Authors (including presenting author) :
Shum MF(1), Cheng CW(2), Chan TS(2), Law YK(3), MA HF (3), WONG KS(4)
Affiliation :
(1) NTEC Administrative Services Division
(2) Cluster Transport Service
(3) Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital
(4) North District Hospital
Introduction :
Non-emergency Ambulance Transfer Service (NEATS) in New Territories East Cluster (NTEC) is cluster-based patient transfer service for 7 hospitals, which involves vast service area.
7 NTEC hospitals in NTEC could be divided into Northern fleet including Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital (AHNH), North District Hospital (NDH) and Tai Po Hospital (TPH) and Southern fleet including Bradbury Hospice (BBH), Shatin Cheshire Home (SCH), Prince of Wales Hospital (PWH) and Shatin Hospital (SH).
In 2018, the workload in Northern fleet and Southern fleet of NTEC were 47% and 53% respectively.
NEATS vehicle and manpower in Northern fleet and Southern fleet of NTEC was 7% and 93% respectively which did not match the workload distribution, resulting in dead mileages and long travelling time from Southern fleet to Northern fleet for patient transfer.
For clinical side, unforeseen circumstance such as traffic congestion may affect punctuality of Geriatric Day Hospital (GDH) and Outpatient (O) patient appointment.
Objectives :
To enhance punctuality of patient appointment in NTEC by redeployment of vehicles and manpower
Methodology :
Workload distribution and NEATS resources had been reviewed and redeployed.
Since 10 Jun 2019, 4 NEATS vehicles and 4 NEATS teams involving 10 new recruits were deployed to Northern fleet of NTEC by phases.
3 vehicles and 1 vehicle were parked at NDH and AHNH respectively. 10 NEATS crews were arranged to report for duty directly at NDH and AHNH.
To enhance staff supervision in Northern fleet of NTEC, a NEATS satellite with stationed supervisors had been set up at NDH with effect from 3 Aug 2020.
Result & Outcome :
After implementation of project, it is noted that some trips travelling from Southern to Northern fleet of NTEC for patient pick-up is not required.
As a result, it is estimated that total 650 hours of travelling time for dead mileage on yearly basis could be eliminated.
With same number of vehicles and manpower, the saved travelling time could support extra 325 patient trips per year.
On the other hand, monthly punctuality for GDH appointment within +/- 30 minutes of appointment time for 70% cases had increased by 8% from 86% to 94%.
Monthly punctuality for O appointment within +/- 30 minutes of appointment time for 70% cases had increased by 2% from 80% to 82%.
With effective vehicle and manpower deployment, fleet resources could be fully utilized and efficient patient transfer could be provided which Cluster NEATS team, patients and clinical department could gain a win-win-win situation.
