ABSTRACT

The financial evaluation of Turkish clinics and hospitals was initiated after the establishment of Government Hospital Associations following changes to the health system. The number and quality of studies on the subject is inadequate and in this retrospective study the aim was to evaluate the economic changes affecting emergency clinics after emergency medicine specialists and residents took up office.

Depending on the annual patient number and income of the emergency clinics between 2004 and 2011, different parameters were evaluated and an efficiency point established.

The efficiency point increased from 0.15 in 2004 to 35 in 2011. Mean annual patient registration was more than 400.000. The annual income of the clinics increased from 2.7 million TL in 2004 to 17 million TL in 2011. Although annual patient numbers did not change clinic income showed a sixfold increase. Not only has income changed but also the quality of the patient population, as evidenced by the fact that the annual death rate was zero before 2004 but in 2011 rose to 154 per year.

Employment of emergency medicine specialists and residents in emergency departments results in high income for clinics and hospitals.

Keywords: Emergency departments, income, emergency medicine specialists