This randomized controlled trial will introduce a Clinical Decision Unit (CDU) into the University of Alberta Hospital Emergency Department(ED)and assess the influence on ED length of stay, patients who leave without being seen, and other ED Overcrowding outcomes.
The study will take place over a 6-week period that will be spilt into three-two-week blocks. Using computerized blocks of 2 weeks, days of the week will be randomly allocated so that each day of the week receives one intervention (CDU) and one control day for the study period. The CDU involves transforming an ED bed location to a 6-chair internal waiting room with 2 adjacent beds assigned to act as assessment and treatment locations. Patients will transition between the chair and stretcher to optimize the use of ED space.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
6,217
a dedicated 2-bed area to see patients and then rotate them back into the waiting room area for labs and diagnostic imaging.
University of Alberta Hospital
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Total ED length of stay
Time frame: in the Emergency Department
Left without being seen (LWBS) rates
Time frame: in the Emergency Department
nurse and physician satisfaction
Time frame: following Emergency Department shift
ambulance turnaround times (time
Time frame: in the Emergency Department
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