Table 1

Proposed emergency care access measures for monitoring, evaluation and comparative analysis by access type

Access typeDefinition from penchansky and thomasAdapted definition for emergency careProposed sample emergency care access measures
AvailabilityThe relationship of the volume and type of existing services to the clients’ volume and types of needsThe relationship between EU services and those seeking EC.No of EC beds per catchment area
Presence of drug, technology or interventions specific to EC
Presence of EC clinicians 24 hours a day
Per cent of clinicians with EC training
AccessibilityThe relationship between the location of supply and the location of clients, taking account of client transportation resources and travel time, distance and costThe proximity (in time and space) of a patient to EU care.Distance to closest emergency care facility
Time to closest emergency care facility
Available transport
Time associated with transport
Cost of transport to emergency care
AffordabilityThe relationship of prices of services and providers’ insurance or deposit requirements to the clients' income, ability to pay and existing health insurance.The cost of EU services and care, relative to patient’s household income and ability to pay.Cost to access initial EC service
Cost of individual services specific to EC (specific to individual care type)
Overall EC cost per visit
AccommodationThe relationship between the manner in which the supply resources are organised to accept clients (including appointment systems, hours of operation, walk-in facilities, telephone services) and the clients’ ability to accommodate to these factors and the clients’ perception of their appropriatenessThe manner in which EU services are organised (time of operation, level of training and services able to be rendered) relative to a patient’s need.Hours of operation of EU
No of transfers per patient
Average EU time to provider
Training provided per specific EU interventions
AcceptabilityThe relationship of clients’ attitudes about personal and practice characteristics of existing providers, as well as to provider attitudes about acceptable personal characteristics of clientsThe relationship between a patient’s individual belief system and larger sociocultural attributes and their willingness to seek EC.Understanding of how to navigate EC system
Acceptability of EU care
Acceptability of EU conduct or attitudes
Acceptability of ambulance use
  • EC, Emergency Care; EU, Emergency Unit.