Abstract
Objective: To examine the relationship between ambulance diversion and low acuity patient (LAP) attendances to EDs.Methods: Comparison of LAP attendance rates at inner metropolitan EDs and outer metropolitan EDs using a previously validated methodology.Results: The percentage of LAP attendances was lower at inner metropolitan EDs (11.4%, 95% CI 11.3–11.6) compared to outer metropolitan hospitals (22.9%, 95% CI 22.6–23.2, P <0.001). The proportion of LAP attendances was slightly higher at both inner and outer metropolitan hospitals after-hours compared to working hours. Average daily LAP attendances per inner metropolitan hospital (13.4 attendances, 95% CI 13.2–13.6) which averaged 89.2 min of diversion daily (95% CI 88.7–89.7) were lower than at outer metropolitan hospitals (19.3 attendances, 95% CI 19.0–19.6, P <0.001), which averaged 12.4 min of diversion daily (95% CI 12.1–12.5, P <0.001).Conclusions: Inner metropolitan hospitals experience low LAP attendance rates. Attempts to further reduce LAP attendance rates at Perth inner metropolitan hospitals have limited scope to reduce ambulance diversion.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 11-15 |
Journal | Emergency Medicine Australasia |
Volume | 17 |
Issue number | 1 |
Publication status | Published - 2005 |