An exploration of the factors influencing emergency admission to hospital, and the impact of these factors on the delivery of care and the patient's hospital experience
An exploration of the factors influencing emergency admission to hospital, and the impact of these factors on the delivery of care and the patient's hospital experience
Eight patients (who were admitted to the accident and emergency department of a large acute hospital) were recruited into the study over the course of one year. Data were collected using three data collection methods: interviews with patients and health professionals; observations of ward rounds and nurse handovers; and documentary analysis of nursing and medical notes. The data collection period for each case ranged from between 24 hours to three weeks. Results from the study demonstrated that there are many less well defined factors that influence emergency admission to hospital and delivery of care. These factors fell into one of three categories: individual patient characteristics and needs, delivery of care issues and the context and politics of care delivery.
It can be concluded that, the needs of patients with chronic conditions and / or symptoms are not being addressed in a timely fashion. This is due in part, to the poor responsiveness of healthcare services in the community and the patient’s lack of awareness of these services. Care within hospital is still delivered in a routine and ritualistic fashion with little regard given to the patient’s individual requirements and knowledge of their condition. Health professional decision-making is influenced as much by their own perceptions, experience, uncertainty and access to diagnostic tests as the patient’s clinical signs. There is currently no single person responsible for keeping the process of care moving within the hospital, with the result that care stalls and patients are detained in hospital longer than necessary.
University of Southampton
Beattie, Jennifer
bf1be3d0-82eb-4198-915a-6c2a5b22beef
2005
Beattie, Jennifer
bf1be3d0-82eb-4198-915a-6c2a5b22beef
Beattie, Jennifer
(2005)
An exploration of the factors influencing emergency admission to hospital, and the impact of these factors on the delivery of care and the patient's hospital experience.
University of Southampton, Doctoral Thesis.
Record type:
Thesis
(Doctoral)
Abstract
Eight patients (who were admitted to the accident and emergency department of a large acute hospital) were recruited into the study over the course of one year. Data were collected using three data collection methods: interviews with patients and health professionals; observations of ward rounds and nurse handovers; and documentary analysis of nursing and medical notes. The data collection period for each case ranged from between 24 hours to three weeks. Results from the study demonstrated that there are many less well defined factors that influence emergency admission to hospital and delivery of care. These factors fell into one of three categories: individual patient characteristics and needs, delivery of care issues and the context and politics of care delivery.
It can be concluded that, the needs of patients with chronic conditions and / or symptoms are not being addressed in a timely fashion. This is due in part, to the poor responsiveness of healthcare services in the community and the patient’s lack of awareness of these services. Care within hospital is still delivered in a routine and ritualistic fashion with little regard given to the patient’s individual requirements and knowledge of their condition. Health professional decision-making is influenced as much by their own perceptions, experience, uncertainty and access to diagnostic tests as the patient’s clinical signs. There is currently no single person responsible for keeping the process of care moving within the hospital, with the result that care stalls and patients are detained in hospital longer than necessary.
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Published date: 2005
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Local EPrints ID: 465933
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/465933
PURE UUID: 5f1d2b8d-c078-4373-9735-1c22cfd6d849
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Date deposited: 05 Jul 2022 03:42
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 20:26
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Author:
Jennifer Beattie
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