QUALITY OF CARE IN HOSPITAL EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS AND FAMILY PHYSICIANS OFFICES

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 117  (3) , 229-+
Abstract
Indicator conditions were used to evaluate the quality of 686 episodes of care provided in 2 emergency departments and in 5 family physicians'' offices. Overall, the care was adequate in 53% of the emergency department cases and in 40% of the cases dealth with in family physicians'' offices, the difference being significant (P < 0.01). Referrals were very common in both settings, and when quality was assessed soley on the basis of the care actually given by the primary-care providers the difference between the 2 settings disappeared. Half the observed deficiencies in care related to failure to document the findings from history-taking and physical examination. These and earlier findings show that the emergency department can be appropriate setting for the care of nontraumatic illness.