Validating the quality of emergency room services

An inappropriate patient transfer from the emergency room results in less-than-quality care, cost concerns, and patient and staff dissatisfaction. The emergency room physicians at a 162-bed community hospital reported that patients were being transferred needlessly from the emergency room to other acute care facilities. An investigation of the issue documented lost revenues and concerns about the quality of patient care. Based on the findings of the investigation, specific recommendations were proposed to monitor and evaluate the quality of patient care provided in the emergency room.