Quick diagnostic test results are important to the practice of emergency medicine, as it provides critical information related to acute medical conditions and allows the emergency physician and consultants to have information necessary for quality ED decision making and disposition. Shorter intervals for diagnostic testing can ultimately improve patient flow for all patients.

These diagnostic-test turnaround times from EDBA should give emergency physician leaders the opportunity to compare the times in their own institutions. One area for uncluttering the emergency department is improving the turnaround time for diagnostic tests. The EDBA annual survey found a slight trend toward improvement in turnaround times from 2019 to 2021. ED leaders should discuss methods to further improve with the leaders of radiology and laboratory services, and work with hospital leaders to improve overall patient flow.

Dr. Augustine is national director of prehospital strategy for US Acute Care Solutions based in Canton, Ohio; clinical professor of emergency medicine at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio; and vice president of the Emergency Department Benchmarking Alliance.

References

1. Augustine JJ, Jouriles NJ. First look: emergency department operations in the pandemic year 2021. ACEP Now. 2023;42(1).
2. Augustine JJ. Expanded diagnostic testing in the emergency department raises need for cohort data. ACEP Now. 2014;33(5).