Rapidity of Emergency Services and Associated Factors in Sari Imam Khomeini Educational Hospital

Background and Waiting time to receive appropriate services in emergency departments is considered as an important indicator for evaluating hospitals. Triage is the most important and the first stage of patient’s management at the time of arrival to hospital emergency department. This study aimed at determining the length of waiting time to receive treatment and diagnostic services and related factors within 5 level triage system in Imam Khomeini Hospital in Sari. This cross-sectional study was done in Imam Khomeini Hospital of Sari in December 2012. The subjects included 365 individuals who were selected through Morgan table. Waiting time for receiving treatment and diagnostic services for each patient was calculated by researcher from medical records of the patients and the triage sheet and entered in data collection forms. These forms contained two sections. The first part included demographic data and the second part contained information on the emergency department service delivery. The statistical analysis was performed in SPSS V.16. The mean time of first consultant by physician was 6.4 + 7.2 mins, the mean time to receive the first nursing service was 14.9 + 14.4 mins, and the mean time to determine the patients’ status was 136.6 + 143 mins. There was a significant relation between the working shift and the mean time of first consultant by doctor and determination of the patients’ status. The same relation was also found for triage level. This study indicated a good level of service provided by emergency department of Sari Imam Khomeini Hospital.