Heavy patient loads is one of the more persistent problems identified by health providers in Jordan. As part of a larger "staffing and costing" study, an assessment was made of provider-patient contact time as well as provider time allocation patterns. Using stratified random sampling techniques, a sample of 101 primary care facilities in Jordan�s public sector was selected. From these facilities, a sample of 111 physicians, nurses and midwives was randomly selected. Average contact time and overall daily time allocation was derived using an adaptation of the recently developed �activity sampling technique.� The mean contact time per patient for physicians was 3�04� (minutes and seconds), midwives 5�56� and nurses 5�07.� Contact time was inversely related to volume of visits (patients per provider) with mean contact time being 3�12� at high volume facilities, 3�55� at medium volume facilities, and 4�57� at low volume facilities. In terms of how staff time was allocated, an average of 33 percent of their combined time was spent on clinical activities, 14 percent on non-clinical activities, and 53 percent downtime. By volume of visits, 20 percent of staff time at low volume facilities was spent on clinical activities, 28 percent on non-clinical activities, and 52 percent on downtime. At high volume facilities, 34 percent of time was for clinical activities, 21 percent for non-clinical activities, and 45 percent was downtime. Implications of these findings, all of which were significant at p=.05, for rationalizing staffing patterns are discussed.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to (1) compare provider-patient contact time among physicians, nurses and midwives in high to low patient volume clinics, and (2) assess time allocation patterns of providers among clinical, non-clinical and downtime activities in high to low volume clinics.
Keywords: Health Reform, Service Delivery
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.