Australian private emergency departments can assist ambulance services by taking public emergency patients during surge and disasters.
Emerg Med Australas
; 31(5): 886-888, 2019 10.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-31155845
ABSTRACT
We describe a novel ambulance diversion programme, piloted in Victoria. This article discusses creating increased emergency capacity during surge or disasters by utilising private EDs, tested during a recent thunderstorm asthma disaster and an influenza epidemic. Public hospitals and EDs often run at or over capacity during normal operations. This leaves limited ability to manage surges in demand, resulting in suboptimal outcomes for patients, public ED staff and ambulance services. It is feasible to create surge capacity in private EDs for public ambulance patients. Other states could consider this option to help manage health disasters.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Ambulâncias
/
Hospitais Privados
/
Defesa Civil
/
Desastres
/
Serviço Hospitalar de Emergência
Limite:
Humans
País como assunto:
Oceania
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2019
Tipo de documento:
Article