The four ED throughput measures quantify average ED length of visit for admitted and discharged patients; median waiting time; and rate of left without being seen. A study of 424 hospitals that reported data to the National Hospital Ambulatory Care Survey in 2008 to 2009 reveals a number of factors “outside of a hospital’s control” impact performance on these ED throughput measures:
• ED volume
• Metropolitan Statistical Area
• Teaching hospital status
• Patient age
• Case mix
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