Latest issue Hospital Healthcare Europe 2015

HOPE representatives of 17 European Member States present their views on the elements that have affected hospitals and healthcare services in the last five/ten years, and explain the main challenges they are facing today and the changes they envisage in the future

Data from the Health for All Database provides the most up‑to‑date picture of the status of European hospital healthcare

HOPE is actively involved in projects to exchange good practices and share information, as well as contributing to the work of the European Union

In May 2014, European citizens elected a new European parliament, starting a process of change in the European Commission. The time is particularly appropriate to come back to what health means for the European institutions

Patient safety and quality of care has become a major political issue in the European policy makers’ agenda. The EURHOBOP and EUROTRACS projects are actions implemented by the EC to achieve the objective of the Health Programme 2008–2013

Drug-coated balloons (DCB) fulfil the concept of leaving nothing behind in restenosis prevention and therapy

Novel ablation tools with innovative catheter designs have been introduced to overcome potential limitations of currently available radiofrequency-based ablation catheters

A meeting, sponsored by Vifor, explored peculiarities of nano-scale substances, and discussed nanomedicines to address not only the regulatory environment but also how responsibilities are challenged

Calcification is the key factor role in the failure of bioprosthetic and other tissue heart valve substitutes

This article discusses the diagnosis of aldosteronism and hypertension management

The Perceval bioprosthesis combines the advantages of stentless valves, in terms of haemodynamic performance, with those of a simple implantation technique using a minimally invasive approach

Significant advances in chronic total occlusion treatment have led to technical success rates approaching 90% with an overall complication rate that is no higher than conventional PCI

This article covers the latest developments in lower limb superficial femoral artery interventions using microballoon catheters

Advances in medical and device therapies are opening new frontiers to the management of HF. We are moving from the end organ therapy into the autonomic nervous system control

Early thrombus removal strategies in iliofemoral DVT reduce the incidence of post-thrombotic syndrome, but further work is needed to determine whether a quality of life benefit is conferred

A meeting co-hosted by CDI Europe and HOPE at the European Parliament raised awareness of healthcare-associated infection and highlighted the need for action to combat and prevent the problem

The biggest single advance in the safety of fluid therapy has been the recognition of its ‘Cinderella’ status in patient management

Therapeutic intravascular ultrasound is a promising alternative for renal denervation

pH testing has become an evidence-based standard of care for nasogastric tube placement and should be routine practice to minimise potential complications

This article discusses non-invasive methods for monitoring haemoglobin and the impact they have in medicine, particularly in emergency room and intensive care situations

Positive expiratory pressure therapy is a useful and adaptable form of airway clearance therapy that can be used for individuals of all ages

Improving patient outcomes in chronic kidney diseases with high dose and home haemodialysis is discussed

Healthcare-associated infections are not accidents and could be prevented by means of implementing a “safety culture” within hospitals

Ebola guidelines are not consistent and do not protect against airborne infection. Highly deadly infectious diseases should be treated at the highest infection control level

A better adherence to evidence-based guidelines can improve the outcome of Clostridium difficile infection and waiting for the latest therapeutic options

Dresser-Rand supplied several Guascor® CHP units to hospitals in Tuscany

This article covers ways to improve clinical and non-clinical practices for intubation-associated pneumonia (IAP) prevention

Efficient system solution from Bosch for the Traunstein Hospital

Klinikum Weimar saves up to 60% of its energy costs by running a combined heat and power plant from MWM, a brand of Caterpillar Energy Solutions

Copper touch surfaces in the clinical setting effectively reduce infection rates and save lives

The introduction of digital slide scanning for remote reporting has restored an important service for patient healthcare at a Scottish hospital

Wallace Coulter, one of Beckman Coulter’s founders, believed that science should serve humanity. And by patenting a principle that became the basis for all blood counting solutions, he achieved just that.

