Original Research
Paramedics' experiences of financial medicine practices in the pre-hospital environment. A pilot study
Submitted: 10 October 2017 | Published: 11 October 2016
About the author(s)
Craig Vincent-Lambert, Department of Emergency Medical Care Podiatry, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, South AfricaRichard-Kyle Jackson, Department of Emergency Medical Care Podiatry, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, South Africa
Full Text:
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Objectives: This qualitative pilot study explored and described the experiences of South African Paramedics with regard to the practicing of financial medicine in the local pre-hospital emergency care environment.
Method: A sample of South African Paramedics were interviewed either face-to-face or telephonically. The interviews were audio recorded and transcripts produced. Content analysis was conducted to explore, document and describe the participants' experiences with regard to financial medicine practices in the local pre-hospital environment.
Results: It emerged that all of the participants had experienced a number of financial medicine practices and associated unethical conduct. Examples included Over-servicing, Selective Patient Treatment, Fraudulent Billing Practices, Eliciting of kickbacks, incentives or benefits and Deliberate Time Wasting.
Conclusion: The results of this study are concerning as the actions of service providers described by the participants constitute gross violations of the ethical and professional guidelines for health care professionals. The authors recommend additional studies be conducted to further explore these findings and to establish the reasons for, and ways of, limiting financial medicine practices in the South African emergency care environment.
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Crossref Citations
1. A resuscitation systems analysis for South Africa: A narrative review
Louis van Rensburg, Naqeeb Majiet, Amalia Geldenhuys, Lauren Lai King, Willem Stassen
Resuscitation Plus vol: 18 first page: 100655 year: 2024
doi: 10.1016/j.resplu.2024.100655