BANGKOK, 24 May 2015 – The Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) has urgently developed the quality of Emergency Room (ER) in state-run medical centers and hospitals nationwide in preparation for the brandnew Universal Coverage Health project entitled “Emergency All Free” scheme, acting MOPH Permanent Secretary Surachet Satitniramai revealed on Sunday.
The government effort to improve ER services came after patients and their families had complained about a long queue to ER admission, both for critically emergency and emergency conditions, urging the government to re-manage the ER services.
“The Public Health Ministry wants to ensure that all patients in critical condition will receive medical treatment quickly and effectively, which we believe will lead to lower rate of death and disability. In parallel, medical staff should have higher level of safety while working,” said the official.
The ministry would put more emphasis on sending medical staff to save patient’s life on spot when people call Emergency Line 1669. At hospitals, the ER will be supervised by emergency physicians who make decision, according to clear Emergency Severity Index, to admit only patients with high severity to the ER. The rest emergency patients should be treated during overtime emergency center.
For big hospitals, specialists must be on standby around the clock to give consultancy and screen severity of patients immediately. Fast track should be available for patients with Ischemic heart disease, Ischemic stroke, bloodstream infection, pregnant women, newborn infants and severe injury at blood vessel.
For Health Promoting Hospitals, Chief Medical Officer of each province will be in charge of opening overtime clinic but needs to take into consideration the safety and existing burden of medical staff. Evaluation of the operation will be reported every two months in order to improve the emergency service efficiency.
