Scandinavian journal of primary health care
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Scand J Prim Health Care · Mar 2020
How can task shifting put patient safety at risk? A qualitative study of experiences among general practitioners in Norway.
Objective: To describe experiences among general practitioners (GPs) in Norway regarding horizontal task shifting experiences associated with adverse events that potentially put patient safety at risk. Design and contributors: We conducted a qualitative study with data from a retrospective convenience sample of consecutive, already posted comments in a restricted Facebook group for GPs in Norway. The sample consisted of 43 unique posts from 38 contributors (23 women and 15 men), presenting thick and specific accounts of potentially adverse events in the context of horizontal task shifting. ⋯ GPs in Norway report adverse events related to task shifting from specialist colleagues without proper resource allocation. Patient safety may be put at risk by hazardous delay, overdiagnosis, endangered accountability and potential malpractice. Planning and implementation of task shifting must involve all system levels and relevant stakeholders to ensure patient safety.
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Scand J Prim Health Care · Mar 2020
The function of the Norwegian municipal acute units fails to fulfill the intention of health authorities.
Objective: The aim of the study was to explore healthcare providers' perceptions of how Norwegian municipal acute units (MAUs) possibly can reduce hospital admittance and improve service integration. Method and material: Qualitative data were drawn from individual interviews with 40 healthcare providers, including general practitioners and staff in Norwegian MAUs, purchasing offices and home-based nursing services. Interview transcripts were analysed using systematic text condensation. ⋯ KEY POINTSAs of 2016, Municipal Acute Units (MAUs) are statutory healthcare services in Norway. Exploring patients' and healthcare providers' views on MAUs can improve the services. Healthcare providers disagreed on which patients were suitable for the unitsThe units were perceived as a new (healthcare) level, entailing a new collaboration arena, with more bureaucracy and time expenditureThe patients were satisfied with their treatment and care in the MAUs and the units' proximity to their home.