The Royal Melbourne Hospital Emergency Department twenty years on

Abstract

AbstractIntroduction:This study compared the patients who chose to attend the Royal Melbourne Hospital Emergency Department (RMH ED) for an arbitrary week in 1993 to those from a similar study completed 20 years before.Method:Of all patients presenting to the RMH ED over the week, those that chose to attend were entered into the survey.Results:The survey population was predominantly male, spoke English, was aged less than 45 years, had a relatively stable place of abode, and received an after tax income of less than $200 per week. Patients were less likely to be of Anglo‐Celtic descent than in 1973 and were unlikely to have attempted tertiary studies unless of Asian descent. The day of highest attendance had changed from Monday to Sunday. Although patients were likely to have a local doctor, they were unlikely to have seen him or her for the complaint. Patients stated that they were prepared to pay $10‐$20 for the ED consultation. As in 1973, most patients chose RMH ED for reasons of convenience, though more patients had attended the hospital before. In this study less patients were privately insured and more were pensioners, although more patients used private transport to come to hospital.Conclusions:Times have changed. If we are to provide optimal service to our patients we need knowledge of their background, social circumstances, and expectations as we provide emergency services into the 21st century.