STUDY OF SPEED OF OFFERING SERVICES IN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT AT KERMAN BAHONAR HOSPITAL IN 2000

Emergency department is one of the most important departments in a hospital that its function can mainly be effective in the functions of the other departments and satisfaction of the patients. The speed of the offering services in treatment centers, specially emergency, has a great importance in reducing mortality causing disability rates. Researchers have found out that one of the most important indicators in assessment of emergency centers is the time lost to treatment and diagnostic services. This research was a cross-sectional study in nature in order to determine the speed of offering services in emergency department at Kerman Bahonar hospital. Population of the study consisted of all patients who referred to the hospital’s emergency (Feb. 2000). In this research, data were collected through interview and recorded observations. The questions of application form were about patient’s demography, examiner’s, speciality, the first diagnosis, the final diagnosis, waiting time for the first diagnosis, waiting time for the final diagnosis, receiving treatment services, receiving consultative services, and also releasing the patient from the emergency. Data analysis was done via SPSS software, statistic tests of T, analysis of unilateral Variance and also Chi square. The findings of the study revealed that the mean time between accident till arriving at physician room was 67 minutes waiting time for patient’s first visit in screen room: 4 min, lab tests: 40 min, preclinical procedures with x-ray: 25 min, C T scan: 31 min, waiting time for first consultation: 60 min, performing procedures till diagnosis: 72 min, waiting time in operating room: 10 min and waiting time surgery was 21 min. Comparing the indicators with international standards revealed a low speed of offering services in Kerman hospital emergency. The most time lost was the disease diagnosis in most cases physicians were engaged in other sections. Also, the examiners didn’t match with their specialty. With due attention to %60 consultations by orthopedists, it seems necessary to employ specialists or at least orthopedists instead of physicians or inters in order to reduce the wasted time in treatment or diagnosis.