The impact of SARS on a tertiary care pediatric emergency department

Effect of the SARS outbreak on visits to a community hospital emergency department

“…In May 1993, a Hantavirus outbreak in the southwestern United States led to a 2-fold increase in ED visits, 1 and a 1993 Escherichia coli 0157:H7 outbreak in Washington state increased ED visits by 17%. 2 More recent articles have documented how SARS outbreaks in Hong Kong, 3 Taiwan, 4,5 and Toronto 6 reduced tertiary care ED visits. Our objective was to examine the impact of the early stage of the SARS outbreak on ED visits at the Scarborough General Hospital, a community hospital situated 10 km from the Grace.…”

Automated medication error studies with audit supplementation were effectively designed and analyzed by time series

“…Because multiple measurement points are needed, time series designs require either large observation periods or large populations that allow small time increments, provided that the effect can be observed within a short time window. However, selection of endpoints with large enough baseline frequency rates or the use of combined endpoint allow time series analysis in quality improvement studies in single institutions over periods as short as 1 or 2 years [18,[19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27].…”

Evidence-based ED Disaster Planning

“…24,25 Canada's Hospital for Sick Children found a mean decrease of 27% in patient volume in their emergency department during the SARS epidemic. 26 SARS resulted in staff shortages, primarily in the emergency department and ICU, because of potential exposures, quarantine, and staff choosing not to report to work. However, the documented decrease in ED visits and hospital admissions, noted previously, can help alleviate this shortage.…”

“…Over a period of 3 weeks, National Taiwan University Hospital screened 754 patients and admitted 63 at its screening unit, and over a period of 1 month, a Toronto teaching hospital screened over 1,000 patients and admitted 70. 26,27 The screening centers should have patients spaced sufficiently apart and proper PPE in place to limit the potential spread of the agent in overcrowded conditions. On the basis of established local public health criteria, patients testing positive will be sent to home quarantine or admitted.…”