Determinants of the Delegation of Health Care Aboard Ships with Women Assigned
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to identify the potential determinants and distribution of shipboard patient delegation decisions. During a one-month period, physicians aboard five U.S. Navy ships provided an estimate of the minimum level of health care provider required to diagnose/treat each case which presented at sick call (N-2,725). On a case-by-case basis, the physicians indicated the following potential distribution of patient delegation: consultation (1.4%), medical officer (18.6%), physician assistant/nurse practitioner (8.7%), corpsman with additional OB/GYN training (2.2%), and corpsman (69.2%). The patient's diagnosis was the best predictor of the indicated level of health care required. Medical officers were most likely to see patients with potentially serious or difficult diagnoses, including mental disorders. Patient characteristics such as sex and paygrade were not significantly related to the potential delegation decision. The data clearly document the importance of hospital corpsmen in the delivery of health care services aboard ship and support a strong broad-based clinical training program. Keywords: Navy medicine; Women; Shipboard health care delivery; Patient delegation; Physician assistant. Hospital corpsman.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 07, 1989
- Accession Number
- ADA212997
Entities
People
- D. S. Nice
- Susan M. Hilton
Organizations
- Naval Health Research Center