The role of fast tracks on length of stay in emergency departments

Abstract

<p>Overcrowding in emergency departments (EDs) is a national crisis affecting hospitals. It has led to an association with poor patient outcomes and is a threat to public safety. Fast tracks (FTs) in the ED are one strategy that has been implemented to alleviate overcrowding while still ensuring quality of care. To evaluate if FTs are effective, length of stay (LOS) was investigated relative to the implementation of FTs across a variety of hospitals. Nurses are an integral part of the triage, assessment, and care that are central to the system of FTs. This review provides an in-depth look at the nurse&rsquo;s role in FTs, the effects on patient outcomes, and decreasing the LOS in EDs. Pubmed was used as the search database. The keywords searched were length of stay or throughput, a synonymous term, and fast track or fast tracking or streamlining, other synonymous terms. A total of 884 studies were found and were further narrowed down to the 20 research articles expressed in this review. In each of the studies identified where a FT was implemented, the LOS was reduced. Based on the reviewed literature, it is suggested that FTs are efficacious and that nurses play a vital role in their function.&nbsp;</p>