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Does a dedicated pediatric team within a busy mixed emergency department make a difference in waiting times,

Gerben Keijzers1, Julia Crilly, Benjamin Walters

  • 1Emergency Department, Gold Coast Hospital, Queensland, Australia. gerben_keijzers@health.qld.gov.au

Pediatric Emergency Care
|April 20, 2010
PubMed

Insights

A dedicated pediatric team in the emergency department (ED) reduced overall ED length of stay for children. However, this initiative did not decrease the time to see a doctor, highlighting the importance of wait time communication and staff attitude for patient satisfaction.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Emergency Medicine
  • Healthcare Delivery Models
  • Quality Improvement in Healthcare

Background:

  • Emergency departments (EDs) face challenges in managing pediatric patient flow and satisfaction.
  • Dedicated care models are being explored to optimize ED operations and patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the impact of a specialized pediatric care team on ED waiting times, parent satisfaction, and care transitions.
  • To evaluate the effectiveness of a free-floating, pediatric-targeted care delivery model within an ED setting.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective, observational study with a before-and-after design was conducted.
  • A pediatric ED initiative (PEDI) team (doctor and nurse) was implemented during the intervention period.
  • Patient satisfaction and waiting times were assessed via telephone follow-up 7–14 days post-discharge.

Main Results:

  • The intervention group showed a significantly shorter ED length of stay (158 vs. 194 minutes; P = 0.01).
  • No significant difference was observed in the time to be seen by a doctor (80 vs. 78 minutes; P = 0.54).
  • Overall patient satisfaction was linked to staff attitude and clear communication regarding wait times.

Conclusions:

  • A dedicated pediatric team can reduce total ED length of stay for pediatric patients during peak hours.
  • The PEDI team did not influence the time to physician assessment or significantly improve transition of care indicators.
  • Optimizing waiting times, staff demeanor, and patient education are crucial for enhancing overall ED satisfaction.
Abstract

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