An Analysis of Patient Waiting Time in the Emergency Room at Martin Army Community Hospital, Fort Benning, Georgia

Abstract : This study attempts to identify the variables which contribute to patient waiting time in the emergency room. There are 10 independent variables that have been identified from previous studies found in the literature. These variables are patient volume, patient acuity, laboratory tests, radiology procedures, consultations, admission, physician staffing, nurse staffing, physician assistant staffing, and shift. Time and motion studies were conducted to quantify these variables for analysis. Correlation and stepwise multiple regression analysis were used to analyze the data and determine which variables made a statistically significant contribution toward patient waiting time. The analysis identified laboratory tests, radiology procedures, and consultations as the variables having the strongest relationship to and predictive ability of patient waiting time. The results of these analyses will be used to make recommendations for changes in the emergency room or related services that would improve the efficiency and quality of services provided in the emergency room.