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Review
. 2021 Jan;23(1):26-28.
doi: 10.1007/s43678-020-00065-9. Epub 2021 Jan 14.

The International Federation for Emergency Medicine report on emergency department crowding and access block: A brief summary

Arshia P Javidan  1   2 , Kim Hansen  3   4 , I Higginson  5 , P Jones  6   7 , Eddy Lang  8   9 ; IFEM Task Force on Emergency Department Crowding, Access Block
Affiliations
Review

The International Federation for Emergency Medicine report on emergency department crowding and access block: A brief summary

Arshia P Javidan et al. CJEM. 2021 Jan.

Abstract
in English, French

Objective: To develop comprehensive guidance that captures international impacts, causes, and solutions related to emergency department crowding and access block.

Methods: Emergency physicians representing 15 countries from all IFEM regions composed the Task Force. Monthly meetings were held via video-conferencing software to achieve consensus for report content. The report was submitted and approved by the IFEM Board on June 1, 2020.

Results: A total of 14 topic dossiers, each relating to an aspect of ED crowding, were researched and completed collaboratively by members of the Task Force.

Conclusions: The IFEM report is a comprehensive document intended to be used in whole or by section to inform and address aspects of ED crowding and access block. Overall, ED crowding is a multifactorial issue requiring systems-wide solutions applied at local, regional, and national levels. Access block is the predominant contributor of ED crowding in most parts of the world.

RéSUMé: OBJECTIFS: Développer des directives détaillées qui saisissent les impacts internationaux, les causes et les solutions liés au surpeuplement et blocages d’accès des urgences. MéTHODES: Des médecins d’urgence représentant 15 pays de toutes les régions de la Fédération Internationale de Médecine d’Urgence (IFEM) ont composé le groupe de travail. Des réunions mensuelles ont été organisées par le biais d’un logiciel de visioconférence afin de parvenir à un consensus sur le contenu du rapport. Le rapport a été soumis et approuvé par le Conseil d’administration de l’IFEM le 1er juin 2020. RéSULTATS : Au total, 14 dossiers thématiques, chacun se rapportant à un aspect de l’engorgement des urgences, ont été documentés et complétés conjointement par les membres du groupe de travail. CONCLUSIONS: Le rapport IFEM est un document détaillé destiné à être utilisé dans son intégralité ou par section pour renseigner et aborder les aspects du surpeuplement et du blocage d’accès des urgences. Dans l’ensemble, l’encombrement dans les services d’urgence est un problème multifactoriel qui nécessite des solutions à l’échelle systémique appliquées aux niveaux local, régional et national. Le blocage d’accès est le principal contributeur à l’engorgement des urgences dans la plupart des régions du monde.

Keywords: Access block; Care system; Crowding; Emergency care system; Emergency department management; Emergency department operations.

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Conflict of interest statement

All Authors declare no conflict of interest.

References

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