The Current Care Delivery Practice for Asthma at the Emergency Department in a Tertiary Hospital in Singapore

Introduction. Acute exacerbation of asthma is a common condition managed at emergency departments (EDs) globally, and many patients recognize the ED as a major source for their relief. Objectives. This study was done to evaluate the current care delivery practice for asthma at an ED and proposes possible strategies for improvement. Method. A retrospective chart review of all treated and discharged patients who were diagnosed with asthma was conducted between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2008. Patients were excluded if they had a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and congestive cardiac failure or were admitted for further management. Results. A total of 1303 patients treated and discharged from the ED were included. The mean age of the study population was 36.2 ± 16.2 years; 52.3% were male and 47.7% were female. Forty-eight percent of the patients were treated and discharged with no follow-up. Of those who were given follow-up appointments, 220 (16.9%) were referred to polyclinics and ...