ThTP5.9 Are readmission rates in a new surgical SDEC department acceptable? A service evaluation of a Healthboard’s new department

Abstract

Abstract Aims Unplanned patient readmission after discharge is a costly and potentially preventable occurrence, which can negatively impact both the patient’s experience and overall outcomes. Readmission rates across the country vary depending on location, population demographics and presenting complaint, but most departments have rates between 4 – 10%. Our health board has recently implemented a new surgical Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) department in response to rising pressures on beds. There have already been promising drops in patient waiting times since its inception, however patient readmission rates have not been formally evaluated. We aimed to investigate 30 day unplanned patient readmission rates in this new SDEC department. Methods All patients that came in to the SDEC department in October 2022 were placed on a prospective database. We used the healthboard’s Clinical Workstation (CWS) database application to track whether they had re-presented to the Emergency or surgical departments within 30 days of their discharge from SDEC. Results 344 patients were seen in SDEC over the course of 31 days. Of these 238 were discharged, 34 were planned readmissions and 71 were admitted. Of the discharged patients 13 came back as unplanned readmissions within 30 days. This gives an unplanned readmission rate of 5.5%. Conclusion SDEC is providing an excellent surgical service, with low unplanned readmission rates. SDEC has proven to be an effective way to divert patients from the Surgical Assessment Unit and ease the acute on call surgical take pressures.