OBJECTIVES: To determine the impact of establishing walk-in centres alongside emergency departments (EDs) on attendance rates, visit duration, process, costs and outcome of care. METHODS: Eight hospitals with co-located EDs and walk-in centres were compared with eight matched EDs without walk-in centres. Site visits were conducted. Routine data about attendance numbers and use of resources were analysed. A random sample of records of patients attending before and after the opening of walk-in centres was also assessed. Patients who had not been admitted to hospital were sent a postal questionnaire. RESULTS: At most sites, the walk-in centres did not have a distinct identity and there were few differences in the way services were provided compared with control sites. Overall, there was no evidence of an increase in attendance at sites with walk-in centres, but considerable variability across sites was found. The proportion of patients managed within the 4 h National Health Service target improved at sites both with and without walk-in centres. There was no evidence of any difference in reconsultation rates, costs of care or patient outcomes at sites with or without walk-in centres. CONCLUSIONS: Most hospitals in this study implemented the walk-in centre concept to a very limited extent. Consequently, there was no evidence of any effect on attendance rates, process, costs or outcome of care.
OBJECTIVES: To determine the impact of establishing walk-in centres alongside emergency departments (EDs) on attendance rates, visit duration, process, costs and outcome of care. METHODS: Eight hospitals with co-located EDs and walk-in centres were compared with eight matched EDs without walk-in centres. Site visits were conducted. Routine data about attendance numbers and use of resources were analysed. A random sample of records of patients attending before and after the opening of walk-in centres was also assessed. Patients who had not been admitted to hospital were sent a postal questionnaire. RESULTS: At most sites, the walk-in centres did not have a distinct identity and there were few differences in the way services were provided compared with control sites. Overall, there was no evidence of an increase in attendance at sites with walk-in centres, but considerable variability across sites was found. The proportion of patients managed within the 4 h National Health Service target improved at sites both with and without walk-in centres. There was no evidence of any difference in reconsultation rates, costs of care or patient outcomes at sites with or without walk-in centres. CONCLUSIONS: Most hospitals in this study implemented the walk-in centre concept to a very limited extent. Consequently, there was no evidence of any effect on attendance rates, process, costs or outcome of care.
Authors: Melanie Chalder; Alan Montgomery; Sandra Hollinghurst; Matthew Cooke; James Munro; Val Lattimer; Deborah Sharp; Chris Salisbury Journal: Emerg Med J Date: 2007-04 Impact factor: 2.740
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Authors: Melanie Chalder; Alan Montgomery; Sandra Hollinghurst; Matthew Cooke; James Munro; Val Lattimer; Deborah Sharp; Chris Salisbury Journal: Emerg Med J Date: 2007-04 Impact factor: 2.740
Authors: Maya M Jeyaraman; Leslie Copstein; Nameer Al-Yousif; Rachel N Alder; Scott W Kirkland; Yahya Al-Yousif; Roger Suss; Ryan Zarychanski; Malcolm B Doupe; Simon Berthelot; Jean Mireault; Patrick Tardif; Nicole Askin; Tamara Buchel; Rasheda Rabbani; Thomas Beaudry; Melissa Hartwell; Carolyn Shimmin; Jeanette Edwards; Gayle Halas; William Sevcik; Andrea C Tricco; Alecs Chochinov; Brian H Rowe; Ahmed M Abou-Setta Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2021-05-10 Impact factor: 2.692
Authors: Peter Tammes; Richard W Morris; Emer Brangan; Kath Checkland; Helen England; Alyson Huntley; Daniel Lasserson; Fiona MacKichan; Chris Salisbury; Lesley Wye; Sarah Purdy Journal: BMC Health Serv Res Date: 2017-08-08 Impact factor: 2.655