Research published in the Annals of Emergency Medicine suggests certain factors, including a hospital's location, may unfairly penalize organizations that do not meet emergency department throughput measures approved by the National Quality Forum.
The four ED throughput measures quantify average ED length of visit for admitted and discharged patients; median waiting time; and rate of left without being seen. A study of 424 hospitals that reported data to the National Hospital Ambulatory Care Survey in 2008 to 2009 reveals a number of factors "outside of a hospital's control" impact performance on these ED throughput measures:
• ED volume
• Metropolitan Statistical Area
• Teaching hospital status
• Patient age
• Case mix
The four ED throughput measures quantify average ED length of visit for admitted and discharged patients; median waiting time; and rate of left without being seen. A study of 424 hospitals that reported data to the National Hospital Ambulatory Care Survey in 2008 to 2009 reveals a number of factors "outside of a hospital's control" impact performance on these ED throughput measures:
• ED volume
• Metropolitan Statistical Area
• Teaching hospital status
• Patient age
• Case mix
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