Delays and interruptions in the acute medical unit clerking process: an observational study

JRSM Open
Avril J BaseyJanet Krska

Abstract

It is recommended that patients are seen within 4 h of arrival in Acute Medical Units in English hospitals. This study explored the frequency and nature of interruptions and delays potentially affecting the duration of the Acute Medical Unit admission process and the quality of care provided. The admission process was directly observed for patients admitted to the Acute Medical Unit over four one-week periods, November 2009 to April 2011. UK teaching hospital Acute Medical Unit. Hospital staff n = 36. Patient waiting times, duration of clerking, number of interruptions and/or delays. Thirty-five doctors and one nurse practitioner were observed admitting 71 medical patients, 48/71 (68%) patients were clerked within 4 h of arrival. A delay and/or interruption affected 49/71 (69%) patients. Sixty-six interruptions were observed in 36/71 (51%) of admissions, of these 19/36 (53%) were interrupted more than once. The grade of doctor had no bearing on the frequency of interruption; however, clerking took significantly longer when interrupted; overall doctors grade ST1 and above were quicker at clerking than foundation doctors. Delays affected 31/71 (44%) of admissions, 14/31 (45%) involved X-rays or ECGs; other causes of delays includ...Continue Reading

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Citations

Feb 1, 2018·Future Healthcare Journal·Jennifer Holland, Yazeed Abed El-Khaleq
Feb 18, 2020·Canadian Association of Radiologists Journal = Journal L'Association Canadienne Des Radiologistes·Siobhan B O' NeillFaisal Khosa

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Methods Mentioned

BETA
X-ray

Software Mentioned

SPSS
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