Are emergency department staffs' perceptions about the inappropriate use of ambulances, alcohol intoxication, verbal abuse and violence accurate?
Emerg Med J
; 26(3): 164-8, 2009 Mar.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-19234002
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES:
To examine three opinions voiced by nightshift emergency department (ED) staff. First, that a significant proportion of adult patients arriving by emergency ambulance lack a clear indication for emergency transport. Second, that at night a high proportion of ambulance arrivals are drunk, abusive or leave without treatment. Third, that at night a high proportion of ambulance arrivals have been assaulted or have deliberately harmed themselves.METHODS:
A retrospective audit of all 5421 new patient attendances to Glasgow Royal Infirmary ED in February 2007, including 1743 arriving by ambulance.RESULTS:
19.5% of ambulance arrivals lacked a clear indication for emergency transport. Between midnight and 0500 hours 52.5% of ambulance arrivals were intoxicated; 6.2% were abusive to staff; 14.0% left before treatment was completed; 21.4% had been assaulted and 7.4% had deliberately harmed themselves.CONCLUSION:
The majority of ambulances were called appropriately; however, there remains a significant proportion who could travel by other means. A high proportion of ambulance arrivals between midnight and 0500 hours were intoxicated, abusive or victims of assault. This supported staff's perception that such patients form a substantial proportion of departmental workload at night.
Texto completo:
1
Bases de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Actitud del Personal de Salud
/
Servicios Médicos de Urgencia
/
Servicio de Urgencia en Hospital
/
Auditoría Clínica
Tipo de estudio:
Observational_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Límite:
Adolescent
/
Adult
/
Humans
País/Región como asunto:
Europa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Emerg Med J
Asunto de la revista:
MEDICINA DE EMERGENCIA
Año:
2009
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Reino Unido