Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1 Department of Medical Emergencies, Shoushtar Faculty of Medical Sciences, Shoushtar, Iran
2 Department of Nursing, Shoushtar Faculty of Medical Sciences, Shoushtar, Iran
3 Khomein University of Medical Sciences, Khomein, Iran
4 Khatam Al-Anbia Hospital, Shoushtar Faculty of Medical Sciences, Shoushtar, Ira
Abstract
Objective: One of the most important indicators used in the evaluation of emergency centers is the chronometric analysis of patients’ workflow. The aim of this study was to provide a chronometric analysis of patients’ workflow (patients’ waiting time in the emergency department) and related factors.
Methods: This hospital-based prospective cohort study was carried out in Khatam al-Anbia hospital in Shoushtar in 2020. Random sampling was used and patients referred to the emergency ward in three shifts based on the ESI 5-level triage system. The research tools were the emergency workflow chronometry form and a questionnaire of determining the factors related to the speed of emergency services and using a stopwatch. In order to analyse the data, Stata software version 16 and Weibull model of survival analysis were used.
Results: Of 468 participants, the most common cause of referral was trauma with 21.7%. The median ± interquartile range duration of giving the final result was 6.06 ± 4.48 hours, which was more than 0.54 times shorter in clients with level 3. There was a statistically significant difference in the duration of making the final decision based on the request for testing, manner of referring and the type of initial diagnosis (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: The duration of service provision in the studied hospital is appropriate for an Iranian hospital, but it should be closer to international standards. At level 2 triage, patients stayed longer. This can be reduced by lessening the time of consultations which can help the emergency ward.
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