abstract
- The purpose of this study was to determine what percentage of ED patients would be more efficiently treated in an offsite clinic. A stratified sample consisting of 650 ED visits were reviewed. Patient care was classified as more efficiently delivered in ED or clinic using prospectively developed criteria. Five hundred fifty-three (85%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 82-88%) visits met the definition of efficient ED utilization. One (0.15%; 95% CI, 0.01-0.99%) met the criteria for efficient clinic utilization. The other 96 (15%; 95% CI, 12-18%) failed to meet the definition of efficient for either site; 92 of these failed 2 or more clinic criteria. Only 25 (3.9%; 95% CI, 2.6-5.7%) were seen for nonacute problems. Few ED patients would be more efficiently seen in a clinic.