195440 An exploration of factors in two-way patient transfer between hospitals and regional medical facilities: A case study of a large Taiwanese regional hospital

Monday, November 9, 2009

Chung-Jau Huang, MPH , Planning and Management division, Kaohsiung Arms Forces General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Chenchung Ma, PhD , Department of Healthcare Administration, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung County, Taiwan
ahang-Shou Chang, MS , Planning and Management division, Kaohsiung Arms Forces General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Yu-Ju Lin, BHA , Department of Healthcare Administration, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung County, Taiwan
Aim:

The study aimed to investigate doctors' willingness and suggestions for patient transfer

cooperation between a case study hospital and its surrounding regional

medical facilities; further, to find the necessary support required

and provide hospitals a reference for setting transfer policies.

Method:

This study used a cross-sectional research design with self-composed

questionnaires. The method of survey was questioning doctors (excluding dentists and Chinese medicine practitioners) working in regional medical facilities in the case study hospital's 6 main patient source regions (80% of total patients). By a

random sampling method, we chose half of the practicing doctors of

regional medical facilities, a total of 389 doctors, as well as the 54

attending doctors in the case study hospital as the sample of research.

Data was collected from 15 February 2008 to 15 March 2008. There were a total

of 211 replies to the questionnaires (197 of which presented a valid set of data with a response rate of 50.6%) and 50 responses from the case study hospital attending

doctors (response rate 92.6%). The data were analyzed by logistic regression.

Result:

83.2% of regional medical facilities were found to be willing to cooperate in a two-way patient transfer scheme. Logistic regression shows "Regional medical facilities' type", "Participation in NHI Family Doctors

Collaboration Plan", "Regional facilities with ultrasound diagnostic

equipment", and doctors with his/her education background, whether from

"Military Medical Institutions" or "Universities", have a greater

willingness to participate in the scheme. Regional medical facilities

with a greater patient number (above 50 per day) or of higher age

category of doctors (above 60 years old) were found to be less willing to cooperate in the scheme.

Conclusion:

Research finds that the regional and the case hospital both show a high

acceptance of a two-way patient transfer scheme. (Acceptance rate 83.3% and

100%, respectively).

Learning Objectives:
This study is to identify doctors’ willingness and suggestions for patient transfer cooperation between a case study hospital and its surrounding regional medical facilities

Keywords: Hospitals, Resource Development

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: My experiences are relevant to the content that I am involved in for this eductional activity such as research, books/articles, prior programs, etc.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: Collaborative Strategies in Health Administration Posters
See more of: Health Administration