J Korean Soc Emerg Med.  2017 Dec;28(6):564-571. 10.0000/jksem.2017.28.6.564.

Effect of Hospitalization Decision by Emergency Physicians on Patient's Emergency Department Length of Stay: Before and After Study using Historical Control

• Choi HS
• Ryu S
• Cho YC
• Jeong WJ
• Cho SU
• Ahn HJ
• Joo KH

• KMID: 2403274
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.0000/jksem.2017.28.6.564

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study analyzed the effects of the hospitalization decisions made by emergency physicians (EP) on the emergency department length of stay (ED-LOS).
METHODS
From March 2016, the hospitalization decisions of six internal medicine departments were made by EP, which has been implemented gradually since 2015. Through a retrospective electronic record review, the ED-LOS between EP hospitalization decision departments (group A) and others (group B) was analyzed and the ED-LOS before and after the hospitalization decision method change was compared (2014 vs. 2016).
RESULTS
Compared to 2014, in 2016, the ED-LOS in departments that hospitalization decision made by EP was reduced significantly (median with interquartile range; 478.0 minutes [319.0 to 900.5 minutes] vs. 259.0 minutes [177.0 to 384.0 minutes]; p < 0.001). In addition, the ED-LOS in Group A was reduced more than in Group B (219.0 minutes (45.8%) vs. 30.0 minutes (10.2%).
CONCLUSION
ED-LOS can be reduced by the EP hospitalization decisions.

Keyword

Emergency service; Hospitals; Length of stay; Hospitalization

MeSH Terms

Emergencies*
Emergency Service, Hospital*
Hospitalization*
Internal Medicine
Length of Stay*
Methods
Retrospective Studies