Title of article :
Overcrowding in emergency departments: A review of strategies to decrease future challenges
Author/Authors :
Yarmohammadian, Mohammad H Faculty of Management and Medical Informatics - Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan , Rezaei, Fatemeh Faculty of Management and Medical Informatics - Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan , Haghshenas, Abbas Faculty of Health - University of Technology Sydney - Sydney - New South Wales, Australia , Tavakoli, Nahid Faculty of Management and Medical Informatics - Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan
Abstract :
Emergency departments (EDs) are the most challenging ward with respect to patient delay. The goal of this study is to present
strategies that have proven to reduce delay and overcrowding in EDs. In this review article, initial electronic database search resulted
in a total of 1006 articles. Thirty articles were included after reviewing full texts. Inclusion criteria were assessments of real patient
flows and implementing strategies inside the hospitals. In this study, we discussed strategies of team triage, point‑of‑care testing,
ideal ED patient journey models, streaming, and fast track. Patients might be directed to different streaming channels depending
on clinical status and required practitioners. The most comprehensive strategy is ideal ED patient journey models, in which ten
interrelated substrategies are provided. ED leaders should apply strategies that provide a continuous care process without deeply
depending on external services.
Keywords :
Emergency department , overcrowding , patient flow , patient journey , patient safety
Journal title :
Astroparticle Physics
