[Elective Caesarean section team--an organizational innovation].
BACKGROUND
The increasing rate of delivery by caesarean section demands more effective use of resources in obstetrical departments and anaesthesiological departments. At the Danish State Hospital, Rigshospitalet, in 2002, we decided to optimise the cooperation between the various professionals involved, by softening the professional boundaries, and by performing most planned caesarean sections on the same day, carried out by the same team, the "elective caesarean section team" (EST). In 2003 a similar structure was established at Hvidovre Hospital. This paper describes the process of establishing EST, the organisational implications, and the results of an evaluation of EST by the users.


METHODS
The case records of all caesarean sections performed by the EST-team at Rigshospitalet and Hvidovre Hospital in 2004, were examined. All users in a two-month period evaluated the EST by questionnaires at planned discharge.


RESULTS
Most users (60.5%) were discharged after two days. The user evaluation showed a high level of satisfaction.


CONCLUSIONS
The introduction of EST has increased the efficiency within the organisation for carrying out planned caesarean sections. It has generated a high level of satisfaction among users, and a high educational value for the staff.
Bülow-Lehnsby
Anne Lene
AL
H:S Rigshospitalet, Juliane Marie Centret, Obstetrisk Klinik, København Ø. annelene@dadlnet.dk
Grønbeck
Lene
L
Krebs
Lone
L
Langhoff-Roos
Jens
J
D000761:Anesthesia Department, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000193:education / Q000592:standards; D003718:Denmark; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures / Q000193:education / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009775:Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010351:Patient Discharge; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000078329:Workforce