Independent determinants of prolonged emergency department length of stay in a tertiary care centre: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Emergency department (ED) overcrowding is a potential threat for patient safety. We searched for independent determinants of prolonged ED length of stay (LOS) with the aim to identify factors which can be targeted to reduce ED LOS, which may help in preventing overcrowding.

Methods: This prospective cohort study included consecutive ED patients in a Dutch tertiary care centre.