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Perera ML, Davies AW, Gnaneswaran N, Giles M, Liew D, Ritchie P, Chan STF. Clearing emergency departments and clogging wards: National Emergency Access Target and the law of unintended consequences. Emerg Med Australas 2014; 26:549-55. [DOI: 10.1111/1742-6723.12300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/19/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marlon L Perera
- Department of Surgery; Western Health; Melbourne Victoria Australia
| | | | | | - Marian Giles
- Department of Surgery; Western Health; Melbourne Victoria Australia
| | - Danny Liew
- Department of Statistics; Western Health; Melbourne Victoria Australia
| | - Peter Ritchie
- Emergency Department; Western Health; Melbourne Victoria Australia
| | - Steven TF Chan
- Department of Surgery; Western Health; Melbourne Victoria Australia
- Academic Surgery; The University of Melbourne; Melbourne Victoria Australia
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Gao J, Zhang M. Should the Emergency Journey Coordinator and 4 h target be introduced to others? Emerg Med Australas 2014; 26:415. [PMID: 24931769 DOI: 10.1111/1742-6723.12258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jianbo Gao
- Emergency Department, Fuyang People's Hospital, Fuyang, China
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Marck CH, Weil J, Lane H, Weiland TJ, Philip J, Boughey M, Jelinek GA. Care of the dying cancer patient in the emergency department: findings from a National survey of Australian emergency department clinicians. Intern Med J 2014; 44:362-8. [DOI: 10.1111/imj.12379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2013] [Accepted: 02/10/2014] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- C. H. Marck
- Emergency Practice Innovation Centre (EPIcentre); St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne; Melbourne Victoria Australia
| | - J. Weil
- Department of Palliative Care; St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne; Melbourne Victoria Australia
- Centre for Palliative Care; The University of Melbourne (St Vincent's Hospital); Melbourne Victoria Australia
| | - H. Lane
- Department of Palliative Care; St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne; Melbourne Victoria Australia
- Centre for Palliative Care; The University of Melbourne (St Vincent's Hospital); Melbourne Victoria Australia
| | - T. J. Weiland
- Emergency Practice Innovation Centre (EPIcentre); St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne; Melbourne Victoria Australia
- Department of Medicine; The University of Melbourne (St Vincent's Hospital); Melbourne Victoria Australia
| | - J. Philip
- Department of Palliative Care; St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne; Melbourne Victoria Australia
- Centre for Palliative Care; The University of Melbourne (St Vincent's Hospital); Melbourne Victoria Australia
| | - M. Boughey
- Department of Palliative Care; St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne; Melbourne Victoria Australia
- Centre for Palliative Care; The University of Melbourne (St Vincent's Hospital); Melbourne Victoria Australia
| | - G. A. Jelinek
- Emergency Practice Innovation Centre (EPIcentre); St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne; Melbourne Victoria Australia
- Department of Medicine; The University of Melbourne (St Vincent's Hospital); Melbourne Victoria Australia
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Emergency department crowding in The Netherlands: managers' experiences. Int J Emerg Med 2013; 6:41. [PMID: 24156298 PMCID: PMC4016265 DOI: 10.1186/1865-1380-6-41] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2013] [Accepted: 09/16/2013] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In The Netherlands, the state of emergency department (ED) crowding is unknown. Anecdotal evidence suggests that current ED patients experience a longer length of stay (LOS) compared to some years ago, which is indicative of ED crowding. However, no multicenter studies have been performed to quantify LOS and assess crowding at Dutch EDs. We performed this study to describe the current state of emergency departments in The Netherlands regarding patients’ length of stay and ED nurse managers’ experiences of crowding. Methods A survey was sent to all 94 ED nurse managers in The Netherlands with questions regarding the type of facility, annual ED census, and patients’ LOS. Additional questions included whether crowding was ever a problem at the particular ED, how often it occurred, which time periods had the worst episodes of crowding, and what measures the particular ED had undertaken to improve patient flow. Results Surveys were collected from 63 EDs (67%). Mean annual ED visits were 24,936 (SD ± 9,840); mean LOS for discharged patients was 119 (SD ± 40) min and mean LOS for admitted patients 146 (SD ± 49) min. Consultation delays, laboratory and radiology delays, and hospital bed shortages for patients needing admission were the most cited reasons for crowding. Admitted patients had a longer LOS because of delays in obtaining inpatient beds. Thirty-nine of 57 respondents (68%) reported that crowding occurred several times a week or even daily, mostly between 12:00 and 20:00. Measures taken by hospitals to manage crowding included placing patients in hallways and using fasttrack with treatment of patients by trained nurse practitioners. Conclusions Despite a relatively short LOS, frequent crowding appears to be a nationwide problem according to Dutch ED nurse managers, with 68% of them reporting that crowding occurred several times a week or even daily. Consultations delays, laboratory and radiology delays, and hospital bed shortage for patients needing admission were believed to be the most important factors contributing to ED crowding.
