scholarly journals Reasons patients leave their nearest healthcare service to attend Karen Park Clinic, Pretoria North

Author(s):  
Agnes T. Masango- Makgobela ◽  
Indiran Govender ◽  
John V. Ndimande

Background: Many patients move from one healthcare provider or facility to another, disturbing the continuity that enhances holistic patient care.Objectives: To investigate the reasons given by patients for attending Karen Park Clinic rather than the clinic nearest to their homes.Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted during 2010. Three hundred and fifty patients attending Karen Park Clinic were given questionnaires to complete, with the following variables: place of residence; previous attendance at the clinic nearest their home; services available at their nearest clinic; and their willingness to attend their nearest clinic in future.Results: Respondents were from Soshanguve (153; 43.7%), Mabopane (92; 26.3%), Garankuwa (29; 8.3%) and Hebron (20; 5.7%) and most were women (271; 77.4%) aged 26–45 (177; 50.6%). Eighty per cent (281) of the patients had visited their nearest clinic previously and 54 of these (19.2%) said they would not return. The reasons for this were: long waiting time (88; 25.1%); long queues (84; 24%); rude staff (60; 17%); and no medication (39; 11.1%).Conclusion: The majority of patients who had attended their nearest clinic were adamant that they would not return. It is necessary to reduce waiting times, thus reducing long queues. This can be achieved by having adequate, satisfied healthcare providers to render a quality service and by organising training for management. Patients can thus be redirected to their nearest clinic and the health centre’s capacity can be increased by procuring adequate drugs. There is a need to follow up on patients’ complaints about staff attitudes.

2020 ◽  
Vol 54 (4) ◽  
pp. 231-237
Author(s):  
Lateefat B. Olokoba ◽  
Kabir A. Durowade ◽  
Feyi G. Adepoju ◽  
Abdulfatai B. Olokoba

Introduction: Long waiting time in the out-patient clinic is a major cause of dissatisfaction in Eye care services. This study aimed to assess patients’ waiting and service times in the out-patient Ophthalmology clinic of UITH. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in March and April 2019. A multi-staged sampling technique was used. A timing chart was used to record the time in and out of each service station. An experience based exit survey form was used to assess patients’ experience at the clinic. The frequency and mean of variables were generated. Student t-test and Pearson’s correlation were used to establish the association and relationship between the total clinic, service, waiting, and clinic arrival times. Ethical approval was granted by the Ethical Review Board of the UITH. Result: Two hundred and twenty-six patients were sampled. The mean total waiting time was 180.3± 84.3 minutes, while the mean total service time was 63.3±52.0 minutes. Patient’s average total clinic time was 243.7±93.6 minutes. Patients’ total clinic time was determined by the patients’ clinic status and clinic arrival time. Majority of the patients (46.5%) described the time spent in the clinic as long but more than half (53.0%) expressed satisfaction at the total time spent at the clinic. Conclusion: Patients’ clinic and waiting times were long, however, patients expressed satisfaction with the clinic times.


2021 ◽  
Vol 108 (Supplement_7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed Abouelazayem ◽  
Raluca Belchita

Abstract Aim To review the new referrals to the Upper GI surgery clinic for appropriateness, investigations requested, and waiting times and to identify potential pathways to reduce waiting times and improve the patient experience. Method Patients who attended the UGI clinic over 2 months period were identified. Data were collected from GP referrals and Electronic Patient Records. Follow up, post-discharge appointments, and Did Not Attends were excluded. Data collected included time from referral to first clinic, symptoms, investigations requested, suitability for a pathway, and appropriateness of referral. A first clinic outcome was concluded from reading the GP referral, there were 5 outcomes to choose from; direct to another specialty, discharge back to GP, clinic, surgery, pre-investigate and clinic. Results 147 referrals were analysed. The average waiting time from referral to the first clinic was 51 days (range 7-119 days). 73% of the referrals were GP referrals and 27% from other specialties. The most common referral was for gallstones and the most common 2 outcomes were Pre-investigate and surgery. Conclusion Most of the investigations and outcomes suggested from the project were the same as those from clinic letters. The following pathways can be developed to cut waiting times and costs for the trust:


2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saeed Amina ◽  
Ahmad Barrati ◽  
Jamil Sadeghifar ◽  
Marzeyh Sharifi ◽  
Zahra Toulideh ◽  
...  

