Hospitalists and an innovative emergency department admission process.
After treatment in an emergency department (ED), patients often wait several hours for hospital admission, resulting in dissatisfaction and increased wait times for both admitted and other ED patients. We implemented a new direct admission system based on telephone consultation between ED physicians and in-house hospitalists. We studied this system, measuring admission times, length of stay, and mortality. Postintervention, admission times averaged 18 minutes for transfer to the ward compared to 2.5 hours preintervention, while pre- and postintervention length of stay and mortality rates remained similar.
Howell
Eric E
EE
Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, 4940 Eastern Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA. ehowell@jhmi.edu
Bessman
Edward S
ES
Rubin
Haya R
HR
D015142:Baltimore; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D020445:Hospitalists; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010360:Patient Transfer; D013997:Time Factors