professionals to countries has advantages, it can be a challenge too. This study reviewed theopportunities and challenges of migration of health professionals from the Asian countries. Trade in healthservices as one of most complex challenges of health system, its various types, and the current situation ofAsian countries dealing with the fourth type were studied and opportunities and challenges of migration ofhealth professionals were expressed. Studies showed that countries importing or exporting health services arenot faced with identical opportunities and threats. Migration to higher income countries has the opportunityto work and better conditions for health professionals and provides a source of income for the exportingcountry. However, lack of explicit policies in this area will lead to the depletion of the country of origin fromskilled labor which reduces labor and leads to loss of national wealth spent on educating the staff.
Alireza Jabari; Gholamreza Sharifirad; Azad Shokri; Najmeh Bahman Ziari; Ayan Kordi
Volume 9, Issue 7 , December 2012, , Pages 1132-1145
Abstract
The ultimate goal of the health care system of any country is to promote public health. Reformingprograms were required because of failure to respond to the needs and expectations of health in recentdecades. Rural family physician was a part of these reforms of the health system, which was implementedin ...
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The ultimate goal of the health care system of any country is to promote public health. Reformingprograms were required because of failure to respond to the needs and expectations of health in recentdecades. Rural family physician was a part of these reforms of the health system, which was implementedin 2006. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of the rural family physician programsince it was started. This review was done by searching in Google, Google scholar, SID, Magiran,Iran-doc with the following keywords: Family physician, rural family physician, family medicine, ruralfamily medicine. 32 related articles were extracted and analyzed. The objectives of family physicianprogram were classified in several sub-goals series including referral system, accountability, access, cost,coverage, priority-based health services, formation of health record, control the quality of services,satisfaction and attitudes of health team staff and service recipients and the family physician performancein achieving this goals. Generally, after a few years of implementation, the program has performedrelatively well but the referral system and presenting feedback from specialists, patients follow-up andcompleting health record was not implemented properly. Access was improved and unnecessary costswere reduced although good holistic health insight has not institutionalized yet.
Alireza Jabbari; Zahra Agharahimi; Zohreh Seid Moradi; Mahbobeh Ferdosi
Volume 9, Issue 5 , November and December 2012, , Pages 686-696
Abstract
Introduction: Cosmetic surgery tourism, as one of the leading industries in the world, can be thesolution to strengthen the health and economic growth. The aim of this study was to identifycosmetic surgery tourism potential in Isfahan.Methods: This was a qualitative study conducted in 2011. Research ...
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Introduction: Cosmetic surgery tourism, as one of the leading industries in the world, can be thesolution to strengthen the health and economic growth. The aim of this study was to identifycosmetic surgery tourism potential in Isfahan.Methods: This was a qualitative study conducted in 2011. Research participants includedmanagers, plastic surgery and ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialists of cosmetic surgery centerswho were selected based on the purposeful sampling. Data collection tool was a semi-structuredquestionnaire that was developed through interviews and observation in statistics of deputy oftreatment of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. The framework analysis was used foranalyzing the interviews.Results: Seven themes were identified as the key factors related to the potentials of medicaltourism in the field of cosmetic surgery: demand potential, environmental potential, humanresource potential, infrastructure potential, inter-organizational relationship, competitiveconditions and promotion strategies. In terms of the medical tourism demand potential, themajority of the patients were Iranians residing abroad and few of the patients were those inneighboring countries. Environmental and human resources factors were in good conditions.Participants believed that in cosmetic surgery centers, infrastructure potential, developedplanning and clear guidelines, standardization of prices and considering to an efficient liabilityinsurance were not in an appropriate status. In addition, they mentioned that inter-organizationalcollaboration and promotion strategies were in a desirable condition. Furthermore, competitivecondition in cosmetic surgery centers in terms of cost advantage was desirable but in competingwith medical centers was undesirable.Conclusion: Isfahan has a good potential capacity in terms of cosmetic surgery; therefore, inorder to promote medical tourism in this city, having appropriate plans, strengthening basicinfrastructure and coordination between the organization and effective marketing are necessary
Alireza Jabbari; Masoud Ferdosi; Mahmoud Keyvanara; Zahra Agharahimi
Volume 9, Issue 6 , March 2012, , Pages 878-886
Abstract
Introduction: Policy makers and decision makers of medical tourism must identify stakeholders who canbe affected by and can affect this industry and determine their status for partnership. The aim of this studywas to identify and analyze the main stakeholders of medical tourism in Isfahan, and provide ...
