The Provincial General Hospital has effectively implemented electronic medical records, online appointment booking, and scheduled appointments to reduce waiting times and avoid overcrowding.
The Emergency Center, part of the Emergency and Intensive Care Unit 2 at the Provincial General Hospital, was crowded late at night, the sounds of ventilators and urgent calls echoing throughout. Besides patients lying unconscious, cases of stroke and trauma continuously poured in. Nurse Luong Thi Thanh Nhan had just finished resuscitating a patient when she heard shouts: "Let me in! Why won't you let me into the emergency room with my mother?" Then a man burst into the ward, swung his arm at a nurse, and yelled: "What kind of doctors are you?" The entire on-call team froze, their clothes drenched in sweat, their hearts pounding. But as if accustomed to this choking feeling, they all continued their work. "Each time this happens, all our efforts seem to be negated," Nurse Nhan shared.
Since the beginning of 2025, the healthcare sector nationwide has recorded three consecutive incidents of patients' relatives injuring doctors and nurses. For example, on May 4th, a healthcare worker at Nam Dinh Provincial General Hospital was pushed and punched in the face by a patient's relative. This person was subsequently prosecuted for disturbing public order. Similarly, in March, a doctor in Gia Lai province was assaulted by a patient's relative, causing psychological trauma.
According to Dr. Lam Tien Tung, Head of the Emergency and Intensive Care Unit 2, assaults on emergency medical staff are not uncommon. These range from mild shouting, yelling, and threats to more serious acts like vandalism and physical assault during patient care. Some doctors and nurses, especially female colleagues, become very traumatized after such incidents, to the point where some request transfers to other departments. This is also why many hospitals currently face difficulties in recruiting emergency medical personnel.
The pressure on emergency medical services is immense. On average, the center receives and screens 150-200 patients daily who are admitted in critical, urgent situations. Emergency care is often measured in seconds, and most family members are anxious and worried, making it difficult for them to remain calm. Meanwhile, medical staff must prioritize emergency care based on severity, without regard for waiting time. Yet, many family members still feel neglected or abandoned. Expectations exceeding the hospital's capacity, coupled with emotional pressure, sometimes fueled by alcohol, easily lead to conflict. It's not uncommon for doctors and nurses to behave inappropriately, escalating emotions into conflict.
Each day, the Provincial General Hospital receives 800-1,000 outpatients for examination and treatment, and treats 1,600-1,700 inpatients. The hospital environment makes it impossible to completely control the number and identities of people entering and leaving. For a leading hospital like the Provincial General Hospital, ensuring security and order is even more challenging. Therefore, proactive measures to prevent and combat violence are a top priority for the hospital. In recent years, the Provincial General Hospital has strengthened the application of information technology in medical examination and treatment, especially the effective implementation of electronic medical records, online appointment registration, and scheduled appointments... to reduce waiting times, avoid overcrowding, and minimize the risk of conflict.
In addition, the hospital has deployed and reinforced security personnel to be on duty 24/7 at key locations, ensuring proactive handling of any incidents. If any security or public order issues arise, the warning and monitoring system will be activated, and depending on the severity, security teams and local police will arrive promptly to provide assistance.
However, technical solutions are only the "tip of the iceberg." The root of the problem lies in the legal framework. The amended Law on Medical Examination and Treatment already includes deterrent provisions, but a separate law on combating medical violence is still needed, clearly defining the rights, penalties, and protecting the honor and image of medical staff in the eyes of the public and on social media.
Text and photos: Tang Thuy
Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/ngan-nan-bao-hanh-blouse-trang-257088.htm
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