Shortening the wait: a strategy to reduce waiting times in the emergency department.
Emergency Department crowding (EDC), extended wait times, and the issues arising as a result are well described in the health-care literature. Accordingly, reducing waiting times has become a focus across Canada. Less-urgent patient presentations represent a large proportion of the individuals presenting for care in Canadian emergency departments (ED). This patient population contributes to congestion in the ED. In light of these issues, an innovative program is being trialed at Burnaby Hospital, in the lower mainland of British Columbia. The goals of the program include: a reduction of EDC, a shortening of the duration of time between patient presentation and treatment, and an increase reported levels of patient satisfaction.
Finamore
Sheila R
SR
Health Part Time Studies, British Columbia Institute of Technology, 3700 Willingdon Ave, Burnaby, BC, V5G 3H2, Canada. Sheila_Finamore@bcit.ca
Turris
Sheila A
SA
D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D014218:Triage; D014505:Urban Population