Ambulatory emergency care – improvement by design

Abstract

Ambulatory emergency care (AEC) has been developed by clinicians as a means of providing emergency care without the traditional bed base of a hospital. Given that AEC is provided in a clinic-style setting, it can continue to operate during periods of high bed occupancy, alleviating bed pressures and continuing to provide timely care for selected patients. Although different models of AEC have developed according to local context, there are common principles that apply to AEC services, including early access to senior decision-makers, opening hours matching demand, access to diagnostics, close collaboration with other clinical services, a mixed workforce and patient selection processes. Some of the key AEC developments have been related to technology, including high-sensitivity troponin, low-molecular-weight heparins and computer tomography (CT) pulmonary angiography. Risk stratification tools are useful for assessing the appropriateness of using AEC as a care model for patients.