Thesis (M.H.A.)--University of Michigan, 1972.

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Medicine in Emergency Medicine Johannesburg, 2015 / Background: There has always been anecdotal reports that the ED is busier during the holidays and this increase in utilization is due to an increased incidence of trauma. Methods The retrospective data was collected from the Study Hospital’s Database and from the billing records of the doctor practice managing the ED. The data included all patients attending the Study Hospital ED during November 2011 (Non-holiday Period) and between the 10th December 2011 and 8th January 2012 (Holiday Period). Results: It was noted that the age, gender and racial profile of the patients attending the ED during the Holiday and Non-holiday Periods were similar. However there was a 39.9% increase in ED utilization during the Holiday Period. The Holiday Period was also associated with increased utilization by tourists (29.9% vs. 8.2%); with a slightly lower incidence of trauma (23.4% vs. 24.6%); with patients presenting with less urgent Triage Scores; fewer patients arriving at the ED via ambulance (3.2% vs. 7.2%) and a lower admission rate (10% vs. 17.5%). Conclusions: There was a significant increase in the utilization of the Study Hospital ED during the Holiday Period. This increased utilization was due to an increase in visitors to the Umhlanga area during the Holiday Period and was associated with an increased presentation to the ED of low acuity patients probably as a result of a lack of availability of their GP.

Thesis (M.H.A.)--University of Michigan, 1972.

Thesis (M.H.A.)--University of Michigan, 1969.

Thesis (M.H.A.)--University of Michigan, 1974.

Thesis (M.H.A.)--University of Michigan, 1974.

Thesis (M.H.A.)--University of Michigan, 1972.

Thesis (M.H.A.)--University of Michigan, 1969.

Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 70-07, Section: B, page: 4118. Adviser: Charles L. Begley. Includes bibliographical references.

The rapid and accelerating growth of hospital Emergency Department utilization over the past twenty years has transformed a once well-defined and well bounded care setting into a highly complex and integral component of a total health care system. This increasing role complexity has created a demand by hospital decision-makers for an information system to describe, measure and evaluate Emergency Department activity within the context of broader health care issues and activities. This study is an attempt to identify and integrate the information needs of the hospital decision-makers into a meaningful whole. The evolution of emergency care in British Columbia is described in order that needs for information will not be developed in isolation from the activities of major planning, funding and professional groups in the health services. Two major issues are identified in the literature - the utilization of Emergency Departments and thrusts towards classification or categorization of Emergency Department capabilities. From this, three major policy/planning foci are selected - day to day emergency care, disaster planning, and the "mopping-up" role of Emergency Departments. Ideas about these are developed in light of six classifications of information users' needs - patient care, management, quality of care, strategic planning, research and development and policy-formulation. "Needs" were validated by two panels of major decision-makers from a representative sample of Greater Vancouver Regional Hospital District Hospitals. The results of the investigation are analyzed in light of the issues of professional power and control and political influences and recommendations made as to the appropriate components of a hospital emergency department information system. / Medicine, Faculty of / Population and Public Health (SPPH), School of / Graduate