Investments for medical equipment in a mother and child health hospital: correlation with level of services/departments.
OBJECTIVE
To assess whether investments for medical equipments assigned by a team of experts to a mother and child health hospital located in Mongolia were correlated with structural, organizational, and educational level of its services/departments.


METHODS
A score was used for evaluating the level of each service/department. It was based on a 'structural area' and an 'organizational and educational area'. Destination of funds was determined by a team of experts in collaboration with the head of the service/department.


RESULTS
Thirty-three of 36 services/departments (91.6%) were evaluated. A total sum of 4,432,140 Euros to invest in medical equipment was estimated. Assigned investments were inversely correlated with the total (structural plus organizational and educational area) score (n = 33; r =  -0.59; p = 0.0002), and the specific scores for structural area (n = 33; r = -0.46; p = 0.005) and organizational and educational area (n = 33; r =  -0.56; p = 0.0006).


CONCLUSIONS
A large part of the funds for medical equipment was destined to services/departments with low organizational and educational conditions, limiting the potential effect of the aid meanwhile supporting the most in need departments. Educational efforts and monitoring of specific long-term indicators are mandatory.
Trevisanuto
Daniele
D
Pediatric Department, Medical School, University of Padua, Azienda Ospedaliera Padova, Padua, Italy.
Raggi
Roberto
R
Bavuusuren
Bayasgalantai
B
Tudevdorj
Erkhembaatar
E
Doglioni
Nicoletta
N
Zanardo
Vincenzo
V
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001108:Architecture / Q000191:economics; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000191:economics* / Q000458:organization & administration; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004389:Durable Medical Equipment / Q000191:economics*; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006748:Hospital Departments / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration; D006771:Hospitals, Maternity / Q000191:economics* / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007449:Investments / Q000458:organization & administration; D008297:Male; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000191:economics* / Q000458:organization & administration; D008503:Medical Staff / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D008986:Mongolia; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D011247:Pregnancy