Articles: emergency-services.
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The purpose of this study was to obtain information about how patients perceive the health care delivered in an emergency department. ⋯ The information given to patients on arrival at the ED may be important to a positive perception of the care given during their stay.
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In order to provide better quality of care at Taipei Veterans General Hospital, 13,911 emergency patients coming into the medical emergency room were studied using the computer to key in all demographic data including registration time, time to be seen, desposition time, impression, triage category, discipline as well as daily dynamic status in the observation room from August through December 1989. The study showed that 8.6% were triage category 1 (life-threatening cases) and 22.08% were triage 4 (pseudo-emergency patients). ⋯ In general, the daily dynamic status of the patients in the observation room were: (1) Out of 45 overnight patients, 12 (27%) were waiting for admission; and (2) 9 (20.14%) were waiting for a transfer to other convalescent hospitals. We conclude that less than one-tenth of the emergency patients were really emergencies in such a large and busy emergency department, and there was enormous patients stasis in the observation room causing overcrowding of the emergency department, which is the main issue we have to resolve if the quality assurance of the emergency department is to be improved.
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The efficacy of resuscitative emergency room thoracotomy (ERT), particularly in blunt injury, has been questioned. Wide application of the procedure may not be cost effective. The risk of exposure and lethal infection to medical personnel during ERT is considerable. ⋯ Screening for HIV and hepatitis could be documented in only two patients; both were negative. Liberal performance of ERT has dismal results, incurs monetary loss, and affords a greater potential for exposure to lethal infection. Emergency room thoracotomy is justified only when vital signs or a resuscitatible cardiac rhythm are present in the field or ER and deteriorate shortly before thoracotomy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship among emergency health care use, 911 call volume, and jail admissions with the timing of the distribution of General Assistance, Aid to Families With Dependent Children, and Minnesota Supplemental Aid welfare checks. ⋯ The findings suggest that scheduling and staffing practices of various emergency service areas in Hennepin County reflect patient load variation associated with time of welfare check distribution. Systematic variation of time or amount of welfare could lead to improved distribution and reduction of emergency services demand.