DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Comparison of the characteristics of patient who cancel after presentation to an emergency department by 119 ambulance

119 구급차를 통해 응급의료센터에 내원한 접수취소 환자들의 특성 비교

  • Yong-Joon Kim (Department of Emergency Medicine, SMG-SNU Boramae Medical Center) ;
  • Kyoung-Youl Lee (Department of Emergency Medical Service, Kongju National University)
  • 김용준 (서울특별시 보라매병원) ;
  • 이경열 (국립공주대학교 응급구조학과)
  • Received : 2023.10.25
  • Accepted : 2023.12.20
  • Published : 2023.12.31

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the characteristics of patients who canceled their ED visits and to determine the factors that influence ED cancellation. Methods: Retrospective study that analyzed data from the electronic medical records(EMR) and Prehospital Care Reports(PCRs) of 305 patients who cancelled their appointments at a single emergency medical center over a six-month period from October 12, 2022, to April 12, 2023. Results: ED cancellations were 2.287 times higher if the patient presented to the ambulance after outpatient hours(09:00~17:00) (p=.007), and ED cancellations were 3.712 times higher if the patient presented to the ambulance under the influence of alcohol(p=.011). For patients' symptoms, medical diseases were associated with a 1.965 times increase in cancelled ED visits compared to other modes of transport (p=.005), while mental and chronic diseases were associated with a 67.3% decrease in cancelled ED visits compared to other modes of transport (OR=0.327, CI=[0.130-0.822], p=.018). symptomatic improvement was associated with a 2.482 times increase in presentations to a 119 ambulance compared to delayed waiting time(p=.022). Conclusion: Emergency medical centers should consider improving the legal system, such as increasing emergency medical care fees, to reduce the number of patients who cancel their appointments.

Keywords

References

  1. The Korean law information center. Emergency medical service act. Available at: www.law.go.kr, 2023.
  2. Emergency medical statistics. Emergency medical service statistical yearbook of 2021. Available at: https://e-medis.nemc.or.kr, 2023.
  3. Cho YS, Kim DK, Choi SC, Ahn JH, Jung YS, Kim GW. Considerations for cancellation reception in an emergency department. JKSEM 2010;21(3):355-67.
  4. Spencer S, Stephens K, Swanson-Biearman B, Whiteman K. Health care provider in triage to improve outcomes. J Emerg Nurs 2019;45(5):561-6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jen.2019.01.008.
  5. Lee KW, Lee JH. Six sigma quality improvement process for cancellation of reception in the emergency department. JKSEM 2003;14(5):630-7.
  6. William A. An exploration of the reasons why people attend but do not wait to be seen in emergency departments. Emerg Nurse 2019;27(6):33-41. https://doi.org/10.7748/en.2018.e1811
  7. National emergency management agency. The standard protocols for 119 emergency medical services providers. National emergency management agency, 2023.
  8. National fire agency 119. Emergency services statistical yearbook of 2023. Available at: www.nfa.go.kr, 2023.
  9. Choi SK. The view of emergency medicine physician over the Korean emergency medical system; problems and improvements. Public Health Affairs 2019;3(1):177-83. https://doi.org/10.29339/pha.3.1.177
  10. Kim YJ, Lee KY. Change in the severity of patients visiting emergency medical centers through the 119 ambulance during the C0VID-19 pandemic. Korean J Emerg Med Ser 2021;25(2):145-56. https://doi.org/10.14408/KJEMS.2021.25.2.145
  11. Kang KH. Analyzing the frequency of emergency room visits and the use of 119 ambulance services. Fire Science and Engineering 2020;34(5):104-11. https://doi.org/10.7731/KIFSE.2c0009d5
  12. Yoon HJ, Lee HS, Park JM, Kim JH, Lee JH, Park IC et al. The impact of emergency department expansion on crowding and patient flow. JKSEM 2020;31(4):420-9.
  13. Park KH, Yoon M, Kim MS. Factors influencing patient satisfaction in an emergency department based on the use of the Korea triage and acuity scale. KJAN 2022;34(3):338-49. https://doi.org/10.7475/kjan.2022.34.3.338
  14. Kim D, Jung W, Yu JY, Chang H, Lee SU, Kim T et al. Effect of fever or respiratory symptoms on leaving without being seen during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea. Clin Exp Emerg Med 2022;9(1):1-9. https://doi.org/10.15441/ceem.21.105
  15. Sheraton M, Gooch C, Kashyap R. Patients leaving without being seen from the emergency department: A prediction model using machine learning on a nationwide database. J Am Coll Emerg Physicians Open 2020;1(6):1684-90. https://doi.org/10.1002/emp2.12266
  16. National Fire Agency 119. Emergency services statistical yearbook of 2021-2023. Available at: www.nfa.go.kr, 2023.
  17. Rathlev NK, Visintainer P, Schmidt J, Hettler J, Albert V, Li H. Patient characteristics and clinical process predictors of patients leaving without being seen from the emergency department. West J Emerg Med 2020;21(5):1218-26. https://doi.org/10.5811/westjem.2020.6.47084
  18. Lee HJ, Kim HJ, Kim HS. Analysis of characteristics and cancellation reception of patients admitted with 119 to main hospital in metropolitan city. Crisisonomy 2013;9(9):145-52.
  19. Park JH, Park JO, Ro YS, Shin SD. Effect of alcohol use on emergency department length of stay among minimally injured patients based on mechanism of injury: multicenter observational study. Clin Exp Emerg Med 2018;5(1):7-13. https://doi.org/10.15441/ceem.16.180
  20. Lee BR, Hwang SW, Park SM, Kim PH. Analysis of the proportion of patients who were admitted to the emergency department of the tertiary care hospital for primary care. KJFP 2019;9(6):527-31. https://doi.org/10.21215/kjfp.2019.9.6.527
  21. Li DR, Brennan JJ, Kreshak AA, Castillo EM, Vilke GM. Patients who leave the emergency department without being seen and their follow-up behavior: a retrospective descriptive analysis. J Emerg Med 2019;57(1):106-13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jemermed.2019.03.051
  22. Marco CA, Bryant M, Landrum B, Drerup B, Weeman M. Refusal of emergency medical care: an analysis of patients who left without being seen, eloped, and left against medical advice. Am J Emerg Med 2021;40:115-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajem.2019.158490
  23. Pham JC, Ho GK, Hill PM, McCarthy ML, Pronovost PJ. National study of patient, visit, and hospital characteristics associated with leaving an emergency department without being seen: predicting LWBS. Acad Emerg Med 2009;16(10):949-55. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1553-2712.2009.00515.x
  24. Mataloni F, Colais P, Galassi C, Davoli M, Fusco D. Patients who leave emergency department without being seen or during treatment in the lazio region (central Italy): Determinants and short term outcomes. PLoS One 2018;13(12):e0208914. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0208914
  25. Jeyaraman MM, Alder RN, Copstein L, Al-Yousif N, Suss R, Zarychanski R et al. Impact of employing primary healthcare professionals in emergency department triage on patient flow outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Open. 2022;12(4):e052850. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-052850