An Appraisal of the Elective Surgical Scheduling System at the Kenyatta National Hospital

Abstract

Background. The demand for provision of surgical services in Kenyatta National Hospital has always outstripped the supply. Therefore, due to this elective surgery has always been subject to a waiting list. The point of contact between a patient and the health care facility at the clinic plays a big role in the perception of the patient to the overall service they receive at the facility. This study aims to review the scheduling practices at the department of surgery Main objective of the Study The evaluation of the elective surgical scheduling system at the Kenyatta National Hospital from the health practitioner’s point of view and identifying the efficiency and inefficiencies of each subsystem was assessed. Study method The study design was a descriptive qualitative research which covered the elective surgery booking clinic at the Kenyatta National Hospital general surgery and surgical subspecialty clinics over the period of 10th April to 4th May. The study population comprised of health practitioners who were defined as Consultant health practitioners and senior registrars in the surgical department responsible for the elective list scheduling over the period of study. Consultants and registrars not based in the surgical departments, and practitioners on leave during study period were excluded. A total of 47 health practitioners participated in this study Results. Majority of respondents reviewed felt that the current existing elective scheduling system present at the hospital were inefficient in their practice. Some of the existing elective surgical scheduling system did not enable health practitioners to review the prioritization tools in order to benefit the patients and the overall hospital performance suffered as a result. The departments that have the most efficient is the general surgery department. The respondents desire an all-inclusive approach in booking of patients. Conclusion: The surgical elective scheduling system should be overhauled to be in line with modern technology and good health system practices. The departments that have the most efficient booking systems have a dual system based on an electronic and manual back up. The system which is electronic in nature can be improved to an online system which is the most ideal.................................................................