Adult emergency department performance in the largest teaching hospital in southern Iran: a ۱.۵-year cross-sectional study

Background: Emergency department (ED) is one of the most important hospital departments, with significant effects on public health. The aim of this study was to evaluate the adult ED's performance of the largest teaching hospital in southern Iran. Methods: In this retrospective cross-sectional study (March ۲۰۱۷-August ۲۰۱۸), the registered data in the Hospital Information System (HIS) were collected, and the ED’s performance was assessed based on the Iranian emergency performance index. The slopes of the trend lines were calculated for each indicator. Moreover, ۲ six-month periods were compared. Results: The data of ۱۰۴,۰۸۱ patients were analyzed. The mean (±standard deviation) of visited patients per-month was ۵,۷۸۲.۲۸ (±۱۲۵۸.۵۵). The slope of the trend line was negative for all indicators, except for discharge from ED with personal responsibility. The mean duration of waiting time for the first visit by physician in each triage level slightly decreased. Comparison of the two six-month periods showed a significant difference between the visited patient (P<۰.۰۰۰۱). The percentage of patients disposed within six hours (P<۰.۰۰۰۱), leaving ED within ۱۲ hours (P<۰.۰۰۰۱), as well as the percentage of successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation (P=۰.۰۱۴) in the six-month period of ۲۰۱۸ was significantly lower. The percentage of discharge with personal responsibility significantly increased (P=۰.۰۰۵). Conclusion: Although the number of patients visited in this ED decreased, all indicators had dropped. However, the percentage of discharge with personal responsibility was increased. Moreover, the mean duration of waiting time for the first visit by physician slightly decreased in each triage level.