Promoting quality emergency care in a resource-constrained setting

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide an “inside” account of efforts to enhance the quality of care in a paediatric hospital department in Malawi.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors describe the problems they face as health workers in an overcrowded, under-resourced emergency departments in a low-income setting. Where it is helpful, the authors combine reports of their experience with reference to reports emanating from other African countries.

Findings

There is increased awareness of the need for a good health system to be able to provide quality care. The authors emphasise the importance of teamwork and the need for cross cutting activities that are not disease-centred or vertically driven. Task sharing and multi-tasking have helped fill the gaps left by inadequate staffing but specialists in emergency medicine are needed to advocate for the specialty and be role models in departments.

Practical implications

This paper is aimed at a broad audience of fellow clinicians, funders and policy makers, and those who have an interest in clinical governance in support of quality improvement in developing countries.

Originality/value

This is a firsthand account of efforts to enhance the quality of emergency care from a paediatric hospital department in Malawi.

Citation

M. Molyneux, E. and Dube, Q. (2013), "Promoting quality emergency care in a resource-constrained setting", Clinical Governance: An International Journal, Vol. 18 No. 4, pp. 300-314. https://doi.org/10.1108/CGIJ-03-2012-0010