Patients Who Leave Naval Medical Center Portsmouth's Emergency Medicine Department Without Being Seen.

摘要

Since opening its Charette Health Care Center in April 1999, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth has seen a dramatic increase in not only the number of patients presenting to its Emergency Medicine Department (EMD), but also patients who 'Leave Without Being Seen' (LWBS). This prospective, qualitative study identifies which patients are most inclined to LWBS and the reasons these patients LWBS. Patients who left without being seen typically: (a) came to the EMD on a Monday or Tuesday, (b) presented during the hours of 12:01 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., (c) had a chief complaint of abdominal pain, (d) waited more than 12 minutes to be triaged, or (e) were to be seen in the Main EMD. Whereas, patients that were most likely to wait to be seen either: (a) came to the EMD on a Wednesday, (b) presented during the 4:01 am. to 8:00 a.m. time flame, (c) cited a fever as the chief complaint, (d) were triaged with an urgent condition, or (e) were to be seen in the Pediatric ED. Although these traits may characterize these two groups of patients, a meaningful predictive model could not be constructed to profile the groups. This study also entailed attempting to administer a questionnaire to every patient who left without being seen. A total of 71 of the 95 patients who left the EMD without being seen were contacted, a 75% response rate. Most patients stated they felt better since leaving the EMD. The primary reasons these patients left the EMD was because they were tired of waiting, had other commitments, or felt too sick to wait. These patients reported waiting an average of two hours prior to leaving the EMD. The majority of patients who were interviewed also stated they would likely return to this EMD again in the future.