Text Size

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

This study has been completed.
Sponsor:
Collaborator:
Capital Health, Canada
Information provided by:
University of Alberta
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
NCT00497393
First received: July 5, 2007
Last updated: September 11, 2008
Last verified: September 2008
History of Changes

July 5, 2007
September 11, 2008
July 2007
August 2007   (final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
Total ED length of stay [ Time Frame: in the Emergency Department ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
A reduction in the time to receive care or total length of stay in the ED is reduced. [ Time Frame: 6 weeks ]
Complete list of historical versions of study NCT00497393 on ClinicalTrials.gov Archive Site
  • Left without being seen (LWBS) rates [ Time Frame: in the Emergency Department ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
  • nurse and physician satisfaction [ Time Frame: following Emergency Department shift ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  • ambulance turnaround times (time [ Time Frame: in the Emergency Department ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
Left without being seen (LWBS) rates, ambulance turnaround times (time), satisfaction (physician and nurses) [ Time Frame: 6 weeks ]
Not Provided
Not Provided
 
Clinical Decision Unit (CDU) - Evaluation of a Novel Approach to Address Emergency Department Overcrowding
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.

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.
Interventional
Phase 4
Allocation: Randomized
Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Open Label
Primary Purpose: Health Services Research
Acute Illness
Behavioral: Clinical Decision Unit
a dedicated 2-bed area to see patients and then rotate them back into the waiting room area for labs and diagnostic imaging.
No Intervention: Control
regular use of the 2-bed areas in the Emergency department
Intervention: Behavioral: Clinical Decision Unit
Not Provided

*   Includes publications given by the data provider as well as publications identified by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number) in Medline.
 
Completed
6217
December 2007
August 2007   (final data collection date for primary outcome measure)

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.
Both
17 Years and older
No
Contact information is only displayed when the study is recruiting subjects
Canada
 
NCT00497393
B-130607
No
Brian Holroyd, University of Alberta
University of Alberta
Capital Health, Canada
Principal Investigator: Michael Bullard, MD University of Alberta Hospital, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2B7, Canada
University of Alberta
September 2008

ICMJE     Data element required by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors and the World Health Organization ICTRP