Analysis of The Use of An Emergency Department in A Hospital in Portugal: An Observational Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12707/RVI25.30.40250Keywords:
emergency medical services, triage, medical overuse, health literacy, digital health, access to primary careAbstract
Background: Emergency departments (EDs) face overload due to excessive use for non-urgent conditions. The Manchester Triage System (MTS) is essential for prioritizing care according to symptomseverity.
Objective: To analyze the patterns of ED use by patients at a hospital in northern Portugal.
Methodology: An observational study using data from clinical records in the “SClínico” information system, covering all ED admissions from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2022.
Results: ED admissions decreased in 2020, but by 2022 admissions exceeded pre-pandemic levels. The most frequent reason for ED use among non-urgent patients was mild pain.
Conclusion: The high proportion of non-urgent visits reinforces the need to promote health literacy and strengthen primary healthcare services to reduce excessive ED use.
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References
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