ASSESSMENT OF EFFICIENCY OF EMERGENCY CARE IN TERTIARY CARE UNITS
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Developed healthcare systems are comprised of numerous fields of which Emergency medical care is one of the most important. Emergency Medical Services are the facilities along with personnel, vehicles and equipment that provide medical care in case of unforeseen incidents and the continued care that is provided in an emergency facility. It is a very important part of the Primary Health Care program that is being practiced in countries around the world, both developing and developed.
OBJECTIVE: To take into account the service delivery in the Tertiary Care Hospitals of Peshawar, To review the facilities provided in the emergency care units of these hospitals and To assess the efficiency of emergency care in these hospitals.
METHODOLOGY: This research is of exploratory and analytical type. The study was carried out in Peshawar, KPK Pakistan from March to May 2015. We used non-probability convenient sampling. A Semi structured questionnaire was used to collect data. The questionnaire comprised of demographic details, questions on Services provided, Medication availability, Effectiveness of the registration procedure at the ER, staff availability, Patient Protocols and Availability of free life saving drugs. The following types of data was collected through tools mentioned in front of them. The sample size was 250
RESULTS: On arrival, the majority of patients i.e. 53.6% found the registration procedure easy and simple. 26.8% patients, did, however find the procedure difficult. 73.1% i.e. 172 out of 250 patients were content with the medical services provided. 36.8% patients rated it excellent while 34.5% rated it as good. Only 4.8% were not content and rated it as poor. Majority i.e. 74.8% were satisfied with the treatment provided by the medical staff present in the department at the time. 42.4% of these found the staff fully cooperative.
CONCLUSION: It is a matter of great concern to see myriad problems still prevailing in terms of basic health care facilities provided to the public.
In light of the survey carried out and the final inference of the data, it can be concluded that there was lack of awareness regarding patient rights and their protection. The primary root cause of the inefficiency of emergency care is the overcrowding of the hospitals. Upgrading the health units in the peripheries will ensure Tertiary units are exempted of a considerable workload and the population flow is altered to other facilities. This will translate into a low incidence of Patient burden.
KEY WORDS: Emergency care, Healthcare system, Emergency medicine, Casualty, Emergency room, Hospitals
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