Authors (including presenting author) :
Sin PY Andrew (1), Lam L Christina (1), Chan YH Kerry (1), Tse LK Donna (1), Mok WM Meg (1), Lo WY Louis (1)
Affiliation :
(1) Department of Community Nursing Service, Caritas Medical Centre
Introduction :
To maximize the utilization of hospital vehicles, the CMC Administrative Service Division collaborated with the CMC Community Nursing Service (CNS) to provide transport for home visits. This initiative began implementation in May 2024.
Objectives :
The program aimed to increase the utilization of hospital vehicles while also reducing travelling expenses for CNS staff. Additionally, it sought to shorten waiting and travelling times associated with public transport. By ensuring timely services, the program aimed to enhance overall work efficiency.
Methodology :
The Caritas Medical Centre’s Administrative Service Division provided a 16-seat hospital vehicle for CNS staff, operating a scheduled transportation service from Mondays to Fridays at 08:45 and 09:15. Designated routes and drop-off points were established to streamline the process. The pilot run of this initiative commenced on April 22, 2024.
Result & Outcome :
Starting in May 2024, the regular hospital vehicle service was implemented, enabling community nurses to provide timely services. As a result of this program, travelling expenses for taxi services significantly decreased from $18,521 during the period from May to October 2023 to $9,145 for the same period in 2024, representing a reduction of approximately 50.6%. Reports indicated that the 16-seat vehicle was fully utilized by CNS staff during working days between 08:45 and 10:00.
After two months of implementing the hospital vehicle service, a staff satisfaction survey was conducted. This survey revealed an overall satisfaction rate of 91.7%, with staff expressing positive feedback on various aspects of the service, including departure times, drop-off points, drivers’ attitudes, and the overall arrangement of the service. In conclusion, the enhancement program successfully achieved its objectives and demonstrated a collaborative win-win approach. The generous support from hospital management significantly improved teamwork between departments, resulting in enhanced service delivery for the community nursing staff.
