Length of Stay in the Emergency Department during COVID-19 Pandemic in a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Emergency Department overcrowding has become worsening problem internationally which may affect patient, emergency department efficiency and quality of care and this may lead to increased risk of in hospital mortality, higher costs, medical errors and longer times to treatment. With this pandemic COVID-19 likely to go on for months, if not a year or longer, the Emergency Department should be prepared for large influx of patients infected with COVID-19. The aim of this study is to find-out the length of stay in emergency department during COVID-19 pandemic at a tertiary care hospital in Nepal. Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in the Emergency Department of Kanti Children’s Hospital. Ethical clearance was obtained from Institutional review committee Kanti Children’s Hospital. Data collection was done from the emergency records from July 23, 2020 to July 29, 2020. The calculated sample size was 211. The data thus obtained was entered in Statistical Package for the Social Science software version 20 and necessary calculations were done. Results: The median length of stay in emergency department was found to be 1.75 hours (Interquartile range 0 to 30 hours). Conclusions: Definitive management starts in respective wards and Intensive Care Units. During COVID-19, with longer emergency stay, chances of cross-infection increases, and the health workers serving in emergency department will be at risks. So guidelines for shorter emergency stay should be implemented.

The impact of COVID-19 on Emergency Department length of stay for urgent and life-threatening patients

“…In the current COVID-19 situation, strict screening and careful admission are necessary. Therefore, as seen in prior literature, [ 12 – 14 ] our study found that the length of stay in the resuscitation area was longer than before the pandemic.…”

“…This study found that the LOS in the resuscitation area during the COVID-19 period was longer than in the pre-COVID-19 period. Studies in other regions have also shown the problem [ 12 – 14 ]. The reasons for crowding in the emergency department or resuscitation area can be divided into three aspects: input, throughput, and output.…”

“…It is significant to treat patients timely and prevents the spread of the epidemic effectively in a dense crowd. Some studies have shown that emergency department visits decreased, but the LOS of resuscitation area patients increased during the COVID-19 period [ 12 – 14 ]. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the LOS and prognosis of resuscitation area patients.…”

An Unusual Presentation of a Rare Combination of Double Moiety and Vaginal Ureter Insertion

“…The association between the duplex renal collecting system and ectopic ureter insertion is well-established [ 1 , 2 ]. Although congenital genitourinary abnormalities are usually detected during childhood, incidentally, or due to underlying symptoms or medical complications, a few cases might not be diagnosed/treated until adulthood [ 3 ].…”

Effect of Designating Emergency Medical Centers for Critical Care on Emergency Medical Service Systems during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Retrospective Observational Study

“…However, as COVID-19 continues to spread and the number of cases continues to rise, the number of emergency medical service (EMS) calls increases as well [5]. The length of stay in the ED has increased significantly during the pandemic compared to pre-pandemic times [6] and hospitalizations for critically ill patients in the ED have doubled [7]. Consequently, issues with the transportation of emergency patients to the ED have been reported in many countries [8,9].…”