| As emergency department (ED) waiting times and volumes increase, substantial numbers of patients LWBS (leave after registration but prior to physician assessment). The objective of this study was to identify ED conditions reflecting patient input, throughput and output associated with the number of patients who LWBS in a pediatric setting. Multivariate analysis was used to examine the impact of variables describing the timing of patient arrival and ED conditions including patient acuity, volume and waiting times on the number of patients who LWBS. During the study period there were 138,361 patient visits; 11,055 (7.99%) of patients LWBS. The throughput variables, time from triage to physician assessment (rate ratio 2.11 (95% CI 2.01--2.21)) and time from registration to triage (rate ratio 1.55 (95% CI 1.25--1.90)) had the largest impact on the number of patients who LWBS. Interventions designed to decrease the number of patients who LWBS should focus on improving ED throughput. |
