Transfer boarding delays care more in low-volume rural emergency departments: A cohort study.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Emergency department (ED) crowding is increasing and is associated with adverse patient outcomes. The objective of this study was to measure the relative impact of ED boarding on timeliness of early ED care for new patient arrivals, with a focus on the differential impact in low-volume rural hospitals.

Methods

A retrospective cohort of all patients presenting to a Veterans Health Administration (VHA) ED between 2011 and 2014. The primary exposure was the number of patients in the ED at the time of ED registration, stratified by disposition (admit, discharge, or transfer) and mental health diagnosis. The primary outcome was time-to-provider evaluation, and secondary outcomes included time-to-EKG, time-to-laboratory testing, time-to-radiography, and total ED length-of-

SUBMITTER: Mohr NM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8715860 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature