Shifa Hopital Survey Results 7

Opinion Survey on SHIFA HOSPITAL for providing better health care to the society

Abstract

The core purpose of this study is to render better health care services to the society with a mission to re-build the identity of SHIFA HOSPITAL and to offer quality healthcare services with necessary medical amenities at affordable cost for all.

Shifa Hospital is housed in an area of 1.71 acre of natural environment and on the main road. Total built up area is around 7500 square feet with 30 beds for in-patients. Basic infrastructure is available but up- gradation is very much necessary.

Acknowledgement

We take opportunity to thank valuable respondents in and around Adirampattinam circle, The Management, Principal and staff of Imam Shafi (Rah) Matriculation High School for their valuable contribution on field work to collect the survey data. We thank Auditor Mr. Sriram for his proactive and lateral support in formulating financial analysis and survey study.

Finally thanks to the indispensable active management of Shifa hospital and all other invisible minds who thrive to uplift the radiant future of the Shifa hospital.

Introduction

In 1984 a team of service-minded people realized the need for a hospital with an ICU facility and with specialists in gynecology and pediatric field. During 1985-87 Donations were received from well-wishers, land acquired and hospital building was constructed and Shifa Hospital was inaugurated on 24-07-1988.

During 1988-2002 service-minded specialists were appointed. The local population made use of the medical facilities including major surgeries. Travel to Thanjavur for treatments was avoided. In the 2003 onwards Doctors were noticed unwilling to continue as Adirampattinam was a rural area. Hence patients who could afford started losing confidence and started to go to Thanjavur or Chennai. But poor and needy patients suffered.

Presently, the monthly establishment expense is approximately 1.50 Lacs. Amount required for building maintenance/revamping/face-lifting is estimated at Rs.15 lacs. Income from rendering medical services is few Thousands only. Due to steep drop in revenue since 2005 the establishment expenses are being met from the personal contributions of the management.

After a long search, a committed and dedicated DGO doctor was identified and appointed full time besides one MBBS doctor. One visiting BDS doctor is also available. Shifa Hospital administration has been bleeding for over 5 years due to various reasons. The management is facing difficulty in meeting sufficient fund to run the hospital

Survey Method

The questionnaire was prepared with an objective to collect much relative data that will provide better understanding of providing better health care service through Shifa hospital.

Random sample of 600 respondents was chosen regardless of religion, wealth etc., in and around Adirampattinam circle. The survey data was collected with the help of Imam Shafi (Rah) Mat. School. The survey covered almost all streets of Adirampattinam including some nearby villages. The survey form was serial numbered for cross verification with digital data.

Data interpretation was done with Microsoft Excel and Power Point using statistical average.

Strength Weakness Opportunity Threat – Analysis (SHIFA HOSPITAL)

Strength

• Established more than 20 years ago

• Adequate Land & building for expansion

• Prime Location and well suited place for hospital environment

• sufficient ward bed for in-house patients at a time

Weakness

• Inadequate doctors and medical attendants for its size

• Negative reputation about earlier management

• Absence of 24/Hrs. emergency services

• No modern ICU

• Underdeveloped healthcare infrastructure

Opportunity

• There is no such a big hospital in the circle of 20km than SHIFA

• Population of this locality is dense, comparing to nearby places

• Medical spending of local people can be diverted to SHIFA

• Recent study shows that there is an Increased demand for quality health care

Threat

• Weak financial strength

• Increased health care cost

• Introduction of Kalaingar insurance scheme to all people

The survey outcome reveals that, most people give top priority to doctors while selecting a hospital. According to the survey data about 67.5% of the total 600 respondents choose hospital based on availability of good doctors. This is top among other key factors where the management of Shifa hospital should highly focus to place credible doctors and well trained nurses. The second factor determining the selection of a hospital is based on the existing infrastructure of a hospital. Naturally quality of health care services are more depend on proper infrastructure availability about 20.4% of the respondents have said that infrastructure is more important than other remaining factors like Medical Fee, Place/City etc., while opting a hospital.

Generally handful number of persons do have their favorite hospital, according to the data there are 73% of the respondents do have favorite hospital in Adirampattinam and 57% of the people do recommend their favorite hospital to their neighbors. This outcome can be analyzed and reasoned why people favor a hospital over others!. Certainly there could be more reasons. But as far as Shifa concerned, the advantages of those hospitals can be studied and can be adopted to attract people to make Shifa as their favorite hospital.

Now-a-days routine Medical checkup become necessity due to the nature of variant diseases. As per the study 42.6% of the respondents get non-specific general treatment, this is could be diagnosing of fever, small injuries and other common medical treatment therefore it might not be the periodical checkup like diabetic & BP/Cholesterol. Diabetic poses a biggest challenge now-a-days about 26.4% percentage of the respondents state that they do routine checkup specifically for diabetic alone. Since the nature of disease is compelling to perform routine checkup, the necessity of having appropriate doctors with proper lab equipment become more urge.

Healthcare decision making is a decisive task. According to the survey data family heads are marginally upfront with 28% in making health care decision than husband / Wife or both together while choosing the right hospital. Spending on medical expense has become a common element. People started to allocate a portion of their income for medical expenses on their monthly budget. About 32.5% of families do spend up to Rs. 500 on medical expense and curiously 25.6% of the families spend at least Rs. 2000 on monthly basis for medical expenses alone. This is a handsome amount of money spent every month solely towards healthcare, out of which most of the funds are leaving out of Adirampattinam especially in the case of specialty treatment, due to unavailability of specialists and proper infrastructure etc., The medical spending of the local people can be diverted to Shifa, by implementing required measures.

Trust towards a hospital or a doctor can be psychologically considered as a half-cure, out of 600 respondents 45% revealed that they are satisfied with Shifa hospital, this can be a surprising fact for many and suspicious question for few but the survey data reveals the fact and 22.2% of the respondents states that they are neutral and 15.4% are not satisfied along with 6% highly dissatisfied. The derived sources of above stated satisfaction level are slated as 74.6% from self-experience and 24.4% from by word of mouth.

There are numerous suggestions and recommendations were sought to improve Shifa hospital from present state. Permanent availability of adequate doctor is concerned as top priority with about 60% of the respondents urges that Shifa should have enough doctors for its size with constant availability. Shifa hospital encountered tedious experience with un-availability of permanent doctors especially in emergency circumstances. Coming to next priority, up-gradation of present infrastructure become the second most prominence with 18% of the respondents states that the basic infrastructure need should be met along with modern equipment with tidy and uncluttered environment. The third and fourth attributes are adequate staffing and able administration about 11% states that Shifa should focus to improve by employing adequate medical attendants and required staff. About 10% reveals that able administration is one of the prime necessities to render better health care amenities.

A remarkable fact to accept that almost all respondents i.e., about 97.6% prefers to choose Shifa hospital if it is revamped with required medical facilities along with most soughed preference by the people. This can be considered one of the positive outcomes of this survey.

The hard question for few and easy for some, about franchising!. There was a lot of speculation about franchising of Shifa hospital since its inception. About 60% of the respondents do not entertain franchising of Shifa to other private hospital group and remaining 40% favour towards franchising of Shifa to other hospital group/management. The decision is up to the management of Shifa to take required action while considering various aspects in mind.

Data interpretation. (Graphical Chart)

-- U Moinudeen

தகவல்: அதிரை அஹ்மது