Changing paediatric emergency department model of care is associated with improvements in the National Emergency...

Area of Science:

• Emergency Medicine
• Healthcare Management
• Pediatrics

Background:

• The National Emergency Access Target (NEAT) is a key performance indicator for emergency department (ED) patient flow.
• Optimizing patient flow in pediatric emergency departments (PEM EDs) is crucial for timely and effective care.
• Implementing new models of care can impact ED efficiency and patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effect of a new Paediatric Emergency Department (PEM ED) model of care on patient flow.
• To assess changes in National Emergency Access Target (NEAT) compliance following the implementation of the new PEM ED model.
• To analyze the impact on length of stay and patient disposition within the pediatric ED.

Main Methods:

• A longitudinal observational study was conducted at Logan Hospital.
• Data from the ED Information System were compared for 365 days before and after the opening of a dedicated PEM ED.
• The study included analysis of patient presentations, length of stay, and final disposition.

Main Results:

• Despite a 23% increase in pediatric presentations, the median length of stay decreased from 152 to 138 minutes.
• Presentations meeting the NEAT target increased by 7.75% (from 77.41% to 85.16%).
• Admission to the ED Short Stay Unit rose significantly, while disposition to inpatient pediatric units decreased.

Conclusions:

• The new PEM ED model of care led to improved NEAT times and enhanced patient flow.
• The findings suggest that specific elements of the new model contribute to better efficiency.
• Further research is recommended to identify the most effective components of the PEM ED model for optimizing patient flow.