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105
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Montgomery P, Godfrey M, Mossey S, Conlon M, Bailey P. Emergency department boarding times for patients admitted to intensive care unit: Patient and organizational influences. Int Emerg Nurs 2013; 22:105-11. [PMID: 23978577 DOI: 10.1016/j.ienj.2013.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2013] [Revised: 06/17/2013] [Accepted: 06/26/2013] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Critically ill patients can be subject to prolonged stays in the emergency department following receipt of an order to admit to an intensive care unit. The purpose of this study was to explore patient and organizational influences on the duration of boarding times for intensive care bound patients. METHODS This exploratory descriptive study was situated in a Canadian hospital in northern Ontario. Through a six-month retrospective review of three data sources, information was collected pertaining to 16 patient and organizational variables detailing the emergency department boarding time of adults awaiting transfer to the intensive care unit. Data analysis involved descriptive and non-parametric methods. RESULTS The majority of the 122 critically ill patients boarded in the ED were male, 55 years of age or older, arriving by ground ambulance on a weekday, and had an admitting diagnosis of trauma. The median boarding time was 34 min, with a range of 0-1549 min. Patients designated as most acute, intubated, and undergoing multiple diagnostic procedures had statistically significantly shorter boarding times. DISCUSSION The study results provide a profile that may assist clinicians in understanding the complex and site-specific interplay of variables contributing to boarding of critically ill patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phyllis Montgomery
- School of Nursing, Laurentian University, Ramsey Lake Road, Sudbury, Ontario P3E 2C6, Canada.
| | - Michelle Godfrey
- School of Nursing, Laurentian University, Ramsey Lake Road, Sudbury, Ontario P3E 2C6, Canada
| | - Sharolyn Mossey
- School of Nursing, Laurentian University, Ramsey Lake Road, Sudbury, Ontario P3E 2C6, Canada
| | - Michael Conlon
- Epidemiology, Outcomes & Evaluation, Northeast Cancer Centre, Health Sciences North, 41 Ramsey Lake Road, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
| | - Patricia Bailey
- School of Nursing, Laurentian University, Ramsey Lake Road, Sudbury, Ontario P3E 2C6, Canada
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106
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The effect of lifestyle choices on emergency department use in Australia. Health Policy 2013; 110:280-90. [DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2013.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2011] [Revised: 12/01/2012] [Accepted: 02/07/2013] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Freund Y. Saturation des urgences : parallèle et paradoxe. ANNALES FRANCAISES DE MEDECINE D URGENCE 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s13341-013-0295-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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108
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Lin YK, Lee WC, Kuo LC, Cheng YC, Lin CJ, Lin HL, Chen CW, Lin TY. Building an ethical environment improves patient privacy and satisfaction in the crowded emergency department: a quasi-experimental study. BMC Med Ethics 2013; 14:8. [PMID: 23421603 PMCID: PMC3616842 DOI: 10.1186/1472-6939-14-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2012] [Accepted: 02/06/2013] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background To evaluate the effectiveness of a multifaceted intervention in improving emergency department (ED) patient privacy and satisfaction in the crowded ED setting. Methods A pre- and post-intervention study was conducted. A multifaceted intervention was implemented in a university-affiliated hospital ED. The intervention developed strategies to improve ED patient privacy and satisfaction, including redesigning the ED environment, process management, access control, and staff education and training, and encouraging ethics consultation. The effectiveness of the intervention was evaluated using patient surveys. Eligibility data were collected after the intervention and compared to data collected before the intervention. Differences in patient satisfaction and patient perception of privacy were adjusted for predefined covariates using multivariable ordinal logistic regression. Results Structured questionnaires were collected with 313 ED patients before the intervention and 341 ED patients after the intervention. There were no important covariate differences, except for treatment area, between the two groups. Significant improvements were observed in patient perception of “personal information overheard by others”, being “seen by irrelevant persons”, having “unintentionally heard inappropriate conversations from healthcare providers”, and experiencing “providers’ respect for my privacy”. There was significant improvement in patient overall perception of privacy and satisfaction. There were statistically significant correlations between the intervention and patient overall perception of privacy and satisfaction on multivariable analysis. Conclusions Significant improvements were achieved with an intervention. Patients perceived significantly more privacy and satisfaction in ED care after the intervention. We believe that these improvements were the result of major philosophical, administrative, and operational changes aimed at respecting both patient privacy and satisfaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yen-Ko Lin
