Objective: Access block (AB) and hospital overcrowding adversely affect ED functionality. ED throughput measures have been described in the literature with positive impacts on key performance indicators (KPIs) – time to first seen, did‐not‐wait rates, off‐stretcher times for ambulances and ED length of stay figures. In this study, we aimed to assess the impact of a new model of care, the Senior Streaming Assessment Further Evaluation after Triage (SAFE‐T) zone concept on ED performance indicators and statistical outcomes. Methods: We implemented a model of care at our tertiary hospital ED amalgamating multiple ED throughput interventions. These interventions included dynamic transition waiting room concept, early senior ED physician assessment and decision‐making, early streaming, acute‐care bed quarantining and ED short stay and observation units. The principal intervention was the SAFE‐T zone. End‐point data were compared for similar periods (77 days) of 2010 and 2011 with and without the new model of care. Results: In total, 11 408 and 11 845 patients were included in the study periods pre‐ and post‐intervention, respectively. Time to physician KPI improved from 72.5% to 84.1%. Did‐not‐wait rates dropped from 10.7% to 9.6% (P= 0.02) and off‐stretcher times for ambulances KPI improved from 74.5% to 79.5% (P < 0.001). ED length of stay dropped most significantly for Australasian Triage Scale categories 3 and 4 (14.3% and 11.8%, P‐values <0.001). These results were achieved despite worsened AB and hospital bed‐occupancy rates during the intervention period (+3.9% and +6.7%). Conclusions: The SAFE‐T zone model of care involving multiple ED throughput measures achieved improvements in ED performance despite AB and hospital overcrowding.

The lactate ≥2 mmol/L threshold-based LqSOFA score performs better than qSOFA alone in identifying risk of adverse outcomes in ED patients with suspected sepsis.

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Objectives:To learn the attitudes of health professionals, health informaticians and information communication technology professionals to using data in electronic health records (eHRs) for performance feedback and professional development.Design: Qualitative research in a co-design framework. Health professionals' perceptions of the accessibility of data in eHRs, and barriers to and enablers of using these data in performance feedback and professional development were explored in co-design workshops. Audio recordings of the workshops were transcribed, de-identified, and thematically analysed.

Appropriate use of EDSSU provides effective conduit for ongoing patients' management beyond mandated timelines. Health systems should focus on reducing hospital BORs to mitigate exclusive ED pressure to deliver NEAT performance targets.