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Doctor Clerk Implementation in Rural Community Hospitals for Effective Task Shifting of Doctors: A Grounded Theory Approach

Author

Listed:
  • Ryuichi Ohta

    (Community Care, Unnan City Hospital, 96-1 Iida, Daito-cho, Unnan 699-1221, Japan)

  • Miyuki Yawata

    (Community Care, Unnan City Hospital, 96-1 Iida, Daito-cho, Unnan 699-1221, Japan)

  • Chiaki Sano

    (Department of Community Medicine Management, Faculty of Medicine, Shimane University, 89-1 Enya-cho, Izumo 693-8501, Japan)

Abstract

With the diversification of medical care and work reform, doctor clerks play a major role today and are recruited to mitigate the burden of doctors worldwide. Their recruitment can improve the working conditions of physicians, facilitate task shifting in rural community hospitals, improve patient care, and help address the lack of healthcare resources. This study used a qualitative method to investigate difficulties in the implementation of doctor clerks and ascertain the features of effective implementation by collecting ethnographic data through field notes and semi-structured interviews with workers. We observed and interviewed 4 doctor clerks, 10 physicians, 14 nurses, 2 pharmacists, 1 nutritionist, and 2 therapists for our study. We clarified the doctor clerk process in rural hospitals through four themes: initial challenge, balance between education and expansion, vision for work progression, and drive for quality of care. We further clarified effectiveness, difficulties, and enhancing factors in implementation. Doctor clerk recruitment and bridging of discrepancies among medical professionals can mitigate professional workloads and improve staff motivation, leading to better interprofessional collaboration and patient care.

Suggested Citation

  • Ryuichi Ohta & Miyuki Yawata & Chiaki Sano, 2022. "Doctor Clerk Implementation in Rural Community Hospitals for Effective Task Shifting of Doctors: A Grounded Theory Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-13, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:16:p:9944-:d:886317
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Maier, Claudia B., 2015. "The role of governance in implementing task-shifting from physicians to nurses in advanced roles in Europe, U.S., Canada, New Zealand and Australia," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 119(12), pages 1627-1635.
    2. Ryuichi Ohta & Yoshinori Ryu & Takuji Katsube & Chiaki Sano, 2020. "Rural Homecare Nurses’ Challenges in Providing Seamless Patient Care in Rural Japan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-11, December.
    3. Yumi Naito & Ryuichi Ohta & Chiaki Sano, 2021. "Solving Social Problems in Aging Rural Japanese Communities: The Development and Sustainability of the Osekkai Conference as a Social Prescribing during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-15, November.
    4. van Schalkwyk, May CI & Bourek, Aleš & Kringos, Dionne Sofia & Siciliani, Luigi & Barry, Margaret M. & De Maeseneer, Jan & McKee, Martin, 2020. "The best person (or machine) for the job: Rethinking task shifting in healthcare," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 124(12), pages 1379-1386.
    5. de Haan, Maarten & van Eijk-Hustings, Yvonne & Bessems-Beks, Monique & Dirksen, Carmen & Vrijhoef, Hubertus J.M., 2019. "Facilitators and barriers to implementing task shifting: Expanding the scope of practice of clinical technologists in the Netherlands," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 123(11), pages 1076-1082.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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