Efficiency measures of emergency departments: an Italian systematic literature review

Life expectancy globally increased in the last decades: the number of people aged 65 or older is consequently projected to grow, and healthcare demand will increase as well. In the recent years, the number of patients visiting the hospital emergency departments (EDs) rocked in almost all countries o...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Maria Triassi, Lorenzo Mantovani, Danilo Di Laura, Lucia D'Angiolella, Ginevra Squassabia, Francesco Clemente, Ida Santalucia, Giovanni Improta
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2021-07-01
Series:BMJ Open Quality
Online Access:https://bmjopenquality.bmj.com/content/10/3/e001058.full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850127716370612224
author Maria Triassi
Lorenzo Mantovani
Danilo Di Laura
Lucia D'Angiolella
Ginevra Squassabia
Francesco Clemente
Ida Santalucia
Giovanni Improta
author_facet Maria Triassi
Lorenzo Mantovani
Danilo Di Laura
Lucia D'Angiolella
Ginevra Squassabia
Francesco Clemente
Ida Santalucia
Giovanni Improta
author_sort Maria Triassi
collection DOAJ
description Life expectancy globally increased in the last decades: the number of people aged 65 or older is consequently projected to grow, and healthcare demand will increase as well. In the recent years, the number of patients visiting the hospital emergency departments (EDs) rocked in almost all countries of the world. These departments are crucial in all healthcare systems and play a critical role in providing an efficient assistance to all patients. A systematic literature review covering PubMed, Scopus and the Cochrane Library was performed from 2009 to 2019. Of the 718 references found in the literature research, more than 25 studies were included in the current review. Different predictors were associated with the quality of EDs care, which may help to define and implement preventive strategies in the near future. There is no harmonisation in efficiency measurements reflecting the performance in the ED setting. The identification of consistent measures of efficiency is crucial to build an evidence base for future initiatives. The aim of this study is to review the literature on the problems encountered in the efficiency of EDs around the world in order to identify an organisational model or guidelines that can be implemented in EDs to fill inefficiencies and ensure access optimal treatment both in terms of resources and timing. This review will support policy makers to improve the quality of health facilities, and, consequently of the entire healthcare systems.
format Article
id doaj-art-e514ae36af4c4c9eb2bf7abbab358444
institution OA Journals
issn 2399-6641
language English
publishDate 2021-07-01
publisher BMJ Publishing Group
record_format Article
series BMJ Open Quality
spelling doaj-art-e514ae36af4c4c9eb2bf7abbab3584442025-08-20T02:33:35ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open Quality2399-66412021-07-0110310.1136/bmjoq-2020-001058Efficiency measures of emergency departments: an Italian systematic literature reviewMaria Triassi0Lorenzo Mantovani1Danilo Di Laura2Lucia D'Angiolella3Ginevra Squassabia4Francesco Clemente5Ida Santalucia6Giovanni Improta7Department of Public Health, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, ItalyDepartment of Public Health, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Lombardia, ItalyDepartment of Public Health, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Lombardia, ItalyDepartment of Public Health, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Lombardia, ItalyDepartment of Public Health, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Lombardia, ItalyDepartment of Public Health, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Lombardia, ItalyDepartment of Public Health, Universita degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Napoli, ItalyDepartment of Public Health, Universita degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Napoli, ItalyLife expectancy globally increased in the last decades: the number of people aged 65 or older is consequently projected to grow, and healthcare demand will increase as well. In the recent years, the number of patients visiting the hospital emergency departments (EDs) rocked in almost all countries of the world. These departments are crucial in all healthcare systems and play a critical role in providing an efficient assistance to all patients. A systematic literature review covering PubMed, Scopus and the Cochrane Library was performed from 2009 to 2019. Of the 718 references found in the literature research, more than 25 studies were included in the current review. Different predictors were associated with the quality of EDs care, which may help to define and implement preventive strategies in the near future. There is no harmonisation in efficiency measurements reflecting the performance in the ED setting. The identification of consistent measures of efficiency is crucial to build an evidence base for future initiatives. The aim of this study is to review the literature on the problems encountered in the efficiency of EDs around the world in order to identify an organisational model or guidelines that can be implemented in EDs to fill inefficiencies and ensure access optimal treatment both in terms of resources and timing. This review will support policy makers to improve the quality of health facilities, and, consequently of the entire healthcare systems.https://bmjopenquality.bmj.com/content/10/3/e001058.full
spellingShingle Maria Triassi
Lorenzo Mantovani
Danilo Di Laura
Lucia D'Angiolella
Ginevra Squassabia
Francesco Clemente
Ida Santalucia
Giovanni Improta
Efficiency measures of emergency departments: an Italian systematic literature review
BMJ Open Quality
title Efficiency measures of emergency departments: an Italian systematic literature review
title_full Efficiency measures of emergency departments: an Italian systematic literature review
title_fullStr Efficiency measures of emergency departments: an Italian systematic literature review
title_full_unstemmed Efficiency measures of emergency departments: an Italian systematic literature review
title_short Efficiency measures of emergency departments: an Italian systematic literature review
title_sort efficiency measures of emergency departments an italian systematic literature review
url https://bmjopenquality.bmj.com/content/10/3/e001058.full
work_keys_str_mv AT mariatriassi efficiencymeasuresofemergencydepartmentsanitaliansystematicliteraturereview
AT lorenzomantovani efficiencymeasuresofemergencydepartmentsanitaliansystematicliteraturereview
AT danilodilaura efficiencymeasuresofemergencydepartmentsanitaliansystematicliteraturereview
AT luciadangiolella efficiencymeasuresofemergencydepartmentsanitaliansystematicliteraturereview
AT ginevrasquassabia efficiencymeasuresofemergencydepartmentsanitaliansystematicliteraturereview
AT francescoclemente efficiencymeasuresofemergencydepartmentsanitaliansystematicliteraturereview
AT idasantalucia efficiencymeasuresofemergencydepartmentsanitaliansystematicliteraturereview
AT giovanniimprota efficiencymeasuresofemergencydepartmentsanitaliansystematicliteraturereview