Tanya Greaves1, Marion Mitchell2, Ping Zhang3, Julia Crilly4. 1. School of Nursing and Midwifery Griffith University, Australia. Electronic address: tanya.greaves@griffithuni.edu.au. 2. School of Nursing and Midwifery and NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Nursing, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University and Intensive Care Unit, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Australia. 3. Menzies Health Institute, Queensland, Griffith University, Australia. 4. Department of Emergency Medicine, Gold Coast Health and Menzies Health Institute, Queensland, Griffith University, Australia.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of an Emergency Department Ambulance Offload Nurse (EDAOLN) role on patient and health services outcomes in one Queensland Emergency Department (ED). METHODS: A retrospective study of all ED presentations (n=21,454) made to a tertiary hospital ED in Queensland, Australia, during July 9, 2012 - November 2, 2012; 39days before (T1), during (T2) and after (T3) the introduction of the trial of an EDAOLN role. The primary outcome of interest was time to be seen by a clinician. RESULTS: Demographic and clinical profiles of ED presentations made during each of the time periods were relatively similar. Time to be seen improved marginally during the trial period of the EDAOLN (T1: 34min vs. T2: 31min, p=0.002). The proportion of hospital admissions and those who did not wait differed between T1 and T2 (lower during T2 vs. T3). Most outcomes were not sustained when the role was removed (i.e. T2 vs. T3), and most returned close to baseline (i.e. T1 vs. T3). CONCLUSIONS: As part of a health services framework designed to improve timely access to emergency care, an EDAOLN may be one of several options to consider.
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of an Emergency Department Ambulance Offload Nurse (EDAOLN) role on patient and health services outcomes in one Queensland Emergency Department (ED). METHODS: A retrospective study of all ED presentations (n=21,454) made to a tertiary hospital ED in Queensland, Australia, during July 9, 2012 - November 2, 2012; 39days before (T1), during (T2) and after (T3) the introduction of the trial of an EDAOLN role. The primary outcome of interest was time to be seen by a clinician. RESULTS: Demographic and clinical profiles of ED presentations made during each of the time periods were relatively similar. Time to be seen improved marginally during the trial period of the EDAOLN (T1: 34min vs. T2: 31min, p=0.002). The proportion of hospital admissions and those who did not wait differed between T1 and T2 (lower during T2 vs. T3). Most outcomes were not sustained when the role was removed (i.e. T2 vs. T3), and most returned close to baseline (i.e. T1 vs. T3). CONCLUSIONS: As part of a health services framework designed to improve timely access to emergency care, an EDAOLN may be one of several options to consider.
Authors: Julia Crilly; Amy Nb Johnston; Marianne Wallis; John O'Dwyer; Joshua Byrnes; Paul Scuffham; Ping Zhang; Emma Bosley; Wendy Chaboyer; David Green Journal: Emerg Med Australas Date: 2019-12-23 Impact factor: 2.151