Fontalvo, H. R., Calvano, F. A. R., De La Puente, M., Arias, E. L., & Cardenas, E. A.

Journal of Legal, Ethical & Regulatory Issues. 2022;25:1.

2022

Ambulatory clinic general

Ambulatory Health Care (AMB)

Not applicable

Yes

To analyze whether clinics accredited by the Joint Commission International Hospital Program in ambulatory medical care protocols located in Latin America achieve a higher quality perception from foreign patients compared to others treated in non-accredited ones.

Cross-Sectional Study

This research examined foreign patients' perceptions of the quality of care in five ambulatory procedures received in three certified Hospital Program clinics in Bogota, Mexico City, and Quito, as well as three non-certified ones based on the three variables on which the Hospital Program accreditation is based (the length of an outpatient visit, follow-up attention, and a clear explanation of the medical condition identified by doctors to patients). Changes in perception were analyzed in 121 patients seen in accredited clinics in the three cities mentioned and 115 seen in non-accredited ones. A quasi-experimental approach based on a pre-test and post-test was applied to conduct a descriptive-analytical examination. In 236 patients, a t-test with Welch correction, chi-square test, Tau Kendall correlation coefficient, pre-test, post-test, supplemental questionnaire, and two focus groups was applied.

Patients treated in accredited clinics had a greater perception of quality than those treated in non-accredited clinics. The association between being referred by health insurance and being in an accredited clinic was close, as was the relationship between not being referred by insurance company and attending a non-accredited clinic. All participants treated at certified clinics expressed satisfaction with the care they received, noting that the data collected on their medical record and follow-up care methods were like those in their own country. Sixty-two patients treated at a non-accredited clinic reported problems with information flow, despite their partial satisfaction with their medical care. They also stated that doctors' descriptions of the medical procedures to be conducted were insufficient, causing them to stay longer than they would have liked. An unbalanced application of the three variables was discovered to have a detrimental impact on quality perception.

2015, 2019, 2022

https://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/jnlolletl25&div=93&id=&page=

Ambulatory care, medical displacement, case study, quasi-experimental approach, Latin America

Positive