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
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Patel H, Celenza A, Watters T. Effect of nurse initiated X-rays of the lower limb on patient transit time through the emergency department. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012; 15:229-34. [DOI: 10.1016/j.aenj.2012.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2012] [Revised: 07/16/2012] [Accepted: 07/17/2012] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Durand AC, Palazzolo S, Tanti-Hardouin N, Gerbeaux P, Sambuc R, Gentile S. Nonurgent patients in emergency departments: rational or irresponsible consumers? Perceptions of professionals and patients. BMC Res Notes 2012; 5:525. [PMID: 23006316 PMCID: PMC3515357 DOI: 10.1186/1756-0500-5-525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2012] [Accepted: 09/19/2012] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background For several decades, overcrowding in emergency departments (EDs) has been intensifying due to the increased number of patients seeking care in EDs. Demand growth is partly due to misuse of EDs by patients who seek care for nonurgent problems. This study explores the reasons why people with nonurgent complaints choose to come to EDs, and how ED health professionals perceive the phenomenon of “nonurgency”. Results Semi-structured interviews were conducted in 10 EDs with 87 nonurgent patients and 34 health professionals. Interviews of patients revealed three themes: (1) fulfilled health care needs, (2) barriers to primary care providers (PCPs), and (3) convenience. Patients chose EDs as discerning health consumers: they preferred EDs because they had difficulties obtaining a rapid appointment. Access to technical facilities in EDs spares the patient from being overwhelmed with appointments with various specialists. Four themes were identified from the interviews of health professionals: (1) the problem of defining a nonurgent visit, (2) explanations for patients’ use of EDs for nonurgent complaints, (3) consequences of nonurgent visits, and (4) solutions to counter this tendency. Conclusions Studies on the underlying reasons patients opt for the ED, as well as on their decision-making process, are lacking. The present study highlighted discrepancies between the perceptions of ED patients and those of health professionals, with a special focus on patient behaviour. To explain the use of ED, health professionals based themselves on the acuity and urgency of medical problems, while patients focused on rational reasons to initiate care in the ED (accessibility to health care resources, and the context in which the medical problem occurred). In spite of some limitations due to the slightly outdated nature of our data, as well as the difficulty of categorizing nonurgent situations, our findings show the importance of conducting a detailed analysis of the demand for health care. Understanding it is crucial, as it is the main determining factor in the utilization of health care resources, and provides promising insights into the phenomenon of ED usage increase. For reforms to be successful, the process of decision-making for unscheduled patients will have to be thoroughly investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne-Claire Durand
- Laboratoire de Santé Publique, Faculté de Médecine, Equipe de recherche EA 3279 "Evaluation hospitalière-Mesure de la santé perçue", 27 boulevard Jean Moulin, 13385 Marseille cedex 5, France.
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Abstract
ICU capacity strain is associated with increased morbidity and lost hospital revenue, leading many hospitals to increase the number of ICU beds. However, this approach can lead to inefficiency and waste. A recent report in Critical Care highlights a different approach: creating new service lines for low-risk patients. In this case, the authors started a post-anesthesia care unit with an intensivist-led care team, resulting in lower hospital costs with no changes in ICU mortality. Although this type of change carries some risks, and will not work for every hospital, it is an example of the creative solutions hospitals must sometimes undertake to maintain the supply of critical care in response to a rising demand.
