ABSTRACT
ObjectiveIn order to provide reliable sufficient information for making a policy to develop Emergency Departments in Chinese Medical Hospitals, a countrywide investigation on current situations of such departments was carried out.Methods Firstly, questionnaires which could be responded by filling out on line and paper were made respectively. The Departments of Emergency in 300 Chinese Medical Hospitals widely distributed in 27 provinces of China (municipalities directly under the central government) with technique level 2 or above were observed in this study by Red Cap database or Email.Results All together 280 questionnaires were sent out, and 200 questionnaires were responded. The information from 200 emergency departments of Chinese medical hospitals in 24 provinces was collected, the recovery rate being 71.42%. The investigative results were as follows: ① All Chinese medical hospitals involved in this study were equipped with an independent emergency department. The average occupation of ground area, numbers of ward beds and ambulances in these emergency departments were 713.6 m2, 18.93 and 2.81 respectively, and 75.8% of the hospitals were of the first aid local network units.② There were 26 emergency departments having internal, surgical, women and children emergency clinics, 83 hospitals had internal and surgical emergency clinics only, and in 91 hospitals there was no any special clinic in emergency department. In addition, only did 81 hospitals have intensive care units (ICU).③ The number of clinicians was 11.86±9.28 on average, and 26 hospitals even had no emergency specialists. In 39 hospitals, there were no emergency clinicians with high rank title, most of these clinicians had bachelor or master's degree, and only did 30 hospitals have emergency clinicians with PhD degree.④ The annual average patient admitted in emergency departments of these hospitals was 2.36 thousand cases, including 1197.38 rescue ones. The clinicians who could accomplish abdominocentesis and thoracentesis independently were accounting for 90.7% and 89.0%, respectively, 8.2% hospitals could carry out percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and more than 70% hospitals already had the emergency green channel.⑤ About 93.5% hospitals had established a management system of medical quality control, and 89.0% hospitals had already had a medical quality control group.⑥ 65.5% hospitals had assessment index of Utilization rate of traditional Chinese Medicine, and 52.5%hospitals routinely conducted discussions on cases treated primarily by Chinese medicine (CM).Conclusions The development levels of emergency departments of all Chinese medical hospitals involved are very uneven, on which more attention should be paid. The enhanced investment is required to construct the emergency clinics and improve medical techniques in order to meet the growing need of the first aid in our society.