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Internet-accessible emergency department workload information reduces ambulance diversion
Peter Sprivulis1, Brett Gerrard
1Department of Health, Western Australia, Perth. psprivulis@ihi.org
Prehospital Emergency Care
|September 9, 2005
Summary
Pre-emptive ambulance distribution reduced ambulance diversion by utilizing real-time emergency department (ED) data and triage. This strategy, however, should complement efforts to improve hospital patient flow.
Area of Science:
- Emergency Medicine
- Health Services Research
- Public Health
Background:
- Ambulance diversion is a significant issue impacting emergency care access.
- Effective strategies are needed to manage emergency department (ED) workload and ambulance distribution.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of a real-time, Internet-accessible ED workload schematic and prehospital Australasian Triage Scale (ATS) allocations on ambulance diversion in Western Australia.
Main Methods:
- A comparative analysis of July-December 2002 and July-December 2003 data from metropolitan Perth EDs.
- Examined ED cubicle occupancy, ambulance diversion hours, distribution patterns, and unloading delays.
Main Results:
- Ambulance diversion decreased by 36% (1,788 to 1,138 hours) despite increased ED occupancy.
- Ambulance attendances shifted from inner to outer metropolitan EDs.
- While the frequency of unloading delays remained similar, their median duration increased.
Conclusions:
- Pre-emptive ambulance distribution, informed by real-time ED data and ATS, effectively reduced ambulance diversion.
- This approach likely succeeded due to redistributing ambulances to outer metropolitan EDs.
- Reducing diversion should be integrated with strategies to improve inpatient flow and hospital capacity.