Measures of crowding in the emergency department: a systematic review.

Objectives: Despite consensus regarding the conceptual foundation of crowding, and increasing research on factors and outcomes associated with crowding, there is no criterion standard measure of crowding. The objective was to conduct a systematic review of crowding measures and compare them in conceptual foundation and validity.

Methods: This was a systematic, comprehensive review of four medical and health care citation databases to identify studies related to crowding in the emergency department (ED).

Intravenous opioid dosing and outcomes in emergency patients: a prospective cohort analysis.

Objectives: Pain management in emergency department (ED) patients is variable and often inadequate. This study sought to (1) describe the variability in intravenous opioid dosing and (2) compare the outcomes that result from the most commonly prescribed opioid doses.

Methods: This prospective cohort study enrolled emergency patients who were prescribed intravenous morphine or hydromorphone as their initial analgesic.

Emergency department throughput, crowding, and financial outcomes for hospitals.

Emergency department (ED) crowding has been identified as a major public health problem in the United States by the Institute of Medicine. ED crowding not only is associated with poorer patient outcomes, but it also contributes to lost demand for ED services when patients leave without being seen and hospitals must go on ambulance diversion. However, somewhat paradoxically, ED crowding may financially benefit hospitals.

Outcomes after intravenous opioids in emergency patients: a prospective cohort analysis.

Objectives: Pain management continues to be suboptimal in emergency departments (EDs). Several studies have documented failures in the processes of care, such as whether opioid analgesics were given. The objectives of this study were to measure the outcomes following administration of intravenous (IV) opioids and to identify clinical factors that may predict poor analgesic outcomes in these patients.