The number of patients simultaneously present at the emergency department as an indicator of unsafe waiting times: A receiver operated curve-based evaluation

摘要: Abstract Background Emergency department (ED) crowding and prolonged waiting times have been associated with adverse consequences towards quality patient safety. Objective This study investigates whether the number of patients simultaneously present at ED might be an indicator unsafe what threshold hospital-wide measures to improve outflow could justified. Methods Data were retrospectively collected during a 1-year period; all aged ⩾16years, triaged as ESI-1 or ESI-2 eligible for inclusion. The was used occupancy rate. Waiting time considered if it longer than 10min patients, 30min patients. Differences in between safe analysed using Mann–Whitney U test. ability rate discriminate receiver operating characteristic curve. Results overall median 5min (IQR=4–8) ESI-1, 12min (IQR=6–24) Unsafe occurred 16.0% (median time=17min, IQR=13–23), 18.9% time=48min, IQR=37–68). weak (AUC=0.625, 95%CI 0.537–0.713) but fair (AUC=0.740, 0.727–0.753) which predict 90% sensitivity 51 Conclusion is moderate times. Future initiatives should not focus solely on occupancy, expand their other factors affecting time.