A Comparison of Patterns of Emergency Care Between Resident and Staff

Lee, Jeong-Heon; Shin, Im-Hee

Journal of Korean Society Quality Assurance Health Care 2003;10(1): 20.
Published online May 30, 2003.

전공의와 전문의의 응급진료 형태에 대한 비교 연구 - 전공의 파업기간을 전후로 -

이정헌¹, 신임희²

¹대구가톨릭대학교 의과대학 응급의학교실
²대구가톨릭대학교 의과대학 의학통계학교실

A Comparison of Patterns of Emergency Care Between Resident and Staff

Jeong-Heon Lee¹, Im-Hee Shin²

¹Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Daegu Catholic University
²Department of Biostatistics, School of Medicine, Daegu Catholic University

Abstract

Background
The doctors' strike was not only a manmade disaster but also a chance to apply a new pattern of emergency medical service for patients. We hope to propose a new pattern of emergency medical service by comparing the patterns of emergency medical service given by resident and staff during the doctors' strike.
Methods
We reviewed the medical records of patients who received emergency medical service in the Emergency Department(ED) of Deagu Catholic University Hospital during 3 days a week prior to the residents' strike (July 21-23, 2000) with those of patients receiving emergency medical service during the first 3 days of the residents' strike (July 28-30, 2000). We evaluated the patient's severity, the cause of the ED visit, the performance on the laboratory study, ECG, and radiological study, the disposition, and the length of ED stay. Also, we compared the collected data by presenting doctor and by patient's severity.
Results
The staff performed fewer tests admitted fewer emergent and non-emergent patients than the residents. Also, the length of ED stay was shorter in both the emergent (212.76 vs. 321.40 minutes) and the non-emergent groups (117.68 vs. 171.39 minutes) for patients presenting to staff.
Conclusion
It is desirable that emergency medical service is given by staff, not by resident.

Key words Emergency medical services;Strike;