Abstract
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 648-654 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Australian Health Review |
Volume | 32 |
Issue number | 4 |
Publication status | Published - 2008 |
Fingerprint
Cite this
}
Accessibility and quality of care received in emergency departments by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. / Thomas, David; ANDERSON, I; Kelaher, M.
In: Australian Health Review, Vol. 32, No. 4, 2008, p. 648-654.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - Accessibility and quality of care received in emergency departments by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
AU - Thomas, David
AU - ANDERSON, I
AU - Kelaher, M
PY - 2008
Y1 - 2008
N2 - Objectives: To examine the accessibility and quality of care received in emergency departments by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people compared with other Australians. Methods: We examined 2004-05 data from the National Non-admitted Patient Emergency Department Care database from the Northern Territory and Western Australia, the only jurisdictions where Indigenous identification in the database was considered acceptable. Results: In the NT, Indigenous people were 1.7 times as likely to present to an emergency department as non-Indigenous people. Indigenous patients in the NT and WA do not appear to use EDs for "primary care" problems more than non-Indigenous patients. More NT Indigenous patients walked out before being seen or before their treatment was completed. However, Indigenous patients generally waited a similar time, and often slightly shorter, to be seen as similar non-Indigenous patients in WA and the NT. Conclusions: We recommend the regular monitoring of equity in the accessibility and quality of ED care for Indigenous people compared with other Australians. Indigenous identification in the database needs to improve so monitoring of ED performance can extend beyond WA and the NT.
AB - Objectives: To examine the accessibility and quality of care received in emergency departments by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people compared with other Australians. Methods: We examined 2004-05 data from the National Non-admitted Patient Emergency Department Care database from the Northern Territory and Western Australia, the only jurisdictions where Indigenous identification in the database was considered acceptable. Results: In the NT, Indigenous people were 1.7 times as likely to present to an emergency department as non-Indigenous people. Indigenous patients in the NT and WA do not appear to use EDs for "primary care" problems more than non-Indigenous patients. More NT Indigenous patients walked out before being seen or before their treatment was completed. However, Indigenous patients generally waited a similar time, and often slightly shorter, to be seen as similar non-Indigenous patients in WA and the NT. Conclusions: We recommend the regular monitoring of equity in the accessibility and quality of ED care for Indigenous people compared with other Australians. Indigenous identification in the database needs to improve so monitoring of ED performance can extend beyond WA and the NT.
KW - Aborigine
KW - article
KW - Australia
KW - emergency health service
KW - health care delivery
KW - health care quality
KW - human
KW - standard
KW - statistics
KW - utilization review
KW - Emergency Service, Hospital
KW - Health Services Accessibility
KW - Humans
KW - Northern Territory
KW - Oceanic Ancestry Group
KW - Quality of Health Care
KW - Statistics as Topic
KW - Western Australia
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=58149265434&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
VL - 32
SP - 648
EP - 654
JO - Australian Health Review
JF - Australian Health Review
SN - 1743-8462
IS - 4
ER -