Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA
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Emerg Med Australas · Dec 2020
Lost capacity in emergency departments and its economic implications: A simulation study and economic analysis.
To determine the effect of lost bed capacity (LBC) on the overall capacity of an ED, and to estimate the costs attributable to excess stay in the ED beyond that required for actual emergency care. ⋯ A substantial amount of ED length of stay is due to patients remaining in the ED for time after their emergency care is concluded. This likely represents a substantial overall monetary cost to the Australian healthcare system.
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Emerg Med Australas · Dec 2020
Patients with mental health conditions in the emergency department: Why so long a wait?
Patients presenting with a mental health disorder (MHD) wait longer in the ED compared to those presenting for other reasons, potentially placing vulnerable patients at further risk for deterioration. The present study identified factors associated with a long ED stay for patients with a MHD. ⋯ Some factors predictive of a long ED stay for patients presenting to the ED and diagnosed with a MHD varied based on their disposition. For admissions, the most urgent presentations were likely to stay longest. Strategies to reduce ED stay for both admissions and discharges should consider addressing modifiable aspects, including the need for certain investigations, and non-modifiable aspects, including the need for further access to after-hours mental health services in hospital and in the community.