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Health Service Management and Patient Safety in Primary Care during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Kosovo

Author

Listed:
  • Gazmend Bojaj

    (Department of Health Institutions and Services Management, Heimerer College, 10000 Prishtina, Kosovo
    Principal Family Medicine Center, 32000 Kline, Kosovo)

  • Bernard Tahirbegolli

    (Department of Health Institutions and Services Management, Heimerer College, 10000 Prishtina, Kosovo
    National Sports Medicine Centre, 10000 Prishtina, Kosovo)

  • Petrit Beqiri

    (Department of Health Institutions and Services Management, Heimerer College, 10000 Prishtina, Kosovo)

  • Iliriana Alloqi Tahirbegolli

    (Laboratory Technician Department, Heimerer College, 10000 Prishtina, Kosovo
    Hematology Clinic, University Clinical Center of Kosovo, 10000 Prishtina, Kosovo)

  • Esther Van Poel

    (Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium)

  • Sara Willems

    (Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium)

  • Nderim Rizanaj

    (Nursing Department, Heimerer College, 10000 Prishtina, Kosovo)

  • Ilir Hoxha

    (Department of Health Institutions and Services Management, Heimerer College, 10000 Prishtina, Kosovo
    The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH 03766, USA
    Evidence Synthesis Group, 10000 Prishtina, Kosovo)

Abstract

Background: Several changes must be made to the services to ensure patient safety and enable delivering services in environments where the danger of infection of healthcare personnel and patients in primary care (PC) institutions is elevated, i.e., during the COVID-19 pandemic. Objective: This study aimed to examine patient safety and healthcare service management in PHC practices in Kosovo during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, data were collected using a self-reported questionnaire among 77 PHC practices. Results: Our main finding reveals a safer organization of PC practices and services since the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the previous period before the pandemic. The study also shows a collaboration between PC practices in the close neighborhood and more proper human resource management due to COVID-19 suspicion or infection. Over 80% of the participating PC practices felt the need to introduce changes to the structure of their practice. Regarding infection protection measures (IPC), our study found that health professionals’ practices of wearing a ring or bracelet and wearing nail polish improved during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic period. During the COVID-19 pandemic, PC practice health professionals had less time to routinely review guidelines or medical literature. Despite this, implementing triage protocols over the phone has yet to be applied at the intended level by PC practices in Kosovo. Conclusions: Primary care practices in Kosovo responded to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis by modifying how they organize their work, implementing procedures for infection control, and enhancing patient safety.

Suggested Citation

  • Gazmend Bojaj & Bernard Tahirbegolli & Petrit Beqiri & Iliriana Alloqi Tahirbegolli & Esther Van Poel & Sara Willems & Nderim Rizanaj & Ilir Hoxha, 2023. "Health Service Management and Patient Safety in Primary Care during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Kosovo," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-13, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:4:p:3768-:d:1074951
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Fatime Arenliu Qosaj & Stevan Merrill Weine & Pleurat Sejdiu & Fekrije Hasani & Shukrije Statovci & Vigan Behluli & Aliriza Arenliu, 2022. "Prevalence of Perceived Stress, Anxiety, and Depression in HCW in Kosovo during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-13, December.
    2. Nora Murataj & Blerim Syla & Yllka Krasniqi & Shegë Bahtiri & Dardan Bekaj & Petrit Beqiri & Ilir S. Hoxha, 2022. "Migration Intent of Health Care Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Kosovo," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-11, September.
    3. Claire Collins & Esther Van Poel & Milena Šantrić Milićević & Katica Tripkovic & Limor Adler & Torunn Bjerve Eide & Liubove Murauskiene & Adam Windak & Katarzyna Nessler & Bernard Tahirbegolli & Sara , 2022. "Practice and System Factors Impact on Infection Prevention and Control in General Practice during COVID-19 across 33 Countries: Results of the PRICOV Cross-Sectional Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-11, June.
    4. Adam Windak & Katarzyna Nessler & Esther Van Poel & Claire Collins & Ewa Wójtowicz & Liubove Murauskiene & Kathryn Hoffmann & Sara Willems, 2022. "Responding to COVID-19: The Suitability of Primary Care Infrastructure in 33 Countries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-13, December.
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