| Summary: | Objective: One of the most important indicators used in the evaluation of emergency
centers is the chronometric analysis of patients’ workflow. The aim of this study was to
provide a chronometric analysis of patients’ workflow (patients’ waiting time in the
emergency department) and related factors.
Methods: This hospital-based prospective cohort study was carried out in Khatam al-Anbia
hospital in Shoushtar in 2020. Random sampling was used and patients referred to the
emergency ward in three shifts based on the ESI 5-level triage system. The research tools
were the emergency workflow chronometry form and a questionnaire of determining
the factors related to the speed of emergency services and using a stopwatch. In order
to analyse the data, Stata software version 16 and Weibull model of survival analysis were
used.
Results: Of 468 participants, the most common cause of referral was trauma with 21.7%.
The median±interquartile range duration of giving the final result was 6.06±4.48 hours,
which was more than 0.54 times shorter in clients with level 3. There was a statistically
significant difference in the duration of making the final decision based on the request for
testing, manner of referring and the type of initial diagnosis (P<0.05).
Conclusion: The duration of service provision in the studied hospital is appropriate for
an Iranian hospital, but it should be closer to international standards. At level 2 triage,
patients stayed longer. This can be reduced by lessening the time of consultations which
can help the emergency ward.
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