Reduction of waiting times in A&E following introduction of 'fast-track' scheme for elderly patients with hip fractures.

Abstract

To investigate the effect of a 'fast-track' scheme (FTS) on waiting times in A&E of elderly patients with hip fractures. Retrospective study of elderly patients admitted via A&E with a diagnosis of 'hip fracture' between May and July 2001. The control group was from the same 3-month period in the year before the introduction of the FTS. The reduction in mean waiting times between control group (n=61) and study group (n=54) was 3.7h (95% CI: 2.3-5.0 h, P<0.001). The two groups also had significantly different variances. However, no patient in the 'fast-track' group was transferred to the ward within the 'one-hour' target set by the UK Audit Commission. The FTS produced a significant reduction in mean waiting times as well as in the variability in waiting times for elderly patients with hip fractures.