Effects of a fast-track area on emergency department performance

2006 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 117-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miquel Sanchez ◽  
Alan J. Smally ◽  
Robert J. Grant ◽  
Lenworth M. Jacobs
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Fast Track ◽  
Track Area

scholarly journals Impact of streaming "fast track" emergency department patients

2006 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 525 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debra O'Brien ◽  
Aled Williams ◽  
Kerrianne Blondell ◽  
George A Jelinek
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Length Of Stay ◽  
Waiting Time ◽  
Fast Track ◽  
Average Length ◽  
Waiting Times ◽  
Relative Reduction ◽  
Average Waiting Time ◽  
Discharged Patients ◽  
Track Area

Objective: Fast track systems to stream emergency department (ED) patients with low acuity conditions have been introduced widely, resulting in reduced waiting times and lengths of stay for these patients. We aimed to prospectively assess the impact on patient flows of a fast track system implemented in the emergency department of an Australian tertiary adult teaching hospital which deals with relatively few low acuity patients. Methods: During the 12-week trial period, patients in Australasian Triage Scale (ATS) categories 3, 4 and 5 who were likely to be discharged were identified at triage and assessed and treated in a separate fast track area by ED medical and nursing staff rostered to work exclusively in the area. Results: The fast track area managed 21.6% of all patients presenting during its hours of operation. There was a 20.3% (?18 min; 95%CI, ?26 min to ?10 min) relative reduction in the average waiting time and an 18.0% (?41 min; 95%CI, ?52 min to ?30 min) relative reduction in the average length of stay for all discharged patients compared with the same period the previous year. Compared with the 12-week period before the fast track trial, there was a 3.4% (?2.1 min; 95%CI, ?8 min to 4 min) relative reduction in the average waiting time and a 9.7% (?20 min; 95%CI, ?31 min to ?9 min) relative reduction in the average length of stay for all discharged patients. There was no increase in the average waiting time for admitted patients. This was despite major increases in throughput and access block in the study period. Conclusion: Streaming fast track patients in the emergency department of an Australian tertiary adult teaching hospital can reduce waiting times and length of stay for discharged patients without increasing waiting times for admitted patients, even in an ED with few low acuity patients.

Tracking Fast and Slow

2020 ◽  
pp. 235-240
Author(s):  
Pat Croskerry
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Emergency Department ◽  
Fast Track ◽  
Correct Diagnosis ◽  
Confirmation Bias ◽  
Elderly Female ◽  
Minor Injury ◽  
Track Area ◽  
A Minor

In this case, an elderly female presents to the emergency department with a complaint of shoulder sprain that occurred while she was mowing her lawn earlier in the day. She is assumed to have a minor injury and is seen and assessed in the fast-track area. This first visit is an example of patient cueing leading to triage cueing, confirmation bias, and ultimately misdiagnosis. She returns later the same day, at which time the correct diagnosis is made. The case provides an opportunity to examine the influence of fatigue and important diurnal influences on decision making.

scholarly journals The impact of a fast track area on quality and effectiveness outcomes: A Middle Eastern emergency department perspective

2009 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Subashnie Devkaran ◽  
Howard Parsons ◽  
Murray Van Dyke ◽  
Jonathan Drennan ◽  
Jaishen Rajah
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Fast Track ◽  
Middle Eastern ◽  
Track Area ◽  
The Impact

Fast track dialysis: Improving emergency department and hospital throughput for patients requiring hemodialysis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher O'Donnell ◽  
Ethan Molitch-Hou ◽  
Kyle James ◽  
Traci Leong ◽  
Michael Perry ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Fast Track

scholarly journals Diversity for diversity: A “fast track” nursing service model to complement conventional emergency medicine service in a busy urban area emergency department

2020 ◽  
pp. 102490792093170
Author(s):  
Ng Hing Yin ◽  
Fan Kin Ping ◽  
Lo Chor Man
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Patient Satisfaction ◽  
Fast Track ◽  
Waiting Times ◽  
Clinical Protocols ◽  
Service Model ◽  
Nursing Service ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Emergency Department Patients ◽  
High Level

Background: In a busy local emergency department, patients with certain non-life-threatening conditions which only require relatively quick and straightforward management may encounter long waiting times. A new service model called the “Fast Track” Nursing Service attempts to lessen the service load of the regular service queues and to improve patient outcomes. Objectives: This article reports the service outcomes of the Fast Track Nursing Service. Methods: Nurses at our department are selected and trained under clinical protocols specially developed for this service. Assessments and quality assurance audits ensure the quality of service. Results: This service resulted in comparatively shorter waiting times for patients included in predetermined clinical protocols. There was also a high level of patient satisfaction with this service. Conclusion: Our Fast Track Enhanced Nursing service is a model of tailored service diversification to shorten waiting times, thus improving patient satisfaction and outcome.

FAST TRACK WITHIN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT

1996 ◽  
Vol 89 (Supplement) ◽  
pp. S32
Author(s):  
Cynthia E. Dorr ◽  
Charles S. Graffeo ◽  
Michael G. Mackanic
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Fast Track

scholarly journals Specialized fast track: a sustainable model to improve emergency department patient flow

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
pp. 40
Author(s):  
Emilpaolo Manno ◽  
Marco Pesce ◽  
Umberto Stralla ◽  
Federico Festa ◽  
Silvio Geninatti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Length Of Stay ◽  
Fast Track ◽  
Patient Flow ◽  
Wait Time ◽  
Emergency Department Patient ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Time Length ◽  
Hospital Units ◽  
Ed Visits

Objective: Emergency department (ED) overcrowding is a hospital-wide problem that demands a whole-hospital solution. We developed and implemented a fast track model for streaming ED patients with low-acuity illness or injury to specialized care areas (gynecology-obstetrics, orthopedics-trauma, pediatrics, and primary care) staffed by existing specialist resources with access to general ED services. The study aim was to determine whether streaming of ED visits into specialized fast track areas increased operational efficiency and improved patient flow in a mixed adult and pediatric ED without incurring extra costs.Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the ED discharge records of patients who were mainstreamed or fast tracked during the 3-year period from 1 January 2010 through 31 December 2012. ED visits were identified according to a five-level triage scheme; performance indicators were compared for: wait time, length of stay, leave before being seen and revisit rates.Results: A reduction in wait time, length of stay, and leave before being seen rate was seen with fast track streaming (p < .01). These improvements were achieved without additional medical and nurse staffing.Conclusions: Specialized fast track streaming helped us meet patients’ care needs and contain costs. Lower-acuity patients were seen quickly by a specialist and safely discharged or admitted to the hospital without diverting resources from patients with high-acuity illness or injury. Involvement of all stakeholders in seeking a sustainable solution to ED crowding as a hospital-wide problem was key to enhancing cooperation between the ED and the hospital units.

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