The modern characteristics of quality of ambulatory polyclinic medical care of patients of elderly age

Abstract

The organization of out-patient care of elderly people has its own clinical and organizational characteristics. The study was carried out to establish quality factors of ambulatory polyclinic medical care of elderly people from the position of attending physician. The sampling consisted of 80 physicians interviewed. Out of them 70 were females (87.5%), 50 local therapists and general practitioners and 30 physicians of various specialties. The genuinely elaborated questionnaire was applied. Results and discussion. It is established that most physicians are aware of the need of improving quality of medical care of elderly patients and developing geriatric care. The percentage of elderly patients in ambulatory polyclinic network makes up to 50%, and in particular cases up to 60-70%. The majority of elderly patients visit their physician 1-2 times per month. More than 50% of physicians consider elderly patients have to be observed by physicians of geriatric profile that confirms actual need in this medical specialty. The social and organizational factors of quality of medical care are identified: insufficient duration of physician admission, low level of preferential medications support, lacking of cash resources in patients to purchase prescribed medications, difficulties in making an appointment to medical specialist and district physician, difficult access of medical organization. The orientation of doctors in provision of care to elderly patients only to medication therapy is established. Conclusion. The specific characteristics of identified factors of quality of medical care of elderly patients are to be considered in developing directions of optimizing medical care for this contingent.