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Introduction: Policy makers and decision makers of medical tourism must identify stakeholders who canbe affected by and can affect this industry and determine their status for partnership. The aim of this studywas to identify and analyze the main stakeholders of medical tourism in Isfahan, and provide strategies fordeveloping this industry.Methods: A qualitative study was conducted in 2011. At first, key stakeholders of medical tourism inIsfahan were identified according to experts idea and literature review. Then we interviewed these keystakeholders. Data analysis was conducted using stakeholder analysis and development strategies wereprovided for medical tourism.Results: The key stakeholders of medical tourism in Isfahan were divided into 9 categories. Theyconsisted of Governor of Isfahan Province, Cultural Heritage, Handcraft and Tourism Organization ofIsfahan, Chamber of Commerce, State Medical Council, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, healthservices providers, tourism services providers, private investors, and the Export Development Bank ofIran. Stakeholders’ characteristics showed that Cultural Heritage, Handcraft and Tourism Organization ofIsfahan, clinic, and International Relations Office of the Isfahan University of Medical Sciences had fullknowledge of the government policy about medical tourism. Private hospital, State Medical Council,investors, and University of Medical Sciences had great power. Private hospital, clinic, Cultural Heritage,Handcraft and Tourism Organization of Isfahan, and University of Medical Sciences had a supportiveposition. Effective strategies included strategies focused on increasing power, increasing support, andmaintaining their position.Conclusion: There are different stakeholders in the medical tourism industry of Isfahan. Therefore, policymakers can plan, make policies and decisions, and use effective strategies in order to develop medicaltourism by designing a medical tourism stakeholders’ network and a medical tourism provincial council,and by clarifying the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders.
Masoud Ferdosi; Alireza Jabbari; Mahmood Keyvanara; Zahra Agharahimi
Volume 8, Issue 8 , January 2012, , Pages 1169-1178
Abstract
Introduction: Medical tourism is a complex subject for studying. The aim of this study was to do systematically review, describe, and analyze medical tourism articles from all over the world. Methods: In order to perform this systematic review, the databases of Institute for Scientific Information ...
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Introduction: Medical tourism is a complex subject for studying. The aim of this study was to do systematically review, describe, and analyze medical tourism articles from all over the world. Methods: In order to perform this systematic review, the databases of Institute for Scientific Information (ISI), Science Direct, Emerald, Oxford, Magiran, and Scientific Information Database (SID) websites were searched in 2000-2011. The retrieved articles were collected and classified using descriptive statistics and content analysis. Results: Among the total 28 studied articles, 11 original articles, 3 case studies in Mexico, India, Hungary, Germany, and Iran, and 14 narrative reviews were found. The articles mainly focused on the definition of medical tourism, medical tourists' motivations and development factors, ethical issues in medical tourism, the impact of medical tourism on health system, and medical tourism marketing. Conclusion: Our findings indicated similar definition of medical tourism in all articles despite various motivations of medical tourists. Nevertheless, there are a wide range of interests and consequences in studies, as more studies of developing countries showed the benefits of medical tourism while more developed countries pointed out the consequences of medical tourism. Ultimately, the subject of medical tourism varied according to policies and programs in each country. Therefore, comprehensive and detailed research is required to clarify the issue within the country.
Alireza Jabbari; Marzieh Jafarian; Elahe Khorasani; Mohsen Ghaffari; Mansure Majlesi
Volume 8, Issue 4 , September and October 2011
Abstract
Introduction: Emergency department is one of the most important hospital wards that offers emergency services to unstable patients 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. However, the way the services are offered reflects the general status of the hospital since patients with the most serious problems frequently ...
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Introduction: Emergency department is one of the most important hospital wards that offers emergency services to unstable patients 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. However, the way the services are offered reflects the general status of the hospital since patients with the most serious problems frequently refer to the emergency department. Emergency department waiting time is one of the indices used in evaluating hospitals. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine emergency department waiting time and to provide appropriate strategies to reduce this time at Alzahra hospital during 2009.Methods: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study. Observations and interviews were used to collect data. Ninety-seven patients were investigated. According to the objectives of the research, waiting time was assessed by a stopwatch, a checklist and patient records. The validity of the checklist was confirmed by the experts and hospital emergency officials. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used. The data was analyzed by SPSS.Results: The mean waiting time(from entrance to the emergency department until the final visit) in the screen was 8.41 ± 5.19 minutes. About 74.2% of patients waited for less than 10 minutes. Patients had to wait for their order to be checked by the admission nurses, as the first clinical practice, for an average of 48.72 ± 42.53 minutes. The mean waiting time from the physician's order until admission to the paraclinical units including electrocardiography, radiography, CT scan, sonography and laboratory, was 59.2 ± 46.26 minutes. The mean length of stay in the emergency department was 353.1 ± 249.2 minutes. However, 39% of patients stayed less than 4 hours. T-test revealed significant relations between the type of disease (internal diseases, surgery) and waiting time at electrocardiography (P = 0.02) and sonography (P = 0.04) units.Conclusion: Since the screening was done for patients without any particular prioritization, it is necessary to establish a triage system in the emergency department of Alzahra hospital. Comparing mean waiting times to receive paraclinical services demonstrates the gap between the present status and available standards and highlights the serious need for paraclinical service process improvement. In order to prevent overcrowding, proper strategies are required to be used including prioritizing beds for emergency and non-emergency hospitalization, having an admissions coordinator, following the 30-minute rule, establishing a holding unit, direct admission of the patients, and scientific review of the number of CCU and ICU beds.Keywords: Emergency Medical Services; Hospital Department; Indicator.
