Asia Pacific Journal of Health Management
A Constrained-Flow Lens for Emergency Department Crowding and Ambulance Ramping: Analogy, queues and evidence
By Sachdev Singh.
Abstract
Objective
To present a conceptual research note that integrates a constrained-flow analogy, queueing relationships and emergency-care evidence to support investigation of emergency department (ED) crowding and ambulance ramping.
Design
Evidence-informed conceptual research note.
Setting
Australian public hospitals, with Queensland examples where definitions are jurisdiction-specific.
Main outcome measures
Candidate measures of demand, census, time, utilisation, variability, boarding, patient off-stretcher time and safety.