%0 Journal Article
%T Analysis of the Literature on Emergency Department Throughput
%A Zun
%A Leslie S
%J Western Journal of Emergency Medicine : Integrating Emergency Care with Population Health
%D 2009
%I UC Irvine Health School of Medicine.
%X Introduction: The purpose of this paper was to review and analyze all the literature concerning ED patient throughput. The secondary goal was to determine if certain factors would significantly alter patients¡¯ ED throughput.Methods: A MEDLINE search was performed from 1966 to 2007 using the terms ¡°turnaround,¡± ¡°emergency departments,¡± ¡°emergency medicine,¡± ¡°efficiency,¡± ¡°throughput,¡± ¡°overcrowding¡± and ¡°crowding.¡± Studies were graded using a scale of one to four based on the ACEP paper quality criteria. Inclusion criteria were English language and at least a level four or better on the quality scale. An analysis of successful procedures and techniques was performed.Results: Literature search using the key terms found 29 articles on turnaround times, 129 on ED efficiency, 3 on throughput, 64 on overcrowding and 52 on crowding. Twenty-six articles were found to meet the inclusion criteria. There were three level I studies, thirteen level II studies, five level III studies and five level IV studies. The studies were categorized into five areas: determinants (7), laboratories processes (4), triage process (3), academic responsibilities (2), and techniques (10). Few papers used the same techniques or process to examine or reduce patient throughput precluding a meta-analysis.Conclusions: An analysis of the literature was difficult because of varying study methodologies and less than ideal quality. EDs with combinations of low inpatient census, in-room registration, point of care testing and an urgent care area demonstrated increased patient throughput. [WestJEM. 2009;10:104-109.]
%K throughput
%K efficiency
%K length of stay
%U http://escholarship.org/uc/item/4qc6x82t