Authors: (including presenting author): :
Chau NY(1), Kwan WL(1), Chan WY(1), Lam SK(3), Billy Wong (1), Lee SN(1), Crystal Leung(2), Janny Lo (2)
Affiliation: :
(1) AED, Pok Oi Hospital, (2) NTWC IT, (3) AED, Tuen Mun Hospital
Keyword 1: :
Ethnic Minorities
Keyword 2: :
multidisciplinary pilot approach
Introduction: :
According to Hong Kong Census and Statistics Department information in 2021, there are 620,000 ethnic minorities (EM) living in Hong Kong. 11.5% (around 71300) of total ethnic minorities population is living within New Territories West Cluster area. There is 10% of EM patient attend AED according to the daily attendance. Based on race, culture and language differences, a pilot patient empowerment program is conducted with POHIT to implement in POHAED in order to provide diversity needs of EM those attend AED in NTWC
Objectives: :
Therefore, an EM task group in Pok Oi Hospital which consisted of physician, nurses, IT staff, Patient Resources Centre, Yuen Long Town Hall, and HKSKH Lady MacLehose Centre Interpretation Service was formulated. Two areas are identified that can enhance the patient flow and safety in Triage. 1) Triage station is the first place to serve EM attendants. FTOCC is the golden question that Triage Officer should ask for them during triage. However, some words are usually unintelligible to them who are outside the specialty, e.g. leaking, per-vaginal bleeding, or even drug allergy. It is fact that there is interpretation service in HA that staff can use upon request. But it needs extra-time consumption for it and the triage pledge target /patient flow in AED will be affected. Therefore, a fast and accurate information collector is badly needed 2) The fee and charge reform in Hospital Authority will be implemented in 1/1/26. It is extremely needed to introduce the Triage system to the EM so as to minimize any misinterpretation created Goal 1) To enhance the communication in of between ethnic minorities and Emergency Department by IT apps 2) To speed up the patient flow in Emergency Department 3) To promulgate the HA triage System
Methodology: :
1) A designated apps is developed by IT. The apps mainly focus on the FTOCC, Personal Data, Medical History, and Female Patient related history enquiry. The apps can broadcast the question into Nepali and Urdu sound so as to allow the Triage Officer /Physician get the information instantly from the EM 2) A Health Talk was arranged to EM in Oct 2025. The average case mix of GI was around 30-35% of AED attendants. Therefore, the topic was set as Abdominal pain and Introduction of AED Triage System with on-site interpretation service which was provided by Yuen Long Town Hall to the EM audience.
Result & Outcome: :
A patient satisfaction survey was done after the Health Talk and the efforts that paid by the multidisciplinary task group in this program was highly appreciated>97% by the ethnic minorities.
