Re-engineering an Australian emergency department: can we measure success?
J Qual Clin Pract
; 19(3): 133-8, 1999 Sep.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-10482320
ABSTRACT
In 1996, in response to perceived deficiencies of the Emergency Department, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital made emergency medicine a key strategic initiative. Major staffing and functional changes occurred as a result, including creation of the first Chair in Emergency Medicine in Australasia. We present a before and after study, using a range of measured variables, including the accepted Australian Council on Healthcare Standards emergency medicine clinical indicators. Clinically, there were great improvements in waiting times, time to thrombolysis in acute myocardial infarction, complaint rate, and misdiagnosed fracture rate. Increased throughput of short stay patients in a re-opened observation ward greatly shortened average length of stay for patients with a range of acute conditions. Data also indicated significant improvements in teaching and research. We conclude that with firm commitment from hospital management, re-engineering an emergency department can be shown to improve the quality-of-care.
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Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Quality Assurance, Health Care
/
Emergency Service, Hospital
Type of study:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Guideline
Limits:
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
Oceania
Language:
En
Journal:
J Qual Clin Pract
Journal subject:
PESQUISA EM SERVICOS DE SAUDE
Year:
1999
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country: