A descriptive study of access to services in a random sample of Canadian rural emergency departments

نویسندگان

  • Richard Fleet
  • Julien Poitras
  • Julie Maltais-Giguère
  • Julie Villa
  • Patrick Archambault
چکیده

OBJECTIVE To examine 24/7 access to services and consultants in a sample of Canadian rural emergency departments (EDs). DESIGN Cross-sectional study-mixed methods (structured interview, survey and government data bases) with random sampling of hospitals. SETTING Canadian rural EDs (rural small town (RST) definition-Statistics Canada). PARTICIPANTS 28% (95/336) of Canadian rural EDs providing 24/7 physician coverage located in hospitals with acute care hospitalisation beds. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES General characteristics of the rural EDs, information about 24/7 access to consultants, equipment and services, and the proportion of rural hospitals more than 300 km from levels 1 and 2 trauma centres. RESULTS Of the 336 rural EDs identified, 122 (36%) were randomly selected and contacted. Overall, 95 EDs participated in the study (participation rate, 78%). Hospitals had, on an average, 23 acute care beds, 7 ED stretchers and 13 500 annual ED visits. The proportion of rural hospitals with local access to the following 24/7 services was paediatrician, 5%; obstetrician, 10%; psychiatrist, 11%; internist, 12%; intensive care unit, 17%; CT scanner, 20%; surgeon, 26%; ultrasound, 28%; basic X-ray, 97% and laboratory services, 99%. Forty-four per cent and 54% of the RST EDs were more than 300 km from a level 1 and level 2 trauma centre, respectively. CONCLUSIONS This is the first study describing the services available in Canadian rural EDs. Apart from basic laboratory and X-ray services, most rural EDs have limited access to consultants, advanced imaging and critical care services. A detailed study is needed to evaluate the impact of these limited services on patient outcomes, costs and interfacility transport demands.

برای دانلود رایگان متن کامل این مقاله و بیش از 32 میلیون مقاله دیگر ابتدا ثبت نام کنید

ثبت نام

اگر عضو سایت هستید لطفا وارد حساب کاربری خود شوید

منابع مشابه

Evaluating the Performance and Quality of Services in the Emergency Departments After Implementation of the Health Reform Plan From the Perspective of Staff of Selected Hospitals of Tehran University of Medical Sciences

Evaluating the Performance and Quality of Services in the Emergency Departments After Implementation of the Health Reform Plan From the Perspective of Staff of Selected Hospitals of Tehran University of Medical Sciences Mitra Sasani 1, Ghahraman Mahmoodi 1 * 1 Sari Branch, Islamic Azad University, Sari, Iran Abstract Introduction: The health reform plan was established in 2014 in Iran with t...

متن کامل

Spatial Analysis of Access and Transfer of Emergency (Asthma) Patients to Medical Centers; Case Study on District 3 of Tehran, Iran

INTRODUCTION: The short resuscitation time for patients with asthma is one of the most urgent medical conditions with a high importance. In this study, the geographic information system (GIS) is used to analyze the access and transfer of emergency patients to health care centers (resuscitation, specialized, and health care services) to patients with respiratory problems with moderate and acute ...

متن کامل

Analysis of Rural Women’s Role in Paddy Cultivation Practices (Case Study: Tonekabon Township)

The aim of the research was analysis of rural women’s role in paddy cultivation practices in Tonekabon Township. Research population was consisted of paddy farmers women in Tonekabon Township (N=14539), whose 130 ones were selected using Cochran’s formula. Data were gathered by cluster random sampling method. The instrument for data collection was a questionnaire which its validity was confirme...

متن کامل

Analysis of Rural Women’s Role in Paddy Cultivation Practices (Case Study: Tonekabon Township)

The aim of the research was analysis of rural women’s role in paddy cultivation practices in Tonekabon Township. Research population was consisted of paddy farmers women in Tonekabon Township (N=14539), whose 130 ones were selected using Cochran’s formula. Data were gathered by cluster random sampling method. The instrument for data collection was a questionnaire which its validity was confirme...

متن کامل

Portrait of rural emergency departments in Quebec and utilisation of the Quebec Emergency Department Management Guide: a study protocol

INTRODUCTION Emergency departments are important safety nets for people who live in rural areas. Moreover, a serious problem in access to healthcare services has emerged in these regions. The challenges of providing access to quality rural emergency care include recruitment and retention issues, lack of advanced imagery technology, lack of specialist support and the heavy reliance on ambulance ...

متن کامل

ذخیره در منابع من


  با ذخیره ی این منبع در منابع من، دسترسی به آن را برای استفاده های بعدی آسان تر کنید

عنوان ژورنال:

دوره 3  شماره 

صفحات  -

تاریخ انتشار 2013