Survey of acceptance of non-local patients by hospitals in Tianjin / 中华医院管理杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To learn the present acceptance of patients from outside Tianjin by local hospitals, for improving the management of their medical services.Methods A study of the hospitals′ network system identified 5 306 inpatients from other places in 2016 as evidenced by their hospital settlement account, with analysis of the patient flow from other places by the hospitals surveyed.Medical workers of eight medical institutions which signed the online settlement contract for non-local patients were subject to questionnaire survey.Results Of the 876 respondents,the number of patients willing to receive non-local insured patients accounted for 78.08%.Non-local patients aged 60 or above accounted for 82.31% among the total non-local patients, of whom 48.55% selected hospitals with national key disciplines, and 30.53% chose those with municipal key disciplines.Conclusions An analysis is required for the demand of non-local patients in terms of the social background and population characteristics.Based on such, non-local patient population needs a better management while those with irrational needs should be discouraged with rules and regulations.