A Comparative Analysis of Two Low-Acuity Flow Processes in the Emergency Department

Emergency Departments have begun implementing new patient flow processes aimed at improving ED throughput and limiting ED crowding. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of two flow processes. </p><p> This was a retrospective quasi-experimental study designed to evaluate the impact of a Rapid Medical Assessment process versus Fast Track process on improving ED throughput. Data analysis included descriptive statistics and two-factor analyses of covariance (ANCOVA). ANCOVA statistics were calculated using "arrival to first provider contact time" and "arrival to departure time" as the dependent variables and RMA process versus FT process as well as ESI levels as the independent variables. There was a significant difference in the mean arrival to first provider contact times for all patients during all hours, F (1, 5744) = 9.5, p = .002. There was also a significant difference in the mean arrival to first provider contact time for low-acuity patients during all hours, F (1, 3131) = 14.6, p = &lt; .001</p><p> There was a significant difference in the mean arrival to departure times for all patients during all hours, F (1, 6079) = 5.8, p = .016. There was no significant difference in the mean arrival to departure times for low-acuity patients during all hours, F (1, 3306) = 0.774, p = .379, or for all patients during FT hours, F (1, 2647) = 1.1, p = .295. The results of the study support the belief that rapid evaluation and disposition of low-acuity patients improve ED efficiency and reduce ED crowding.

Name thesis:degree_name

PhD

Level thesis:degree_level

Immediate Access

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Nursing

Year dc:date.available

2015

Author dc:creator

• Bellow, Aaron

Contributors dc:contributor

• Kathleen Sekula
• Gordon Gillespie
• Lynn Simko

• ED Crowding
• ED Operations
• Emergency Department
• Patient Flow

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

https://dsc.duq.edu/etd/299

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dsc.duq.edu:etd-1312