Identification of low-acuity attendances in routine clinical information documented in German Emergency Departments

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: It has not yet been possible to ascertain the exact proportion, characterization or impact of low-acuity emergency department (ED) attendances on the German Health Care System since valid and robust definitions to be applied in German ED routine data are missing. METHODS: Internationally used methods and parameters to identify low-acuity ED attendances were identified, analyzed and then applied to routine ED data from two EDs of the tertiary care hospitals Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Mitte (CCM) and Campus Virchow (CVK). RESULTS: Based on the three routinely available parameters `disposition´, `transport to the ED´ and `triage´ 33.2% (n = 30 676) out of 92 477 presentations to the two EDs of Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin (CVK, CCM) in 2016 could be classified as low-acuity presentations. CONCLUSION: This study provides a reliable and replicable means of retrospective identification and quantification of low-acuity attendances in German ED routine data. This enables both intra-national and international comparisons of figures across future studies and health care monitoring.