Open AccessImprovements of the working conditions for physicians and patient safety in emergency departments
Author(s) -
Christian Bjurman,
Samra Mangafic,
Martin J. Holzmann
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of hospital administration
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1927-7008
pISSN - 1927-6990
DOI - 10.5430/jha.v7n4p17
Subject(s) - work (physics) , crowding , burnout , front line , patient care , quality (philosophy) , job dissatisfaction , workload , medicine , patient safety , per capita , emergency plan , resource (disambiguation) , nursing , medical emergency , emergency department , job satisfaction , operations management , psychology , family medicine , health care , management , computer science , environmental health , political science , engineering , law , computer network , social psychology , epistemology , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , mechanical engineering , clinical psychology , neuroscience , economics , tb treatment , population , philosophy
Background: A high staff turn-over and crowding are common problems in emergency departments (EDs). These problems coexist with a gradual decrease in hospital beds per capita. Many emergency physicians report burnout and plan to resign. Therefore, mostly inexperienced physicians, early in their career, are responsible for front-line emergency care.Methods: Literature review and analysis of work environment in EDs. Based on this, structural and individual measures were proposed in order to optimize the work environment for physicians.Results: Working conditions in the ED could be improved through modified back-up, checklists/algorithms, increased number of hospital beds, and optimal use of available beds, and a revision of the current shift organization.Conclusions: We hope that this analysis will prompt a debate that may lead to improvements in work satisfaction, resource utilization and quality of care.