Comparing Emergency Department and Out-of-Hours GP Services for Walk-In Patients
Author Information
Author(s): Corinne Chmiel, Carola A Huber, Thomas Rosemann, Marco Zoller, Klaus Eichler, Patrick Sidler, Oliver Senn
Primary Institution: Institute of General Practice and Health Services Research, University of Zurich
Hypothesis
What are the differences between walk-in patients seeking treatment at an emergency department and those using out-of-hours GP services?
Conclusion
There are significant differences in patient demographics and medical problems between those seeking care at emergency departments and those using out-of-hours GP services.
Supporting Evidence
- Patients at the GP-C were significantly older (58.9 vs. 43.8 years) and more often female (63.5 vs. 46.9%) compared to patients at the ED.
- Outpatient care was more common at the GP-C (85.7%) than at the ED (79.9%).
- Injuries were the most common diagnoses in ED walk-in patients (45.5%).
- The majority of consultations in both settings could be resolved without hospitalization.
Takeaway
This study looked at people who go to the emergency room versus those who go to a doctor after hours, finding that they are often different types of patients with different needs.
Methodology
Data was collected from patient-doctor encounters at an emergency department and a GP cooperative over two evaluation periods.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to differences in patient demographics and health-seeking behavior between settings.
Limitations
Data collection at the GP-C was not conducted in parallel with the ED during winter, which may affect seasonal diagnosis comparisons.
Participant Demographics
Patients at the GP-C were significantly older and more often female compared to those at the ED.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.016
Confidence Interval
95 CI 0.98-0.99
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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