Can financial incentives for improvements in healthcare quality enhance identification of COPD in primary care?

Source:  Thorax 2011;66:630 doi:10.1136/thx.2010.140913

Follow this link for the abstract

Date of publication: July 2011

Publication type: Letter to the editor

In a nutshell: The autors describe a locally enhanced service (LES) for COPD in Kensington and Chelsea which gave general practitioners a small financial incentive for each individual screened and a larger payment for each patient diagnosed with COPD.  The authors suggest that there was a significant increase in COPD diagnosis following the financial incentives.

Length of publication:  1 page

Some important notes: Original article may be available with an NHS Athens username; contact your local NHS library service for details.  Follow this link to find your local NHS Library.

COPD profiles

Source: London Health Programmes

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Date of publication: June 2011

Publication type: Health profile

In a nutshell: COPD profiles for each London PCT have been released, revealing outcome variations by area. The profiles include a map detailing recorded COPD prevalence against small area deprivation, a view of indicators, an analysis of spending and outcomes, a chart showing within-area inequalities and individual data commentaries for each local authority. The profiles have been developed to complement the capital’s COPD strategy and inform local commissioners about the areas that require improvement.

Length of publication: one web page

Acknowledgement: King’s Fund Health Management and Policy Alert