Analytical and Designing Study for Emergency Departments in Hospitals

Abstract

Healthcare professionals and the public have increasing concerns about the ability of emergency departments to meet current demands. Increased demand for emergency services, mainly caused by a growing number of minor and moderate injuries has reached crisis proportions, especially in the Sudan. Numerous efforts have been made to explore the complex causes because it is becoming more and more important to provide adequate healthcare within tight budgets. Optimization of patient pathways in the emergency department is therefore an important factor. This research is intended to assist physicians, planners and architects in producing a design for an emergency department which is of adequate size and contains adequate facilities to fulfill its role. As emergency departments have high patient turnover, varied case mix and a large workforce, their design is crucial to their function. Emergency departments must be planned with due consideration for the potential for growth and expected changes in health care delivery. Current and potential models of health care must be considered. The main goal of the research is an attempt to solve complex problems within the framework of a process owner (the ED), a strategy owner (hospital management) and a model owner (systemic consultant) by implementing more effective ways of working together for all concerned in the hospital environment. The study started with field visits to emergency departments in different private and governmental hospitals in Khartoum state, in addition to some hospitals in turkey.