Increasing same-day emergency care activity in an existing ambulatory care unit using quality improvement methodology

Abstract

This project aimed to increase same-day emergency care (SDEC)-suitable activity within an existing ambulatory medical unit, in line with the recommendations set out in the NHS Long Term Plan. Prior to the project, much of the unit's activity was non-urgent and focused on supporting early discharges. Scoping exercises were undertaken to better understand current activity and identify interventions to increasing same-day referrals from within the urgent and emergency care system. Quality improvement methodology was then used to implement and study a variety of interventions, including but not limited to the development of new condition-based referral pathways. Retrospective review of SDEC activity demonstrated a threefold increase.

Keywords

• Same-day emergency care
• SDEC
• Ambulatory medicine
• Quality Improvement
• QI