Emergency department operations in a large health system during COVID-19

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has strained healthcare systems through increased care complexity, need for staff and patient safety, and surges in patients suspected or known to be infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2). Previous infectious disease outbreaks and natural disasters have altered clinical operations and ED performance in different manners depending on the disaster type and duration. During the 2009 H1N1 Influenza pandemic, total ED patient visits increased [1], and measures of ED performance such as patient length of stay (LOS), waiting time, left without being seen (LWBS) and boarding time were negatively affected [2,3].
Source: The American Journal of Emergency Medicine - Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Source Type: research