The activity of emergency department at King Hussein Medical Center in one year

Abstract EN

Objectives : The aims of this study were to highlight the utilization of the emergency department in a general public hospital and to determine the admission rate via the emergency department.

Methods : This is a retrospective review of 68824 patients of both sexes with various ages and clinical presentations, who were seen at the emergency department of King Hussein Medical Center from May 1999 to April 2000.

Results: A total of68824 patients were seen at the ED during the period of study.

About71.6 % were males and 28.4 % were females, 50% were seen in the first shift (8 a.m.

- 4 p.m.), 36% in the second shift (4 p.m.

- 11 p.m.) while 14 % were seen during the night shift (11 p.m.

- 8 a.m.).

The hospital admission rate was 9.08 %,.

According to reasons of admission 56.2 % were admitted for medical reasons while 43.8 % for surgical causes.

Regarding the length of stay in our department,' 62.2 % of the patient stayed less than one hour, 25.2 % for 1-2 hours and 12.6 % for three hours or more.

Conclusion : This study illustrates the great responsibility that the emergency department holds.

More confusion and psychological burden is made due to large numbers of cold cases attending the emergency department.