Reasons of Overcrowding in Emergency Department

  • Sadia Afzal Randhawa Assistant Professor, Gynae unit I, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Fatima Jinnah Medical University Lahore
  • Shamsa Humayun Head of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Fatima Jinnah Medical University, Lahore.
Keywords: overcrowding, labour pains

Abstract

Objective: To determine the trends in obstetrics and gynaecology patients presenting in the Emergency department.
Place and Duration of Study: Gynae Unit I, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Fatima Jinnah Medical University, Lahore, from 1st November 2015 to 30th April 2016.
Study Design: A descriptive study.
Methodology: A prospective study was designed to review the patient presenting in the emergency department of Gynae Unit I, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. Patients were assessed in terms of demographic features, presenting complaints, admission types (urgent, non-urgent), a referral from outpatient department, from other hospitals or coming from home. The total number of patients admitted and the number of patients sent home was also recorded.
Results: A total of 4778 patients were analyzed prospectively. Majority of the patients 4586 (95.98%) came from home, 128 patients (2.6%) were referred from other hospitals and 74 (1.54%) form outpatient department. 45% of the patient were primigravidas, 49% were between gravida 2 to gravida 4 and 1.8% were multigravida and above parity 5.
Labour pains (28.73%) was the most common presentation. Trauma was the reason for admission in 2.03%, out of 4586. 1523 [31.8%] patients were sent home after evaluation, rest of 3227 [68.1%] were admitted. 145 (3.03%) patients presented with gynecological problems. 620 (12.97%) patients presented with non urgent indications. Rest of all patients presented with indications which were categorized as urgent and were admitted. All data was analysed using SPSS version 20.
Conclusion: To reduce the overcrowding in the emergency department and improve quality of obstetrics and gynae services. Inpatients and Outpatient departments at primary and secondary care levels need to be strengthened. Patients with non-urgent problems should be provided adequate care at primary and secondary health care centers.

Published
2018-04-17
Section
Original Articles