[Patient turnover in a multidisciplinary emergency department]

Abstract

Introduction: More than twenty emergency departments were opened across Hungary in the past years. Data deficiency on patient flow, trends and lack of knowledge of indicators could raise numerous logistical and organisational problems.

Aim: Collection, analysis and provision of data to facilitate successful operations of emergency medical care services.

Method: During a three-year period investigated, at the multidisciplinary Emergency Department of "Moritz Kaposi" Teaching Hospital, data on patient flow (n = 106,203), epidemiology, triage and international classification of diseases were analysed.

Results: Analysis showed 73% of patients were suitable for medical discharge within 24 hours. Predominantly internal medicine, paediatric and neurological diseases indicated hospitalisation (21%). Patients in critical condition were found to be low (<2%). Distinct diurnal, weekly, monthly variations were found. Majority of cases were injuries and intoxications (40%). Low mortality rate (0.3%) validates the effectiveness of stabilisation.

Conclusions: The patient safety value of the examined emergency medical care is great, and could exempt the hospital wards from unjustified hospitalisations of the patients. Orv Hetil. 2017; 158(21): 811-822.

Keywords: BNO; ICD-10; emergency service; epidemiology; epidemiológia; seasonality; szezonalitás; sürgősségi ellátás; triage; triage (triázs).