Abstract

CASURIAGA LAMBOGLIA, Ana Laura et al. Short stay hospital admissions: the impact of implementing an observation area in the pediatric emergency service of the Asociación Española. Anfamed [online]. 2018, vol.5, n.1, pp.28-45.  Epub June 01, 2018. ISSN 2301-1254.  https://doi.org/10.25184/anfamed2018v5n1a5.

Hospital admissions streamlining is a key aspect of clinical management. In a study carried out during 2014 in the Pediatrics Service of the Asociación Española, 34% of children had short stay hospital admissions. A proposal was made to create an observation area, which started working in 2015. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of implementing an observation area in the Emergency service on short stay admissions. A quasi-experimental study was conducted, including all children below 15 years of age with short stay admissions during two periods: before and after implementation of an observation area. Frequency and characteristics of the short stay admissions were compared for both periods. Significance was considered at p<0.05.

Short stay admissions were 34% in period 1 versus 12% in period 2(p<0.05). Monthly median was 54 (29 to 66) and 16 (9 to 30) respectively (p<0.05). A significant reduction in short stay admissions was observed in children older than 1 year (90% vs 67, 5%) and in the 0-6 hours shift (38% vs 26%). A significant reduction was observed in hospitalizations due to cranioencephalic trauma and other trauma (16% vs 5%) and due to seizures (16% vs 5%). No deaths were recorded.

Implementation of the observation area in the emergency service had a positive impact in the significant reduction of the frequency of short stay admissions in the institution. It is necessary to continue on advancing in the improvement of clinical management processes. Further studies are needed to assess impact on the quality of care.

Keywords : Short stay hospital admissions; Pediatrics; Observation area; Clinical management.

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