Emergency department visits for minor conditions – by time of day | Health Quality Alberta Focus

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Emergency department visits for minor conditions – by time of day

Influence of time of day on emergency department visits for minor conditions. (See data definition).

*Data courtesy of Alberta Health Services and Alberta Health

What do you see?

  • Are there differences in ED visit rates for minor conditions in the urban zones (Calgary and Edmonton) compared to the more rural zones (North, Central, South)? What might account for these differences?
  • What differences exist between the three categories of time of day and ED visit rates for minor conditions?

Why is it meaningful?

• Is there a relationship between this data and another healthcare area?

Understanding emergency department visits for minor conditions – by time of day

Visits to an emergency department may vary by time of day, day of week, as well as how accessible a family doctor’s office might be at the time of need. For example, if a patient needs care after a family doctor’s office or clinic has closed, the only option may be to go to an emergency department. Or if the family doctor’s office is open, but no appointments are available, patients may choose to go to an emergency department.

Looking at the number of emergency department visits by time of day may assist in service planning for family doctors, clinics, and Primary Care Networks.

Considerations when reviewing the results

  • Does not include visits to urgent care centres.
  • This measure includes all varying continuity levels.

Alberta Quality Matrix for Health

Health Quality Alberta uses the Alberta Quality Matrix for Health as a way of organizing information and thinking around the complexity of the healthcare system. This measure can be used as input to assess the emergency department’s performance in these dimensions of quality: Accessibility, Appropriateness and Efficiency.

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