Evaluating the average access to care and continuity of care patients in Tehran teaching hospitals

Abstract

Background: Standards of Joint Commission International emphasize on the organizational performance level in basic functional domains including patient right, patient care, medical safety and infection control. These standards are focused on two principles: expectations of the actual organizational performance and assessment of organizational capabilities to provide high quality and safe health care services. The aim of this study is to evaluate the possibility of improvement in Access to Care and Continuity of Care for patients (ACC) in teaching hospitals of Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in hospitals affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences during 2012. Data collection was performed using author-designed questionnaire of "Access to Care and Continuity of Care patients" based on JCI standards (2013). A total of 171 questionnaires were sent to 26 hospitals and 154 (90%) questionnaires were successfully completed and used for data analysis. The questionnaire was reviewed by experts and the Cronbach's alpha was calculated to be 0.967. The effects of the two variables of hospital type (general, specialty) and the number of beds on mean scores of ACC standards and each of its domains were analyzed using T-test or Mann-Whitney test depending on the distribution due to Kolmogorov-Smirnov test result. Results: In general, the mean of ACC standards was found comprehendible and applicable by 82.3 (SD = 11) of the respondents. The highest and lowest mean scores of ACC questions belonged to hospitals H21 (90 ± 6) and H14 (67 ± 12), respectively. There were not any significant effects of hospital type and the number of beds on the ACC scores. Conclusion: There was not any important effect of hospital type and bed numbers on ACC, although there was a 9%-15% possibility of improvement in accreditation scores of ACC standards in hospitals of Tehran University of Medical Sciences. A complete accreditation score in this domain didn't seem achievable in these hospitals. However, it is proposed that future managerial planning of the studied hospitals lead to a complete accreditation score.

Internal Evaluation in Biochemistry Department, Medicine Faculty, Tehran University of Medical Sciences

“…Occupational capabilities and graduates efficiency in medical sciences fields depend on the level of achieving objectives in educational programs in order to present remedial, hygienic services, research and educational programs, for promotion of individual and society health level and if educational programs haven't developed and performed correctly, it can cause irreparable damages and economic, cultural and social serious effects on individual and graduates as well as university management and the validity (Farzianpour et al, 2013c).…”

“…Previous studies in educational evaluation showed average of the function of educational evaluation in basic sciences groups and clinical groups were respectively 76.4 and 86.6% while grand average of the function of clinical groups and basic sciences groups was 80.5% (Farzianpour et al, 2013b;2013c). Rabbani et al (2006) showed general average of the function of internal evaluation in Department of pediatrics faculty of medicine were respectively %53.3 in 2003 and %75.3 in 2004. In university educational system, it is possible to use educational evaluation in electing students, scientific board and curriculum and in general the other educational system inputs in addition, it supervises on system process performing and finally using evaluation directs outputs and system consequences optimally (Farzianpour et al, 2011d).…”

Analysis of Nosocomial Infections in Selected Teaching Hospitals, Qazvin, Iran

“…The average hospitalization period for men and women patients at the wards were about 23 and 22 days, respectively, which does not show any statistical differences at the error level of five percent (P > 0.05). However, in the study conducted by Farzianpour et al it was found that there were significant relationships between the variables of gender, age, marital status, place of residence, occupation, referral types, type of insurance, reasons for hospitalization, and the conditions of the patients discharged from hospitals with their hospitalization periods [1] [2].…”

“…Hospital infections are infections caused from 48 to 72 hours after hospitalization or, at the maximum, six weeks after discharge from hospitals. These infections are not latent in patients but rather develop in them for the first time [1] [2]. Hospital infections prolong patient hospitalization, raise patient mortality rate, and, as a result, increase hospital expenses [2].…”

“…These infections are not latent in patients but rather develop in them for the first time [1] [2]. Hospital infections prolong patient hospitalization, raise patient mortality rate, and, as a result, increase hospital expenses [2]. Infections of the urinary system and of the respiratory system, septicemia, and surgical site infections are the most common hospital infections [3].…”