Effect of emergency department fast track on emergency department length of stay: a case-control study.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of fast track on emergency department (ED) length of stay (LOS). DESIGN AND SETTING: Pair-matched case-control design in a public teaching hospital in metropolitan Melbourne, Australia. PARTICIPANTS: Patients treated by the ED fast track (cases) between 1 January and 31 March 2007 were compared with patients treated by the usual ED processes (controls) from 1 July to 15 November 2006 (n = 822 matched pairs). INTERVENTION: ED fast track was established in November 2006 and focused on the management of patients with non-urgent complaints. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measure was ED LOS for fast-track patients. Secondary outcomes were waiting times..