title: A one year prospective census of workload and process at a community hospital casualty room.
abstract: A prospective census of patients attending the casualty room of Wicklow District Hospital (a general practitioner operated service) for one year was performed. A total of 1564 attendances were recorded, of which 904 (58%) were male and 953 (61%) were eligible for free medical care. Almost half, 735 (47%) attended outside daytime hours. Concerning type of presentation, 637 (41%) attended with acute trauma, 450 (29%) attended with acute medical and 477 (30%) attended with elective problems. Repeat visits accounted for 5% of the total. Concerning outcome of consultation, 409 (26%) were given a prescription, 307 (20%) had blood tests, 263 (17%) received dressings, 183 (12%) were referred to secondary care, 168 (11%) were followed up by their GP, 146 (9%) had minor surgery, and 86 (5%) had no intervention. This study indicates that the hospital is responsible for a considerable workload, with a significant out of hours component.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Practice, University College, Dublin.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cullen
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Golden
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bury
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fitzpatrick
mesh_terms: D004630:Emergencies; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016526:Workload