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Completed

NCT Number: NCT00497393

Clinical Decision Unit (CDU) - Evaluation of a Novel Approach to Address Emergency Department Overcrowding

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.

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Key information

Conditions

Acute Illness Behavior Crowding Disease Attributes Emergencies Pathologic Processes Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Spatial Behavior

Age range

17 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 4

Primary location

University of Alberta Hospital

Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2B7, Canada

About this study

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.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

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.

Treatment and study plan

Clinical Decision Unit

Behavioral

a dedicated 2-bed area to see patients and then rotate them back into the waiting room area for labs and diagnostic imaging.

Primary outcomes

  1. Total ED length of stay

    Time frame: in the Emergency Department

Secondary outcomes

  1. Left without being seen (LWBS) rates

    Time frame: in the Emergency Department

  2. nurse and physician satisfaction

    Time frame: following Emergency Department shift

  3. ambulance turnaround times (time

    Time frame: in the Emergency Department

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Alberta

Other

Collaborators

  • Capital Health, Canada

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2007
Primary completion
2007
Study completion
2007
First posted
Jul 6, 2007
Registry last updated
Sep 12, 2008

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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