Hamad General Hospital (HGH) has one of the busiest emergency departments in the world, treating up to 1,500 patients every day.
A comprehensive review of HGH’s ED practices in early 2012 led to improvement recommendations based on international best practice standards which are being implemented by a globally recognized multi professional team. The medical team is being led by a new Chairman, eminent Australian Academic Professor Peter Cameron who is also President of the International Federation for Emergency Medicine (IFEM) and Dr Don MacKechnie, past vice president of the UK College of Emergency Medicine, who has been appointed Director of Emergency and Acute Medicine Transformation.
The HGH ED has thirteen distinct clinical areas including a “See & Treat” area, introduced in 2011 to provide care for less seriously ill patients, short stay units, urgent care areas, resuscitation (and trauma rooms). This model has resulted in better streaming of patients and reduced congestion in ED and throughout the hospital. Application for level one trauma center status, accredited by the American College of Surgeons, is in process. There are currently 433 nurses and 161 doctors on staff.
Facts, figures , stats:
Average daily presentations: 1200-1500
Priority: 1: 2%, 2: 9%, 3: 88%
Average ED LOS: 1hr 11mins (March 2012)
In-patient admissions per day: 60
Short Stay Ward admissions per day: 30
