Evaluation of an Emergency Treatment Unit – in a District General Hospital – Sri Lanka – A case Study

Emergency Treatment Unit of a hospital is the place where, acutely unwell patients admitted to the hospital, are given the immediate treatment in the critical stage. DGH – Gampaha – Sri Lanka is a tertiary care hospital with a bed strength of 795 with a well - recognized Emergency Treatment Unit. Objective of this study was to evaluate the Emergency Treatment Unit of District General Hospital, Gampaha, Sri Lanka. Data was collected through oobservations, key informant interviews and reviewing registers and records. Findings were subjected to SWOT analysis. 1) Identified strengths included accessibility, Infrastructure, ETU concept, 24 hour service, competent staff, availability of equipment and investigation facilities and Information management. 2) Some weaknesses identified were; shortage of staff, absenteeism, gaps in competency, shortage of equipment and inadequate quality management system. 3) Receiving priority attention by the provincial, regional and the hospital management, Administration Support Team, Hospital Management Committee, Hospital Clinical Society, Hospital Development Committee, Hospital Development Foundation and regular donations were recognized as opportunities. 4) Finally, Unnecessary transfers from peripheral hospitals, by pass of peripheral hospitals by patients, frequently changing of the management and delay in procurement, repairing and condemning processes were noted as threats. TOWS analysis using a TOWS matrix was performed and strategies were developed for further improvement.