Implementation and impact of Fast-Track in an Emergency Department: pre-post study

Abstract

Background: overcrowding and long waiting times are major problems in Emergency Departments (EDs). Fast-Track (FT) is a process developed to more effectively manage patients admitted to EDs with non-urgent conditions. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of the FT method regarding access in an ED. Materials and Methods: pre-post implementation study of the FT method. All patients attending the emergency department of the ASL of Barletta presenting minor emergencies with problems in the obstetric/gynaecological, ophthalmological, paediatric, otorhinolaryngological and orthopaedic areas were included. Results: of the 38,024 services performed in the ED, 1606 (4.22 %) were FT accesses. Analysing the data from the period May 2017 (pre) and calculating in minutes the waiting time from triage to discharge is 55 minutes; instead in the period May 2022 (post) it is 20 minutes. Conclusions: the FT method seems to be a useful and safe strategy to improve the management of patients admitted to emergency rooms with minor disorders.