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Cone DC, Middleton PM, Marashi Pour S. Analysis and impact of delays in ambulance to emergency department handovers. Emerg Med Australas 2012; 24:525-33. [PMID: 23039294 DOI: 10.1111/j.1742-6723.2012.01589.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/22/2012] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Delays in the clinical handover of patient care from emergency medical services (EMS) to the ED because of ED crowding are a substantial problem for many EMS systems. This study was conducted to quantify handover delays experienced by the Ambulance Service of New South Wales (ASNSW), and to investigate patient and system factors associated with handover delay. METHODS A retrospective study of EMS dispatch and ambulance patient care records was conducted for all patients transported by ASNSW in January/April/July/October 2009. Patient characteristics and time intervals were summarised using descriptive statistics, with handover delay categorised as <30 min, 30-60 min and ≥60 min. Times are reported as HH:MM:SS. Partial proportional odds models were used to investigate factors associated with delays. RESULTS Of 141 381 transports, 12.5% of patients experienced a handover delay of 30-60 min, and 5% a delay of ≥60 min. The median handover interval was 00:15:46 (IQR 00:08:58-00:24:52, maximum 08:43:13). Patients transported to large hospitals were more likely to experience a delay of ≥30 min (odds ratio [OR] 14.57, 95% CI 11.41-18.60) or ≥60 min (OR 15.75, 95% CI 12.27-20.23) than those transported to small hospitals. Patients in major cities were more likely to experience delays than those in other areas, and patients ≥65 years were more likely to experience delays than those <16 years. Delays were most likely in winter. Cardiac and major trauma patients had the lowest likelihood of experiencing delays. CONCLUSIONS Handover delays are relatively common at the EMS/ED interface in New South Wales, and are most pronounced at large hospitals, in urban areas and during winter.
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Affiliation(s)
- David C Cone
- Section of EMS, Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
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Analysis of current situation of Chinese health care reform by studying emergency overcrowding in a typical Shanghai hospital. Am J Emerg Med 2012; 30:1313-8. [PMID: 22818562 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajem.2012.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2012] [Revised: 05/04/2012] [Accepted: 05/04/2012] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
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Patterns and factors associated with intensive use of ED services: implications for allocating resources. Am J Emerg Med 2012; 30:1884-94. [PMID: 22795412 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajem.2012.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2012] [Revised: 02/29/2012] [Accepted: 04/01/2012] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM This study aims to better understand the patterns and factors associated with the use of emergency department (ED) services on high-volume and intensive (defined by high volume and high-patient severity) days to improve resource allocation and reduce ED overcrowding. METHODS This study created a new index of "intensive use" based on the volume and severity of illness and a 3-part categorization (normal volume, high volume, intensive use) to measure stress in the ED environment. This retrospective, cross-sectional study collected data from hospital clinical and financial records of all patients seen in 2001 at an urban academic hospital ED. RESULTS Multiple logistic regression models identified factors associated with high volume and intensive use. Factors associated with intensive days included being in a motor vehicle crash; having a gun or stab wound; arriving during the months of January, April, May, or August; and arriving during the days of Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday. Factors associated with high-volume days included falling from 0 to 10 ft; being in a motor vehicle crash; arriving during the months of January, April, May, or August; and arriving during the days of Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday. CONCLUSION These findings offer inputs for reallocating resources and altering staffing models to more efficiently provide high-quality ED services and prevent overcrowding.
