Planning for the future: emergency department presentation patterns in Tasmania, Australia

Increased presentations to Emergency Departments (EDs) contributing to crowding, and its associated adverse outcomes, are major issues in Australia and around the world [1,2]. Unfavourable outcomes of ED crowding include prolonged length of stay in ED for both high and low acuity presentations [3], and increased in-patient mortality [4 –6]. Australia experienced a 21% increase in demand for care at public hospital EDs over the five financial years to 2013-14 [7]. The increase in ED presentations is not simply explained by the national population growth rate and ageing of the population [8].
Source: International Emergency Nursing - Category: Nursing Authors: Source Type: research