Improving Access to Health Care in Pediatric Emergency Departments: A Fast Track System for Children with Respiratory Problems
Introduction: According to the literature, a fast-track system is an organizational modality improving the efficiency of emergency departments (ED) by allowing ED to meet the reorganization’s challenge imposed by the growing demand of patients. The fast-track system is characterized by the early identification of patients presenting themselves at the ED with a non-urgent health problem but requiring an appropriate treatment in a reserved area. Objective: To describe the steps and outcomes of a knowledge transfer project aiming to implement and evaluate a fast-track system for children with acute respiratory problems at the emergency department of a university hospital. Methods: According to the Knowledge-to-Action Process Framework, the project included: 1) the implementation plan 2) the fast-track system and 3) the evaluation of the acceptability of it by the interdisciplinary team and the family as well as its potential for efficiency. Results: The results indicate a high acceptability of the fast-track system from the interdisciplinary team (nurses, physicians, respiratory therapists, patient attendants) and families, as well as a decrease in the average length of stay in the ED. Discussion and conclusion: The fast-track system can be considered as an organizational modality that can improve access to emergency services by leveraging the clinical skills of the nurse to effectively address the needs of the child with acute respiratory problems.