Emergency department service utilisation of older patients with urgent conditions: a cross-sectional observational study
Dublin Core
Title
Emergency department service utilisation of older patients with urgent conditions: a cross-sectional observational study
Subject
Emergency department, Primary health care, Older patients, Urgent conditions, Non-emergent
conditions, Burden of care, Healthcare utilization
conditions, Burden of care, Healthcare utilization
Description
Abstract
Background As with many countries worldwide, Singapore is experiencing a rapidly ageing population. Presentation
of older persons for urgent but non-emergent conditions to the Emergency Department (ED) represents a growing
group of patients utilising public healthcare emergency services and puts a strain on current ED resources. The
medical conditions vary, and resources used has been poorly characterized.
Methods This is a single-center cross-sectional observational study of patients aged 55 to 75 years old who visited
the ED with urgent conditions, Patient Acuity Category Scale (PACS) P2 or P3, who were subsequently discharged.
The patients visited a public hospital in Singapore on four randomly selected weekdays in April 2023. The utilisation
of hospital resources and manpower was studied. A formulated criteria was used to determine the appropriate site of
care, such as an Urgent Care Centre (UCC), Primary Care Providers (PCP) clinic or the ED.
Results There were 235 eligible patients during the study period, with a mean age of 65.1 years of which a majority,
183 (77.9%) were allocated to patient acuity category scale P2. Most of the patients were walk-in patients with no
referrals (169 (71.9%)). Based on the criteria, the majority of 187 (79.6%) of these patient may be safely managed at an
outpatient setting; 71 (30.2%) patients by PCP, 116 (49.4%) patients may be managed by an UCC, with the remaining
48 (20.4%) requiring ED care.
Conclusion Our findings indicate that a significant portion of discharged older ED adults with urgent but non-
emergent conditions may be adequately managed at outpatient medical services that are appropriately resourced.
More research is needed on healthcare initiatives aimed at developing the capabilities of outpatient medical services
to manage mild to moderate acute conditions to optimise ED resource allocation.
Keywords Emergency department, Primary health care, Older patients, Urgent conditions, Non-emergent
conditions, Burden of care, Healthcare utilization
Background As with many countries worldwide, Singapore is experiencing a rapidly ageing population. Presentation
of older persons for urgent but non-emergent conditions to the Emergency Department (ED) represents a growing
group of patients utilising public healthcare emergency services and puts a strain on current ED resources. The
medical conditions vary, and resources used has been poorly characterized.
Methods This is a single-center cross-sectional observational study of patients aged 55 to 75 years old who visited
the ED with urgent conditions, Patient Acuity Category Scale (PACS) P2 or P3, who were subsequently discharged.
The patients visited a public hospital in Singapore on four randomly selected weekdays in April 2023. The utilisation
of hospital resources and manpower was studied. A formulated criteria was used to determine the appropriate site of
care, such as an Urgent Care Centre (UCC), Primary Care Providers (PCP) clinic or the ED.
Results There were 235 eligible patients during the study period, with a mean age of 65.1 years of which a majority,
183 (77.9%) were allocated to patient acuity category scale P2. Most of the patients were walk-in patients with no
referrals (169 (71.9%)). Based on the criteria, the majority of 187 (79.6%) of these patient may be safely managed at an
outpatient setting; 71 (30.2%) patients by PCP, 116 (49.4%) patients may be managed by an UCC, with the remaining
48 (20.4%) requiring ED care.
Conclusion Our findings indicate that a significant portion of discharged older ED adults with urgent but non-
emergent conditions may be adequately managed at outpatient medical services that are appropriately resourced.
More research is needed on healthcare initiatives aimed at developing the capabilities of outpatient medical services
to manage mild to moderate acute conditions to optimise ED resource allocation.
Keywords Emergency department, Primary health care, Older patients, Urgent conditions, Non-emergent
conditions, Burden of care, Healthcare utilization
Creator
Geraldine P.Y. Koo1*, Pei Zhen Seah1
, Mon Hnin Tun2
, Sinma Tham3
and Steven H.C. Lim1
, Mon Hnin Tun2
, Sinma Tham3
and Steven H.C. Lim1
Source
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12245-024-00674-6
Date
2024
Contributor
Peri Irawan
Format
pdf
Language
english
Type
text
Files
Collection
Citation
Geraldine P.Y. Koo1*, Pei Zhen Seah1
, Mon Hnin Tun2
, Sinma Tham3
and Steven H.C. Lim1, “Emergency department service utilisation of older patients with urgent conditions: a cross-sectional observational study,” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed April 11, 2026, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/12394.