Average length of stay in Level III and IV Care of Accident and Emergency Department of Tertiary care Hospital

BACKGROUND: The scope of Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department is gradually broadening and in fact these are now becoming“mini hospitals within hospitals”.OBJECTIVE:To determine the average length of stay (LOS) in level III and level IV care and factors leading to prolonged length of stay.METHODS:A Hospital based study with follow up of patients received in level III and level IV of A&E Department and the patients were followed till transfer out to respective specialty wards,discharge or death.RESULTS: Emergency beds occupied 9.3% of the total hospital bed strength. Of the total emergency admissions studied, 71.1 % comprised of neurosurgical admissions followed by CVTS (21.4%), neurological (6.8%) and other admissions(1.2%). The average Length of Stay was greatest in CVTS followed by General Surgery i.e. 5.4 days and 4.6 days respectively. The time gap between investigations ordered and reports received was 1.04 days. 67% of the patients who attended A&E Department were of rural background and out of it 54% have read upto high school.CONCLUSIONS: Average Length of stay is 4.3 days which needs to be brought down to 24 hours as per international norms to provide equitable emergency care to wider population. Co-ordination between administration and cliniciansis needed to expedite theproblem.JMS2011;14(2):61-62