Evaluation of a 'See and Treat' pilot study introduced to an emergency department.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effectiveness of a 'See and Treat' system on waiting times for patients attending an Emergency Department with minor injuries and illnesses.


METHODS
Retrospective analysis of statistics collected during two study periods and compared for evaluation.


RESULTS
The percentage of patients assessed within 15 min increased from 82% to 98%. The percentage of patients seen within 1 h of arrival rose from 63% to 90% using 'See and Treat'. The percentage of patients discharged within 1 h rose from 16% to 41%. The average wait to see a doctor or emergency nurse practitioner dropped from 56 to 30 min. The total average time in the department dropped from 1 h 39 min to 1 h 17 min. During 'See and Treat' the waiting times for all patients within the department were also reduced.


CONCLUSIONS
'See and Treat' reduces waiting times for patients with minor injuries and illnesses and has a positive effect on waiting times for patients elsewhere in the department.
Rogers
Tessa
T
Addenbrookes Emergency Department, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2QQ, UK. tessafiona@yahoo.com
Ross
Nicola
N
Spooner
Daniel
D
D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D016529:Emergency Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000379:methods*; D004739:England; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008485:Medical Audit; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000458:organization & administration*; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration; D018579:Patient Selection; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014218:Triage / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014850:Waiting Lists