Examining patient fow in a tertiary hospital’s emergency department at a low coronavirus prevalence region
Dublin Core
Title
Examining patient fow in a tertiary hospital’s emergency department at a low coronavirus prevalence region
Subject
COVID-19 pandemic, Low prevalence, Patient fow, Emergency department, Overcrowding
Description
Background: Taiwan’s successful containment of the COVID-19 outbreak prior to 2021 provided a unique environ‑
ment for the surveillance of unnecessary emergency medical use. The aim of the study is to examine the impact of
the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic on the patient fow in the emergency department (ED) of a tertiary
hospital over 1 year in southern Taiwan, a region with low COVID-19 prevalence.
Methods: Cross-sectional observational study was conducted from January to December 2020. Essential parameters
of patient fow in the ED between January and February 2020 and the subsequent 11-month period were compared
to data from 2019. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, using an independent sample t-test or Mann–Whit‑
ney U test, as applicable.
Results: The ED census showed an acute decline (−30.8%) from January to February 2020, reaching its nadir
(−40.5%) in April 2020. From February to December 2020, there was an average decrease of 20.3% in ED attendance
(p<0.001). The impact was most signifcant in ambulatory visits, lower-urgency acuity (level III) visits, and pediatric vis‑
its, without change in the acuity proportion. The length of stay shortened mainly in the adult division, which typically
had an overcrowding problem (median, 5.7–4.4hours in discharge; 24.8–16.9hours in hospitalization; p<0.001). The
incidence of 72-hour unscheduled return visits was also reduced (4.1–3.5%, p=0.002).
Conclusions: In contrast to devastated regions, the impact on the ED patient fow in regions having low COVID-19
prevalence highlights a remodeling process of emergency medical care that would improve overcrowding
ment for the surveillance of unnecessary emergency medical use. The aim of the study is to examine the impact of
the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic on the patient fow in the emergency department (ED) of a tertiary
hospital over 1 year in southern Taiwan, a region with low COVID-19 prevalence.
Methods: Cross-sectional observational study was conducted from January to December 2020. Essential parameters
of patient fow in the ED between January and February 2020 and the subsequent 11-month period were compared
to data from 2019. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, using an independent sample t-test or Mann–Whit‑
ney U test, as applicable.
Results: The ED census showed an acute decline (−30.8%) from January to February 2020, reaching its nadir
(−40.5%) in April 2020. From February to December 2020, there was an average decrease of 20.3% in ED attendance
(p<0.001). The impact was most signifcant in ambulatory visits, lower-urgency acuity (level III) visits, and pediatric vis‑
its, without change in the acuity proportion. The length of stay shortened mainly in the adult division, which typically
had an overcrowding problem (median, 5.7–4.4hours in discharge; 24.8–16.9hours in hospitalization; p<0.001). The
incidence of 72-hour unscheduled return visits was also reduced (4.1–3.5%, p=0.002).
Conclusions: In contrast to devastated regions, the impact on the ED patient fow in regions having low COVID-19
prevalence highlights a remodeling process of emergency medical care that would improve overcrowding
Creator
Wen‑Min Tseng, Po‑Hsiang Lin, Pin‑Chieh Wu and Chih‑Hsiang Kao
Publisher
BMC Emergency Medicine
Date
(2022) 22:137
Contributor
Fajar bagus W
Format
PDF
Language
English
Type
Text
Files
Collection
Citation
Wen‑Min Tseng, Po‑Hsiang Lin, Pin‑Chieh Wu and Chih‑Hsiang Kao, “Examining patient fow in a tertiary hospital’s emergency department at a low coronavirus prevalence region,” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed April 18, 2025, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/4136.