It probably should not be surprising, in this time of soaring medical costs and proliferating technology, that an intense debate has arisen over the concept of medical futility. Should doctors be doing all the things they are doing? In particular, should they be attempting treatments that have little likelihood of achieving the goals of medicine? What are the goals of medicine? Can we agree whe...

Background and Objectives: Discharge against medical advice (DAMA) is a significant healthcare problem posing negative impact on effectiveness of patient care and costs of the health system. In order to address this problem, first the potential influencing factor should be identifies. This study followed two major objectives: first, to evaluate the prevalence and potential causes of DAMA, and s...

Background: Medial educations' models should train physicians with competencies and commitment to meet health needs in the community. This social accountability in medical education is not a new concept but provides equity, quality, relevance and cost-effectiveness in health care system. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge of faculty members towards the situation and activities in...

While infectious disease garners much attention and research funding globally, initiatives aimed at treating traumatic orthopedic injuries are underfunded despite such injuries accounting for a significant degree of morbidity worldwide. In recent years, a number of organizations have sought to alleviate this burden through treatment and educational initiatives in low- and middle-income countrie...

Introduction: For the past 7 years, a nursing school has conducted biannual medical missions in a virtually inaccessible area in Haiti. Each medical mission team provides primary care, pediatric and gynecological examinations for up to 6 days in the impoverished island nation. Methods: To improve the safety of participants engaged in this humanitarian tra...

Background: To describe factors contributed to the maternal deaths occurred in the West Azerbaijan, Iran from 2002 through 2011. Materials and Methods: In a cross-sectional study, data on the maternal deaths obtained from the national maternal mortality surveillance system were analyzed. The three delays model was used so as to recognize contributing factors of maternal deaths due to obstetric ...

MEASURING productivity is a central challenge in medical care, as it is in all other service indus­ tries. Medical care is particularly important, however, because of the enormous share of gross domestic prod­ uct (GDP) that it takes. The United States spent $2 tril­ lion dollars, or 16 percent of GDP, on health care in 2005 (Catlin, et al. 2007). This compares with a me­ dian of 8.5 percent am...

Introduction: Increasing pressure on available funds in health care section especially hospitals, enhances the need of analyzing different strategies in economic terms. One of the solutions for the optimal use of financial resources and potentials in hospitals and health care centers is using elements of the marketing mix. In this way we could make the best use of the resources...