Back to resultsClinical Decision Unit (CDU) - Evaluation of a Novel Approach to Address Emergency Department Overcrowding
Primary Purpose
Acute Illness
Status
Completed
Phase
Phase 4
Locations
Canada
Study Type
Interventional
Intervention
Clinical Decision Unit
Sponsored by
About this trial
This is an interventional health services research trial for Acute Illness focused on measuring Emergency department, administration, overcrowding
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Only adult patients (>17 years of age) presenting to the University of Alberta Hospital Emergency Department (UAH ED), during the study interval will be included in the evaluation.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Direct admits/Pediatric patients.
Sites / Locations
- University of Alberta Hospital
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm Type
No Intervention
Arm Label
Control
Arm Description
regular use of the 2-bed areas in the Emergency department
Outcomes
Primary Outcome Measures
Total ED length of stay
Secondary Outcome Measures
Left without being seen (LWBS) rates
nurse and physician satisfaction
ambulance turnaround times (time
Full Information
NCT ID
NCT00497393
First Posted
July 5, 2007
Last Updated
September 11, 2008
Sponsor
University of Alberta
Collaborators
Capital Health, Canada
1. Study Identification
Unique Protocol Identification Number
NCT00497393
Brief Title
Clinical Decision Unit (CDU) - Evaluation of a Novel Approach to Address Emergency Department Overcrowding
Official Title
Clinical Decision Unit (CDU) - Evaluation of a Novel Approach to Address Emergency Department Overcrowding
Study Type
Interventional
2. Study Status
Record Verification Date
September 2008
Overall Recruitment Status
Completed
Study Start Date
July 2007 (undefined)
Primary Completion Date
August 2007 (Actual)
Study Completion Date
December 2007 (Actual)
3. Sponsor/Collaborators
Name of the Sponsor
University of Alberta
Collaborators
Capital Health, Canada
4. Oversight
Data Monitoring Committee
No
5. Study Description
Brief Summary
This randomized controlled trial will introduce a Clinical Decision Unit (CDU) into the University of Alberta Hospital Emergency Department(ED)and assess the influence on ED length of stay, patients who leave without being seen, and other ED Overcrowding outcomes.
Detailed Description
The study will take place over a 6-week period that will be spilt into three-two-week blocks. Using computerized blocks of 2 weeks, days of the week will be randomly allocated so that each day of the week receives one intervention (CDU) and one control day for the study period. The CDU involves transforming an ED bed location to a 6-chair internal waiting room with 2 adjacent beds assigned to act as assessment and treatment locations. Patients will transition between the chair and stretcher to optimize the use of ED space.
6. Conditions and Keywords
Primary Disease or Condition Being Studied in the Trial, or the Focus of the Study
Acute Illness
Keywords
Emergency department, administration, overcrowding
7. Study Design
Primary Purpose
Health Services Research
Study Phase
Phase 4
Interventional Study Model
Parallel Assignment
Masking
None (Open Label)
Allocation
Randomized
Enrollment
6217 (Actual)
8. Arms, Groups, and Interventions
Arm Title
Control
Arm Type
No Intervention
Arm Description
regular use of the 2-bed areas in the Emergency department
Intervention Type
Behavioral
Intervention Name(s)
Clinical Decision Unit
Intervention Description
a dedicated 2-bed area to see patients and then rotate them back into the waiting room area for labs and diagnostic imaging.
Primary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
Total ED length of stay
Time Frame
in the Emergency Department
Secondary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
Left without being seen (LWBS) rates
Time Frame
in the Emergency Department
Title
nurse and physician satisfaction
Time Frame
following Emergency Department shift
Title
ambulance turnaround times (time
Time Frame
in the Emergency Department
10. Eligibility
Sex
All
Minimum Age & Unit of Time
17 Years
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
Only adult patients (>17 years of age) presenting to the University of Alberta Hospital Emergency Department (UAH ED), during the study interval will be included in the evaluation.
Exclusion Criteria:
Direct admits/Pediatric patients.
Overall Study Officials:
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Michael Bullard, MD
Organizational Affiliation
University of Alberta Hospital, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2B7, Canada
Official's Role
Principal Investigator
Facility Information:
Facility Name
University of Alberta Hospital
City
Edmonton
State/Province
Alberta
ZIP/Postal Code
T6G 2B7
Country
Canada
12. IPD Sharing Statement
Learn more about this trial
Clinical Decision Unit (CDU) - Evaluation of a Novel Approach to Address Emergency Department Overcrowding
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