OST for Health Care
OST for health care is a program that focuses on enhancing stakeholder involvement in health care. It is based on Agile methodologies, and has been successfully implemented in over 1200 medical users and 66 military system administrators.
OST addresses inequities in health and education
OST addresses inequities in health and education by improving the conditions in which people live. In doing so, it is critical to engage in a universal approach that improves health without stigmatizing targeted groups. It is also critical to understand the broader socio-political contexts and to use scientific evidence to inform policy change.
Community settings initiatives include child development support, parenting support, and child health and nutrition. They provide access to resources that help reduce disparities in children’s cognitive development, and they engage local people. Those who live in disadvantaged communities benefit most from these initiatives.
While some of these interventions focus on changing individual behavior, the more effective ones address structural changes. For example, changes in the structure of health care organizations and in the distribution of healthcare services can make healthcare more equitable.
OST programs extend the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child approach
Using the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model, an updated version of the Coordinated School Health (CSH) approach, can benefit students. The WSCC framework is designed to support student health and academic achievement, and to provide a framework for decision making. Ultimately, it provides a unified approach that can be used by educators, community members, and administrators to improve the health and learning of all children.
The WSCC model is a collaborative effort between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. They merged the tenets of their whole child approach and distilled them into a 10 part WSCC framework. The WSCC model is designed to promote physical and mental health, and to build a stronger relationship between students and their schools.
OST uses Agile methodology to enhance stakeholder involvement
OST has been involved in several health care system projects. Among these projects are maintaining CAMI, a software system used by physicians for coordinating patient care. The system is constantly in use and has multiple stakeholders. These stakeholders need constant access to it.
The project team enlisted the help of an Agile methodology. This method allows the team to have greater flexibility and control over the project. Using this method also increases visibility and allows the team to identify and address potential risks.
The team took the time to build trust in each other. It also allowed them to respond quickly to customer feedback. This allowed the team to make adjustments and improve their performance as the project unfolded.
The Agile methodology focuses on a team’s ability to deliver a working product. Using this method ensures that the final product meets the needs of the customer. This is important because many health care systems operate in a rapidly changing environment.
Contracting selectively might allow insurers to attract a small group of providers
Several countries have implemented managed competition as part of health care reforms. In these systems, health insurers are allowed to negotiate lower prices with providers and enrolees are encouraged to choose high-value health plans. Selective contracting is a means to achieve these objectives, although some critics argue that it leads to the loss of consumer choice. The study shows that trust plays a vital role in enrolee acceptance of selective contracting.
A recent study from the Netherlands examined the factors that affect enrolee acceptance of selective contracting. This was conducted using a survey of 4,422 people insured by a large Dutch health insurance company. The results showed that trust in the health insurer is a key factor in enrolee acceptance of selective contracts. The research offers lessons for systems with managed competition in other countries.
