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Published on: January 15, 2017

Paediatric emergency department design: Does it affect staff, patient and community satisfaction?

Simon Judkins1

  • 1Austin and Repatriation Medical Centre, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia. judster@bigpond.com

Emergency Medicine (Fremantle, W.A.)
|March 27, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Establishing a dedicated pediatric emergency area significantly improved patient family satisfaction and emergency department staff confidence. However, the positive impact did not extend to general practitioners or inpatient staff.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Emergency Medicine
  • Healthcare Quality Improvement
  • Hospital Administration

Background:

  • Tertiary hospital emergency departments often manage pediatric emergencies.
  • Dedicated pediatric areas can potentially improve care delivery and patient experience.
  • Assessing the impact of such changes on various stakeholders is crucial for evidence-based practice.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the perceived changes in pediatric care standards after implementing a dedicated pediatric emergency area.
  • To assess the impact on patients and families, hospital staff, and community general practitioners.

Main Methods:

  • A pre- and post-implementation questionnaire survey was conducted.
  • Participants included pediatric patient families, referring general practitioners, and emergency/inpatient pediatric staff.
  • Surveys assessed satisfaction with the physical environment, perceived care level, and overall treatment.

Main Results:

  • Patient families reported significantly higher satisfaction with the physical environment and overall care.
  • Emergency department staff showed increased confidence and satisfaction in managing pediatric patients.
  • General practitioners noted only slight improvements, and inpatient staff reported no significant changes.

Conclusions:

  • A dedicated pediatric emergency area enhanced patient family satisfaction and emergency staff confidence.
  • The positive impact on general practitioners and inpatient staff was limited, possibly due to lower exposure.
  • Physical environment changes appear key to improving immediate care perceptions in pediatric emergency settings.
Abstract

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