Parental satisfaction with a nurse-led emergency assessment unit

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Emergency Medicine
• Healthcare Quality Improvement
• Patient Experience Research

Background:

• Pediatric emergency assessment units are critical for acute care.
• Understanding parental perceptions of care is essential for service improvement.
• Post-discharge support significantly impacts family satisfaction and outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess parental perceptions of the care experience in a pediatric emergency assessment unit.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of post-discharge support mechanisms.
• To identify areas for improvement in pediatric emergency unit services.

Main Methods:

• Survey of 40 parents whose children were discharged from a regional pediatric emergency assessment unit.
• Data collection on family journey, access to care, and post-discharge support.
• Analysis of parental feedback regarding unit facilities and privacy.

Main Results:

• Most children were referred by general practitioners and seen by a pediatrician within an hour.
• Morning-after phone calls and 24-hour post-discharge access enhanced parental satisfaction.
• Nearly a third of families were not shown unit facilities; almost half reported privacy concerns.

Conclusions:

• The pediatric emergency assessment unit provides a generally positive experience, but improvements in facility orientation and privacy are needed.
• Enhanced communication and accessibility post-discharge are key drivers of patient satisfaction.
• An action plan has been implemented to address identified areas for improvement and will be evaluated.