Care of pregnant women and application of crisis management at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic of the Clinical Center of the University of Debrecen during the pandemic

Abstract

During the pandemic the health care system was faced with challenges that had and still have an impact on patient care and the management of health institutions. Crisis management and the development of new procedures were necessary. Our aim in our study is to show what organizational and management tasks were applied at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic of the University of Debrecen Clinical Center in order to ensure that pregnant women are cared for in addition to curbing and preventing the epidemic. In our study we combined retrospective and prospective research methods we prepared a case study that demonstrates the crisis management strategies we used and in parallel during the third wave of the epidemic we assessed the opinions of pregnant women receiving care at the clinic using a questionnaire. Based on the results it can be said that the management was forced to change many protocols, create new patient routes and transform institute units. Based on the 236 questionnaires that were returned, 54.6% of expectant mothers were worried about the changes affecting the hospital and 53.8% were afraid that they would not be able to attend the mandatory examinations because of that. Most of them feared for the health of their fetus. Based on the results obtained in the questionnaire we have an insight into the impact of a crisis on pregnant women's care-related concerns. Our research contributes to the development of good practices and can help in the development of new protocols in the event of a possible emerging crisis and it also has an impact on the organization of current patient care ensuring the implementation of safe pregnancy care.