Psychiatric patients' emergency department length of stay was 11.5 hours on average, according to a study (pdf) in the Annals of Emergency Medicine.
Researchers studied patients with psychiatric illnesses who were treated at one of five EDs between June 2008 and May 2009. They found while the overall average ED length of stay was 11.5 hours, this measure varied depending on discharge disposition. Patients who were discharged to home had stayed an average of 8.6 hours in the ED, and patients who were later transferred to a hospital outside the system of care had stayed an average of 15 hours. Other factors associated with increased ED length of stay include a positive toxicology screen result for alcohol, the use of diagnostic imaging and restraint use.
Ephrata Community Hospital in Pennsylvania Begins $13M ED Expansion
25 States With the Highest Rate of ER Visits
Researchers studied patients with psychiatric illnesses who were treated at one of five EDs between June 2008 and May 2009. They found while the overall average ED length of stay was 11.5 hours, this measure varied depending on discharge disposition. Patients who were discharged to home had stayed an average of 8.6 hours in the ED, and patients who were later transferred to a hospital outside the system of care had stayed an average of 15 hours. Other factors associated with increased ED length of stay include a positive toxicology screen result for alcohol, the use of diagnostic imaging and restraint use.
More Articles on Hospital Emergency Departments:
NJ Hospital Association: Care Coordination Can Reduce Unnecessary ED VisitsEphrata Community Hospital in Pennsylvania Begins $13M ED Expansion
25 States With the Highest Rate of ER Visits