Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on emergency department patient volume and flow: Two countries, two hospitals.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

COVID-19 greatly disrupted the provision of emergency care across the globe. ED service delivery was urgently redesigned as human and material resources were mobilised, and patients with respiratory symptoms were isolated. This study aimed to compare ED patient volume and flow metrics before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

An observational study was conducted in two large urban EDs in Brisbane, Australia and Seoul, Republic of Korea. Patient volume and flow were quantified using ED presentation numbers and service times, respectively. Daily case numbers, waiting, treatment and admission delay times were compared between 2019 and 2020/2021 using time series plots. Outcomes were further classified by triage category and age group. Trends were examined alon

SUBMITTER: Del Mar P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9538521 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature