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Re-attendance to the emergency department
1Emergency Department, Wycombe General Hospital, High Wycombe, Bucks, UK. rwhiticar@doctors.org.uk
Emergency Medicine Journal : EMJ
|May 24, 2008
Summary
Patient re-attendance in emergency departments is rising. An audit suggests foundation year 2 (FY2) doctors, with less experience, may contribute to higher patient return rates compared to senior house officers (SHO).
Area of Science:
- Emergency Medicine
- Healthcare Management
- Medical Education
Background:
- Rising patient re-attendance rates in emergency departments present a growing challenge.
- Limited research exists on the factors influencing emergency department revisits.
- Changes in junior doctor staffing models, such as Modernising Medical Careers, may impact care quality.
Purpose of the Study:
- To audit patient re-attendance rates in an emergency department.
- To investigate the potential impact of junior doctor experience levels on re-attendance.
- To identify strategies for preventing emergency department revisits.
Main Methods:
- An audit was conducted in a hospital emergency department.
- Patient re-attendance data was analyzed.
- Staffing levels and doctor experience (Foundation Year 2 vs. Senior House Officer) were considered.
Main Results:
- Foundation Year 2 (FY2) doctors, despite managing fewer patients per capita, showed a higher rate of patient re-attendance.
- Senior House Officers (SHOs) demonstrated a lower re-attendance rate compared to FY2 doctors.
- A correlation between FY2 doctor experience and increased re-attendance is hypothesized.
Conclusions:
- The shift towards less experienced doctors (FY2) in emergency departments may be linked to increased patient re-attendance.
- Further investigation into the training and support for FY2 doctors is warranted.
- Addressing junior doctor training may be crucial for reducing emergency department revisits.
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