Measure Information Form

Measure Set: Emergency Department (ED)

Set Measure ID: ED-2

Set Measure ID	Performance Measure Name
ED-2a	Admit Decision Time to ED Departure Time for Admitted Patients – Overall Rate
ED-2b	Admit Decision Time to ED Departure Time for Admitted Patients – Reporting Measure
ED-2c	Admit Decision Time to ED Departure Time for Admitted Patients –Psychiatric/Mental Health Patients

Performance Measure Name: Admit Decision Time to ED Departure Time for Admitted Patients

Description: Admit Decision Time to ED Departure Time for Admitted Patients.

Rationale: Reducing the time patients remain in the emergency department (ED) can improve access to treatment and increase quality of care. Reducing this time potentially improves access to care specific to the patient condition and increases the capability to provide additional treatment. In recent times, EDs have experienced significant overcrowding. Although once only a problem in large, urban, teaching hospitals, the phenomenon has spread to other suburban and rural healthcare organizations. According to a 2002 national U.S. survey, more than 90% of large hospitals report EDs operating "at" or "over" capacity. Approximately one third of hospitals in the US report increases in ambulance diversion in a given year, whereas up to half report crowded conditions in the ED. In a recent national survey, 40% of hospital leaders viewed ED crowding as a symptom of workforce shortages. ED crowding may result in delays in the administration of medication such as antibiotics for pneumonia and has been associated with perceptions of compromised emergency care. For patients with non-ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction, long ED stays were associated with decreased use of guideline-recommended therapies and a higher risk of recurrent myocardial infarction. Overcrowding and heavy emergency resource demand have led to a number of problems, including ambulance refusals, prolonged patient waiting times, increased suffering for those who wait, rushed and unpleasant treatment environments, and potentially poor patient outcomes. When EDs are overwhelmed, their ability to respond to community emergencies and disasters may be compromised.

Type Of Measure: Process

Improvement Noted As: Decrease in the median value

Continuous Variable Statement: Time (in minutes) from admit decision time to time of departure from the emergency department for admitted patients.

Included Populations: Any ED Patient from the facility’s emergency department
Excluded Populations: Patients who are not an ED Patient
Data Elements:

Decision to Admit Date

Decision to Admit Time

ED Departure Date

ED Departure Time

ED Patient

ICD-10-CM Principal Diagnosis Code

Risk Adjustment: No.

Data Collection Approach: Retrospective data sources for required data elements include administrative data and medical records. Some hospitals may prefer to gather data concurrently by identifying patients in the population of interest. This approach provides opportunity for improvement at the point of care/service. However, complete documentation includes the principal or other ICD-10 diagnosis and procedure codes, which require retrospective data entry.

Data Accuracy: None

Measure Analysis Suggestions: None

Sampling: Yes. Please refer to the measure set specific sampling requirements and for additional information see the Population and Sampling Specifications section.

Data Reported As: Aggregate measure of central tendency .

Selected References:

Derlet RW, Richards JR. Emergency department overcrowding in Florida,New York, and Texas. South Med J. 2002;95:846-9.
Derlet RW, Richards JR. Overcrowding in the nation's emergency departments:complex causes and disturbing effects. Ann Emerg Med. 2000;35:63-8.
Diercks DB, et al. Prolonged emergency department stays of non-ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction patients are associated with worse adherence to the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines for management and increased adverse events. Ann Emerg Med. 2007;50:489-96.
Fatovich DM, Hirsch RL. Entry overload, emergency department overcrowding,and ambulance bypass. Emerg Med J. 2003;20:406-9.
Hwang U, Richardson LD, Sonuyi TO, Morrison RS. The effect of emergency department crowding on the management of pain in older adults with hip fracture.J Am Geriatr Soc. 2006;54:270-5.
Institute of Medicine of the National Academies. Future of emergency care:Hospital-based emergency care at the breaking point. The National Academies Press 2006.
Institute of Medicine. IOM Report: the future of emergency care in the United States health system. Acad Emer Med. 2006;13(10):1081-5.
Krochmal P, Riley TA. Increased health care costs associated with ED overcrowding. Am J Emerg Med. 1994;12:265-6.
Kyriacou DN, Ricketts V, Dyne PL,McCollough MD, Talan DA. A 5-year time study analysis of emergency department patient care efficiency. Ann Emerg Med.1999;34:326-35.
Nawar ED, Niska RW, Xu J. National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey:2005 emergency department summary. Adv Data. 2007; (386):1-32.
Richardson DB. Increase in patient mortality at 10 days associated with emergency department overcrowding. Med J Aust. 2006;184:213-6.
Sprivulis PC, et al. The association between hospital overcrowding and mortality among patients admitted via Western Australian emergency departments. Med JAust. 2006;184:208-12.
Trzeciak S, Rivers EP. Emergency department overcrowding in the United States: an emerging threat to patient safety and public health. Emerg Med J.2003;20:402-5.
United States General Accounting Office GAO. Hospital Emergency Departments: crowded conditions vary among hospitals and communities. 2003;GAO-03-460.
Wilper AP, Woolhandler S, Lasser KE, McCormick D, Cutrona SL, Bor DH,Himmelstein DU. Waits to see an emergency department physician: U.S. trends and predictors, 1997-2004. Health Aff (Millwood). 2008;27:w84-95.

Measure Algorithm:

Specifications Manual for Joint Commission National Quality Measures (v2021B2)
Discharges 10-1-21 through 12-31-21 (4Q21)

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