Exploratory study of an emergency unit in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

Analysis of patient care variables in an emergency unit that applies care protocols. Patients admitted to the emergency unit of the São Rafael Hospital in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, between July 1, 2000 and May 31, 2001. Study of the variables: age, gender, origin (city, district), admission date and hour, medical specialty, patient's disease (coded by ICDM-10), destiny (discharge, observation and discharge, observation and hospital admission), length of stay. 35.4% of the patients were under 14 years old. 86.11% of the admissions took place from 08:00 am to 10:59 pm. 78.96% of all patients were discharged after consultation. 17.86% required observation. Of these, 10.37% were discharged and 7.49% were admitted to the hospital. Length of stay was on the average of 282.9 (+/- 242.54) min. The ICDM-10 "R" group had a higher frequency, (29.5%). The three main causes for emergency unit admissions were fever, diarrhea and dyspnea. 12% of those who came from a distance of up to 5 km required observation and 5.8% needed hospital admission. 20.23% of those that came from a distance farther than 15 km required observation and 12.63% needed hospital admission. The majority of patients cared for in this emergency unit required low complexity care and the number increases when patients come to the hospital from a shorter distance.