Emergency Presentations to Northern Territory Public Hospitals: Demand and Access Analysis

Abstract

This study aims to quantify trends in emergency presentations

Demographic patterns of emergency presentations to Northern Territory public hospitals

“…The apparent slight decline in total presentations can be attributed to the closure of three mines within the past three years. Furthermore, both RDH and ASH began to manage their volume of presentations by encouraging patients with non-urgent conditions to attend their local GP as an alternative place of treatment (Lee et al, 2003).…”

A Realist Case Study of a Regional Hospital’s Response to Improve Emergency Department Access in the Context of Australian Health Care Reforms

“…Emergency departments in these locations face additional challenges, including an ever increasing load of complicated cases, and patients seeking nonurgent care because they cannot afford or access paid primary care services. 21,23,24 Alice Springs Hospital (ASH) is the regional hospital for Central Australia. 25 ASH is a 186-bed hospital providing a range of services including general medicine, nephrology, surgery, psychiatry, pediatrics and obstetrics, and gynecology among other acute and subacute specialist services.…”

“…When compared to the other major regional hospitals, ASH ED performance has previously fared poorly in terms of access. 23 However, following the recent introduction of ED targets and clinical redesign activities and major infrastructural redevelopments such as a new ED and expanded workforce, local and national reporting has indicated recent improvement in ASH ED access (see Figure 1). [38][39][40] Explanations for these improvements have been attributed to the national health care reform funding, capital projects, and performance targets.…”

“…Emergency departments in these locations face additional challenges, including an ever increasing load of complicated cases, and patients seeking nonurgent care because they cannot afford or access paid primary care services. 21,23,24…”