Growth in Western Australian emergency department demand during 2007-2013 is due to people with urgent and complex care needs.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the magnitude and characteristics of the increase in ED demand in Western Australia (WA) from 2007 to 2013.


METHODS
We conducted a population-based longitudinal study examining trends in ED demand, stratified by area of residence, age group, sex, Australasian Triage Scale category and discharge disposition. The outcome measures were annual number and rate of ED presentations. We calculated average annual growth, and age-specific and age-standardised rates. We assessed the statistical significance of trends, overall and within each category, using the Mann-Kendall trend test and analysis of variance ANOVA. We also calculated the proportions of growth in ED demand that were attributable to changes in population and utilisation rate.


RESULTS
From 2007 to 2013, ED presentations increased by an average 4.6% annually from 739,742 to 945,244. The rate increased 1.4% from 354.1 to 382.6 per 1000 WA population (P = 0.02 for the trend). The main increase occurred in metropolitan WA, age 45+ years, triage category 2 and 3 and admitted cohorts. Approximately three-quarters of this increase was due to population change (growth and ageing) and one-quarter due to increase in utilisation.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study reveals a 4.6% annual increase in ED demand in WA in 2007-2013, mostly because of an increase in people with urgent and complex care needs, and not a shift (demand transfer) from primary care. This indicates that a system-wide integrated approach is required for demand management.
Clinical Modelling, Health System Improvement Unit, Innovation and Health System Reform, Department of Health, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
Patrick
P
Aboagye-Sarfo
Clinical Modelling, Health System Improvement Unit, Innovation and Health System Reform, Department of Health, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.|Centre for Health Services Research, School of Population Health, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
Qun
Q
Mai
Clinical Epidemiology Unit, School of Population Health, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
Frank M
FM
Sanfilippo
Centre for Health Services Research, School of Population Health, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
David B
DB
Preen
Centre for Population Health Research, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
Louise M
LM
Stewart
Emergency Medicine, Royal Perth Hospital, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
Daniel M
DM
Fatovich
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000639:trends*; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000639:trends*; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D014218:Triage / Q000639:trends; D014904:Western Australia; D055815:Young Adult
characteristic of ED demand; demand transfer; emergency department demand; population growth and ageing; trend analysis