RSS-Feed abonnieren
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1750367
Measurement of the Consultation Duration in Otorhinolaryngology Outpatient Clinics: Comparison between a University Hospital and a City Hospital
Abstract
Materials and Methods The length of consultation per patient was measured by direct observation at the ear–nose–throat outpatient clinics of one university hospital and one city hospital. The consultation time was measured as follows. Direct consultation time: time spent on history-taking and physical examination of the patients. Indirect consultation time: time spent in charting, preparing treatment/prescription orders, medical, and writing referral letters.
Results The total consultation time length was significantly longer at the university hospital than that at the city hospital, both for the first consultation and the follow-up consultation. For first visits, the ratio of the indirect consultation time to the total consultation time was 49.2% at the university hospital and 24.2% at the city hospital. As for follow-up visits, the indirect/total consultation time ratio was 37.8% at the university hospital 24.2% at the city hospital.
Conclusion Assistance of a medical secretary would be desirable, especially for first consultations at the university hospital, in view of the long indirect consultation times.
Publikationsverlauf
Eingereicht: 12. August 2021
Angenommen: 26. November 2021
Artikel online veröffentlicht:
14. Juli 2022
© 2022. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany
-
References
- 1 Ministry of Health. Labour and Welfare. The Eighth Review Meeting on Work Style Reform for Doctors, Information Material 4 (July 9, 2018). A survey on working conditions of hospital doctors (time steady study). Updated 2018. Accessed July 13, 2021 at: https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/10800000/000331107.pdf
- 2 Seiki K, Tsunetoshi I, Hironobu O. et al. A study of Japanese doctors' working time. Jpn J Health Econ Policy 2009; 21: 39-54
- 3 Shino K, Asami I, Emi I. et al. The usefulness of medical clerk who support doctor's office work in our emergency medical center. Hakodate Med J 2020; 44: 37-42
- 4 Makito O, Hajime S, Hisako A. et al. Practicality of medical secretaries at university hospitals: impact on the electronic medical records system. Kitasato Med 2013; 43: 51-59
- 5 Japanese Society of Medical Office Assistants. Report on results of “fact-finding survey on medical office assistants.” Updated 2020. Accessed July 13, 2021 at: http://ishijimu.umin.jp/kenkyuukaikara/2018tyousa/houkoku.pdf
- 6 Japan Medical Association. Effects of coronavirus disease 2019 on management of clinics July–August 2020. Updated 2020. Accessed July 13, 2021 at: https://www.med.or.jp/dl-med/teireikaiken/20201105_2.pdf