To cope with rising demand for healthcare services in Singapore, Regional Health Systems (RHS) were set up to integrate service delivery. The National University Health System (NUHS) – RHS developed a transitional care program for elderly patients with complex healthcare needs who consumed high levels of hospital resources. This article presents the first study to assess the context-specific implementation process of a transitional care program in the context of Southeast Asia. It provides important insights to facilitate further development and scaling up of transitional care programs within the NUHS-RHS and beyond.

In a study conducted in the Netherlands, A. B Hooker et al. examine if clustering of root causes of SEs, i.e. unintended and unexpected events related to the quality of care which caused death or serious harm to a patient, can contribute to organisational improvement of healthcare and patient safety by providing insight into organisational risk factors, patterns and trends. They conclude that this method helps to delineate a hospital-specific profile by providing a detailed insight into risk factors, patterns and trends in an organisation and to determine the best strategies for improvement by drawing lessons across events.
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(A. B Hooker, et al., Int J Qual Health Care)

The 2018 update of the Health Workforce indicators is now available in the WHO Global Health Observatory (GHO). The GHO is the WHO's gateway to health-related statistics for more than 1000 indicators for its 194 Member States. This edition has recent and comprehensive data points, with over 170 countries reporting data within the last 5 years. Click on "Read more" to consult the GHO for data for women’s representation in the health sector, national laws and policies for health workers, health workers in antibiotic resistance, community health workers and much more.

Health leaders from around the globe will come together in Muscat, Oman in November to discuss the importance of people-centered health services in times of peace and crisis. Our 43rd Congress will explore how health services can be more responsive through better resilience, supportive through appropriate health investments and prospective through health impactful innovations. More than 100 industry leaders and professionals from over 40 countries will be sharing insights, best practices and experiences in a diverse program. Keynote speakers confirmed to date are Sir Andrew Dillon CBE, Chief Executive of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence in UK, Dr. Melinda Estes, President and CEO of Saint Luke’s Health System and Chair-elect of the American Hospital Association, and Hon. Yuthar Mohammed Al Rawahy, Founder and Chairperson of The Oman Cancer Association. Early bird registration is now open and IHF members get special rates.

Calling all hospitals and health service providers, you can now nominate your outstanding projects and programs to the IHF Awards for a chance to be recognized internationally one of these awards: IHF/Dr Kwang Tae Kim Grand Award, IHF/Bionexo Excellence Award for Corporate Social Responsibility, IHF/EOH Excellence Award for Leadership and Management in Healthcare, IHF/Austco Excellence Award for Quality & Safety and Patient-centered Care. Winning an IHF Award is a prestigious accolade and all public and private healthcare service providers are encouraged to join. Winners will be announced at the Awards Ceremony during the 43rd World Hospital Congress in November.

The first 2019 issue of the World Hospitals and Health Services journal showcases winners of the IHF Awards held in Brisbane in October 2018, with a focus on innovation in leadership and management. 
Winning projects' presentations, videos and posters are available here.

Unicancer unites the French Comprehensive Cancer Centres (FCCCs), private non-profit health institutions specializing in oncology. Unicancer facilitates the pooling of resources and skills between FCCCs and runs benchmarking. Unicancer's mission is to help FCCCs access latest innovation for the benefit of their patients. It also advocates for FCCCs with public authorities and focuses on promoting the FCCCs' organization model in cancer care. 
Unicancer conducts prospective studies to better identify the future of cancer care, the patient needs and the innovations to come, and supports clinical research in oncology in France and abroad.
More details on the prospective studies are provided in the full bulletin below.

The French National Cancer Institute (INCa), bringing together relevant actors of the sector, is in charge of cancer control. It aims at reducing the incidence of avoidable cancers and the number of cancer deaths, improving the quality of life of people with cancer during and after their illness, and reducing inequalities related to cancer. Its approach encompasses all cancer-control dimensions and areas of intervention for the benefit of patients and their relatives. The Institute is responsible for rolling out the 2014-2019 Cancer Plan. ​​​​​​​The Plan aims at curing more patients and ensuring access equity to quality medicine and innovation. It also deals with comprehensive patient care, reduction of cancer deaths and fight against cancer.

Pascale Flamant has been Unicancer CEO since 2011. Unicancer is the only hospital network fully devoted to fighting cancer. Cancer treatment is confronted to the cost of innovative medicine such as access to new treatments and equipment in oncology. Also artificial intelligence role will be more prominent in health care delivery. Both concerns are observed in every countries worldwide. 
At IHF, Unicancer can learn about good practices and be more visible on the international scene. In the next five years they expect IHF to weigh more on the international stage on public health issues, to facilitate co-operation among members and strengthen their management, and to collaborate with patient representative associations.

FHF represents almost all the French public healthcare sector. It promotes public hospitals and social care public institutions through a major annual event, the Paris Healthcare Week, it trains healthcare professionals and organizes  campaigns public hospitals and hospital staff. Healthcare professionals receive advice from FHF on daily practical issues they face. Finally, FHF partners with public authorities to elaborate proposals and assist the implementation of reforms in the hospital sector. 

​​​​​​​More information on FHF and the French healthcare system in the full bulletin below.