Status, role, and performance of emergency medicine specialists in Iran: A qualitative study

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The performance of the emergency department (ED) as one of the main parts of hospitals, have a great impact on the performance of the whole-hospital. In Iran, the official education program of this discipline was started in 2001 and has expanded in most medical universities. Given the unprecedentedness of emergency medicine (EM), there are limited studies about this specialty. Thus, this study aims to explore the status, role, and performance of Iranian EM specialists. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This qualitative study was conducted using content analysis of 19 semi-structured interviews with EM specialists and key informant. Purposive sampling was conducted, and some teaching and nonstate hospitals in different geographic regions of Tehran city were selected. Conducting interviews continued until reaching the data saturation. Thematic analysis was employed. Extracted themes were reviewed and confirmed by some of the participants. RESULTS: The study results were categorized within five main themes; included the role of ED from EM specialists' viewpoint, EM specialists' viewpoint on their discipline, performance of EM specialists (including medical, managerial, and economic performance), and role of EM specialists in patient satisfaction; and opportunities and challenges of EM specialists. CONCLUSION: Overall, the study findings highlighted the effectiveness and positive medical, managerial and economic impacts of EM in Iran, inside and beyond hospitals. However, the study addressed significant opportunities some solvable challenges in educational, professional and economic domains, and interdisciplinary relationships. Further studies are recommended for comprehensive exploring viewpoint of other disciplines and stakeholders.

Preferences of Iranians to select the emergency department physician at the time of service delivery

“…EDs are responsible for providing initial treatment for a wide range of diseases and injuries, and, in many cases, they play a vital role in saving patients’ life. In Iran, these services can be delivered by general physicians (GPs) who are trained to provide emergency medical services or by emergency medicine specialists (EMSs) who are qualified to deliver treatments for many types of emergencies [ 2 ].…”

“…Although each hospital in Iran has ED, there are not enough EMS graduates in Iran to provide emergency services. Thus, trained GPs provide emergency services in most EDs in Iran [ 2 , 8 ]. The first cohort of EMSs was graduated in 2005.…”