Supported by its partnership with Beckman Coulter UK, the largest single-site National Health Service hospital is benefiting from greater, overall efficiencies in its haematology service

Point-of-care testing seems to have the potential to impact positively on patient care, and may result in substantial economic savings in the critically ill patient in a variety of settings

This article discusses how to ensure high quality testing in the fast changing world of genomics

Advances in sequencing technologies have progressed to a point where Next Generation Sequencing (NGS)-based diagnostics can be considered for cancer clinical research

Digital pathology has proved promising so far, and a full scale digitisation of pathology may not be as far in the future as originally thought

As an adjunct to Lean working, CEREBRO specimen tracking provides assurances of enhanced patient safety and improved efficiency throughout the laboratory workflow in a large UK hospital Trust

Current latent tuberculosis infection diagnostic tests consist of the tuberculin skin test and interferon gamma release assays (IGRAs), which will help control the tuberculosis pandemic

Carbohydrate deficient transferrin (CDT) is produced by exposure to excess alcohol and is a marker of chronic alcohol misuse

This article summarises the evolution of management of hepatitis C over the last two decades and its implications for public health

The benefits and experiences of implementing summary care record viewing in a UK mental health trust are examined

Due to complex symptomatology in opioid-induced bowel dysfunction, laxatives are rarely sufficient and peripheral opioid antagonists could be considered as additional treatment in these patients

Follicular lymphoma is a subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma and it represents easy-to-diagnose and incurable lymphomas

The views of pharmacist prescribers on their current practice and how prescribing could be utilised to enhance the pharmacy professions clinical role in the future

Belimumab is the first biological therapy to obtain a marketing authorisation in the past few decades for the treatment of active systemic lupus erythematosus

Sepsis is a time-critical condition that requires prompt recognition and rapid initiation of treatment and pharmacists need to be able to recognise the deteriorating patient and ensure appropriate treatment

Routine use of pocket-size ultrasound devices has the potential to improve diagnostics and treatment of patients at a low cost

In this article, methods of patient selection, techniques and protocols for transarterial chemoembolisation are described

Interventional radiological procedures have grown and embolisation is a key area. Vascular plugs are important devices that can be used in a wide variety of clinical scenarios

Combined optimisation of CT technique and contrast medium delivery is essential to obtain diagnostic results with the lowest radiation and iodine exposure to patients

Higher contrast agent relaxivity is of fundamental importance in permitting the use of lower doses in contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiograms

Morriston Hospital not only relies on ultrasound for many anaesthetic procedures, but also runs a unique hands-on training course and undertakes research studies to help develop the use of the technique

the first and optimal diagnostic tool in acute care medicine

Developments in vascular and interventional radiology and innovative methods of treating vascular lesions are discussed

A discussion on mobile chest radiography and how to achieve optimum imaging is given

Short bowel syndrome is a congenital or acquired severe disorder and the optimal treatment strategy needs to be highly individualised with the adjustment of conservative and surgical options

A significant level 1 evidence base supports Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate as a new gold standard surgical treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia in all patient scenarios

Non-invasive skin closure alternatives can provide proper wound closure without penetrating the epidermis and dermis, provide surgeon satisfaction and also be cost effective

Spinal fusion implant stiffness is a topic of great debate and if technology continues to advance, how can this be reconciled with the treatment of patients today?

The introduction of digital slide scanning for remote reporting has restored an important service for patient healthcare at a Scottish hospital

As intraocular lens (IOL) technology and surgical techniques continue to evolve, patients have come to expect good uncorrected visual acuity and quality of vision after their cataract surgery.

INSIGHT Clinical Logistics supports workflows throughout the hospital. The unique user-friendly design and the integration of multiple platforms make the system preferred by healthcare professionals

IBDs offer an endovascular solution to aortoiliac aneurysmal disease, allowing preservation of blood flow to the IIAs and preventing complications such as erectile dysfunction

A recent Cochrane systematic review suggests that the use of double gloves reduces the risk with more than 60%

Hyperlaxity of the vertebral segment can favour the early degenerative process of the disc causing a minor resistance to the excessive stress

Neil Murphy, Kodak Alaris’ regional director, UK & Nordics, considers what it takes for digital medical records projects to be successful and the Trusts that have grappled with the paper-to-electronic transition

By using electronic prescribing, a hospital pharmacy in Cornwall has successfully implemented a scheme for recording the medicines reconciliation process and the development of a prioritisation tool

Aruba Networks discusses how mobile technology is creating a radical shift in the future of healthcare

This article outlines the ways in which telemedicine has been implemented at a tertiary congenital heart disease centre

Utilisation of validated risk prediction algorithms and wearable and automated systems may help to prevent serious adverse events

A new automated electronic alerting project at Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust aims to detect the risk of acute kidney injury early, promote intervention and save lives

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a key challenge for healthcare systems in developed countries with ageing populations and current systems for its earlier detection are discussed