Patients' Evaluation of the Quality of Emergency Care Services in Jordan: Integration of Patient Centeredness Model

Background and PurposeAccreditation is viewed to enhance the total quality of healthcare. The present study aims at assessing patients' perspectives toward the quality of emergency healthcare services at different hospitals with different characteristics in Jordan. The elements of patients' perception were aligned with the conceptual framework of Patient Centeredness Model.MethodsThis descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in four emergency departments from different healthcare sectors and accreditation statuses in Jordan. Less urgent/nonurgent, alert, and cooperative patients were identified directly after the completion of emergency treatment. The perspectives of patients about the quality of emergency services were evaluated by 10 domains articulated in a validated accident and emergency questionnaire.ResultsA total of 276 patients were enrolled in the study. Private sector scored higher in all assessment domains in both accredited and nonaccredited hospitals in comparison with the government sector. Accredited government hospitals scored higher in patients' evaluation for “doctor and nurse,” “investigations,” “pain,” and “overall respect of medical staff” domains than nonaccredited government hospitals. The overall experience was significantly different between accredited and nonaccredited government hospitals.Implications for PracticeQuality of emergency care services should be assessed through various dimensions related to patients' perspectives. Patients' perception toward the quality of emergency health services is evidently enhanced by accreditation especially in the government sector.

Accessibility to urgent and emergency care services in low-density territories: the case of Baixo Alentejo, Portugal

Access to health care is a sensitive issue in low population density territories, as these areas tend to have a lower level of service provision. One dimension of access is accessibility. This paper focuses on measuring the accessibility to urgent and emergency care services in the Portuguese region of Baixo Alentejo, a territory characterized by low population density. Data for the calculation of accessibility is the road network, and the methodology considers the application of a two-level network analyst method: time-distance by own mean (car or taxi) to the urgent care services and the time distance to emergency services as a way to get assistance and to go to urgent care services. While urgent care accessibility meets the requirements stipulated in the Integrated Medical Emergency System’s current legislative framework, the simulation of different scenarios of potential accessibility shows intra-regional disparities. Some territories have a low level of accessibility. Older adults, the poorly educated, and low-income population, also have the lowest levels of accessibility, which translates into dually disadvantageous situation since the potential users of emergency services are most likely to belong to this group of citizens.

COVID-19 insight: winter pressures on urgent and emergency care

The Care Quality Commission's eighth COVID-19 insight report continues to highlight how providers are coping in the face of the pandemic. This time, the focus is on emergency care services. Amanda Halliwell investigates.

CQC Covid insight: Winter pressures on emergency care

The regulator's eighth Covid-19 insight report continues to highlight how providers are coping in the face of the global pandemic. The focus this time is on emergency care services. Amanda Halliwell investigates

Communication in health work during the COVID-19 pandemic

Objective. Report on communication and qualified listening in nursing work in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods. This descriptive, theoretical and reflexive report was developed by nurses between March 20th and May 25th 2020 at Emergency Care Services in the city of Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil. Health communication served as the theoretical background for this research. Results. Two main thematic categories were highlighted: (i) Resignifications of communication in the work relationships of the health team and (ii) Guided listening to users by nurses at the Emergency Care Services during the pandemic. Conclusion. The experience revealed an excerpt of what is found under the conditions of the current situation resulting from COVID-19. Communication turned into an essential tool to maintain professional relationships and culminate in collaboration and cooperation of theteam in order to provide a close relationship with the user and promote the quality of health care processes.

Assessment of facility-based emergency care services for road traffic injuries in tertiary care hospital, Larkana

Background: Road traffic injuries are considered as main public health problem; strenuous efforts are required for its prevention. Facility based emergency care for road traffic injuries is considered as an important but challenging component of post-crash care response. It demands healthcare providers to make quick life-and-death decisions based on minimal information. The objective of our study was to explore the challenges for emergency services for road traffic injuries within Tertiary care hospital. Methodology: Qualitative methods were used including 15 interviews and 02 focus group discussions. Topic guide was developed for all the participant’s interviews, in order to explore the challenges for effective emergency care services at tertiary care level in Larkana city, Sindh. Topic guide was developed for all the participant’s interviews. Results: After making the transcripts of qualitative data, thematic analysis framework was used to analyze the transcripts, by which two main themes; recognition of causes and adverse consequences of road traffic accidents and health system challenges for delivering emergency care were extracted. Results suggest that improvement in documentation and record keeping system, security for health care providers, provision of timely interventions and proper training for health professionals at hospital level can be helpful for the provision of effective emergency care services. Conclusion: An integrated trauma care system along with the improvement in documentation, efficient record keeping system, security for health care providers, provision of timely interventions and training for health professionals is needed for effective post-crash care management at the hospital level.