ASSESSMENT OF QUALITY OF EMERGENCY SERVICES PROVIDED TO CHILDREN UNDER FIVE YEARS OLD

Abstract

Pediatric emergency services are considered as one of the most important branches of the health care system, because it deals with a delicate and sensitive group of the population. The difference between life and death, between health and diseased state in pediatrics are measured by the fraction of a second, so there must be rapid comprehensive EMS-C which provide all types of services for stabilization of patients.

Some studies based on assessment of quality of care were done utilizing the parameters of structure and /or process and/or outcome measures. These studies revealed that there is a shortage and low level of EMS-C quality in different areas of service delivery and absence of standard methods in management of cases from one unit or hospital to the other. Studies also revealed absence of systematic training programs for health services providers. Consequently, the importance of the present study becomes clear and prominent which is to explore the aspects or areas of weakness in relation to the structure of the EMS-C as well as the abilities of the providers in

dealing with the emergency cases and the process of care of these emergency cases, and as a result the outcome of care measured by patients' relatives satisfaction with the services provided.

The aim of the study is assessment of the quality of pediatric emergency services provided to children under 5 years old by health units and hospitals in Beheira governorate.