title: Patient characteristics and institutional factors associated with those who "did not wait" at a South East Queensland Emergency Department: who are those who "did not wait" in ED?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients who do not wait in Emergency Departments (ED) are a key concern for healthcare consumers, providers and policymakers.
  
  
  METHODS
  A six month descriptive retrospective cross-sectional designed study was undertaken at a public, metropolitan, adult tertiary referral ED in South East Queensland (SEQ). Using hospital administrative data, all patient presentations were examined over the timeframe with the aim of identifying and describing patient, institution and economic factors for individuals who attend the ED with the focus on patients who did not wait for medical treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1088 (4.2%) of 25,580 ED patient presentations did not wait (DNW). When compared to patients who waited those who DNW differed significantly regarding age (p<0.001), triage category (p<0.001), mode (p<0.001) and shift of arrival (p<0.001). Patients who DNW were younger, assigned less urgent triage categories and presented in higher proportions by private transport, during evenings and overnight. Some (n=550) were incorrectly coded as DNW when they actually waited, but left after treatment commenced. The crude cost of incorrectly coding these patients amounted to >$160,000.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Understanding the characteristics of patients who DNW enables strategies to be considered and implemented to manage and mitigate both the potential clinical risk to patients and the financial implications for health care institutions.
authors: Emergency Department Clinical Network, Princess Alexandra Hospital, 199 Ipswich Road, Woolloongabba, QLD 4171, Australia; Griffith University, School of Nursing and Midwifery, 170 Kessels Road Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia. Electronic address: nicmelton@hotmail.com.
authors: Nicola
authors: N
authors: Melton
authors: NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence in Nursing (NCREN), Australia; Centre for Health Practice Innovation, Griffith Health Institute, Griffith University, Australia; Princess Alexandra Hospital Intensive Care Unit, Australia.
authors: Marion
authors: M
authors: Mitchell
authors: Centre for Health Practice Innovation, Griffith Health Institute, Griffith University, Australia; Emergency Department Clinical Network, Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service, Australia.
authors: Julia
authors: J
authors: Crilly
authors: NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence in Nursing (NCREN), Australia; Centre for Health Practice Innovation, Griffith Health Institute, Griffith University, Australia.
authors: Marie
authors: M
authors: Cooke
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006753:Hospital Records / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006779:Hospitals, Public / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006786:Hospitals, Urban / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010352:Patient Dropouts / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011793:Queensland; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014187:Transportation of Patients / Q000379:methods; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices
keywords: Did not wait; Emergency Department; Left without being seen; Outcomes