The Effect of A ‘Covid Tent’ On Emergency Department Efficiency and Patient Satisfaction: A Single Site Retrospective Study

Background:Overcrowding in Emergency Departments is associated with poor patient outcomes and low satisfaction; overcrowding has been exacerbated by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. One intervention used both H1N1 pandemic current deployment of temporary structures such as surge tents. Data on effectiveness interventions currently lacking. Methods:In this retrospective study, we assess ED length stay (LOS), percent patients leaving without being seen, 72-hour return rate time period during tent operation equivalent periods before after use. Differences were modeled tested using Generalized Estimating Equations (GEEs) methodology controlled for emergency severity index (ESI). Results:Deployment a Covid was reduced LOS (227.5 vs. 214.5 min, ESI-adjusted p = 0.02). Additionally, observed significantly seen (0.8% 0.2%, < 0.001) any increase (4.2% vs 4.2%, 0.98) operations. Conclusion:This data suggests that tents an effective means decompressing EDs setting