Use of emergency services at Prince Hashim Ben Al-Hussein Hospital

Abstract EN

Objective : To find out whether the emergency services are appropriately utilized.

Methods : A total number of460 patients were randomly selected from those who attended the emergency department between 8am - 4pm during August 2000.

Data such as patients' age, sex, main complaints, type of management, time and reasons for attendance were recorded in a specially designedform.

Results: The most common medical problems attending the emergency department were upper respiratory tract infections 51%, followed in decreasing frequency by traumatic conditions 9.8%, general checkups 7.4 %, and other medical problems 1.3 %.

About 3 % ofpatients were registered for care but left without being seen by a physician because of prolonged waiting time due to overcrowding in the emergency department.

Ninety-five percent of patients manifested their symptoms one or more days before attendance.

Conclusion : Seventy one percent of cases misused the emergency department, and were not justified in attending the emergency services.

Those should have been seen in primary care centers during the regular working hours.