title: Effects of fast-track in a university emergency department through the National Emergency Department Overcrowding Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the impact of a fast track area on emergency department crowding and its efficacy for non-urgent patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The prospective cross-sectional study was conducted in an adult emergency department of a university-affiliated hospital in Turkey from September 17 to 30, 2010. Non-urgent patients were defined as those with Canadian Triage Acuity Scale category 4/5. The fast track area was open in the emergency department for one whole week, followed by another week in which fast track area was closed. Demographic information of patients, their complaints on admission, waiting times, length of stay and revisits were recorded. Overcrowding evaluation was performed via the National Emergency Department Overcrowding Study scale. In both weeks, the results of the patients were compared and the effects of fast track on the results were analysed. Continuous variables were compared via student's t test or Mann Whitney U test. Demographic features of the groups were evaluated by chi-square test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 249 patients were seen during the fast track week, and 239 during the non-fast track week at the emergency department. Satisfaction level was higher in the fast track group than the non-fast track group (p < 0.001). The waiting times shortened from 20 minutes to 10 minutes and length of stay shortened from 80 minutes to 42 minutes during the fast track week. Morbidity and mortality rates remained unchanged.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Owing to fast track, overcrowding in the emergency department was lessened. It also improved effectiveness and quality measures.
authors.forename: Gokhan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aksel
authors.forename: Fikret
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bildik
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Demircan
authors.forename: Ayfer
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Keles
authors.forename: Isa
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kilicaslan
authors.forename: Sertac
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guler
authors.forename: Seref Kerem
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Corbacioglu
authors.forename: Asli
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Turkay
authors.forename: Burak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bekgoz
authors.forename: Nurettin Ozgur
authors.initials: NO
authors.lastname: Dogan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003441:Crowding; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014218:Triage / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014421:Turkey; D055815:Young Adult