<p><strong>BACKGROUND</strong><strong> </strong><strong>&amp;</strong><strong> </strong><strong>AIMS:</strong> Measuring and analyzing of provided services times in Emergency Department is the way to improves quality of hospital services. The present study was conducted with aim measuring and analyzing patients waiting time indicators in Emergency Department in a general hospital in Iran.</p> <p><strong>MATERIAL</strong><strong> </strong><strong>&amp;</strong><strong> </strong><strong>METHODS:</strong> This cross-sectional, observational study was conducted during April to September 2012. The study population consisted of 72 patients admitted to the Emergency Department at Baharlo hospital. Data collection was carried out by workflow forms. Data were analyzed by t.<strong> </strong>test and ANOVA.</p> <p><strong>RESULTS:</strong> The average waiting time for patients from admission to enter the triage 5 minutes, the average time from triage to physician visit 6 minute and the average time between examinations to leave ED was estimated 180 minutes. The total waiting time in the emergency department was estimated at about 210 minutes. The significant<strong> </strong>correlation between marital status of patients (P=0.03), way of arrive to ED (P=0.02) and type of shift work (P=0.01) with studied time indicators were observed.</p> <p><strong>CONCLUSION:</strong> According to results and comparing with similar studies, the average waiting time of patients admitted to the studied hospital is appropriate. Factors such as: Utilizing clinical governance system and attendance of resident Emergency Medicine Specialist have performed an important role in reducing of waiting times in ED.</p>


2017 ◽  
Vol 07 (03) ◽  
pp. 003-006
Author(s):  
Usha Rani S. P. ◽  
Rashmi Kundapur ◽  
Anusha Rashmi ◽  
Harsha Acharya

Abstract Background: Provision of services in line with the wishes and needs of patients is central to a human health care system .The hospital market has today as changed from a seller's market to a buyer's market and there is a need to improve the quality in the health care delivery. Client satisfaction is a key determinant of quality of care provided in health care centers. Objectives: To determine the client satisfaction among the patients attending tertiary care centers in Mangalore. Materials and Methodology: The study was a cross sectional study which was conducted among the clients attending five teaching hospitals in Mangalore. With 60% of client satisfaction obtained in our pilot study, the sample size was 384 and adding 20% for dropouts the total sample size came up to 462.The clients were selected randomly from each hospital. A pretested Proforma was used outside the hospital with strict confidentiality. Results: In our study we found that,87.6% of the clients felt that the clinic hours at health facility were adequate,79.3% felt health care was easily accessible,89.2% were happy with hygiene and comfort of waiting area. Average waiting time was 116mins.Only 45.4% could meet the same service provider in follow up visit and only 51.5% availed similar services as in the first visit in the follow up. Satisfaction with provider's skill and ability was seen in 82.5% of the clients. Only 69.2% of the clients were satisfied with the cost of services available. Conclusion: Our study revealed that waiting time was a major concern for the client's satisfaction.


2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 495-518
Author(s):  
Yi-Fen Liu ◽  
Jun-Fang Liao ◽  
Jacob Jou

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore healthcare waiting time and the negative and positive effects (i.e. the dual effects) it has on outpatient satisfaction. Design/methodology/approach Self-administered surveys with 334 outpatients and follow-up interviews with 20 outpatients in three large hospitals in Taiwan were conducted to collect data. Findings Quantitative surveys demonstrated that perceived waiting time correlated with satisfaction negatively first but then positively. Satisfaction also correlated with doctor reputation and patient sociability. Follow-up qualitative interviews further revealed that, for some patients, waiting contributed positively to patient evaluations through signaling better healthcare quality and facilitating social interaction. Originality/value This research demonstrated the possibility that waiting might have positive effects on healthcare satisfaction. It also identified variables that could produce greater positive perceptions during hospital waiting and underlying mechanisms that could explain how the positive effects work. This research may potentially help hospitals with a better understanding of how they can improve patients’ waiting experiences and increase satisfaction.


Author(s):  
Dang Thi Hong Khanh ◽  
Nguyen Thi Ut ◽  
Nguyen Thi Chien ◽  
Giang Thi Thanh Ha ◽  
Vu Thi Thuy Linh

Objectives: To measure the waiting time for medical visit at the Outpatient Department 2, NationalChildren’s Hospital in 2018.Study method: Cross sectional design combines quantitative study.Result:The study on waiting time for medical visit of2060 patients showed that: the mean follow- up time was 32.5minutes. Average time for 01 technique was 137 minutes. The median time for medical consultation and 2techniques implemented was 162 minutes. The median time for the medical consultation and 03 techniquesimplemented was 208 minutes. Among sub- clinical techniques, blood test took the maximum time (137minutes).Conclusion: The waiting time for medical consultation was standardized according to the Decision 1313 /QĐ-BYT in 2013; Approximately 70 patients per visit / 8 hours.


