07 August 2002
Development of a site sampling form for evaluation of ED overcrowding
Steven J. Weiss, Jeanine Arndahl, Amy A. Ernst, Robert Derlet, John Richards, Todd G. NickMed Sci Monit 2002; 8(8): CR549-553 :: ID: 13596
Abstract
Background: ED overcrowding is fast becoming a national crisis although no definition exists. The purpose of this study is to develop and pilot a sampling form that accurately reflects the concept of ED
Overcrowding.
Material/Methods: A 26-question site-sampling form was designed based on input from academic physicians at 11 medical schools nationwide. The study was conducted at an inner city Academic medical center. Site-samplings were conducted at 20 times over a one-week period by an independent observer. These times ranged from very slow to severely overcrowded. Information was obtained by counting patients in the waiting room, ED rooms, ED halls and registration/triage, ancillary services, the charge nurse, and the attending physicians. The charge nurse, and ED physicians rated the degree of overcrowding and the ED physician rated the feeling of being rushed. A ‘combined outcome variable’ was created which consisted
of the average responses of nurses and physician’s opinion of ED overcrowding and physician’s feeling of being rushed. All other data was compared to this outcome variable.
Results: Seven questions were significantly correlated with the combined outcome variable. These were the number of people in the waiting room, patients awaiting triage, patients awaiting
registration, full patient rooms, hallway patient, patients awaiting beds, and total registered patients. According to this scale our ED was overcrowded 20% of the time.
Conclusions: This analysis clarifies the definition of overcrowding, helps indicate the variance among responses to overcrowding questions, and provides the foundation for prospective analysis of
overcrowding in multiple EDs.
Keywords: Emergency Service, Hospital - utilization
Editorial
01 March 2024 : Editorial
Editorial: First Regulatory Approvals for CRISPR-Cas9 Therapeutic Gene Editing for Sickle Cell Disease and Transfusion-Dependent β-ThalassemiaDOI: 10.12659/MSM.944204
Med Sci Monit 2024; 30:e944204
In Press
21 Feb 2024 : Clinical Research
Potential Value of HSP90α in Prognosis of Triple-Negative Breast CancerMed Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.943049
22 Feb 2024 : Review article
Differentiation of Native Vertebral Osteomyelitis: A Comprehensive Review of Imaging Techniques and Future ...Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.943168
23 Feb 2024 : Clinical Research
A Study of 60 Patients with Low Back Pain to Compare Outcomes Following Magnetotherapy, Ultrasound, Laser, ...Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.943732
26 Feb 2024 : Clinical Research
Predictive Value of Combined HbA1c and Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio for Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy in...Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.942509
Most Viewed Current Articles
17 Jan 2024 : Review article
Vaccination Guidelines for Pregnant Women: Addressing COVID-19 and the Omicron VariantDOI :10.12659/MSM.942799
Med Sci Monit 2024; 30:e942799
16 May 2023 : Clinical Research
Electrophysiological Testing for an Auditory Processing Disorder and Reading Performance in 54 School Stude...DOI :10.12659/MSM.940387
Med Sci Monit 2023; 29:e940387
14 Dec 2022 : Clinical Research
Prevalence and Variability of Allergen-Specific Immunoglobulin E in Patients with Elevated Tryptase LevelsDOI :10.12659/MSM.937990
Med Sci Monit 2022; 28:e937990
01 Jan 2022 : Editorial
Editorial: Current Status of Oral Antiviral Drug Treatments for SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Non-Hospitalized Pa...DOI :10.12659/MSM.935952
Med Sci Monit 2022; 28:e935952