Editing Emergency department (section)

==Non-emergency use==
Metrics applicable to the ED can be grouped into three main categories, volume, cycle time, and patient satisfaction. Volume metrics including arrivals per hour, percentage of ED beds occupied, and age of patients are understood at a basic level at all hospitals as an indication for staffing requirements. Cycle time metrics are the mainstays of the evaluation and tracking of process efficiency and are less widespread since an active effort is needed to collect and analyze this data. Patient satisfaction metrics, already commonly collected by nursing groups, physician groups, and hospitals, are useful in demonstrating the impact of changes in patient perception of care over time. Since patient satisfaction metrics are derivative and subjective, they are less useful in primary process improvement. Health information exchanges can reduce nonurgent ED visits by supplying current data about [[Admission, discharge, and transfer system|admissions, discharges, and transfers]] to health plans and accountable care organizations, allowing them to shift ED use to primary care settings.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality |url=https://innovations.ahrq.gov/profiles/statewide-health-information-exchange-provides-daily-alerts-about-emergency-department-and |title=Statewide Health Information Exchange Provides Daily Alerts About Emergency Department and Inpatient Visits, Helping Health Plans and Accountable Care Organizations Reduce Utilization and Costs |date=29 January 2014 | access-date=29 January 2014}}</ref>

In all [[primary care trust]]s there are out of hours medical consultations provided by [[general practitioner]]s or [[nurse practitioner]]s.

In the United States, barriers to accessing care contribute to frequent emergency room use.<ref>{{cite journal |publisher=JAMA Internal Medicine |url=https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/770345 |title=Practical Barriers to Timely Primary Care Access: Impact on Adult Use of Emergency Department Services.  |journal=Archives of Internal Medicine |date=25 August 2008 |volume=168 |issue=15 |pages=1705–1710 |doi=10.1001/archinte.168.15.1705 |access-date=24 January 2024 |last1=Rust |first1=George |last2=Ye |first2=Jiali |last3=Baltrus |first3=Peter |last4=Daniels |first4=Elvan |last5=Adesunloye |first5=Bamidele |last6=Fryer |first6=George Edward |pmid=18695087 }}</ref> The National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey looked at the ten most common symptoms for which giving rise to emergency room visits (cough, sore throat, back pain, fever, headache, abdominal pain, chest pain, other pain, shortness of breath, vomiting) and made suggestions as to which would be the most cost-effective choice among [[Telehealth|virtual care]], [[retail clinic]], [[urgent care]], or [[emergency room]]. Notably, certain complaints may also be addressed by a telephone call to a person's [[primary care]] provider.<ref>{{cite news| first1 = Richard | last1 = Klasco | first2 = Richard | last2 = Zane | name-list-style = vanc |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/07/well/live/emergency-room-costs-medical-bills-urgent-care-virtual-care.html|title=How to (Maybe) Avoid Sticker Shock at the Emergency Room|newspaper=New York Times|date=6 September 2018|access-date=6 September 2018}}</ref> However, subsequent studies have shown that identifying non-emergency visits based on discharge diagnoses is inaccurate because people commonly present for emergency care for other reasons and are assigned a diagnosis after testing and evaluation.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Journal of the American Medical Association |url=https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/1669818 |title=Comparison of Presenting Complaint vs Discharge Diagnosis for Identifying " Nonemergency" Emergency Department Visits  |date=20 March 2013 |access-date=24 January 2024}}</ref>

In the United States, and many other countries, hospitals are beginning to create areas in their emergency rooms for people with minor injuries. These are commonly referred as ''Fast Track'' or ''Minor Care'' units. These units are for people with non-life-threatening injuries. The use of these units within a department have been shown to significantly improve the flow of patients through a department and to reduce waiting times. [[Urgent care]] clinics are another alternative, where patients can go to receive immediate care for non-life-threatening conditions. To reduce the strain on limited ED resources, [[American Medical Response]] created a checklist that allows [[EMTs]] to identify intoxicated individuals who can be safely sent to detoxification facilities instead.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality |url=https://innovations.ahrq.gov/profiles/emergency-medical-technicians-use-checklist-identify-intoxicated-individuals-who-can-safely |title=Emergency Medical Technicians Use Checklist To Identify Intoxicated Individuals who Can Safely Go to Detoxification Facility Rather Than Emergency Department  |date=13 March 2013 |access-date=10 May 2013}}</ref>