• Amy Nb Johnston, Jacqueline H Byrne, Nerolie Bost, Michael Aitken, Jasmine Wadham, Tonya Donnelly, Jo Timms, and Julia Crilly.
• Department of Emergency Medicine, Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.
• Emerg Med Australas. 2021 Apr 1; 33 (2): 270-278.

ObjectiveED avoidance strategies including In-Event Health Service (IEHS) processes during mass gathering events (MGEs), such as 'Schoolies week', may be important for EDs, ambulance services, the local population, and attendees. The aim of the present study was to provide a longitudinal description of emergency care requirements for young adults (16-18 years old); focussing on the impact of the Schoolies MGEs.MethodsThis retrospective observational study included youth (16-18 years) presentations made (i) to local public EDs during Schoolies week in 2008-2014 and (ii) to local EDs over a 3-week period (pre, during, post-Schoolies week) and the IEHS in 2015 and 2016. Descriptive and inferential statistics were undertaken.ResultsYouth presentations (n = 4256) were included. Presentation rates/1000 fluctuated over time (range 6.2-21.2). The IEHS provided care for 167 and 288 youth during 2015 and 2016 Schoolies week, respectively. Demographic factors (gender, age, region domiciled) and episode of care factors (time of presentation, mode of arrival, urgency, time to triage, time to be seen by a clinician and length of stay) between 2008 and 2016 varied by year. Toxicology (alcohol and other drugs), trauma, and mental health concerns were the most common diagnoses.ConclusionsThe IEHS, operational during Schoolies, appeared to reduce pressures on local EDs by offering rapid, targeted care for potentially vulnerable youth; decrease requirements for hospital transport and minimise impacts on care provision for the local community. Given increases in ED crowding and pressures on ambulance services, such care models may be worth considering for other types of MGEs and in other locations.© 2020 Australasian College for Emergency Medicine.

13 keywords...

hide…