Abstract
BackgroundTo analyze the turnaround times of psychiatric patients within the Emergency Department (ED) from registration to discharge or hospitalization in a University Hospital in 2002.MethodsData from a one-year period of psychiatric admissions to the emergency service at a University Hospital were monitored and analyzed focused on turnaround times within the ED. Information on patients variables such as age, sex, diagnosis, consultations and diagnostic procedures were extracted from the patients' charts.ResultsFrom 34.058 patients seen in the ED in 2002, 2632 patients were examined by psychiatrists on duty. Mean turnaround time in the ED was 123 (SD 97) minutes (median 95). Patients to be hospitalized on a psychiatric ward stayed shorter within the ED, patients who later were admitted to another faculty, were treated longer in the ED. Patients with cognitive or substance related disorders stayed longer in the ED than patients with other psychiatric diagnoses. The number of diagnostic procedures and consultations increased the treatment time significantly.ConclusionAs the number of patients within the examined ED increases every year, the relevant variables responsible for longer or complicated treatments were assessed in order to appropriately change routine procedures without loss of medical standards. Using this basic data, comparisons with the following years and other hospitals will help to define where the benchmark of turnaround times for psychiatric emergency services might be.
Highlights
To analyze the turnaround times of psychiatric patients within the Emergency Department (ED) from registration to discharge or hospitalization in a University Hospital in 2002
As waiting and turnaround times might be crucial to the outcome of a medical disease and the reduction of waiting times will positively influence patients perceptions of a hospital and its services, the purpose of this study is to examine the turnaround times of psychiatric patients according to general and diagnose-related variables as a basis of one possible quality indicator
Female patients were significantly older than male patients (Mann-Whitney-U, Z=-3.4, p = 0.001). 567 patients were secondly referred to a psychiatrist by faculties for consultation. 945 patients were admitted to psychiatric wards and 104 patients to non psychiatric wards. 107 patients refused hospitalization
Summary
To analyze the turnaround times of psychiatric patients within the Emergency Department (ED) from registration to discharge or hospitalization in a University Hospital in 2002. Turnaround time is an important parameter that strongly influences patients and staff satisfaction in the emergency department and there are early reports considering this important issue [1]. In the department examined it is defined as the time from patient arrival to either discharge or hospitalization. The measurement of turnaround time is an helpful variable of efficacy which is feasible in most emergency departments. Measuring turnaround times may have two major goals: improving the medical care (page number not for citation purposes). Clinical Practice and Epidemiology in Mental Health 2005, 1:27 http://www.cpementalhealth.com/content/1/1/27 parametric methods such as Pearson's Chi Quare test, Mann-Whitney-U-test, Kruskal-Wallis-test and correlation analysis by Spearman were performed. The significance level was set at α 00.05 or less
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Clinical Practice and Epidemiology in Mental Health
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
