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The role of a rapid assessment zone/pod on reducing overcrowding in emergency departments: a systematic review
  1. Michael J Bullard1,
  2. Cristina Villa-Roel1,2,
  3. Xiaoyan Guo1,
  4. Brian R Holroyd1,
  5. Grant Innes3,
  6. Michael J Schull4,
  7. Benjamin Vandermeer5,
  8. Maria Ospina2,6,
  9. Brian H Rowe1,2,5
  1. 1Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
  2. 2School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
  3. 3Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
  4. 4Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  5. 5Evidence-Based Practice Centre, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
  6. 6Institute of Health Economics, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
  1. Correspondence to Dr Brian H Rowe, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Alberta, 1G1.42 Walter C Mackenzie Centre, 8440-112 Street, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2B7, Canada; brian.rowe{at}ualberta.ca

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of a rapid assessment zone (RAZ) to mitigate emergency department (ED) overcrowding.

Methods Electronic databases, controlled trial registries, conference proceedings, study references, experts in the field and correspondence with authors were used to identify potentially relevant studies. Intervention studies, in which a RAZ was used to influence length of stay, physician initial assessment and patients left without being seen, were included. Mean differences were calculated and reported with corresponding 95% CIs; individual statistics are presented as RR with associated 95% CI.

Results From 14 446 potentially relevant studies, four studies were included in the review. The quality of one study was appraised as moderately high; others were rated as weak. Two studies showed that a RAZ was associated with a reduction of 20 min (95% CI: −47.2 to 7.2) in the ED length of stay; in one non-randomised clinical trial (RCT), a 192 min reduction was reported (95% CI: −211.6 to −172.4). Physician initial assessment showed a reduction of 8.0 min; 95% CI: −13.8 to −2.2 in the RCT and a reduction of 33 min (95% CI: −42.3 to −23.6) and 18 min (95% CI: −22.2 to −13.8) respectively were found in two non-RCTs. There was a reduction in the risk of patient leaving without being seen (RCT: RR=0.93, 95% CI: 0.77 to 1.12; non-RCT: RR =0.68, 95% CI: 0.63 to 0.73).

Conclusions Although the results are consistent, and low acuity patients seem to benefit the most from a RAZ, the available evidence to support its implementation is limited.

  • Emergency medicine
  • intervention studies
  • overcrowding
  • review
  • nursing
  • emergency departments
  • management
  • emergency department management
  • emergency ambulance systems
  • effectiveness

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Footnotes

  • Funding This study was funded by a grant from the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR; 200810KRS). MS is supported by CIHR as an Applied Chair in Health Services and Policy Research (Ottawa, ON). CV-R is supported by CIHR in partnership with the Knowledge translation branch. BHR is supported by the 21st Century Canada Research Chairs program through the government of Canada (Ottawa, ON).

  • Competing interests MJB, BRH and BHR are authors of one of the included studies.

  • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

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