Author(s):  
Rebecca Bisanju Wafula (BSCN, MSCHSM) ◽  
Dr. Richard Ayah (MBCHB, MSC, PHD)

Background: Long waiting time in outpatient clinics is a constant challenge for patients and the health care providers. Prolonged waiting times are associated with poor adherence to treatment, missed appointment and failure or delay in initiation of treatment and is a major factor towards the perception of the patient towards the care received. Objective: To determine the waiting time and associated factors among out patients attending staff clinic at University of Nairobi health services. Method: A cross-sectional study design was used and data collected from 384 ambulatory patients over a period of four weeks using an interviewer administered pretested structured exit questionnaire with a time-tracking section. Simple random sampling was used to select respondents in a walk- in outpatient clinic set up. Data was cleaned and analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) 20. Analysis of variance (ANOVA), and cross tabulation was used to establish associations between the independent variable and dependent variables. Results: In total 384 patients were tracked and interviewed. The average patient waiting time was 55.3mins.Most respondents (52%) suggested that improving availability of staff at their stations would help to reduce patient waiting time. In this study, gender (P=0.005) and availability of doctors (p=0.000) were found to affect patient waiting time with women waiting longer than the male patients. Conclusion: Majority of the patients spent about an hour at the facility to be served. Inadequate number of health workers was the main cause of long waiting time.


Author(s):  
Sapna Ramani Sardana ◽  
Shakti Kumar Gupta ◽  
D. K. Sharma ◽  
Aarti Vij ◽  
S. S. Kale

Background: Reported increases in waiting times for publicly-funded elective surgeries have intensified the need to decrease wait by healthcare providers and hence the study.Methods: Descriptive study done in neurosurgery department, to ascertain waiting times for its elective surgeries, included a retrospective analysis of admitted post-surgical patients and a prospective study using interviews with relevant stakeholders to do a process mapping.Results: Median time from decision of surgery to actual date of surgery was found to be 110.5 days. It was calculated that for optimum utilization of present available OTs, 19 extra beds are required and to address the existing load of patients waiting for their respective surgeries there is a need of 63 additional beds with 2 additional OTs functioning per day.Conclusions: The most common cause of waiting time was unavailability of vacant beds due to mismatch in demand-supply. The reason for postponement of surgery after admission was found to be lack of availability of theatre time followed by patient not being fit for surgery. Shortage of operating time was due to delayed start of operation theatre time. The study recommends improving admission process, restricting OPD time, standardized patient prioritization depending on relevant clinical criteria.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 175-180
Author(s):  
Puryanti Puryanti

Hospitals as healthcare providers are demanded more competitive in the era of national healthinsurance. Therefore the hospital faces the challenges of improving the quality of health services byusing available resources. The study aims to to identify waste in outpatient and inpatient rooms ofSurabaya Islamic Hospital. The descriptive study involved 90 patients from outpatient and inpatientrooms. The study found waste by defect category, waiting time, non utilize talent, transportation,inventory, motion, and extra processing based on business process analysis. Category of waste overproduction not found. The causes of the occurrence of waste most comes from the man, material, andmethod factors. Program recommendations include scheduling patient-based arrival of servicegroup, visite scheduling and polyclinic service and temporary payment method change, for inpatientprogram program consisting of 5R program implementation, rearranging standard operatingprocedure of patient's diet information, improvement of prescribing system for patient and standardoperating procedure rearrangement return of insurance patients.


2015 ◽  
Vol 49 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Isabel do Nascimento ◽  
Gulnar Azevedo e Silva

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To describe the waiting time for radiotherapy for patients with cervical cancer. METHODS This descriptive study was conducted with 342 cervical cancer cases that were referred to primary radiotherapy, in the Baixada Fluminense region, RJ, Southeastern Brazil, from October 1995 to August 2010. The waiting time was calculated using the recommended 60-day deadline as a parameter to obtaining the first cancer treatment and considering the date at which the diagnosis was confirmed, the date of first oncological consultation and date when the radiotherapy began. Median and proportional comparisons were made using the Kruskal Wallis and Chi-square tests. RESULTS Most of the women (72.2%) began their radiotherapy within 60 days from the diagnostic confirmation date. The median of this total waiting time was 41 days. This median worsened over the time period, going from 11 days (1995-1996) to 64 days (2009-2010). The median interval between the diagnostic confirmation and the first oncological consultation was 33 days, and between the first oncological consultation and the first radiotherapy session was four days. The median waiting time differed significantly (p = 0.003) according to different stages of the tumor, reaching 56 days, 35 days and 30 days for women whose cancers were classified up to IIA; from IIB to IIIB, and IVA-IVB, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Despite most of the women having had access to radiotherapy within the recommended 60 days, the implementation of procedures to define the stage of the tumor and to reestablish clinical conditions took a large part of this time, showing that at least one of these intervals needs to be improved. Even though the waiting times were ideal for all patients, the most advanced cases were quickly treated, which suggests that access to radiotherapy by women with cervical cancer has been reached with equity.


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