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Shetty A, Gunja N, Byth K, Vukasovic M. Senior Streaming Assessment Further Evaluation after Triage zone: A novel model of care encompassing various emergency department throughput measures. Emerg Med Australas 2012; 24:374-82. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1742-6723.2012.01550.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Boyle A, Beniuk K, Higginson I, Atkinson P. Emergency department crowding: time for interventions and policy evaluations. Emerg Med Int 2012; 2012:838610. [PMID: 22454772 PMCID: PMC3290817 DOI: 10.1155/2012/838610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2011] [Accepted: 10/13/2011] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
This paper summarises the consequences of emergency department crowding. It provides a comparison of the scales used to measure emergency department crowding. We discuss the multiple causes of crowding and present an up-to-date literature review of the interventions that reduce the adverse consequences of crowding. We consider interventions at the level of an individual hospital and a policy level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian Boyle
- Emergency Department, Cambridge University Foundation Hospitals NHS Trust, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2QQ, UK
| | - Kathleen Beniuk
- Engineering Design Centre, Cambridge University, Cambridge CB2 1PZ, UK
| | - Ian Higginson
- Emergency Department, Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust, Derriford Road, Crownhill, Plymouth, Devon PL6 8DH, UK
| | - Paul Atkinson
- Emergency Department, St John Regional Hospital, New Brunswick, Canada
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van der Linden C, Lucas C, van der Linden N, Lindeboom R. Evaluation of a flexible acute admission unit: effects on transfers to other hospitals and patient throughput times. J Emerg Nurs 2012; 39:340-5. [PMID: 22244548 DOI: 10.1016/j.jen.2011.09.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2011] [Revised: 09/05/2011] [Accepted: 09/07/2011] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION To prevent overcrowding of the emergency department, a flexible acute admission unit (FAAU) was created, consisting of 15 inpatient regular beds located in different departments. We expected the FAAU to result in fewer transfers to other hospitals and in a lower length of stay (LOS) of patients needing hospital admission. METHODS A before-and-after interventional study was performed in a level 1 trauma center in the Netherlands. Number of transfers and LOS of admitted ED patients in a 4-month period in 2008 (control period) and a 4-month period in 2009 (intervention period) were analyzed. RESULTS Of 1,619 regular admission patients, 768 were admitted in the control period and 851 in the intervention period. The number of transfers decreased from 80 (10.42%) to 54 (6.35%) (P = .0037). The mean ED LOS of both the non-admitted patients and the admitted patients needing special care significantly increased (105 minutes vs 117 minutes [P = .022] and 176 minutes vs 191 minutes [P < .001], respectively). However, the mean LOS of FAAU-admissible patients was unaltered (226 minutes vs 225 minutes, P = .865). CONCLUSIONS The FAAU reduced the number of transfers of admitted patients to other hospitals. The increase in LOS for special care patients and non-admitted patients was not observed for regular, FAAU-admissible patients. Flexible bed management might be useful in preventing overcrowding.
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Patients prefer boarding in inpatient hallways: correlation with the national emergency department overcrowding score. Emerg Med Int 2011; 2011:840459. [PMID: 22235374 PMCID: PMC3253437 DOI: 10.1155/2011/840459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2011] [Accepted: 11/21/2011] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective. The boarding of patients in Emergency Department (ED) hallways when no inpatient beds are available is a major cause of ED crowding. One solution is to board admitted patients in an inpatient rather than ED hallway. We surveyed patients to determine their preference and correlated their responses to real-time National Emergency Department Overcrowding Score (NEDOCS). Methods. This was a survey of admitted patients in the ED of an urban university level I trauma center serving a community of 5 million about their personal preferences regarding boarding. Real-time NEDOCS was calculated at the time each survey was conducted. Results. 99 total surveys were completed during October 2010, 42 (42%) patients preferred to be boarded in an inpatient hallway, 33 (33%) preferred the ED hallway, and 24 (24%) had no preference. Mean (±SD) NEDOCS (range 0–200) was 136 ± 46 for patients preferring inpatient boarding, 112 ± 39 for ED boarding, and 119 ± 43 without preference. Male patients preferred inpatient hallway boarding significantly more than females. Preference for inpatient boarding was associated with a significantly higher NEDOCS. Conclusions. In this survey study, patients prefer inpatient hallway boarding when the hospital is at or above capacity. Males prefer inpatient hallway boarding more than females. The preference for inpatient hallway boarding increases as the ED becomes more crowded.
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Estella A. Emergency overcrowding: an incurable disease? CRITICAL CARE : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE CRITICAL CARE FORUM 2011; 15:428; author reply 428. [PMID: 21635705 PMCID: PMC3218977 DOI: 10.1186/cc10223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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