title: EDOU staffing by PAs: what are the effects on patient outcomes?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  An emergency department observation unit (EDOU) opened in April 2006 staffed by physician assistants (PAs) and nurse practitioners (NPs). This study describes the complexity and outcomes of the EDOU patients to determine the effectiveness of staffing by PAs.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective chart review was performed of chest pain and trauma patients in the EDOU from April 2006 through May 2007. Patient characteristics, length of stay (LOS), and admission rates were recorded. Adverse events were monitored, and trauma patients were followed for 30 days to evaluate for missed injuries.
  
  
  RESULTS
  531 chest pain patients and 364 trauma patients were admitted to the EDOU during the study period. Average chest pain patient LOS was 14 hours and 32 minutes, and 12.2% of patients were admitted from the EDOU to an inpatient unit. For trauma patients, average LOS was 12 hours and 46 minutes, and 11.5% of patients were admitted to an inpatient unit. There were no deaths, intubations, or loss of vital signs. In 30-day follow-up, there were no significant missed injuries among trauma patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PAs effectively cared for patients of moderate complexity in the two largest groups of utilizers of the EDOU.
authors.affiliation: University of Utah Health Sciences Center Emergency Department, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.
authors.forename: Kelly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sherwood
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sugerman
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bossart
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bledsoe
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Barton
authors.forename: Kurt
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bernhisel
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bess
authors.forename: Troy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Madsen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010559:Personnel Management; D010823:Physician Assistants / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000078329:Workforce; D055815:Young Adult