Addressing overcrowding in an emergency department: an approach for identifying and treating influential factors and a real-life application

Table 3 Algorithm’s input - factors influencing patients’ length-of-stay

Factor	Source		Potential reduction (minutes)	Steps required to address the factor	Responsible	Cost
1	Escorts per patient	E_p	55	Adding a security guard	Management	100
2	Heart Rate (BPM)^a	HR	30	Calm anxious patients	Physicians / nurses	20
3	Escorts in acute section	E_a	6	Only 1 escort per patient	Nurses	30
4	Patients in ambulatory section	P_a	5	Increase treatment speed	Management	500
5	Hour of arrival	H_a	6	Impossible to control	Management	Infinity
6	Tests needed	T_ni	80	Avoid unnecessary tests	Nurses	30

^aNote: We assume that the average patient’s heart rate can be reduced by 10 BPM

ISSN: 2045-4015