Impact of an acute medical admission unit on length of hospital stay, and emergency department 'wait times'.

BACKGROUND

While many UK hospitals have introduced an acute medical admissions unit (AMAU) to facilitate an efficient emergency admission process and reduce length of hospital stay (LOS), there is a lack of such data in the Republic of Ireland.

AIM

To determine the impact of an AMAU on emergency department (ED) wait times for a hospital bed, consultant practice, and LOS.

DESIGN

Retrospective analysis of data recorded in the hospital in-patient enquiry (HIPE) system.

METHODS

We studied all emergency medical patients admitted to St James' Hospital Dublin between 1 January 2002 and 31 December 2003. In 2002, patients were admitted directly to a variety of wards, many of which were not affiliated with a medical specialty, under the care of a named consultant physician. In 2003, two centrally located wards were re-configured to function as an AMAU, and all emergency patients were admitted to this unit.

RESULTS

For all physician teams, median LOS shortened significantly from 2002 to 2003 (6 vs. 5 days, p<0.0001). Overall, patients seen by general physicians had a shorter LOS (5 days) than that of those seen by sub-specialists (6 days) (p<0.0001). The number of patients waiting in the ED for a hospital bed was reduced by 30% from 2002 to 2003 (p<0.001). Extrapolated cost savings for the hospital with the introduction of the AMAU were estimated at approximately 4039 bed-days and 1 714 152.

DISCUSSION

Introduction of the AMAU speeded access to acute medical service and reduced costs.